FUNDRAISING 101
Now that you’ve decided to fundraise for Ulman it’s time to shout it from the rooftops!
No stress – we created a four-step fundraising method to help you meet and exceed your goal.
R.A.R.A. Fundraising
Start by identifying your audience and story.
You gotta think BIG. From the moment you sign up, everyone becomes a potential donor. Take some time to sit down and create a list of people who may be willing to contribute to your efforts. We recommend you start with:
- Family and friends
- Current or former colleagues and classmates
- Your professional, volunteer, or religious networks
- Your social media connections
- Donors who have supported you in the past
Don’t be afraid to ask people who are outside of your community to support you. Almost everyone has been affected by cancer in some way.
Once you have brainstormed your list of potential donors, practice telling your story by asking yourself the following questions:
- What does the cancer community mean to me?
- Why did I make the commitment to fundraising for Ulman?
Our most successful fundraisers have one thing in common: they ask as many people as possible for support. Don’t be afraid to ask – from the moment you sign up and prepare, it’s time to start talking with potential donors!
Start by creating an email or mailing list of the people you identified in step one – a donor database. Then you’re ready to write your first fundraising email or letter. While drafting this letter, ask yourself the following questions:
- What is Ulman and where does the money go?
- Why am I fundraising?
- What is my fundraising commitment and how much progress have I made?
- How can a donor support me?
To see some examples of initial emails and letters, click the icon below.
As you fundraise you’ll encounter donors who are willing to donate but forget to follow through. That’s why it’s important to provide reminders to the people who have promised to support you.
Share an update on your progress to your goal at certain milestones – 25%, 50%, 75%. This is also a great opportunity to thank everyone who has already donated to your efforts, and offer a gentle reminder to those who haven’t yet.
As you approach your event or deadlines, share details about your experience so far and what you’re looking forward to. Remind potential donors of your overall fundraising goal and how much of an impact they’ve already had.
Sample:
Hi Vernon-
I just wanted to remind you about my 4K for Cancer journey this summer. Have you heard about the amazing work Ulman does? They are dedicated to changing lives by creating a community of support for young adults and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. Their programs like Cancer to 5K are truly life changing! And remember, 90% of every dollar donated goes directly back into their programming.
You can check out my fundraising page – and see why I’m dedicating my summer to fighting cancer. [INSERT PAGE LINK].Thanks for your support!
Petunia
As time-consuming as it can be, nothing is more important than taking the time to say thank you to all of the people who supported you this year. Always take the time to thank each donor in a personal way. Remember, you can access your donor information through your account login.
If you’re participating in an event or experience, provide updates to your donors throughout!
This is also a great opportunity to thank those that have supported you, and remind others there is still time to support you.
Sample:
Thank You!
Dear Brian,
I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for supporting my 4K for Cancer journey and Ulman’s mission. I certainly could not have done it without you!With the generous support of people like you, we are able to change the lives of countless young adults and their loved ones. We raised over $1,786! But this experience has gone beyond simply raising funds, it means so much to me how my community rallied together to help support this cause and you were a big part of that.
Again, thank you! Your support means so much to me and I truly appreciate your generosity.
Sincerely, Harry