Fundraising Friday: Plan a 3-Day Spring Scavenger Hunt

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It’s Friday, it’s spring, and (hopefully) the sun is shining! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature, all while raising money for the 3-Day of course! With April being Earth Month, and Earth Day coming up on April 22^nd, you can take advantage of the Mother Earth-appreciation and host an outdoor Spring Scavenger Hunt this weekend.

If you are part of a team, this is a perfect way to get your teammates together and do something fun, but if you’re a solo walker, you can also reach out to your local coaches and see if you can help plan a larger event for walkers from your area.

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The concept is simple: Meet in a local park or outdoor area, and hand out a list of spring and 3-Day themed items they must find. The catch? They must ask people for help, or ask them for the items directly (no just picking up off the ground!), and every person they talk to must receive a donation form or 3-Day business card.

Letting people know, even strangers, about your local 3-Day and your own personal goals, could result in lots of donations you wouldn’t get otherwise! You never know how someone may have been affected by breast cancer. Also, encourage your participants to stop into local businesses and spots like the library or Town Hall while they’re searching to leave a 3-Day flyer behind. You’ll cover your town in a pretty pink bubble!

How should you go about planning this event?

First, you’ll need to print donation forms where your participants can fill out their information to get donations, but also print out general “Join Me” 3-Day cards that your scavenger hunters can leave at businesses.

Next, come up with your list of spring items! Some of our ideas are:

A pink flower from a local florist
A selfie with your local barista
A piece of pink ribbon or string
A selfie with someone wearing pink
A picture of a school or local track/playground area
A photo with or of local wildlife (you can include pets if you like – and be mindful not to touch or disturb the animals)
A ticket from your local dry cleaners
A map of your town and/or local park
A picture of a pink house,door, or flower pot
A selfie with a local firefighter or policeman

Then print out your list, and start gathering your friends! Again, working with a local coach might help recruit more 3-Day walkers, but you can also use this as a fun family activity. Getting your loved ones involved in your fundraising will help you raise money, but also connect the people in your life to your 3-Day cause.

What items should we add to the scavenger hunt list? What are your spring fundraising plans? Tell us in the comments!

Favorite 3-Day Fundraising Crafts

March is National Craft Month, which makes it the perfect time to get creative with your fundraising game! Whether you consider yourself crafty or not, there are plenty of simple crafts you can try to help hit your next fundraising goal. We tapped our coaches, local teams and social media to find our favorite 3-Day fundraising crafts right now.

Hines Panthers

Appeal to peoples’ sweet tooth! Janice, the Captain of Hines Pink Pathers, starts with Oreo cookies, then decorates and packages them in seasonal fun! These little guys are all set for Easter but you can also make even simpler versions patterned after suns, smiley faces or flowers!

Coach Marianne loved when she saw “Pinking of You Care Packages” from some of her San Diego walkers. Send small packages – all in pink of course! – to let past donors you appreciate their support…and could use some more this year! Ideas to include: pink bead necklaces, a homemade bookmark and/or card, magnets or candies.

mitts for tits

Dawn from Team STRIDE has been flexing her knitting needles as she gets ready to walk in Seattle in 2018. Follow Dawn’s example, and ask your family and friends for their preferred colors or theme, then knit them some fun 3-Day mitts! These are perfect for the next few weeks of training walks while we wait for spring weather to really kick in!

Coach Liz has loved when her Dallas/Fort Worth walkers have decorated stones to make fun, pink 3-Day paper weights as a fundraising tool! She even plans on using this idea for her own fundraising for the San Diego 3-Day this year! She also loves to send decorated coasters as thank yous to her donors.

If you want a little variety, Beth from Michigan’s BC Babes does it all! She uses card making, makes chocolate covered pretzels and cookies and even created homemade candy for her fundraising efforts!

Our coaches also love Painting with a Twist, a nationwide business that offers fundraising opportunities at fun, artistic events. Participants in the Midwest have used this to great effect! If you find a location nearby, select a date and work with them to plan a class for your friends and family. A portion of the proceeds from the evening can go to your 3-Day team or personal goals!

What are some of your favorite fundraising crafts? Share with us!

Welcome Spring! 3-Day Fundraising Ideas

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Spring is here at last! The weather might not quite be reflecting it yet in some parts of the country, but we are more than a little excited about blooming flowers, sunshiny days and more walks outside. This change of season also allows for new fundraising opportunities, and we have them rounded up all in one spot. Get outside and make the most of the season!

Spring Cleaning Garage Sale

This one is a no brainer, and helps you in more ways than one! Spring cleaning your house, closet, kitchen and beyond will help de-clutter your life. This can also help de-clutter your emotions and even be a de-stressing technique. Throw away or donate what you need to, but save as much as you can, then hold a garage sale with the proceeds going to the 3-Day!

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April Fool’s Day

Lots of people play April Fool’s Day pranks – Why not take advantage of it? Partner with local comedians or radio hosts to set up a “you donate and we prank” fundraising movement. You can have them make prank calls or even prank “deliveries,” and ask your friends and family to donate for the right to send a prank on the funny holiday.

Spring Spa Day

Ask local salons, spas and hairdressers to donate products like lotion, nail polish, or scrubs and host a spa day at home! Ask for donations from your friends in exchange for “services” like scalp massages, manicures or hand scrubs. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday with your friends.

Flower Delivery

Those florists and local gift shops you worked with to send Valentine’s Day flowers? Call them up again! See if they would be willing to donate any extra flowers at the end of each week, then you can make special deliveries to potential donors. Who could say “no” to a fundraising letter that comes with a bouquet?

Earth Day or Arbor Day Hike

Ask people to sponsor miles of a hike you will take in honor of the many Mother Nature-related holidays in April. Every mile you walk means more funding for the 3-Day! It will double as a good training walk, and could be used as a team building or recruitment exercise as well! Asking your friends to walk with you gives you plenty of time to tell them your 3-Day story…they might just join you!

Get Outside

Offer lawn care services and car washes,to people in your neighborhood in exchange for donations! You probably have all the materials you need right at home, so all it will cost is your time. It will also give you a great excuse to get outside!

What are your spring fundraising plans? Tell us in the comments!