Hints and tips from the team at BT MyDonate
Keep it Simple
Sending out blanket requests for sponsorship to everyone you know isn’t the best way to make people feel wanted. You don’t need to send out individual requests, but it’s worth customising your messages by groups such as family, friends and colleagues.
Top tip! Remember, be creative. There’s no need to send out a dull email. Use pictures to help bring it all to life.
Make things personal
Sending out blanket requests for sponsorship to everyone you know isn’t the best way to make people feel wanted. You don’t need to send out individual requests, but it’s worth customising your messages by groups such as family, friends and colleagues.
Top tip! Remember, be creative. There’s no need to send out a dull email. Use pictures to help bring it all to life.
Get the ball rolling
There’s no need to feel shy about asking for sponsorship. After all, what’s the worst they can say? Just remember to have your information to hand so you can answer any questions.
Start by asking people you know well either in person, by letter, e-mail or text.
Top tip! If you can, try and find your most generous potential sponsors first. That way, when other people visit your fundraising page, they may be tempted to match or ‘out sponsor’ them!
Go VIRAL
Be proactive. Why not add a link to your fundraising page to your e-mail signature? Blogs and networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are also useful for asking people indirectly, but also to remind them of how your project is going, and requesting those final additional donations to help you reach your goal.
A THANK YOU goes a long way
Don’t forget to send a thank you message to your sponsors. They’ll really appreciate it.
Whilst building your fundraising page you can create a personal thank you message that will be automatically sent to your donors from you. If you choose not to do this, a standard automated ‘thank you’ confirmation will be sent from MyDonate.
If you’ve received support on a large scale, why not write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper? You could also submit an article for your company newsletter, or put up a poster in communal areas to thank people for their support.
Get CREATIVE!
It’s vital you are able to provide information or answer questions from sponsors about your charity and what donations will be used for.
Have a good look at your charity’s website. Contact them direct if you have any questions.
Top tip! Some charities have leaflets, special wording or logos you can use to help promote your event. So don’t be afraid to ask!
Know Your Charity
It’s vital you are able to provide information or answer questions from sponsors about your charity and where the money is going.
Have a good look at your charity’s website. Contact them direct if you have any questions.
Top tip! Some charities have leaflets; special wording or logos you can use to help promote your event. So don’t be afraid to ask!
Push the boundaries
People you don’t know that well won’t necessarily know what you’re up to, or find your fundraising pages by accident. So ask friends to spread the word on your behalf.
Use the places you go to for work or leisure to promote your cause with posters or flyers. Some companies will support employees with matched funding or time off to fundraise. It’s also worth asking your donors if their companies have a matching gifts programme too.
GIFT AID gives you extra
If your sponsors confirm that they are UK taxpayers and want to Gift Aid their donation, your chosen charity can benefit. It’s reclaimed from the government so it doesn’t cost your sponsors any more, but it adds 25 per cent of the value of your donation to your chosen charity. Read more about GiftAid here.
Keep it UP!
Just because The Patron’s Lunch is only on one day, it doesn’t mean that your fundraising has to follow suit! It’s a good idea to keep your MyDonate page open for a little while afterwards to keep people updated on progress and results and to remind them how important your cause is. They may also be tempted to donate when they see just how well you did!
And don’t forget that there is always something you can do! One of the aims of The Patron’s Lunch is that people reengage with their own communities, so once your fundraising comes to an end, why not donate some of your own time instead. Find out some projects that need some help near you and get involved!
