More Fundraising Tips
How many times should I ask people for a donation? Three. Reach out to people three times. If they don't respond to you after the third try, it's best to let it go.
What's the best way to use social network sites (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok)? Use your personal fundraising link with our Fund-a-Thon! Make sure and tell people why you're participating in the event. Without the personal connection, many people won't donate.
How do I approach people if I'm not sure they support access to abortion? You can approach people in a variety of ways. The majority of Americans support contraception and sex education, and reproductive rights. Talk about how abortion funds help people. The key is to look for a conversation opportunity!
HOW CAN I FUNDRAISE?
Send a Written Ask: One of the most effective ways to ask folks you know is to send a letter, email, or text! We created a template that you can work off of here.
Ask For Support: Whenever you can and however you can, ask people to support you. Let everyone know you are fundraising for abortion access. When they ask why, the conversation door has been opened. Take this opportunity to tell them why you support Abortion Fund of Ohio.
Corporate Matching: Take advantage of corporate matching gifts programs. Many of your donors may work for companies that have a program like this — their donation could double simply by filling out a form from their Human Resources department and following the steps to submit a matching gift.
Spare Change: Ask your favorite restaurant or local pub to put out a jar for donations of spare change. Decorate it with abortion statistics or pictures of your Fund-a-thon team. Put them somewhere obvious to get people’s attention. Or ask your family and friends to put aside their spare change every week. You’ll be surprised how quickly it adds up!
In Lieu of Gifts: In lieu of birthday, house-warming, wedding, or retirement gifts, ask your friends and family to make a donation to the Fund-a-Thon.
Ask People You Might Not Think to Ask: Take a chance and ask your doctor(s), dentist, veterinarian, chiropractor, therapist, yoga instructor, insurance agent, lawyer, mechanic dry cleaner, or hair stylist for a donation.
“Sit” for Donations: Baby-sit, pet-sit, house-sit. Offer services to the neighbors to get them involved.
Dog walking for donations: Send out a flyer to your neighborhood offering your services to dog walk or dog sit while the owners are out of town.
Garage Sale: Ask all of your friends and neighbors to participate by donating items for sale. Make signs that indicate all proceeds are going to Abortion Fund of Ohio’s Fund-a-Thon. Add a bake sale and/or lemonade stand, and have a straight donation jar visibly displayed.
House Party: Host a fundraising party at your home for friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Share why you’re supporting Abortion Fund of Ohio & hang out with your friends! It’s a great way to ask people in person to support your fundraising efforts.
Benefit Night: Throw a fundraising party at a local establishment. Charge your guests an entrance fee (donation). But also make sure to ask that local restaurant or bar to support you with a donation of 10% (or more!) of the night’s sales—don’t be too shy to ask. You can offer to generate a flyer to promote patrons coming to their establishment to help increase their business, and thus your percentage. If you know musicians, ask them to perform a benefit concert. It’s a great way to tap into your local music scene.
Spaghetti Dinner: Encourage your place of worship, work, school or other organization to host a spaghetti dinner for reproductive rights. Have all of your friends help with the cooking to make an event where families are welcome and are charged a donation entrance fee to join in the fun. Or organize a potluck party along the same lines where everyone brings a dish to pass and gets to socialize with friends and neighbors. The entrance fee to the party becomes your donation.
Online Auction: Get friends and family to donate things for you to sell on an internet auction site (like eBay). Make sure to let bidders know that the items selling price is going towards your fundraising for the Fund-a-Thon.
Personal vending machine at work: Have you ever wondered how much money the vending machine at work clears in a single week? Find out! Purchase some of the office favorites in bulk (or have them donated), mark them up, and sell them from your desk for $1 or $2. If you have a way to keep them cold, do the same with bottled water and sodas.
Signing Your E-mail or Changing Your Voicemail: Get in the habit of signing your e-mail with your name followed by the link to your personal fundraising page. You can also change your voicemail and answering machine message to let people know you’re fundraising for abortion access.
FUNDRAISING PROTOCOL
Many fundraisers host local events and activities to help them reach their fundraising goal. If you plan to fundraise through these methods, please remember the following:
- AFO will also be hosting events during Fund-a-Thon, & you’re invited! We will send out event info to all fundraisers as we schedule them.
- There are laws governing fundraising activities like raffles, garage sales, leafleting, and other promotional activities.
- If you plan to post flyers in a public space (grocery stores, malls, parking lots, etc.) you may want to check with the Property Manager/organization before posting your materials.
- Be sure to note that your fundraising activity is for Abortion Fund of Ohio & use your personal fundraising link to track donations!