Fund-Raising BRAINSTORM

The following are some ideas for raising funds for your Great Steps team or other NF
events. If you have any to add, please let us know!

Include Friends and Family in the FUNd-Raising!  

  • Send an e-mail out to everyone you know directing them to your Firstgiving.com site.
  • Ask friends and family to donate to your fundraising rather than buy you a gift for a
    special occasion, like your birthday.
  • Ask people to give something up for NF such as their weekly night out, lunch money
    for the week, a pack of cigarettes – and contribute what they would have spent to
    your fundraising event.
  • Host a party and ask participants to pledge their support. Have it at a local hangout or
    coffee shop and charge an entrance fee. Ask the establishment where you are
    holding the event to support you with 10 percent of the sales from the event.
  • Take your fundraising letter and information on Neurofibromatossis everywhere.
  • Encourage your donors to make donations in honor of, in memory of or in support of
    someone who has been affected by Neurofibromatosis. If you’re participating in an
    event such as Great Steps for NF offer to write the honored person’s name on your
    shirt for a donation or create a “thank you” board for the event.
  • Change your home, cellular and work voicemail to announce to all that you will be
    participating in Great Steps. It’s a great way to spread the word!
  • Have a scrapbooking party in your home or at a local venue. If you have a personal
    tie to the cause, incorporate pictures of your loved one affected by Neurofibromatosis
    into the party. Get food and drinks donated and charge at the door.

Fundraise at the office   
  • Sell candy, chips, popcorn, soda, bagels or donuts at the office. You may be able to
    get the goods donated so everything goes to your fundraising.
  • Ask human resources if you can go “Casual for a Cause.” If your office has business
    professional or business casual dress, co-workers may make a donation to
    Neurofibromatosis, Inc. Midwest in exchange for a chance to wear jeans for the day.
  • Send a newsletter, postcard, flyer or e-mail to update potential donors on your
    progress. Let people know how you are doing in reaching your fundraising goals and
    tell them something about Neurofibromatosis. In addition to updating your friends and
    family, it will serve as a reminder for those who haven’t donated yet!
  • Ask you boss to donate a free day off to use in a raffle at work. The winner gets a day
    off without using his or her sick time or vacation time.
  • Most e-mail programs give you the ability to create your own signature at the bottom
    of each message. This is a great way to let both personal and business contacts know
    that NF is a cause close to your heart. Add a link to your Firstgiving.com page in your
    email. You may be surprised at the number of people who end up donating.
  • Ask everyone in your office to donate $25 a month until your event. Let them know
    they are only giving up one dinner out in these months to help people living with
    Neurofibromatosis.
  • In the lunchroom or break room, leave a stack of donation forms and a sign with a
    picture of yourself and a note about why you are participating in the walk.

Raise money in the community   
  • Ask businesses (doctor, dentist, salon, etc.) that you frequent for a donation of cash
    or services. If you do business there, they may appreciate your loyalty enough to
    donate.
  • Ask a local place of worship if you could speak to the congregation or speak at your
    chamber of commerce. Share with them your commitment to helping those living with
    Neurofibromatosis and the research needed to end the disease. After the service, set
    up a table to collect donations or ask if a special collection can be taken up for
    Neurofibromatosis.
  • Get a jar to collect change and decorate it with Neurofibromatosis facts or a picture of
    you or the person you are walking in honor of. This is a great way to get friends
    involved too – have them put a jar at their office. Get everyone you know to create a
    “change jar” and make the effort not to spend their change but toss it your way
    instead.
  • From a small town?  Your heroic efforts may make great news!  Call your local paper
    and see if they will write a story about you. Be sure that you include ways for people
    from your community to donate.