Fundraising

Thank you for your participation in the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware’s Delaware Mud Run. Your team/individual participation as a mudder makes you a valuable part of the journey toward finding a cure for cancer. Your dedication, hard work, and passion shine through all your fundraising work and we thank you! We hope this handbook gives you new ideas and helpful hints as you get ready for this year’s Delaware Mud Run Jr.

Introduction

Whatever your fundraising efforts, remember to promote them as a benefit for the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware. Use these ideas from around the country as a starting point for your own creativity.

Creatively use your internal communication at your work, school, intermural sports, child’s boy scout/girl scout meetings, the gym or church… the possibilities of where you interact are endless! Every organization and community is different. That’s why it’s important to choose fundraising activities that work for your culture and community guidelines. Consider doing several kinds of events. Just make sure that they are convenient for participants, easy to take part in and FUN.

Emphasize what’s in it for the participant, be enthusiastic and remember to keep the FUN in fundraising!

Why is the Money I Raise Important?

The need is critical: Leukemia is the leading cause of disease-related death among children under the age of 20. An estimated 957,902 people in the United States are living with or are remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or myeloma. Because of research, the overall five-year survival rate for leukemia patients have tripled in the past 40 years. 100% of funds raised to support all LRFDE events are used to fund research efforts in order to find a cure.

Did You Know?

Every four minutes, someone in this country is diagnosed with blood cancer?
Every 10 minutes, someone dies.
Leukemia is the leading cause of death among children under age 20.
Lymphomas are the most common blood cancers and incidence increases with age.
The myeloma survival rate is only 37%.
Critical treatment innovations have originated through blood cancer research – radiation, chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and new targeted therapies.
Nearly 50% of all FDA approved cancer drugs in the past decade were for blood cancer. Many are now being tested for other cancers and illnesses.

TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LRFDE MUDDER FUNDRAISER:

Believe in yourself and NEVER assume that someone will not donate. Ask everyone that you know and meet to support your fundraising efforts by making a tax-deductible donation to the LRFDE. You have to ask, or you will never know if someone is willing to give.
Develop an understanding of the devastation caused by Leukemia and other blood cancers.
Communicate the success that the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware has experienced in its quest to cure blood cancers, share information about the research grants the LRFDE has made to local and national facilities such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and A.I DuPont Center for Pediatric Cancer Research in order to help support their programs to improve the quality of lives of blood cancer patients and their families.
Share your conviction that every gift that you secure will make a difference in the battle against blood cancers…any amount will make difference.
Make a commitment to ask everyone – friends, family, etc… – To join you in supporting the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware.
Thank your donors in a heartfelt and timely fashion.

Top 10 Fundraising Tips

10 – Do not think of fundraising as asking for money, you are asking as an advocate for those in need. By raising funds for the LRFDE you are making a difference in the lives of cancer patients!

9 – Don’t discount anyone. Even if you haven’t spoken to Dear Aunt Mildred or Great Uncle Ned for a while, it’s never too late to resume contact by telling them about your involvement with the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware and the Delaware Mud Run. Many people will be excited to learn about your efforts and support the cause.

8 – You and your teammates are a “mini –committee” to reach your goal. Use those that are close with you and ask to share their contacts, send out letters on your behalf, help plan a fundraising event/party, or find raffle prizes.

7- You don’t need to know all of your potential donors; it’s OK to accept donations from people you don’t know. Just remember to THANK them. By carrying fundraising letters everywhere, many participants have received donations in the local grocery store, apartment buildings or even at a restaurant while having dinner.

6 – Ask your teachers, coaches, or managers or work associates.

5 – The best way to fundraise is to use a combo of technique, including a fundraising letter, a fundraising event/party, work involvement, school involvement, and online fundraising.

4 – START EARLY!

3 – Make sure your use your social networking contacts – Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and any other online network you may belong to – to let people know about your participation in the Delaware Mud Run and how they can support your efforts.

2 – The Delaware Mud Run is an event that allows people to experience the joy of helping others through YOU. When you participate in the DMR, you represent not only patients; you also represent all those who donated to your campaign. Make sure everyone realizes that their contribution lasts much longer than the 30 seconds it takes to write a check. Mention your efforts whenever possible – you never know when someone has $20 or even $.50 burning a hole in their pocket.

1 – AND the number – one fundraising tip is … ASK, ASK, ASK.

Email Outreach

Email is an incredibly effective fundraising tool, reaching people near and far. In an email, you can share personal stories and facts about why the fight against leukemia and other blood cancers is important. Be sure to include the link to your team fundraising page, this way donors can easily contribute on line as well as see you progress. Emails can also be easily shared with others… Bottom Line: EMAIL WORKS!

Facebook and Twitter

Facebook and Twitter aren’t the only social media tools, but they are the most powerful for fundraising. On Facebook, you can reach family, friends, teammates, friends of your teammates or even co-workers. On Twitter you can reach the WORLD!

Workplace Giving

Fundraising at work can be a very rewarding experience for you. It can help build relationships between you and other staff members, help your team meet/exceed their fundraising goal and give you an opportunity to share the things you and your teammates care most about. Fundraising at work also gives you a chance to showcase you and your teammates talents and dedication to a cause.

Beyond the Water Cooler

Ask your company to sponsor your team. Wearing a company t-shirt while you do the mud run gives your company great exposure!
Find out about matching gift policies. Some companies will MATCH employee fundraising or match the donations made by other employees. This is a great way to double or even triple your team’s fundraising power.
Make a donation jar and put it on your desk and tell your coworkers what you are fundraising for. Pair it with a bowl of candy and ask your coworkers to drop some change in each time they take a piece. It will add up …. Especially if you and your teammates all do it at work…ask your spouse or significant other to do the same!

Business Donations

There are lots of ways to approach local business, but the most direct way is to just ASK. Think about the local shops you go to every week, on
daily basis or that you may know the owners of; café’s, deli’s, dry cleaners, pizza shops, hair salons or clothing stores. Bring in a fundraising letter that you would send to a friend or family member, but personalize it for the business or ask if they would be willing to put out donation jar on the counter or near the front of the store that you made. When Customers walk in and out of the business they will see it.