Mind Your Health 5K Run/Walk: Fundraising

It's Okay To Ask

Asking someone for money can feel awkward or imposing, but remember: you're giving someone the chance to give to an important cause! Here are some tips:

ask for a specific amount
start with the most likely donors
let them know what impact they are making
don't be discouraged if people decline: offer other ways to get involved (like talking to their company or posting on their social media pages

Mental Health Bell

During the early days of mental health treatment, asylums often restrained people who had mental illnesses with iron chains and shackles around their ankles and wrists. With better understanding and treatments, this cruel practice eventually stopped.

In the early 1950s, Mental Health America issued a call to asylums across the country for their discarded chains and shackles. On April 13, 1956, at the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Md., Mental Health America melted down these inhumane bindings and recast them into a sign of hope: the Mental Health Bell.

Tell Your Story:

When asking for donations, be personal about your fundraising. Why are you involved in this cause?

Collect Change

Still looking for ways to bring in donations? Collect spare change from around your house, car and office! No donation is too small.

Do It Now

Start the process of writing thank you letters by addressing envelopes or creating an email draft as soon as you receive a donation.

Thank you for supporting MHA!

Fundraising

Thank you for joining Mental Health America (MHA) in our efforts to help all people live mentally healthier lives. Fundraising can be a fun and meaningful experience. The money you raise for MHA can change lives. Scroll down to learn fundraising strategies and information that will help you raise awareness about mental health and wellness:

About Mental Health America
Fundraising Checklist
Get Started
Share Your Cause
How to write a fundraising letter
Involve the community
Finish Strong
How to raise $400 in 7 days
Download the PDF File - Fundraising Manual

About Mental Health America

We Advocate		We Educate		We Serve
Mental Health America's Advocacy Network is a powerful voice for change that is made up of thousands of individuals nationwide who take an active role in protecting America's mental health through legislative advocacy.		A primary goal of Mental Health America is to educate the general public about the realities of mental health and mental illness, encourage reform and promote the use of effective local and regional prevention and recovery programs.		We serve through our 240 affiliates, by providing America's communities and consumers: direct access to a broad range of self-help and professional services; housing and supported employment; easy access to comprehensive mental health screenings and individual follow-up to secure effective treatment.

Fundraising Checklist- Follow these steps!

STEP 1: Get Started	STEP 2: Share Your Cause	STEP 3: Finish Strong
Set a realistic goal	Contact friends with email, letters and social media	Stay connected with reminders and thank yous
Set up your fundraising page	Involve the community through events, your company and local businesses	Update your supporters after the event
Donate to yourself	Sell skills and items
Create a list of contacts	Collect change

Get Started

Set a realistic goal		Create a list of contacts
Have you raised funds for a charity before?		Include both personal and professional contacts
Do you have a network of potential supporters ready to donate?		Decide who will get what kind of correspondence: for example, email, letters or a social media post
How much time do you have?

Set up your fundraising page		Donate to yourself
Create your team profile online at grouprev.com/signup/mindyourhealth		Show your supporters that you are committed to the cause!
Customize your team name, story and fundraising goal. You can join a team, be a team captain or fundraise individually		Boost your donation total to encourage potential supporters

Share Your Cause

Email	Letters	Social Media
Send individual messages to be more personalized and get a better response	Plan ahead for more time to get response	Always include your team fundraising page link
Follow up with a reminder after a week	Follow up with a letter or phone call	Keep your posts fresh and updated
	Send a thank you letter in the same method	Start a group or event page and invite your friends

How to write a fundraising letter

Tell the recipients that you are fundraising for Mental Health America's "Mind Your Health" 5k Run & Walk.
why you are participating and raising money for the event. Let them know why this is important to you and what it would mean for them to contribute.
Provide information about MHA, our affiliates, our mission and what we do
Ask the recipient to make a donation to this cause. Share your fundraising goal and provide a possible donation amount. Remember to include a link to your team or personal fundraising page where they can donate online, but also give them the option of sending cash or checks
Thank them for considering a donation and taking the time to read your letter
Consider writing two drafts: a more personal and a more generic letter. Adjust your introduction and ending to fit the recipient

Involve the Community

Host an event

Organize a barbeque, wine and cheese party, or a game night for family and friends
Take advantage of holidays to get a large group of potential donors together
Charge attendees a small donation to attend

Work with your company

Start a company team! This is a great way for your organization to gain exposure at a large event
Contact your Human Resources representative to find our about company donations or gift matching policies
Bring drinks and snacks to the break room and ask for small donations in return
Set up a donation jar on your desk or at reception

Contact local businesses

Do you frequent a specific business? Ask them to return the loyalty with a donation!
Remember to bring flyers and event information with you; this gives more credibility to your request
Talk to the person who would make a donation decision, such as a store manager.
Ask to set up a donation jar or flyer at the register
Send them to http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/mindyourhealth5k/sponsor if they are interested in sponsoring the event directly!

Do you have skills or items people might be interested in?

Offer skills like cooking, art or baby sitting in exchange for donations. you can sell custom cakes for birthdays, baked treats for club meetings, commissioned art pieces and baby sitting to give parents a break!
Have a yard sale or sell items on your local Craigslist page. Advertise that you are working to raise money for this cause and encourage people to buy or even give extra donations
Deliver these opportunities in a timely fashion. By responding quickly, you can encourage others to take advantage of the opportunity.
Post pictures and stories from the experiences online to help spread the word about these opportunities and show your support and how hard you are working to raise money.
Always provide opportunities to give extra donations or to visit your fundraising page!

Remember... don't be afraid to ASK!

Finish Strong

Stay connected with reminders and thank yous		Update your supporters after the event
Remember to send thank you notes! This encourages your donors to possibly donate again		Send a final update after the race with the outcome. How much did you raise?
Compile your list of donors as they donate		Let the donors know how they helped your fundraising process
Write thank you notes before the event to avoid a full day of writing letters		However you do it, make sure you express your thanks to donors and supporters!

How to raise $400 in 7 days

1. Sponsor yourself		$25
2. Ask four family members to donate $25 each		$100
3. Ask five friends to donate $15 each		$75
4. Ask five coworkers to contribute $10 each		$50
5. Ask five neighbors to give $5 each		$25
6. Ask your company for a $50 donation		$50
7. Ask three local businesses for $25 each		$75
Total amount raised		$400

Let us know how we can support you in your fundraising endeavors. Call 703-838-7536 with questions or concerns. Thank you for supporting Mental Health America!