Thank You for Creating a Fundraising Page

Welcome and Thank You!

Thank you for choosing to give your time and energy to help make our Support-A-Walk for Breast & Ovarian Cancer a success. We are so grateful for your help! The purpose of this blog is to share some ideas and tips to make it easier for you to help us make this year's Walk the best one ever!

The Support-A-Walk has TWO important missions: To raise funds needed for the FREE help Support Connection gives to those whose lives have been turned upside down by breast or ovarian cancer; and to bring attention to the needs of people affected by these diseases. Our hope is that one day there will be no need for such events, but until that time, Support Connection's goal is that no one should walk this path alone.


Monday, September 28, 2015

Last Week: This Is It!

Hello Firstgiving fundraisers! This is the FINAL week before our 21st Annual Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer on October 4th. Now, more than ever, we need you to make the most of your online fundraising page!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your page will accept donations even after the Walk! So DON'T STOP until you reach your fundraising goal!

Here's what your fundraising enables us to offer:
  • Personalized support and information from our professional Peer Counselors who are cancer survivors.
  • Monthly support groups where women share and help one another.
  • Wellness programs (like yoga, meditation) to enhance healing and well-being.
  • Educational forums with experts offering up-to-the-minute info on cancer treatment and health.
  • We also help family members and friends, and educate the public.
  • There is no other organization in the Hudson Valley offering this array of services. Plus, we help people nationwide via our toll-free number. AND we do NOT receive funds from any national cancer organizations. So, we NEED your support! 
LAST MINUTE FUNDRAISING TIPS:

DID YOU DONATE? You can donate to YOUR OWN fundraising page! For other ways to donate, click here. 

NOT SURE HOW TO FIND YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE?  Click here and search for your name.

SEND EMAILS THROUGH YOUR USUAL EMAIL ACCOUNT: Email everyone in your address book: 
  • Write a note about your reasons for fundraising. Don't know what to say?  Click here for some ideas. 
  • "Copy and paste" the URL (page address) of your Firstgiving page into your email. The URL is at the top of YOUR page, and looks like this: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser.... The people who receive your email will click the link, see your page, and donate.
SEND EMAILS THROUGH FIRSTGIVING: Firstgiving has great email tools. There are 2 options: 
  1. SIGN IN to your account at Firstgiving.com and click "Edit." Then select "send your page via email." Follow the steps to add or select email addresses and send your messages! 
  2. OR: While viewing YOUR fundraising page, click the Email icon at the top, then simply create your email. If you use Gmail, Yahoo, AOL or Hotmail, you'll find easy shortcuts.
ASK FOR DONATIONS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKED IN: There are 2 ways to share on Facebook and Twitter: 
  1. SIGN IN to your account at Firstgiving.com and select "Edit." You'll find easy-to-use options here for Facebook and Twitter. 
  2. OR: While viewing YOUR fundraising page, click the icons at the top for LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
CASH AND/OR CHECKS: Send or bring them to our office: Support Connection, 40 Triangle Center, Suite 100, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Use our Collection Form to keep track. You can list them as OFFLINE donations on your page; if we receive donations in our office that are not yet listed, we'll add them for you.

TEAM SPIRIT AWARDS: It's now or never to win a Team Spirit Award!  Click here for details.

TO ENTER OUR "MOST CREATIVE TEAM SIGN OR BANNER" CONTEST: Bring your banner or sign to the Team Photo tent for judging. We just need to see the sign or banner! Winner to be announced that day, when the Walk is over.
  
Thank you!   

Friday, September 18, 2015

It's Almost Here! The Direct Approach


Hello Firstgiving fundraisers! We're now less than TWO WEEKS AWAY from the 21st Annual Support-A-Walk on October 4th.That means it's time to be direct about asking people to donate. It's not too late!!
 
We rely on YOU to help us reach our fundraising goal! The funds you raise enable our Peer Counselors to provide year-round support to those living with breast and ovarian cancer.Your donations will make a difference in many lives. 

THE DIRECT APPROACH: Send out reminders and spread the word! People forget even when they really want to help. Here are some tips: 

THE POWER OF 20: If only 20 people donate $20 each, that's $400! Let everyone know their donation makes a difference. Tell them WHY this is important to you - what drives you to raise funds. 

SEND OUT EMAILS:  Email every person in your personal email account. Write a note about why you're fundraising. "Copy & paste" the URL or page address of your Firstgiving page. (It's at the TOP of your page, and looks like this: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser....) Your friends and family can click the link, see your page and donate.  For a sample email click here.

SEND EMAILS THROUGH FIRSTGIVING: Firstgiving has great email tools: While viewing YOUR fundraising page, click the Email Icon at the top, then simply create your email. (If you use Gmail, Yahoo, AOL or Hotmail, you'll find easy shortcuts!) OR: SIGN IN to your account at Firstgiving.com, select "Edit," then "Send your page via email." Follow the steps to add email addresses and send your messages! 

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Share your page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other places you keep in touch with people. A few friendly reminders will encourage them to join your efforts. While viewing YOUR fundraising page, look at the top left to find share buttons for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. OR: SIGN IN to your account at Firstgiving.com, select "Edit," then "Post your page" on Facebook or Twitter. 

TEE-SHIRTS:If you've earned a Walk tee-shirt ($50 for the first shirt, $25 for each additional shirt) you need to pick it up at the office before the Walk. Click here for office hours. Share this with your Team Members too.


Thank you!

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Keep the Momentum Going

Our 21st Annual Support-A-Walk on October 4th is LESS THAN three weeks away! We are so grateful for your support of our free services and programs. We do NOT receive funds from Relay for Life, the Avon Walk, Making Strides, Susan G. Komen, or any other national groups. By raising funds for our Support-A-Walk, you enable us to help countless women and their families cope with breast & ovarian cancer!

Now's the time to keep the momentum going! Here are some tips to help boost your fundraising:

Keep It Simple: Send an email from your own email account (Outlook, AOL, Gmail, etc.) asking friends and family to donate. Tell them the address of your fundraising page (It's at the TOP of your page, and looks like this: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser....) Keep your email short and simple! Need ideas on what to say? Click here!  

Tell A Story: Personalize your page with a photo and a little bit about why you're passionate about our cause. Your page will speak for itself. To see a great example, look at Maria's page

Share on Social Media: Share your page on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. A few friendly reminders will encourage people to join your efforts. There are TWO ways to do this: 
  1. While viewing YOUR fundraising page, you'll see share buttons on the top left for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Email. 
  2. OR....SIGN IN to your account at Firstgiving, then select "Edit" to find additional sharing tools.
Let Our Videos And Audio Speak For You: Let people SEE and HEAR what the Walk is like and why it's important!  Share this 30-second message from Karen, one of our Walk Ambassadors: http://tinyurl.com/messagefromKaren, just copy and paste this web address into your emails.   Or share our YouTube videos.

Your Email Signature: Add your fundraising page address to your email signature, along with a message (e.g. "I'm raising funds for breast and ovarian cancer support - please donate!") Your message is now in every email you send. It's a simple way to remind people!
  
Thank you!    

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

The Art of Gentle Reminders



Hello Firstgiving fundraisers! We're now about THREE WEEKS AWAY from the Support-A-Walk on October 4th. That means it's time to remind family and friends about your fundraising.

As of right now, we have 103 fundraising pages. Of those, only 59 pages (or 57%) have received donations. Remember: The funds you raise enable our Peer Counselors to provide year-round support to those living with breast & ovarian cancer. We rely on your donations-we can't do it without you!

How long ago did you send your email asking for donations? The people you reached out to may have put it in their "to do" pile and left it there! It's time to send a gentle reminder about the Walk and your fundraising efforts. Our most successful fundraisers give family & friends plenty of chances to donate.

Here's an example of what you might say:

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a great summer. I want to give you a brief update on my efforts to raise funds for the Support-A-Walk. So far, I've raised $__ but I still have a ways to go to reach my goal of $___. I'm hoping you'll help by making a donation.

With our help, Support Connection can continue to change lives by providing FREE support services to those living with breast and ovarian cancer. They can't do it without us.

To donate, click on this link for my fundraising page: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/etc... It really is quick and secure. Thank you in advance for your help!

Feel free to personalize this message. The point is: Remind people you need their help!

Didn't send any emails yet? This is a perfect time to start! For a sample email asking for donations, click here.


"Offline Donations": Some people prefer to donate by cash or check. That's fine!! Track these donations with our collection form then bring or send to Support Connection, 40 Triangle Center, Suite 100, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Or, tell people to send to us directly. You can add these funds to your Firstgiving page as "offline donations." Need help? Contact us: 914-962-6402 or walk@supportconnection.org


Have you come close to your fundraising goal? That's fantastic, THANK YOU! Consider increasing your goal. Whatever your goal, let everyone know you really want to reach or exceed it.


Thank you!