Fundraising Tips
Research shows that most people give simply because they were asked! Your friends and loved ones genuinely want to help out and support you. Plus, once you register, we provide email templates to make it easy to share your fundraising page and ask for help to reach your goal.
1. Make your fundraising personal.
Customize your Participant Center! From there, you can upload a profile picture and tell people why you are fundraising - maybe tell the story of the animal who inspires you!
2. Use our template email messages.Your Participant Center has tons of messages to get your creativity flowing: edit and send them via email, or copy them into your social media or text. You can do this!
3. Make the Walk & Wag logo your Facebook profile picture!
4. Handwrite letters. EVERYBODY loves a handmade letter in the mail! Personalize it with details about yourself and the reasons you are Walking & Wagging; you could even include pictures of your pets! Consider enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope to make things easier for them (you'll find your response rate is much better).
5. Modify Your Email Signature. Include a link to your Walk & Wag page in your email signature, like this:
Fluffy McScruff, Manager of Tail Wagging, ph. 555.111.2222
I'm Walk & Wagging this year! Support me and thousands of homeless animals by making a tax-deductible donation at [Insert link to your Walk & Wag page]
6. Get goofy and creative!
Entice people with rewards. Known for your baking? Offer cookies for donations of $50 or more. Have something valuable you don't need? One previous Walk & Wagger gave away football tickets to his largest contributor of the day. Have a talent, like photography, painting, yard work, singing, writing poetry, etc? Or maybe you'd rather do something silly like shave your head, dye your hair blue, wear your clothes backwards, or send photos of your dressed-up pet to anyone who donates to your page! Or get your coworkers involved: for a $5 donation, you’ll send a cute animal photo with every email for a day. Or organize a $5 “Zoom in your PJs” day at work!
7. Take advantage of significant dates. Is it your birthday? Your pet's birthday? The anniversary of your wedding, engagement, or the day you adopted your pet? Ask friends to help you celebrate by donating to your page!
8. Keep asking. It's true, and we've seen it year after year: the more emails you send, the more social media posts you make, the more donations you'll get. Use the easy templates in your Participant Center, or make your own! And remember to follow up: people are often happy to donate, but simply forget and need a reminder.
9. Ask businesses you patronize. Ask the places you frequent for a donation. You support your hair stylist, dry cleaner, doctor, coffee shop, etc; they will be happy to support you!
10. Does your company offer a matching gift? Ask your human resources person; matching gifts are a great way to double the money you raise! If you have questions, contact us at development@hshv.org.
11. Say THANKS! Always send a thank you note or email when you receive a donation. We make it easy; you'll find a thank you template in your Participant Center under the "Email" tab! Or, you can promise hand-written thank-you's to encourage more people to donate to your page.
