Fundraising Tips
This year our goal is $275,000 and we know we can do it with your help and support. Read below for some great tips & tricks to make fundraising easier than ever. Before you know it you’ll be at your goal and we’ll be well on our way to helping more people living with Spinal Cord Injury!
How to Raise $500 in a week
You can make a difference in someone’s life. Fundraising is simple. We’ve broken it down into several easy steps. All you need to do is set a personal goal and then go for it! Here’s one way to look at raising $500 in a week:
| Day | Details | Total |
| 1 | Sponsor yourself for $25 | $25 |
| 2 | Ask three family members for $25 | +$75=$100 |
| 3 | Ask five friends to donate $15 | +$75=$175 |
| 4 | Ask five co-workers to sponsor you for $10 | +$50=$225 |
| 5 | E-mail 15 people & ask for a $10 donation | +$150=$375 |
| 6 | Ask your company for a $75 contribution | +$75=$450 |
| 7 | Ask two businesses you frequent for $25 | +$50=$500! |
More Ideas
• Start early. Have fun with your fundraising efforts!
• Set a fundraising goal and let your potential sponsors know what that goal is.
• Don’t be afraid to ask! You’re not going to dinner with this money – you’re working to change someone’s life!
• Use this website to your advantage – upload your email addresses and email requests and reminders to your contacts.
• Write a personal letter; create a newsletter or press release; hang up pledge sheets at your office; make in-person solicitations. If you write a letter, include a donation form and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.
• Ask for pledges from family members, friends, people at work, people nearby, people far away, people you do business with.
• Suggest a minimum gift amount or put down options ($100, $50, $25, other).
• Write a personal note of thanks to each of your sponsors. This will go a long way, especially when you approach them next year.
• All donations are tax deductible. The tax ID is 20-4560423.
• If you ride in honor of someone, say so—telling a personal story about someone living with SCI is a way for people to relate to you and your cause.
• Ask your supporters about matching funds from their employers.
• Find out whether your own employer offers matching funds.
• Double your fun: Challenge a friend to ride with you and raise her/his own pledges.
• Form a team at work, or with friends. Select a captain, choose a theme, wear matching shirts or hats, make a statement!
