Tag Archives: winter fundraising

Fundraising Friday: Winter Tips to Heat Up Your Fundraising

Winter is here! There has been quite a bit of snowy and chilly weather across the country of late, and we understand that this can make it difficult to get out of the house for training or fundraising. Don’t worry though, we have you covered! Here are some fun ways to jump start your fundraising…and you don’t even have to leave the cozy indoors to get started!

FROM WORK

Corporate Matching: This one is super simple! Ask your company if they have Corporate Matching Program and take advantage of that if you can. Many of your donors may also work for companies that have a program like this, so their donation could double simply by filling out a form from their Human Resources department and following the steps to submit a matching gift. Remind them to check with their company as well!

Email Chain: Email your department (or whole company!) and ask everyone to forward your fundraising email to 10 more people!

Candy Jar: Put out a jar of candy at your desk at work and ask for a 3-Day donation each time someone takes a piece.

FROM HOME

Adopt a Mile: Cozy up on the couch and send some fundraising emails! Ask donors to adopt a specific mile of your walk at a suggested price. For example, a donor could adopt mile 52 in memory of her mom who lost her battle with breast cancer at 52. Every mile makes a difference after all!

Donation for Days: You’ve made a commitment to the 3-Day. Now, ask friends and family to donate an amount per each day of that 3-Day commitment. Instead of one $25 donation, encourage them to make three $20 donations! Remember, they can pay and donate over the course of multiple months. Having of the option to donate over time is a great way to increase the size of donations (just keep in mind that donations can only be paid over the course of 4 months max).

Take Advantage of Tax Season: Tax season is coming up, so while you’re checking numbers and (hopefully) getting that return…remind your attorney that they can donate to the 3-Day, too. Also, after tax filing, send out a fundraising letter asking people to donate their return money to the 3-day!

Profile Photos: Change your Facebook profile or cover photo to a 3-Day image. Get one at The3Day.org/Logos or pull it from our 3-Day Facebook page. Then ask for donations in your status updates!

TV Show Party: Host a party in celebration of the premiere of your favorite TV show or even the Academy Awards! Serve donated hors d’oeuvres and drinks and make the event as festive as you can. Then, ask for a suggested donation at the door.

Play Tickets: Ask your local playhouse to donate tickets and then auction them off. Better yet, ask them to donate season passes!

FROM THE GYM

Spinning Class: Hit up your spinning class instructor and classmates. Set a goal at the beginning of the class, and if it’s met, everyone donates $1 per mile—or $1 per minute. Or see if you can host a sponsored class, where everyone who comes to ride commits to donating a certain amount to the 3-Day in order to come and ride!

Ask Your Trainer: Ask your yoga instructor, class teacher, or personal trainer for a donation. Or ask if you can post information about the 3-Day at the front of the gym or at check-in so that you can also get potential donations from other class members.

If you want more fundraising ideas, for winter or otherwise, check out our list of 101 Fundraising Ideas perfect for the 3-Day!

Holiday Fundraising Ideas

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The holiday season is in full swing and the year is almost over to boot! Let’s use these last few days of the year to get into a festive fundraising spirit. Giving, both to charity as well as to family and friends, is on everyone’s mind. So, it’s the perfect time to encourage your potential donors to help a good cause, and support family and friends like you! How can you give your fundraising efforts the holiday treatment this year? We have some easy ideas!

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A simple trick is just to check out the 3-Day website! We have special holiday card inserts that can help you to ask for donations in lieu of gifts this year. They’re easy to download, for both walkers and crew, making it a snap to mail them out, or leave them by the fireside for Santa to see.

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You can also include these inserts in your holiday cards! It you’re going to be mailing out a family photo, season’s greeting or year-end wrap-up to far off family, add the insert in to your card! Or, make your cards personalized with details of what you raised this year, and your goals for the coming year. Letting this year’s donors know how much their contribution meant will help motivate them to donate again.

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If you want to spread the 3-Day spirit through song, go caroling for a cause! Put a twist on traditional canning, and recruit your team to sing door to door for donations. This gives a wonderful personal touch, is a fun team activity, and will surely put a smile on peoples’ faces.

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If you’re in a warmer climate, or just love the chilly winter temperatures, host a holiday training walk! Have donors sponsor different miles or milestones along the walk, then hit the trails! This is also a great activity for a team, and you can dress in your holiday best to really stand out while you step into the holiday season.

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One of the biggest holiday traditions for most families is to partake in lots of feasts and treats this time of year. So, while you’re making your usual holiday cookies, cakes and other sweets, put a 3-Day spin on them! Add touches of pink frosting or sprinkles, and include donation information alongside your treat. Who could say “no” to desserts for a good cause?

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To really end the year on a high note, remind your potential donors of your goals on the last day of the year. December 31st is historically one of the biggest days of the year for online giving to charities, and it also boasts the highest average donation amount! That makes it the perfect time to ask donors to make one final contribution for the year. It will help you end this amazing year on a high note, and set you up for an even better 2018!