Fund-Raising Tips

Top 10 Fund-Raising Tips

Raising funds for Ride to Live is easy with all of the resources you have available! There are so many ways to reach out to your potential donors—decide which one works best for you. The downloadable Fund-Raising Guide and Fund Raising from A to Z are filled with information and tools to help get you started and help you reach your goals.

Every sponsor you sign up brings us one step closer to finding a cure for diabetes. Whatever methods you use, remember the ADA motto: "cure, care, and commitment."

1. Online Fund Raising: This is one of the easiest ways to do your fund raising—we've already created a personal page for you! Login to your Ride To Live Center to personalize your own personal and/or team page that prospective donors can view. Upload your e-mail list and send out your customized letters inviting potential sponsors to make an online credit card contribution. Your friends, family and co-workers can learn about why you are participating and make a secure donation in just a few clicks. A recent study of 625 nonprofits showed that participants raised an average of $327 online versus an average of only $55 offline.

2. Face-to-Face: Ask potential donors for a few minutes of their time so that you can talk without interruptions. Inform them about how contributions raised through Ride To Live will be used for diabetes research, education and advocacy programs and why your personal participation is important to you. Remember, you are not asking for the contribution for yourself, but for the more than 20 million American children and adults battling type 1 and type 2 diabetes every day.

3. Telephone: Be considerate and choose a good time to call. Before you pick up the phone, think about how you want to describe Ride To Live and why you are participating. Always end the call by saying thank you, regardless of the outcome.

4. Letter Writing: Personalize your letter with details about yourself and your reasons for riding. Remember your audience when crafting your letter—tailor it to fit friends, family, business owners, colleagues, etc. Contact Lirys Cullinan at 1-888-DIABETES, ext. 3034 for sample fund-raising letters.

5. Matching Gifts: Find out whether your company has a matching gift program. If so, your fund-raising efforts could easily be doubled. Always remember to ask your sponsors whether their companies will match their donations as well.

6. Brochure: Always carry your brochure and sponsor form wherever you go. You never know when you will run into a potential contributor!

7. Donor Amounts: Let your sponsors decide how much they wish to give in support of such an important cause. But don't limit yourself or them by asking for a smaller amount than they had in mind.

8. Businesses You Patronize: Ask the places you frequent for a donation—such as your hair stylist, dry cleaner, doctor, gym, coffee shop, favorite restaurant, etc.

9. ADA Ride To Live Gear: Promote your efforts for the cause by wearing your favorite Ride To Live t-shirt, patch or pin.

10. Acknowledgements: Always send a thank you note when you receive a contribution.

Please Contact Lirys Cullinan at 1-888-DIABETES, ext. 3034 or lcullinan@diabetes.org for more fund-raising tips and resources.