Fundraising Tools

In the past ten years, twenty thousand AIDS Marathon participants have raised $80 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS. Now, it’s your turn.

For many AIDS Marathoners, training for a marathon is the hardest part. But for others, raising hundreds or thousands of dollars is the bigger challenge. If you’re in this second camp, don’t worry. Our experienced staff is here to help and show you how it’s done. Consider them your fundraising coaches – they’ll help you design a successful fundraising plan.

Where Do I Begin?
When people you know find out that you are training for a marathon and raising money to fight one of the worst plagues in modern history, they’ll be excited to support you. But first, you must tell them what you are doing and ask for their help.

The basic rule of fundraising is very simple: To raise money, you must ASK for it.

But if asking people for a donation makes you uncomfortable, think of it this way: When you ask someone for a contribution, you are providing him or her with the opportunity to support this cause and make an important difference, while adding meaning to their life.

Most Americans donate to charity every year, so you're not asking for anything that unusual. Our average donation is about $100. Some people can give more while others will give less. And every donation is welcome and appreciated. But keep in mind that it's much less work to get 25 people to donate $100 than it is to ask 100 people for $25. And if your boss will start you off with $1,000, you'll be well on your way.

The more people you ask, the more contributions you will receive. So the first step is to make a list of everyone you know and then decide how you want to approach them.

Who Do I Ask?
Go ahead and make a list of everyone you know. Don’t just write down those who you think would donate, but instead, list everyone you can think of. Include your friends (both your friends and friends of the family), relatives (be sure include all those distant cousins and in-laws), neighbors (both new and old), co-workers, clients, former classmates, doctor, dentist, lawyer, barber or hair dresser, manicurist, dog walker, PTA members, and the list goes on. Your list may include 100 or more names. The more, the better.

Ways To Ask
There are several ways to ask for money: You can send letters or emails, you can pick up the phone, or you can ask them in person. While a phone call or in-person request is usually the most effective way to ask for a donation, for most of our participants, sending out a large number of letters and/or emails is the easiest way to reach everyone they know. Here is a list of the most common ways our participants have used to raise money.

1. Fundraising Letter
Many of our participants have been enormously successful with a fundraising letter campaign. People so rarely get letters these days (other than junk mail!), so sending a piece of real mail will make a positive impression. A followup phone call or email will improve your results as well.

Remember to personalize your letter as much as you can -- it’s so much nicer than a form letter. Of course, you’ll want to talk about the AIDS Marathon Training Program and the organization it is benefiting. Explain why support is needed for people living with HIV/AIDS; tell them what marathon or half marathon you will be participating in; talk about the number of miles you will be logging; and mention your personal reasons for participating. You will also want to include your individual AIDS Marathon Donor Form and return envelope. The Donor Form allows your supporters the option of contributing by credit card or check, and the return envelope makes it easy for them to do so. A nice touch is to put a postage stamp on all the return envelopes; then all they have to do is write the check and stick the envelope in the mail. For close friends and family, you might also want to attach a note (“Here’s what I’ve been up to.”) that makes it that much more personal.

Your letter can also mention the web address of your individual AIDS Marathon fundraising page. Nowadays, many people prefer simply to go online and make their contribution.

2. Fundraising Email
Email is another great way to reach a large group of people quickly and easily. If you know that many of your potential supporters are technologically sound and internet savvy, email is a good way to reach them. Just upload your email addresses to your individual AIDS Marathon webpage and then send an email to all those in your address book. The email should have a link to your individual AIDS Marathon fundraising page, which you can customize with your own photo and personal message. Your AIDS Marathon webpage is also where you can go to track your donations and follow your fundraising progress. 

3. Fundraising Party
Throwing a fundraising party is a great way to get all your friends together, tell them about your participation in the AIDS Marathon Training Program, and inspire them to support this important cause. A fundraising party can be a simple get-together, like a barbecue or wine tasting in your backyard, or a more elaborate event that might include entertainment, a raffle, or silent auction. Your AIDS Program Rep can help you with more ideas on how to make your party a success.

4. Community Events
A great way to fundraise is to reach out to your local community. By involving individuals and businesses in your community, you will be raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and raising money at the same time. You can have a car wash at a local gas station, ask a local restaurant to donate a percentage of one night’s proceeds (and ask all of your friends to come), or hold a yard sale. Involving your community is a great way to spread the word that HIV/AIDS is still affecting so many people and that we must join together to help fight this tragic disease. 

More Fundraising Tools
AIDS Marathon Fundraising Workbook -- The AIDS Marathon Staff has created a great resource to help participants reach their fundraising goals. The Fundraising Workbook should be your first stop when creating your fundraising plan. The Workbook will lead you step by step to create a plan that will work best for you. If you know a lot of people, it will help you focus on a strategy that involves your friends, family and co-workers. If you are new to a city and don’t yet have a lot of contacts in the area, the Workbook will help you create a plan that utilizes more community events that will draw donations from those in your area that you don’t already know. Whatever your fundraising experience (or lack thereof!), the AIDS Marathon Fundraising Workbook is a great tool to help you develop a plan that will work for you!

And don’t forget about your best resources – your AIDS Marathon Program Rep! Please do not hesitate to call or email your Program Rep to schedule a one-on-one fundraising meeting. He or she can help you create a personalized fundraising plan that will insure your success!