Tips
- Have the sponsorship letter from your acceptance package with you when you approach people for sponsorship. It gives you credibility and gives them an accurate summary of what the project is about. You can put all your info in a neat presentation folder for people to read or you can make copies of the letter to leave with people.
- If you get questions from someone that you are unable to answer, please don’t guess at the answer or just say “I don’t know.” Reply with, “I don’t have the answer to that question right now, but I will find out and get back to you as soon as possible.” Email or phone us and we’ll give you the scoop on what to say.
- Use wisdom when choosing your fundraisers. Some fundraisers may not be appropriate for your area. For example, it may not be a good idea to host a carwash in February if you live in an area where the average temperature is -35.
- If someone asks for our contact information, please give them our address, email and/or toll-free number.
- Present yourself well. Know your facts. Be confident. Don’t be intimidated! Easier said than done sometimes, but we know you can do it!
- When submitting payments to our office, make sure you include your name with any correspondence to ensure that everything gets placed in the proper file.
- Start your fundraising early. You will avoid a lot of stress and worry. If you wait until the last minute, you might miss out. We really don’t want that to happen to anyone.
- Don’t forget to say thank you! You should send all your sponsors a thank you card after the trip to let them know how much you appreciate their investment.
Fundraising Ideas
- Garage/Yard Sale. Have friends and family donate items for a sale.
- Shave a head. Is there someone your school would love to see without any hair? This fundraiser has the potential to raise a large amount in a short time. If you raise a set amount, someone whom you have chosen will shave their head, maybe even their eyebrows!
- Carwash. Get your friends on board and set up a car wash at your local gas station, with the manager’s approval of course. You could have a set price or just go for donations.
- Raffles. Find or make something worth having. Sell tickets for that item. It might be an autographed picture of someone famous, season tickets, etc. You might be able to get things donated to raffle.
- Something-a-Thon. Walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon, skip-a-thon, read-a-thon and other “marathons” are popular events. Have participants collect pledges for your event based on the number of hours danced, miles walked, etc…
- Sell a Kilometre. Divide the number of return kilometres to your destination by the amount the trip will cost. This is the cost per kilometre. People can fund as many kilometres of your trip as they like. Keep track of your fundraising progress with a map of your round-trip route. As you raise money, mark off the distance covered by the sponsors. FYI: Toronto to Sosua is approximately 3200 km.
- Have a silent auction.Get local businesses to donate products for a tax receipt equal to the goods donated and then go nuts! Jazz it up as much as you like. Have food for sale, a band and have a multi-media Hero Holiday presentation.
- Charity benefit concert.Do you know a band that would be willing to donate a free concert?
- Community Work. Advertise in newspapers or by posters/flyers that on a particular day you will be available to do odd jobs in the community. The fee would be whatever people would like to pay. Give phone numbers for interested people to call.
- Local Businesses/Corporations.Businesses are always looking for worthwhile projects to partner with through sponsors or donations. Use the letter on Hero Letterhead that can be used to secure corporate sponsors. Photocopy the letter as many times as necessary.
- City Council. This is a great place to go for sponsorships. Sometimes there is even a stockpile of grant money available for times such as these. Worth checking out!
- Newspaper articles. Didn’t you always want your name in print? Well, here’s your chance. Local newspapers are always looking for great stories from local people. Approach your local newspaper with a story about Hero Holiday that they can’t refuse. If the newspaper wants to contact us for clarification or a press release, please give them our contact information.
- Bring out the Italian in you!Host a spaghetti dinner and sell tickets.
- In lieu of Christmas.This is a brave one! Instead of Christmas presents, let all the gift-givers know that you would appreciate a donation to your trip instead of the usual gifts.
- Friends and Family. Go after the people who love you the most! Remind them that if they sponsor you and make the cheque out to Absolute, they will be given a charitable donation tax receipt for 50% of the donation.
Check out these “Canada-friendly” fundraising websites…
www.fundraiser.com
www.efundraising.com
www.fundraisingweb.org
www.justfundraising.com