Westside LA Team In Training - Summer 2009 Marathon & Half Marathon Team

Archive for the ‘fundraising’ Category

For some of you, recommitment is around the corner. I’ve been approached by some participants about some unique and exciting ideas for fundraising. Most of my ideas come from researching other TNT fundraising pages outside of LA, checking out fundraising forums, and researching how other nonprofit organizations fundraise. The information is definitely out there, but the tough part is figuring out where to look.

A great resource for fundraising ideas are various Team In Training related and running forums. Skimming through some of the following forums, I already picked up some unique and exciting ideas such as bowling nights, magnets, buttons, having a table at an auto dealership, gift card fundraisers, restaurant revenue shares, local business reviews, and much much more.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community Forums
This is the official Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraising Forum for Team in Training. This is HIGHLY recommended, and contains a lot of valuable fundraising information.

Facebook Team in Training Group Forums
This is a great resource for fundraising knowledge sharing from experienced and new Team in Training members. It seems to be updated with new topics and replies frequently, and reading some of the old archives are very helpful too.

MySpace Team in Training Group Forums
Topic threads don’t go very deep, but there’s pages and pages of topics which you can read through for many ideas.

Active Running Community – Fundraising Topic
This forum isn’t a Team in Training focused page, but you can use the same ideas and techniques from other nonprofit organizations. Not much going on here, but archives can also give you some great ideas.

You really have to take the time to read through some. I encourage you to also participate and contribute. Network with other TNT participants and alumni, meet some new friends, share ideas!

I’m sure you’ve read from different fundraising blogs and top lists about this idea of selling a piece of yourself. A bit weird? Sure, but it’s a pretty good fundraiser if you’re up to the task. Last year, Kim Willingham of the Georgia chapter of Team In Training let people write their names on certain body parts on raceday for a minimum $100 donation.

What parts?

• Right Arm
• Left Arm
• Right leg
• Left leg
• Right Breast
• Left Breast
• Right cheek
• Left cheek
• Belly
• Back

See how she did it here

I can’t remember the last time I received a written letter. Nowadays, people just e-mail, IM, or certain relatives would write their annual family update letters attached to their Christmas cards. I do remember the days of junior high or high school when I would receive letters from friends telling me how bored they were in class, hear about the gossip of who like who, or just to simply keep in touch. Are those days gone?

Here’s an interesting and inspiring piece on Peyton Manning, who actually writes letters to his peers. I bet you didn’t know that?

Some people who go through Team in Training don’t think about continuing to write their letters and sending them through the post office after the free postage incentive. Sure it may cost a little more, but if you think about it, if you flipped the cards and you were on the person receiving the letter, wouldn’t you appreciate a nice letter? A fully hand-written letter might be the most effective, but a well written typed letter with a signature is just as great. Don’t just use the pre-made template – customize it, and actually update them with what has been going on in your life. Including a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) helps too. If anything, you’ve reconnected with someone.

If you want more tips on letter writing (and other great fundraising ideas), here’s a great post on letter writing on a really useful TNT blog called, Sweating for Fun and Profit – 5 Tips to a Successful Fundraising Letter

Most of us will go into the LLS eFundraising Admin area (where you go to update your TNT fundraising page) and not notice certain features. We most likely just check who donated, or edit our fundraising page with a weekly update or photo. Have you clicked on the “Fundraising Tips” tab to the left of “Personalize Pages”? There’s a simple widget on there in which you can scroll through different fundraising ideas.

Here’s one that I didn’t know about:
“Three times a year, Whole Foods will hold “5% Days” (or Community giving Days). They will donate 5% of that day’s total sales to a local non-profit organization. Contact the Marketing Director at the nearest Whole Foods Market.”

Did you know that?

Log in to LLS eFundraising and check it out for yourself!

1. Sell TNT purple bracelets. Buy a bag of 80 for $32.00 and sell them for whatever price you deem reasonable. Whatever profit you make can go to your fundraising.
2. Place a bucket with a TNT sign on it at your local laundromat, pizza joint, lunchroom at work, etc. Stop by and pick up the $ weekly.
3. A list of people you may have forgotten to hit up for $25 each: your dentist, dry cleaner, hairdresser, pharmacist, doctor, real estate agent, accountant, veterinarian, attorney, sorority/fraternity/band alumni, mechanic, financial advisor, all the other soccer moms on your kid’s team, insurance agent, lawn service company, your shrink, professors, home owners association members, the employees of other companies in your office building (put up a sign in their lunchroom!), people in your aerobics class, etc.
4. Ask Diddy Riese Cookies (or your local cookie place) to donate a box of cookies to you. Bring the cookies around your office or school and sell them for a $1 each or any suggested donation.
5. Restaurant programs: (we know Applebee’s, Coldstone Creamery, Islands and BJ’s Pizzeria have programs too…but they don’t have it on their websites).
   • They will give you 10-25% of the night’s profits if you help publicize.
   • Ruby’s diner: www.rubysdiner.com/diners/fun_raiser.html
   • Baja Fresh: www.bajafresh.com go to “Live Fresh" and click on "fundraising."
   • Souplantation: http://www.souplantation.com/Community/
6. Paramount TV show tapings: Take 35 people to a TV show taping.. Paramount will write you a check for $500

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