Easy Steps to Fundraising for a Great Cause!

We know not everyone is a fundraiser by trade, so we’ve provided some helpful tips below to help get you started. If you have friends who often participate in peer-to-peer fundraising events, ask them for their tips (and feel free to leave suggestions in the comments below!) You never know, you might just turn out to have a hidden talent for fundraising…

Set Your Goals High
Remember the golden rule of fundraising: if you don’t ask, you don’t get! Aim high, and go for it!

Your Personal Page
Once you’ve registered for STWM, you can create your own Personal Page on the website to tell your story, post a photo, and of course, request donations. A standard greeting is provided, but personal stories have a tremendous impact. What does this cause mean to you? Why are you involved? Who are you doing this for? What is your personal goal?

Spread the Word!
- Put a donation box on your desk at work.
- Add a note in your email signature that you are participating in STWM in support of North York General, and include a link to your personal fundraising page.
- Comment on our event updates on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media pages, and share with your friends.
- Link to your personal page on any website or blogs you contribute to.

Lead by Example
Make the first pledge yourself. That way, when you approach others for support, they will see your name and contribution and understand how serious you are.

Create Your List of Potential Donors
Write down the names of all the people in your life – don’t leave anyone out. Your family, friends, colleagues, your hairdresser, the person who sells you coffee every morning, your Facebook friends, the people in your gym classes, the courier who comes into your office - all it may take is you asking to convince someone to support the cause. Use the tools available when you’re logged in to your personal page to email all of these people and ask them to support you. Your donors will be able to receive tax receipts instantly when they donate online. Try and get email addresses for everybody, but in case you can’t reach someone by email, ask them to donate when you see them.

Follow Up
A good way to keep people involved in your journey is to send an update newsletter or e-mail to keep everyone informed of your fundraising progress. Don’t be shy to send a follow up email to those who haven’t donated, or better yet give them a call and ask them to read your email. People are usually happy to give, but they don’t always have time to give. A gentle reminder is a good way to catch people who were too busy the first time around.

Say Thank You
Be sure to personally thank each of your supporters for their contribution. A personal touch goes a long way.

Events
Events are a fantastic way to raise lots of money while having fun at the same time! Anything from a dinner party to an auction, from a bake sale to a yard sale, can be used as an opportunity to collect money toward your STWM fundraising goal. Learn more about community events that have been hosted in the past.

Still Have Questions?
Don’t hesitate to contact us at the Foundation Office at 416-756-6944 or at foundation@nygh.on.ca!