Successful Fundraising Ideas from Past Years
One team held a baking contest. Team members each brought a home-made baked item, and they had a "tasting" of all items. Staff members were able to purchase a vote with a $5 contribution to the Walk, and the person with the most votes in the end won a small prize. (i.e., the prime parking spot or flowers fresh from the garden of a co-worker.)
Another top team reported holding a "silent auction" of services and items that they could provide for their co-workers. They auctioned off services like four hours of yard work, two hours of housecleaning, a portrait painted by one of the team members, and lunches prepared for three days. This is a simple way they found to have some fun at the office, while raising extra pledges for the AIDS Walk.
One of our top fundraisers recently had a milestone birthday. For his 50th birthday, a large party was held in his honor. Instead of gifts, guests were encouraged to make a pledge to the Minnesota AIDS Walk. It was a great success, and guests had a tax deduction at the end of the night as well!
Dinner is served! Dinner for twelve was what one of our fundraisers had on her plate. She invited twelve people to her home, and prepared a meal they will not soon forget. In exchange, she asked them all to donate what they thought they would pay in a restaurant for a similar meal. (She's now thinking it may be lucrative to be a restaurateur...) For more information, download our Fundraising Help Guide.
These are just a few of the ideas we have heard of that may jump-start your fundraising.
Set a Goal
Start your Walk on the right foot with a 2010 Minnesota AIDS Walk T-shirt by making a $50 donation or by raising $50. Even better, aim for one of our higher-level incentive prizes listed below.
2010 Incentive Prizes:
Additional Fundraising Ideas
Form a Team
Teamwork makes fundraising easier and more fun. Teams can be as small as two or as large as several hundred. Call 612-373-2409 for a team leader kit.
Set the Tone
Go to your top sponsors first. It will serve as an inspiration for your other sponsors.
The Check is in the Mail
Mail a letter or postcard to everyone on your mailing list. Keep some of them with you and pass them out everywhere you go.
Educate
Hold an HIV awareness day at work. Minnesota AIDS Project staff will work with you to schedule a free presentation to discuss HIV basics and talk about the AIDS Walk, with educational and Walk materials to share. Let people know where the money is going!
At Work
Hang a pledge form on your company bulletin board. Bring them to staff meetings or leave them in the staff lounge. Hang a pledge form outside your cube. See if your company will donate a percentage of sales during an AIDS Walk promotion. See if your company will match what you raise or what other employees donate. (Be sure to check your companies' policies first.)
Receive a Pledge
Instead of a gift, have people sponsor you for your birthday.
Take a Message
Put a Walk message on your voice mail. Keep a pledge form by the phone and ask callers for a pledge.
Web Page
Create a Web page. Tell people why you are committed to walking and raising money.
Kick the Habit
Ask sponsors to give up a vice for a week (caffeine, smoking, alcohol, etc.) and give the money saved to the AIDS Walk.
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
Challenge your friends to out-do each other's pledges - work that guilt!
Double Your Money
Find out if your sponsor's employer will match their gift. Have them check with the personnel or business office for a matching gift form and include it with your pledge form. Some companies match the total raised, others match only gifts from employees.
Pin it Down
Make AIDS awareness red ribbons and sell them to your friends or co-workers. Use the key selling point that ribbons are naturally fat free.
Advertise
Poster your office, neighborhood stores, health clubs, restrooms, supermarkets or your windows at home with Minnesota AIDS Walk materials.
Heat it Up
Keep track of pledge amounts on a thermometer graph. Or a bar graph. Or a pie chart. Or a flow chart. Well, you get the idea.
Get the Message
Plug your Walk involvement on your email signature, "I'm an AIDS Walker. Pledge me!
Party, Party, Party
Have a party at your house - you provide the snacks, guests provide the pledges. Hold an event at a bar, restaurant or other hangout. Ask your good friends over for a slumber party. Pizza and movies are on you, as long as they bring their checkbooks.
Contributions to the Minnesota AIDS Walk are tax-deductible.
If you pledge money online, an email will be sent to you confirming your donation. This email can be used as a receipt. If you give a check or cash directly to a participant, ask them for a receipt (they are able to download a printable PDF file of receipts). Alternatively, you may use your canceled check as a receipt for tax purposes.