Fund Raising Idea #13.....Bowling for Bucks....Host a bowling fund raiser.  Talk with a local bowling alley and be sure and tell them what you are doing!  Do not be afraid to ask for a discount in exchange for promoting their business with this event.  Rent several lanes and charge your bowlers a fee to cover that cost and a bit more that will go to your team.  Make this fun, not a hard-core tournament.  Offer certificates or prizes for most strikes, most gutter balls, lowest score.  Ask if you can bring cupcakes or some type of food to sell.  If not, ask if the owner will be willing to donate a small percentage of the money that people spend at the concession stand.  Another element to add.....a raffle.  Ask the bowling alley if they will donate several games of bowling.  Sell raffle tickets for this prize.  There are many things you can do at this event to raise money.....just be creative!  One more idea....have a tournament for kids, or include the kids.  Most bowling alleys have the ability to put in the gutter guards for the little ones and they love it!

Fund Raising Idea #12......A No-Show Tea!!!.....Below is an example of a letter that you can mail out, with a tea bag!  The idea is that people are very busy, and maybe do not have time to attend a fund raiser, or do not want to buy something.  You are asking for money, but with a cute "spin" on it!  Give it a try.....the cost is not too great, but remember, make the letter nice and personalize it.  Be sure and put your name and address if they would like to mail you a check and be sure and include the link to your personal page and tell the recipient that they can visit your page and make a donation as well.

You are cordially invited 
to take part in 
A NO-SHOW BENEFIT TEA 
for (your team/your name)

  

Mindful of the busy lives caring people lead, 
The ______________ Relay for Life Team invites you not to go anywhere but to stay home, prop up your feet, sip tea, relax, renew, refresh, and reflect with the knowledge you are  you are helping find a cure for cancer.   

  Because of your commitment to comfort and no fuss, you sensibly stayed home and sipped tea...relaxed...renewed...refreshed...reflected! 
 
Please enjoy your tea and visit my personal Relay for Life page at

www.main.acsevents.org/goto/________________

Or you can mail a check maid out to Relay for Life to:

______________________________

Fund Raising Idea #11......Dog Sitting...Dog Walking.....A great idea for our youth participants!  Maybe your neighbors are going to be out of town for Spring Break and you are staying home!  Offer to maybe walk their dogs, get their mail, etc.....in exchange for a donation to your Relay efforts! 

 

Fund Raising Idea #11....is actually the number one way to raise money.  It is also the easiest way to raise money.  I talked about this at the kick-off meeting, but if you missed the meeting....please know that it is soooo easy to ask for money via email.  Go to your personal page and log in.  Click on My Participant Center, then click on EMAIL.  You can then click on Ask for A Donation.  Now - here is the trick.....make it personal.  They have a TON of information in the email and please, feel free to write what YOU want.  I make mine short and sweet. Let's face it - people are busy and they want to get to the heart of the matter - which is....you are participating in Relay for Life and raising money to help American Cancer Society find a CURE.  There are all kinds of ways to import your mailing lists, but you do NOT want me to try and tell you how to do that :)  But....go for it - send out those emails.  Ask.  The number one reason that people say they do not donate????  They were not asked.  And, always stress that every little bit helps - the minimum online donation is only $10.00  And....it all adds up and it adds up to helping find a cure.

Fund Raising Idea #10.......It's cold outside, perfect time for Chili....host your own Chili Cook Off.  You can do it on any scale that you like.  Example... invite 10 couples over and ask them to bring their favorite chili and a donation (say $20) for your team.  Everyone can taste and vote on their favorite chili.  For very little money, you can buy prize ribbons at a party store!  Ask everyone to email you their recipes in advance, and type up a little "cookbook" to give everyone as a gift to take home.  (Be sure and also put your Relay web site on the recipe "book" in case they would like to make a donation). You provide drinks and whatever you would like to serve with the chili.  You would be surprised at how eager people are to do fun things and socialize in different ways and they don't mind making a donation for a good cause.  So...there you go, you have a great chili dinner and have made money for your team!

Fund Raising Idea #9.....Do you have a birthday coming up between now and Relay?  How about asking your friends and family to make a birthday donation to you!  What a great way to help American Cancer Society tell folks about the new theme this year "Imagine a World with More Birthdays".  If you are having a birthday party, put out a donation jug and ask your birthday party buddies to throw some donations your way!!!  And....have a Happy Birthday knowing you are helping to Imagine a world with more BIRTHDAYS!!!

 

How to enter an offline donation.....An offline donation is money that you have earned that has NOT been put on your web site with a credit card.  Say you host a movie night and have made $100 in cash.  Wondering what to do with it?  Go on your personal Relay page and log in.  When the choices of what to do come up, click on Edit Personal Page.  Next, go up to the choices at the top and click on My Progress.  Look closely and in blue ink you will see the words ENTER GIFTS RECEIVED OFFLINE.  Click and that will take you to a page that will allow you to enter cash or checks that you have in hand!  Just follow the prompts.  This money, if you so choose will show up scrolling on your page, just like a credit card donation, and it will also be entered into your fund raising total.  Save the money, and turn it at a meeting or on Bank Night.

 

Fund Raising Idea #8.....Host a movie night at your house!  Pick a new release or a great oldie and invite your friends.  Have popcorn and movie candy, which you can easily get in the boxes just like at the movies!  Charge everyone a fee to come for movies, popcorn, and candy.  Adults, you might even sell drinks!  If you want to take it a step further, sell hot dogs, nachos.....whatever you think would be fun to sell!!!  Be sure and tell your friends that this is a Fund Raiser for your Relay for Life Team.....

As you look at the snow out the window, you may think I
am a little nuts suggesting Fund Raising Idea #7......
a carwash???  Obviously I am thinking a few months in
the future, but this is for a reason.  When the weather gets
nice everyone will be thinking along the same lines. Find
your space now!  Talk to your team, pick a date, find a
spot & secure the spot with the business owner.
If you decide on Wednesday that Saturday would be a 
great day for a car wash, you may be very disapointed not
to find space!  And...this will give you plenty of time to advertise your event!

Are you a talented crafter?  Fund Raising Idea #7......look around the area for local craft shows, rent space and sell your AWESOME creations and put your profits towards your Relay fund raising!  Jewelry, knitted scarfs, candles....you name it!

Fund Raising Idea #6......Jeans Day....if you have an office that does not allow jeans, or even an office that only allows jeans on Friday.....have a fund raiser where you charge a certain amount, $5.00, $10...whatever you think would work best.....and if the person pays that amount, they can wear jeans for the day!  It is an easy way to raise money at your workplace.  If you have jeans Friday...have a jeans Monday :) 

Fund Raising Idea #5.  Host an Easter Egg Hunt!!!  I found this idea online and it looks like it could be a lot of fun.....of course, you would have to hope the weather cooperated!  Below is a link that has all the information on how to host an Easter Egg Hunt as a fund raiser........
Click here for the Easter Egg Hunt Link 

Are you working on forming your team?  That is the first thing you need to do.  A minimum of eight team members is needed, with $100 minimum raised, per person, to get a tent site for the night of Relay.  Follow the step by step directions of signing up online.  You do not need 8 people to start signing up online....name your team, sign up as Captain and start recruiting people for your team.  Try and hold a team meeting to decide how you are going to fund raise and what you want to do night of Relay, too!  Encourage team members to come to the meetings.  As Relay approaches, I will be posting tips on what goes on the day/night of Relay.  Remember, send out those emails.  That is your best way to raise money.  Every little bit helps.  Another reminder....go to www.shrinkpictures.com and you will be able to "shrink" a picture that is not too big to post on your personal page! 

 

Your team will have more fun at Relay if you participate in the fun events.  If you missed Kick-off, the above picture is Addie, our event chair for this year, in her awesome Relay hat that she made at Relay Summit.  Why don't you talk to your team about sponsoring a Crazy Hat Lap?  You could even encourage everyone to MAKE a hat at Relay!!!  Maybe a birthday hat!  And....your team could do this at Relay.....FUND RAISING IDEA NUMBER  4......Have all kinds of supplies available in your booth...charge a fee to let people come in and make their own hat!!!  They can make a birthday hat, or any fun hat they would like.  That way you know you will have participants in the hat lap, have a good fund raiser for that night and a lot of activity in your booth!  In fact, people may want to wear their hats all night!  Be sure and look for the activity sign-ups at next kick-off if you are interested.

Fund Raising Idea #3.....Host a home party!!!  There are too many to name, but a few I have hosted myself include Silpada, Pampered Chef, Longaberger, Mary Kay.....and of course, let's not forget Tupperware....and Southern Living Home.....and Lia Sophia....and Premiere Jewelry....Tastefully Simple...and Party Lite!!!   A percentage of your sales will be given to you to go towards your fund raising efforts...and talk to your show host, they may even give you an item that you can list on our online auction!  Timing is everything.....maybe have one so that your guests can shop for a Mother's Day gift.....Easter present.....you get the idea!!!  Be creative and have fun!

Fund raising idea #2.....Make a collection can like the one pictured at the left.....ask businesses, teachers, co-workers etc....if you can place a can in their business, office, break-room.  Be sure and put your contact information on the bottom of the can and be sure you check back often for the dontations.  Enter the money on your web-site as an off-line donation and turn the money in at bank night. 

Fund Raising Idea #1....The always popular tag
sale!  Here is another idea for your team...secure a location that has space for several sellers.  Sell them space in exchange for promoting the Tag Sale.  It is a win/win situation.  For example, your team sells other teams or neighbors a space for $25.  They keep the proceeds from their sale.  You get the $25 from each vendor & also money from your own sale.  The thing you must remember....know how many spots you have to sell and how much space they will get.  Make sure they understand to bring their own table & what time to set-up.  Then...promote your sale!  List it in the Bee, put up flyers at the grocery stores and...be sure and look on the Relay site (left hand side) on how to get your fund raiser listed online!!!  And...hand out flyers at the Relay meeting!  

See you tonight!!!  Kick-off at 7pm....Newtown Middle School.  Bring your questions and we will see you there!!!

Got Questions????  Bring them to kick-off!!!  There will be stations set up after the Relay meeting with committee members available to answer your questions.  Can't wait to see you there!!!  Can't come to kick off and need a question answered?   Fire off an email to relayforlifeofnewtown@gmail.com and someone will get back to you with an answer. Let's get READY TO RELAY!!!

 

Remember....any team member who has bought/sold 10 Luminaria by the kick-off

meeting on Thursday will receive a bonus of $100 Relay bucks....

There is simply no better way to honor a cancer survivor or a loved one who has lost their battle with

cancer than to light a Luminaria with their name on it......