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Build Your Fundraising Skills
Use these simple rules to guide your fundraising and you are sure to be a success!
1. Make it clear why you are raising money
You are raising money to fund research to cure diabetes, and that’s something to be proud of! Tell everyone!
2. It’s easy to trade down; trading up is much more difficult.
Trading Down:
You: Will you sponsor me for $50?
Friend: My blood isn’t that rich.
You: Well, I’ll let you off the hook, then. How about $35?
Friend: That sounds better.
Trading Up:
You: Will you sponsor me for $25?
Friend: Okay.
You: Oh, well then how about $50?
Friend: No.
By trading down you, you end up with $10 more than you would have!
3. Tailor your pitch to meet your donor’s needs.
You might be thinking, “Gee, I’d really like one of those prizes that JDRF is offering if I reach my goal,” but that will only motivate your mother to support you.
Think about what is going to move other donors to reach for the checkbook.
To someone who is your close friend: “Will you please sponsor me?”
To someone with a diabetes connection, you say, “I’m raising money for JDRF so that we can fund a cure for your daughter/mother/aunt/etc. Will you sponsor me?
To someone who owes you money, “I’ll forgive that loan if you sponsor me for X.”
To someone you sponsored in last month in a ‘bowl-a-thon’, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to sponsor you for $50 last month. Will you return the favor to me?”
4. Ask for a specific dollar amount rather than letting the donor decide.
Fundraising is not a “one size fits all” effort. Ask for a specific when you know the person. Think about your donor, and then ask for an amount that is a stretch, but not impossible.
5. You have to ask for money to get money.
It’s on your shoulders to do the asking. Unless you hang out with a bunch of mind readers, you’ll have to tell them what they want and why.
6. “Maybe” or “I’ll think about it” doesn’t mean “No”. Only “No” means “No”!
If someone says that they have to “think about it”, give them something to think about! Let them know how JDRF funds research and why. Remind them of how good it will make them feel to help such a great organization. Let them know that more than 80% of JDRF's expenditures directly support research. Let them know about your personal fundraising goal, and you want them to be a part of that effort.
7. Make it as easy as possible for someone to give you money.
Utilize Walk Central where they can donate online.
Pick up checks for people.
Enclose a stamped envelope in the letters you send out.
If you are talking to someone directly, offer to take a check right then and there.
Let your family members and/or assistant know what you are doing so they can field messages for you.
8. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!
Follow up with the people who you have asked for support will help you “seal the deal”.
Things you can do to follow-up on a pledge request:
Call
Call again.
Stop by the person’s office and ask them what they’ve decided.
Ask is there any more information you can supply to that person.
9. The most important thing you can say is “THANK YOU”.
Whether someone tells you yes or no, you have the ability to accomplish something with a “Thank you”: you can either acknowledge their generosity and support, or you can leave the door open for next week or next year. Either way, you win, and so does JDRF.
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| The JDRF Walk staff will be happy to answer your questions. |
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| General |
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Greater Bay Area Chapter Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International 49 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 tel: (415) 977-0360 fax: (415) 977-0355 Site Map |