Over the Edge. Fundraising Toolkit

Transcription

1 Over the Edge Fundraising Toolkit

2 Welcome to the team! Dear Edger, You step to the edge, look over, and catch your breath. Adrenaline takes over and, next thing you know, the thrill of adventure consumes you. Welcome to... Over the Edge! We are excited to welcome you to an elite group of thrill-seekers in support of our mission to provide year-round athletic training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. When you go Over the Edge, you support our athletes who demonstrate their bravery and determination every day. Raising $1,100 can seem daunting at first, so we put together this toolkit to help you get there. Please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Smith, our Director of Development, at or if you have any questions. Every dollar you raise and every step you take toward the roof of 300 Delaware Avenue helps us reach more athletes and families as we strive to build a bigger, more inclusive community! With our appreciation, Ann Grunert Executive Director Special Olympics Delaware 2

3 How to Raise $1,100 1) Make Your List Fill out the Who do you know? sheet on page 4 and make a list of everyone that you know. 2) Customize your Classy fundraising page Log in to your fundraising page at and customize it with a photo or a personal story about what going Over the Edge means to you. 3) Ask! Call, , facebook message, tweet, or meet with everyone on your list and ask them to support you with a contribution. Start with the people closest to you and most likely to give. 4) Follow-up For those that said they would send you a check or make a contribution online, call them with a friendly reminder to send in their donation and give them a deadline. Raising $1,100 (or more!) Register online and set up your fundraising page at: 7 generous friends give you $50 10 of your family members give you $25 Your significant other gives you $ family members give you $10 $350 $250 $100 $ coworkers give you $5 $100 Your donation of $100 $100 Your company s matching funds of $100 (or better yet, see if they will match ALL the funds you raise!) $100 TOTAL $1,100 5) Turn in your collections Please write your name and Over the Edge on the memo line of every check. Please mail your collected checks to: Over the Edge Special Olympics Delaware 619 S. College Ave. Newark, DE ) Get ready to go Over the Edge! 3

4 Who do you know? The key to building a successful fundraising campaign depends on asking people you know for support. Think about everyone whose lives you touch and ask him or her to join your team or make a donation. Your list can be overwhelming so use this chart to help you identify people that you know and organize them into categories. Start with the easiest people to reach - your family and friends. Next, ask acquaintances and service providers. Use your and cell phone address books, Christmas card lists, or party invitation lists to start. Before you know it, you will have a complete list of people whom you know! High School/College Alum. Community/Social Clubs Colleagues/Competitors Religious Friends Your Name Here Your Company Children s Sports Teams Family Child s School Neighbors 4

5 Top 10 Fundraising Tips 1. Don t be afraid to ask everyone you know for support - if you are proud of the cause you are supporting, others will be proud to support you. 2. Personalize your Classy fundraising page with your own photo and your own story of why you are going Over the Edge. 3. Send an to everyone in your address book or all of your cell phone contacts with the link to your Classy fundraising page - you never know who may want to give. 4. Make some phone calls to ask friends or family to donate - nothing works better than the personal touch. Send them an to follow up with a link to your Firstgiving page. 5. Remind potential supporters that every contribution is 100 percent taxdeductible! 6. Aim high - ask for $50 and settle for $25 instead of asking for $25 and getting $ Check to see if your company (or your parents companies) has a matching funds donation program for non profit organizations. This is an easy way to double your donations or more! 8. Update your status on Facebook or Twitter with a link to your fundraising page! You ll be surprised by the response. 9. Ask again and follow up! While someone may have put your aside with the intention of giving you a donation, they might need to be reminded that the event is quickly approaching and you need their help! 10. Add an incentive for donating. Have a talent of making homemade cookies? Or how about telling your donors that you ll do something ridiculous (like rappel in a tutu) if you hit the goal? The more creative and fun, the better! 5

6 Special Olympics Delaware Fun Facts Special Olympics Delaware is not just one event It is a state-wide, year-round sports program. Provides training and competition for more than 4,000 children and adults. Never charges a fee for athletes or their families to participate. Offers 20 competitive sports. Conducts more than 40 competitions a year. All athletes are able to participate year-round in Special Olympics Delaware programs free of charge thanks to the generosity of supporters like you. The funds raised by you and your supporters cover the cost for facility rentals, uniforms, sports equipment, food, lodging, and transportation for our athletes. And don t forget 100% of all proceeds raised in Delaware stay in Delaware to support our athletes. 6

7 What to Expect One hour prior to rappel time: You arrive at 300 Delaware Avenue. Parking is available in various self-serve lots within walking distance of the building. A map of parking sites can be found on our website Entering the building Look for the signs or one of our friendly volunteer guides to direct you to the Over the Edge registration area. There, you will check in and review and sign the liability waiver. Also at registration, you will remove any personal items that aren t allowed on the roof and anything that could fall out of your pockets. Refreshments and bathrooms will be in this registration area as well. Training After checking in, you will be called to the staging area where you will be fitted with your rappel equipment. In small groups you will be escorted from staging to the training area - located on the roof of the building. The training area is on a one-story structure on the roof. There, you will receive a brief orientation about the event and the equipment you will use. Then, you will undergo the training rappel down one floor to get used to using the harness and descending device. The same safety procedures are used in the training as in the long rappel so you will be familiar with them when you get there. 7

8 What to Expect (Continued) Going Down! From the training area, it s a short walk to the edge of the roof where you can take in the great view of the Wilmington skyline before you officially go Over the Edge! Once you ve hit rock bottom After you have safely made it 17 stories down to the ground level, our volunteer will escort you back inside and up to the registration area to turn in your rappel equipment, collect your things, and celebrate! What to Wear Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Athletic pants, tights, and jeans are suitable. The harness goes around your legs, waist, and shoulders, so it is best to avoid anything too bulky. Shirts should be comfortable and without draw cords. Individuals with long hair should tie it back. High heels are not allowed. You will be given a pair of leather gloves and a helmet when you arrive. Cameras and Phones Falling objects can cause serious injury if dropped over the side or as you are rappelling. As such, no phones or cameras are allowed on the roof or when rappelling. 8

9 Items to note You will be wearing a full-body industrial harness and using an industrial descender to go down a two rope system. To go down you will pull back on a small lever. You are in control of your descent so go at your own pace. Should you go too fast the back-up line will engage. If you get too tired or scared and cannot complete the rappel you will be lowered to the ground from the top, only if needed. Getting your weight off the roof and into the harness is the difficult part for most people. Once you re over the edge you are on your own for 200 feet. It will take between 5 and 7 minutes to get to the bottom. The harness will squeeze your hips, and scrunch-up your shoulders. Some people feel as though rappelling is a good ab workout because of the semi-sitting position it requires. Spectators and Friends Friends and other supporters are encouraged to come to the event site and watch you rappel down the building. Unfortunately, friends of the participants will not be allowed in the registration area nor on the rooftop since only those with safety harnesses and anchors will be admitted. There will be staff photographers ensuring that each participant gets pictures of him or herself going Over the Edge. We also will have live video streaming of your rappel so friends, family and coworkers who cannot be there in person can still see your descent. 9

10 What can I do to practice? First and foremost, please understand that no prior climbing or rappeling experience is necessary to participate in Over the Edge. Again, no practice is necessary, but for those of you who want to, the recommendation is rock climbing. Rock climbing will allow you to experience what it feels like to be in a harness. Although the harnesses we use are different, you will still get the idea of where you will be squeezed, and what muscles it takes to stay upright. The Delaware Rock Gym will be offering each rappeler and a guest an evening to practice at their site, at no charge. Once scheduled, we will communicate the day and time with you via . The Delaware Rock Gym is located at 520 Carson Drive; Bear, DE Once the date is scheduled, you will need to reserve your spot. Please do so, by contacting Lisa Smith at or lismith@udel.edu. Get psyched. Tell your friends. You re one of the select few who will be rappelling 17 stories down 300 Delaware Avenue! 10