FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR GAP MEDICS PROGRAM

Transcription

1 FUNDRAISING GUIDE

2 FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR GAP MEDICS PROGRAM So you ve discovered the perfect Gap Medics program for you and you re ready to get the ball rolling on the adventure of a lifetime. With a registration fee to pay upfront and program costs due 90 days before you depart, it s not time to jet off to that exotic destination quite yet but don t be discouraged! You have plenty of time to prepare, so approach potential donors with confidence in your strengths. As an aspiring health professional, you re no stranger to ambition. You re passionate, driven, and focused, and from please contribute to thank you for your donation, this fundraising guide will help you take the rest in stride. In addition to providing ideas for your fundraising activities, this guide will address the people and groups you can ask for donations and important things to keep in mind as you work toward your goal. Whether you re already a fundraising pro or you re just starting out, the most important advice we can offer you is to be clear and concise in your communication and organized in your approach. Remember that Gap Medics will help you along your career path, but that we do not offer voluntary placements to help patients in need as a pre-health student, you aren t yet qualified for that kind of work. That being said, your Gap Medics program is the perfect opportunity for you to gain observational shadowing experience, explore global health, and grow as both an individual and a prospective health professional. Donors will be drawn to your desire to augment your education with immersive experiential learning. With that in mind, let s get started!

3 THE GOLDEN RULES OF FUNDRAISING STAY ORGANIZED When planning your fundraising activities, stay organized by writing out your goals and making a timeline. Take stock of all your available resources and chart out exactly when and how you can approach your potential donors. Remember to keep a list of the people and groups who donate so that you can thank them before you set out on your adventure! MAKE IT PERSONAL You want to make a good impression, so introduce yourself to potential donors. Ask for their time and they will be more likely to respond positively than if you approach them abruptly. Whether you are reaching out to a friend or to a professional organization, add that personal touch. Discuss common ground and shared interests and try to tailor your campaign toward the people you are asking to donate. EXPRESS YOUR PASSION Be ready to enumerate your efforts to further your education to potential donors, but don t bore them with a full resume. Use your speech or writing to express your passion and excitement. If you are a little shy, take a deep breath, compose yourself, and put your best foot forward. In order to secure donations, you first need to ask! INFORM YOUR DONORS Make sure you know the ins and outs of your Gap Medics program. Explain the basics and be ready to answer any questions that potential donors may have. Later in this guide, you will find a list of common questions and answers that you can use to help you prepare. BE POSITIVE Fundraising can seem daunting at times, but it s just like working toward any other goal. Take things one step at a time and remember that, in the end, you will have completed a mammoth task with even greater rewards you ll be on safari or trekking through the jungle in no time!

4 'S' FOR SUCCESS SIMPLE WAYS TO MEET YOUR GOAL SERVE Whether you volunteer at the local hospital, an animal shelter, or elsewhere, you can ask potential donors to pledge funds for the hours you spend doing community service. This is an excellent opportunity to give back to your community while fundraising for your trip abroad. SAVE Contributing to your own campaign can help you demonstrate your enthusiasm to potential donors. Maybe you re working a part-time job while studying. Maybe a family member was especially generous on your last birthday. Regardless of the where the money came from, it s important that you save it up. SOCIALIZE You can set up an event, a talent show, or even an old-fashioned letter writing campaign in order to galvanize support from your community. You can also create a group about your fundraising efforts on Facebook or set up a page on a personal crowdfunding website, like GoFundMe. Remember to keep your requests for funds relevant you should avoid spamming your potential donors in order to achieve the best response.

5 'S' FOR SUCCESS CONTINUED... SELL If you have old clothes, books, or electronics that you no longer need, you can sell them on websites like Ebay. If you enjoy crafting or making art, selling your work can also be a great way to raise funds for your Gap Medics program. Whether you re already set up on a website like Etsy or have always wanted to open a stall at the local flea market, there are plenty of opportunities to put your hobbies to good use. Maybe you once knit a fancy pouch for your cell phone or designed a custom strap for your guitar you may have a small business in the making that could put a big dent in your program costs! SEARCH Look for grants and awards that could help you reach your goal. Use an online search engine, like Google, to look for funding that suits your needs and circumstances. Search for study abroad and internship grants in addition to similar funding opportunities for high school and undergraduate students looking to gain experiential knowledge outside of the classroom. You should also search for local community-based organizations and small businesses that you could approach for financial support.

6 30 IDEAS FOR FUNDRAISING 1. BAKE SALE 2. BARBECUE 3. BATTLE OF THE BANDS 4. BLOCK PARTY 5. BOOK CLUB 6. BUNGEE JUMPING 7. CAR WASH 8. COMMUNITY SPORTS GAME 9. CRAFT FAIR 10. CROWDFUNDING 11. DANCE-OFF 12. DINNER PARTY 13. DOG WALKING 14. DRESS-DOWN DAY 15. FASHION SHOW 16. FILM FESTIVAL 17. GARAGE SALE 18. GEOCACHING 19. GIFT WRAPPING 20. GROCERY BAGGING 21. MARATHON 22. OPEN MIC NIGHT 23. POKER GAME 24. RAFFLE 25. SKYDIVING 26. SPONSORED VOLUNTEERING 27. TALENT SHOW 28. VIDEO GAME COMPETITION 29. WINDOW CLEANING 30. ZIPLINING

7 WHO CAN DONATE? FRIENDS & FAMILY Your friends and family know you best. When you are first starting out with fundraising, these important people will be your greatest assets. Speak to them about what you are trying to accomplish and how you plan on carrying through with your plans they will often be eager to lend a hand. CLASSMATES Talking to your classmates about Gap Medics is a great way to address many potential donors at once. Ask your teacher or professor about giving a short speech at the end of your class or lecture. If that s not possible, speak with your classmates outside of the classroom some of them may sympathize with your efforts. COWORKERS If you work as well as study, talk to your coworkers about the opportunities that Gap Medics offers. Ask your boss about leaving a donation jar at the till or sending out an office-wide about your trip. With good communication, you can make your job work for you! GROUPS If you spend some of your time in a group setting, like a sports team, pre-med society, or religious organization, the people who share these experiences with you may be willing to help out. Draft a letter to send to other group members or schedule a time to speak with the people in your organization. The people who share your interests are likely to rally around your cause. PROFESSIONALS Teachers, mentors, community groups, and businesses are often happy to donate to good causes. Speak with them directly or send a professional letter or . Make sure to express your enthusiasm and discuss the academic benefits of experiential learning. You may also want to speak with the financial aid department at your school or university funding is sometimes available for students to attend programs like those offered by Gap Medics.

8 DONOR Q&A RESPONDING TO COMMON QUESTIONS WHAT IS GAP MEDICS? Gap Medics is a company that arranges shortterm pre-health internships at hospitals overseas. WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING OVERSEAS? Students participate in hospital shadowing, where they observe health professionals performing their clinical duties in the wards and operating rooms. This gives students the chance to immerse themselves in global health. There are also plenty of opportunities for community volunteer work and exploration! WHERE WILL MY MONEY GO? Program costs cover accommodations, food, support, and more. Of course, a percentage of the money paid goes directly to the hospitals where students shadow and to the mentors who guide them. WHY SHOULD I SPONSOR YOU? Gap Medics programs benefit aspiring health professionals by giving them early insights into their future careers through professional mentorship. In addition, Gap Medics provides experiential learning in global health that can really help students stand out when applying to pre-health and health degree programs.

9 WRITING TO DONORS WRITING LETTERS AND S TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR AND REALLY BOOST YOUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. GETTING STARTED ON A LETTER CAN BE TRICKY, SO PLEASE FIND BELOW A TEMPLATE THAT YOU CAN USE FOR INSPIRATION! Dear Sir/Madam: [YOUR CONTACT DETAILS] [DATE] In [DATE OF YOUR PROGRAM], I will be heading to [YOUR DESTINATION] with Gap Medics, where I will shadow health professionals as they perform their day-to-day duties within the hospital environment. As an aspiring [YOUR FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSION], this experience is the perfect opportunity for me to gain insight into global health and to enhance my understanding of the clinical environment. In my free time, I will have the chance to volunteer at a local orphanage, immerse myself in the community, and explore sites of natural beauty and cultural importance. I believe that my time spent in [YOUR DESTINATION] will truly foster my growth, both personally and professionally, and could have a major impact on my admission to [YOUR DREAM UNIVERSITY OR DEGREE PROGRAM]. I understand that [NAME OF BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION] is a strong supporter of young people in the pursuit of education. It would be wonderful if you would consider helping me to achieve my potential by assisting me in my fundraising efforts. I have included my contact information at the top of this letter, and I would be delighted to speak with a representative from [NAME OF BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION] in order to answer any questions you may have about my excursion. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours sincerely, [YOUR NAME]

10 FUNDRAISING CASE STUDIES STACEY WAGGONER To get the ball rolling, I set up a YouCaring fundraising page detailing my trip and why I wanted to go. To help spread the word, I also set up a Facebook page to share with all my friends, family and contacts. As well as my online efforts, I coordinated a fundraiser at my local pub. Not only was the pub free to hire they even put a few extra specials on the board just for me! Tickets were reasonably priced, and all my friends and family came along. Throughout the night we raffled off a number of locally donated door prizes. The fundraiser was a huge success and I exceeded my target. To keep everyone updated, I regularly shared milestones hit on Facebook, my YouCaring page and my blog. I also posted updates while in Thailand and made sure I thanked all my supporters when I got back. RACHEL CROSSLEY Fundraising played a huge role in funding my two-week medicine placement in Warsaw, Poland. To start things off, I set up a GiveForward online fundraising page that helped me raise $1,015. I then decided to bake up a storm and held 4 bake sales. I was also lucky enough to receive $2000 from private donations from family and friends. My final fundraising activity was Eat for a Cause, where I partnered with a local business and received $4 every time someone purchased a large cheese pizza. Although this only helped me raise $60, it was good fun! All the money raised meant that I was only $55 out of pocket when it came to my placement costs. I don t know about you, but I think that s pretty good for an allincluded trip to Europe!

11 JOIN THE CONVERSATION twitter.com/gapmedics facebook.com/gapmedics google.com/+gapmedics SEE WHAT WE DO youtube.com/user/gapmedics instagram.com/gapmedics READ OUR REVIEWS search ʻgap medicsʼ on: gooverseas.com reviewcentre.com VISIT US ONLINE CONTACT US Gap Medics, Baltic Square, South Shore Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE8 3AE, United Kingdom