Team,

Whenever someone asks me about fundraising, I inevitably ask, “Have you tapped your network, yet?… I mean really gone through everyone? Like, everyone?!”

Here is a fact from the fundraising journal, based on people fundraising for the Boston Marathon on Firstgiving (a little dated, as demonstrated by the fundraising minimum):  “To raise $3,250, fundraisers need a minimum of 36 – 40 individual contributions on their fundraising page. The majority of fundraisers who met their minimum requirement received between 36 and 40 donations per page.”

At first, knowing 40 or 50 people seems too many, but I promise you it isn’t! It is one thing to post what you are doing on facebook, or send out a mass email to all your contacts, but have you really tapped the power of your network?

Try this:

• Export all your gmail contacts into an excel sheet.
• Then go through facebook/work/linkedin systems add those names as well.
• Rank those names (#1 for a friend or family who you are sure will give, up to #4 for someone it is unlikely to give. It might be helpful to add a #5 for those whom it would be awkward to ask – former bosses or girl/boyfriends whom you wouldn’t want to ask for water if you were on fire. You can go ahead and delete those right away. )
• Every day, send five of those people on your list a letter. One with a stamp and an envelope. Start with the form letter that you found in your packet and the donation form, too, but add more. Put in a handwritten note: thank your aunt for the Christmas gift, your friend for always talking about going to the gym – how she helped motivate you to run, your work friends for their support, your once-a-year-christmas-card-friends for the memories. I can’t stress enough: it is the PERSONAL TOUCH that helps.
• Be shocked at who replies! You never know who will see your letter and find $20 to give. Don’t forget to include the link to your website, as that is often easier for people.
• Personal thank you notes! Whether it was a $5 gift or a $500 gift – make sure that YOU send every donor a thank you note. (I also send one from Camp Shriver: each one with a personal note.) It is what keeps people giving.

I’m here for whatever support I can give – I’ve set up some calls with some of you… I am happy to set up calls with everyone!

Get listing that network, Team!

-Barbara