Tag Archives: Fundraising

Crafting the Perfect Fundraising Letter

Each summer, I eagerly anticipate the announcement of the next year’s 3-Day event series schedule. When the 2014 3-Day schedule was posted today, I was happy to see that the 2014 San Diego 3-Day will take place on the same weekend in November that I have come to love. My 2013 event is 109 days away and I am ready to start fundraising for 2014!

As a 3-Day coach, I hear from participants who tell me they don’t know what to say in their fundraising letter. My response is always, “Tell me why you became a 3-Day walker.” It‘s amazing how easily the words then flow. Inspired, tearful or celebratory, I love hearing what motivated them, and after listening to their story, I tell the walker, “Congratulations. You just wrote your fundraising letter!”

One walker who needs no help writing his fundraising letter is Burt Lipshie. Burt started his 3-Day journey in 2004 in San Diego and has not stopped walking since! Burt completed his 15th 3-Day in Boston this past weekend, and is preparing for his 16th and 17th 3-Day journeys in Chicago and Dallas. I asked him to share the secrets of his fundraising success. Continue reading →

First-timers on the Boston 3-Day

Everyone give a warm welcome to Cyndi, Sandy and Denise!

Cyndi Whitehead, Sandy Haynes, and Denise Vaudrin during lunch on the Boston 3-Day.

Cyndi Whitehead, Sandy Haynes, and Denise Vaudrin during lunch on the Boston 3-Day.

When Cyndi Whitehouse of Springfield, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with breast cancer 30 years ago, she probably could not foresee July 26, 2013 as her first day on a Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Series with sister Sandy Haynes and good friend Denise Vaudrin! Here they are, and being with them even for a few minutes at lunch gave me the sense of their great love for each other and of life.  Cyndi asked her sister and friend to walk with her, and they gladly said, “Yes!”

How did they remember their first day? “Ouch!” They recommend a lot of training to prepare walkers for the long days.  They also had some great ideas for fundraising, as they had a local vineyard hold a wine tasting, complete with a relabeled wine “Poppy’s Girls” (named after the sisters’ father).  It sounded like a great evening with everyone happy and interested in breast cancer research and finding a cure.

"Poppies" is a relabeled wine served for fundraising for the Boston 3-Day®

“Poppy’s Girls” is a relabeled wine served for fundraising for the Boston 3-Day®

It’s wonderful to hear that Cyndi has been doing well for 30 years! Welcome to your first Komen 3-Day, Cyndi, Sandy, and Denise!

Avoiding 3-Day Fundraising Flops

As a 3-Day coach and repeat walker, Aubrey Cushing knows a few things about fundraising. This year she is walking in the Seattle and San Diego 3-Days – and just reached her fundraising goal for both events. Way to go Aubrey! When I asked her the secret of her success over the years, Aubrey told me, “I try everything. Some things work and others don’t, but I NEVER give up. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, and I will do whatever it takes to get us closer to a cure.” Well, said, Aubrey!

Aubrey_Tampa 2012

Aubrey is all smiles because she reached her fundraising goal for her 2013 3-Day events in Seattle and San Diego. Way to go, Aubrey!

Here are Aubrey’s tips for holding successful fundraising events – and avoiding fundraising flops!
•  Invite as many people as you can accommodate, and more. Expect half to RSVP, and a quarter of those to attend. Follow up with the RSVP’s who didn’t make it an offer them the chance to make a donation online. Continue reading →