Fund-Raising Ideas
The BP MS 150 is more than just a Bike Tour – it is a Bike Tour with a mission! Of the funds raised, 83 cents of every dollar is spent toward ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. The minimum pledge amount is $400, but the average participant goes above and beyond that amount and you can too!
Be Optimistic!
Excitement is contagious. It is important for potential sponsors to feel how enthusiastic you are about their sponsorship.
Be Committed!
When you raise funds for the National MS Society, you are directly helping people with MS and funding research for this unpredictable disease. Make the first pledge yourself. When your friends and family members see your name and contribution, they will see how serious you are.
Ask Anyone And Everyone!
Ask family and friends first. Once you have tackled the “easy ones,” branching out is simple as you ask clients, co-workers, clubs, anyone and everyone for pledges.
Ask For A Specific Amount!
Tell sponsors what your average pledge is and ask them to beat it!
Ask For Donations On Pay Day!
Timing is very important. It is just as important as who you ask.
Make A List Of Places Where You Spend Money!
Great places to solicit pledges are doctors' and dentists' offices, the dry cleaners, auto repair shops and your favorite restaurants!
Send Letters and E-mails!
Send an announcement of your plan to ride in the BP MS 150 Bike Tour to friends, business associates, church members, family and old acquaintances. Don’t forget company, organization and school newsletters. Ask for their support in writing.
Ask Vendors At Your Place of Business!
Coffee, paper, delivery service, copier technicians and everyone who wants to maintain that friendly “business relationship” are generally willing to make a pledge.
Double Your Pledges!
Contact your Human Resource Department to find out if your company has a corporate matching gift program. If it does, secure and complete a form to turn in with your pledges. This is an easy way to double your total. Encourage your sponsors to ask their companies for matching gift forms too.
Are You A Member Of A Civic Organization?
Ask to be placed on the agenda at the next meeting and ask the group to sponsor you.
Save Your Spare Change Everyday!
You will be surprised how quickly this spare change adds up and makes a terrific pledge to yourself!
Stay Motivated!
Keep in mind that pledges can help you earn fabulous prizes for going above and beyond the minimum pledge amount. More importantly, you’ll feel good knowing that you made a difference in the life of someone with MS.
Learn As Much As You Can About The National MS Society And MS!
Visit the chapter’s Web site at www.nationalmssociety.org/txh for additional information ranging from MS Research and Chapter and Clinical Programs to MS Clinics and much more!
It can be helpful to break your fund-raising process down into specific steps. As you complete each step, you draw closer to your fund-raising goal and helping thousands of people living with MS across Texas.
STEP 1: Identify your prospects
- Determine who to add to your list.
STEP 2: Select your approach
- Face-to-face: This is the best and most direct approach when you anticipate large pledges or when the opportunity presents itself. Approaching someone face-to-face is a more personable step that garners more positive results and support.
- Letter or e-mail: This can be one of the most efficient ways to reach a large quantity of prospects and convey important information. Remember to follow up with anyone who receives one of your letters or e-mails.
- Telephone: Calling someone is effective as a follow-up to a letter or e-mail if you are unable to approach face-to-face.
STEP 3: Craft the style of your message
- If you take a serious approach, discuss the mission of the National MS Society, the role of the BP MS 150 Bike Tour in helping the lives of 14,000 Texans living with MS and the importance of your goal for the 2006 Tour.
- A light and humorous approach can also be effective with family and close friends. It allows you to discuss the mission of the Society while adding your own personal flavor to the message.
- A combination of both approaches can be effective as well.
STEP 4: Select the format
- Form letter or e-mail: This simply means that the same letter or e-mail goes to every individual. If you are using this format, consider a mail merge to make your communications more personal.
- Personal letter or e-mail: This can be a much more effective approach than a form letter. A personal touch can make all the difference. By personalizing your message on an individual basis, you can emphasize particular aspects of the Society’s mission and your Tour participation that will appeal to your respective audience. Although this can be time consuming for long lists, the results are well worth it.
- Solicitation card: More simplified than a letter, a solicitation card provides an opportunity for a creative touch.
- Helpful hint: You can always personalize a form letter by adding a handwritten P.S. note.
STEP 5: Suggest the level of pledges
- Amount: Let donors know the amount of contribution you would like for them to consider.
- Aim high: Don’t underestimate the donor’s willingness to give.
The National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter is pleased to provide additional information or suggestions regarding any of the steps listed above. Do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist you.
Getting Your Co-Workers Involved
There are several ways to get your co-workers excited about the BP MS 150 Bike Tour. Sponsoring special events or activities at the office can inspire others to support your team. Possible activities and themes include:
- Dress Down Day: This is a great promotion for informal work environments. For a donation (such as $5 or more), an employee has the company’s approval to dress down for a specific workday. For added exposure, you can create buttons or stickers that advertise your team and its participation in the BP MS 150 Bike Tour. Employees can wear the buttons as their “official passes” for dressing down.
- Root Beer Float Party: Host a root beer float party in the break room. Invite everyone to attend as a way of thanking those who are supporting you and as an invitation to those who haven’t had the chance yet to make a donation. This is a quick way to raise proceeds, as well as an effective way to promote your team and recruit sponsors and riders. Be sure to invite senior management.
- Covered Dish Lunch: Ask co-workers to bring covered dishes for a lunch party. Charge a small fee (typically what they would pay for lunch at a local restaurant) as a donation to your team.
- Paper Bike Sale: Sell paper bicycle cutouts to fellow employees. Post these with the employees’ names on your office wall to show who has been supportive. This is a great way to use positive peer pressure to get everyone’s involvement.
- Office Competition: Does your office have a competitive spirit? If so, challenge another office or department to a fund-raising contest.
- Raffle a Day Off or Parking Spot: Ask the boss to donate a paid vacation day to the winner of a raffle. Sell the tickets for $5 - $10 each. For larger companies, you might stage a raffle for a covered parking space next to the door.
- Garage or eBay Sale: Team up with friends, neighbors and co-workers for new or used donated items. One person’s unused items are another person’s treasures. Whether you’re selling items on eBay or in person at a garage sale, this fund-raiser is sure to be a success.
- Bake Sale: This works well at the office or after church services.
- Rent a Person/Team: Offer yourself or your entire team for rent for a day. This can also work in a raffle. You can offer yourself and your team’s services for babysitting, cleaning, house sitting, lawn care, car washing and moving.
- Hold an Auction: Solicit local business for items and hold an auction. This can also be done online.
- Dinner Party: For a donation, treat your guests to a great dinner at your home.
- Road Rally Treasure Hunt: Charge a registration fee for each person. Organize a route with clues at each site for contestants to find the next stop. Establish a time limit and final meeting place.
- Polaroid Rally: This is an entertaining, perfect activity for a group of creative people. Have everyone pay a registration fee and bring a camera with 35 mm film. Digital, Polaroid and disposable cameras also work well for this activity. Create a list of unique items and places for each person to capture on film. Establish a start time and time limit. The first person or team to complete their objectives wins. For added fun, put the photos together afterward in a PowerPoint presentation to show how fun it is to be involved with your team.
