Fundraising Hints

AIDS Walk Philly and AIDS Run Philly are the most important fundraiser of the year for the AIDS Fund. Team members raise more money than individuals because they are more motivated and supported. Here are some fundraising tips that can help you to get the most out of your experience.

• Set a Goal. Make sure everybody on the team is aware of the team goal and
  knows what he or she needs to do to help achieve it.
• Make it Manageable. If you ask each walker to raise $100, that’s only ten people
  giving $10 each.
• Encourage Competition. Prizes or perks for the top fundraiser will give your
  teammates added incentive.

AIDS Walk and Run recognizes the work of individual walkers and runners by offering the following fundraising awards:

$45 +	AIDS Walk Philly T-Shirt
$500 +	AIDS Walk Philly “500 Club” Hooded Sweatshirt
$1,000 +	AIDS Walk Philly “Platinum Club” Polar Fleece

Make sure your team members know their Team Number and Team Name. This will make the registration process go much more smoothly and get them started raising money faster.

Know Where the Money Goes
Make sure your team members know where the money they are raising goes. AIDS Fund, the producer of the AIDS Walk Philly and AIDS Run Philly, supports HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and services in the Delaware Valley by raising dollars and increasing public awareness about the impact of HIV in our communities. There are over 30 organizations that receive funding as a result of AIDS Fund activities, listed on our website at www.aidswalkphilly.org/about/partners.php

Register Online
Get all of your team members to register online. On average, walkers and runners who register online raise more money than those who register by mail or phone.
Online registration saves time, money and gives you and your team members up to date records. It is also the only place where sponsors can donate using a credit card.

Quick Tips for Fundraising. Design a logo for your team. Post it on the team site on our website, your own Facebook page or put it on a T-Shirt. Get donations from your company or local businesses and raffle them off to your sponsors. Not all the money you raise needs to be in the form of direct donations. Put a donation box on your desk — or have a bake sale, a car wash, or a garage sale. Have you found other effective ways to raise money and motivate your team? Please share them with us! Email, call, write on our Facebook Wall or even tweet us (@awphilly09) with your progress.

Double Your Dollars
Many companies in the Delaware Valley match charitable contributions by their employees. Ask your sponsors to contact their Human Resources department to see if there is a matching gifts program. The process is usually very simple and you can quickly double your fundraising dollars.

Turn Some Heads!
Wear an AIDS Walk Philly button or bracelet, put up a poster in your locker or at your desk, attach a link to your email signature, attach a link to your Facebook page, tweet about each new donation you get — anything that can prompt a discussion that could lead to a new team member or sponsor.

Set up a Facebook page for your team. This is a great way to communicate with all of your teammates, upload pictures from previous years’ Walks, even make a video appeal for more donations. If you are unfamiliar with Facebook or want some help setting up your page, do not hesitate to contact us.

Write an email or a letter to all of your friends and family telling them why you are raising money to support those affected by HIV/ AIDS in our community. A sample letter is included in this handbook, but be personal. The more your sponsors know it is from the heart, the more likely they are to give.

Follow the AIDS Walk on Twitter @awphilly09
We will be tweeting with updates about the Walk, pictures and promotional materials as well as important information about HIV/AIDS in our community. Use this social networking tool to help connect and energize your team. Follow us and share your AIDS Walk experience.

Volunteer Opportunities
We rely on an army of volunteers to mount a fundraising event of this size. Volunteers can register as a member of a team, solicit funds and turn in money to assist in the overall goal to raise funds for HIV/AIDS services. Those interested can contact our Volunteer coordinator at volunteer@aidswalkphilly.org or 215-731-WALK.