[2010 JDRF Benefit]

{Fundraising Tips}

For this event, we realize that your efforts to participate are just a small part of what we can accomplish with a concerted effort by everyone involved. Here are some ideas and tips that you can use to help your team to collect donations to bring to this event. We feel that if every team were to bring $100 of additional donations to the event (in addition to what we will be donating through the event), that we begin to generate an event that will donate significant funds to the JDRF Fund.

JDRF Benefit Fundraising Challenge

MSP will awarding a prize to the team that brings the largest pre-tournament fundraising donation. More details to come.

Here are some general fundraising tips to help you raise your team challenge funds:

• Set a high team goal and do your best to reach it.  Be sure to let everyone know the amount of your team goal.
• Start by sponsoring yourself!  People are more likely to support something that you, yourself support.  (Ask each team player to bring a minimum donation.)
• Ask family members to sponsor you.
• Ask your friends to contribute.
• Coaches and parents can ask co-workers to contribute.
• Ask your neighbors to contribute.
• Ask friends to collect donations from their work places.
• Ask people from a service/community organization you are involved with to donate.
• Set up a bake sale booth at a local church or community event.
• Coaches and parents can ask your boss for a company contribution.
• Inquire about company corporate matching -- request and submit any required forms.
• Ask local merchants to sponsor you.
• Hold a car wash.
• Convince businesses/companies that they shouldn't be "outdone" by others on your donor list!
• Have your team shovel snow, rake leaves or pull weeds! 
• Ask businesses you frequent to sponsor you.
• Parents or coaches that own a business with a cash register, could set up collection tubs for their customers to help out.
• Find a supportive restaurant that will sponsor your team during one business day...for a percentage of the day's profits or $1.00 per customer that day or choose an item that your team gets a set amount for each one sold that day (ex:  .25 cents for each order of french fries).
• Ask auto dealerships to donate $10-25 to your JDRF fund every time someone takes a test drive over the course of a day or week.
• Be specific in your ask, and specify a tax-deductible amount (you can make it a small amount, remember that small donations add up!).
• Hold a team yard sale.
• It is important to let people know why you are participating in the JDRF Fundraising Benefit.
• Don't forget that these funds are tax-deductible.
• Always send a thank you note upon receipt of a donation!