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Fundraising Ideas

You've signed up for the Janus Charity Challenge and are excited to start fundraising. But where do you begin?

Here are some ideas to inspire and assist your fundraising efforts!

Create and manage your personal fundraising webpage.
Once you have registered for the Janus Charity Challenge and entered your beneficiary’s information, create a personal fundraising page.  You can customize the page with a unique title and web address, a photo, your goal amount and your story.  Use the email center to send emails to family and friends directing them to your personal fundraising website to make online donations.  You have the ability to edit and manage your fundraising account, see who has donated online and register any offline contributions. 

Utilize the resources and expertise of your nonprofit. 
Engage your beneficiary and ask for their support and fundraising advice.  Send the nonprofit introduction letter provided under the Fundraising Tools tab to introduce them to the Janus Charity Challenge (be sure to update the template with your personal information).  The letter contains some suggestions on how they can help make you more successful.

Tell everyone you know and ask them to tell everyone they know. 
Reach out to as many people as possible and share your remarkable story.  Whether it’s by word of mouth, email or a letter, this is worth sharing!  The cardinal rule of fundraising is ASK, ASK, ASK!  If you don’t ask, people won’t donate.  The more people know, the more likely they will contribute to your efforts.

Build your network - engage your family and friends. 
Raising money can be a breeze with the help of your family and friends.  Ask a few people to help you brainstorm some ways they can help you fundraise.  Know someone who is a gourmet cook, graphic designer, jewelry maker?  Host a social function that includes a silent auction and auction off a homemade dinner for two, web design services or a one-of-a-kind necklace.  Other fundraisers such as a wine tasting, car wash, 5K fun run or yard sale won’t be as overwhelming with the help of your friends. 

Look for triathlete support. 
Contact your local triathlon club and ask them to support your fundraising efforts by including an article in their newsletter, letting you address the membership at the next meeting or having the club be your official sponsor.  Also, send a letter to the editor of your favorite triathlon publication sharing your story.  In all cases, include the link to your personal fundraising page.

Send a press release to your local newspaper. 
We have included two press release templates in this tool kit - one to help solicit donations and the other to report on your success post-race.  Simply fill in specific information about you and your charity and send it to your local newspaper.  If an article gets published, we’d love to hear about it.  Please send a copy to Janus, Attn: Janus Charity Challenge, 151 Detroit St, Denver, CO 80206.  Or if your article is published on line, send us the link and we will publish it on our News & Information page.

Look for local business support. 
Ask local businesses to donate a portion of proceeds from their sales on a particular day to support your charity.  They may also donate goods or services such as certificates, a hotel stay, dog grooming services, spa day, etc. for a silent auction. Or they may simply put out a donation canister next to their cash register.  Again, ASK, ASK, ASK!

Additional suggestions and fundraising ideas:

  • Take advantage of your employer’s matching gift program. Ask all of your donors to do the same.
  • Everyone is "going green" these days, so host a green fundraising program.  Offer to collect and recycle old ink cartridges, cell phones, or other items and collect a donation for your services.  Recycling companies often give money for items brought to their recycling centers.  Check out the Go Green websites below for more ideas.
  • Have a pool in your office to guess your race time. The person who comes closest to your actual time wins a portion of the pool.
  • If you have children, see if their class, girl/boy scout troop, youth group might operate a car wash, shovel snow/rake leaves as a service learning project.
  • Hold a benefit party at a local restaurant, bar, or nightclub where the business is willing to donate the cover charge for the evening to your organization. It's a win-win situation since the business benefits from the sales of food and drink.
  • Candy fundraisers are very successful events.  See the websites below that offer discounted candy and other treats that you can sell to your family and friends.  There are even some healthy options, below!
  • Ask auto dealerships to donate $10-25 to your beneficiary every time someone takes a test drive over the course of a day or week.
  • Arrange a training ride or run for friends, co-workers or a tri-club and ask for donations from those who participate.
  • If you're a handy man or woman, offer your services for a donation.  Painting, auto maintenance, bicycle repair, basic home maintenance are all useful services.
  • Walk the dog!  Lots of people need help taking care of their pets when they are at work or on vacation.  Offer to help out for a donation.
  • Tell people why you chose the organization you’re raising money for and share facts of interest. Donors will feel more connected to your cause after hearing your personal story.
  • Educate your donors and encourage them to learn more about your nonprofit by linking them to your beneficiary's website.
  • Set up a volunteer day at your nonprofit so your donors can see first-hand where their contributions are going.
  • If you send a letter to solicit donations, enclose a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.
  • Always send a thank you letter upon receipt of a donation.
  • Be sure to tell donors they can track your progress on race day by logging on to www.ironmanlive.com.

Helpful fundraising web sites:
http://www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com/
http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/
http://www.fundsraiser.com/fundraising-ideas.html
http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/
http://www.fundraising.com/
http://www.profitquests.com/FundraisingIdeas.html
http://www.fundraisingdeals.com/
http://www.fundraisingideas.com/
http://www.usafundraising.com/

Go Green Fundraising:
http://www.go-green-fundraising.com/
http://www.greenraising.com/
http://school.familyeducation.com/school-fundraising/38482.html
http://www.wirelessfundraiser.com/
http://globalre-sourcefunding.com/