Can you fundraise to help house a homeless families?
Sleep Out Saturday is a great way to raise some funds for homeless families in our communities. All funds raised are given to Bridge Communities to benefit the families in our transitional housing program.
Create a fundraising page! You can personalize your own fundraising page. Upload your picture and set your fundraising goal! Tell your personal story as to why you participate in Sleep Out Saturday. Once your page is done send it out to potential donors via Twitter, Facebook and email.
Back Stage Pass! This year, Bridge is inviting the Top Three Fundraisers and Groups to a special Back Stage event at the Rally. If you group takes fundraising seriously, you could win:
- VIP Back Stage passes to a pre-Rally party with bandmembers from Flipside and The Mix's on-air DJ Koz
- Autographs and photos with Flipside and Koz
- VIP front row viewing at the Rally
- Invitation to come up on stage during the Rally
- Special post-event recognition in your hometown
Text To Donate! Cool new idea this year.... Text to Donate to Sleep Out Saturday. You can tell all of your friends and family to donate $10 each time they text BRIDGE to 20222. It's really easy. The donation will appear on the donor's phone bill.
Bridge Communities will offer fundraising incentives to groups that raise funds online. Keep an eye on this blog for more incentive information.
Combine your online fundraising with traditional and non-traditional off-line fundraising.
A few suggestions that may help your fund-raising efforts:
- Promote your financial goal in your solicitations. If people know you have a goal, they are more likely to help you with a gift.
- Make a list of everyone you know. Think big and you will be surprised at who will give if you just ask
- Ask for people to make a donation to your efforts in lieu of a holiday or birthday gift.
- Ask your parents to take the pledge form to their workplace. Write a small paragraph about your participation in Sleep Out and attached it to the pledge envelope.
- Take your pledge envelope around the neighborhood.
- Email or post to your Facebook page with a request to donate. Add the link to our video that is posted on YouTube and our website, in your email.
- In lieu of trick-or-treating for candy on Halloween; try to trick-or-treat for Sleep Out Saturday. Bring your pledge form and when they answer the door: “Trick-or-treat for Bridge Communities.” Wear your Sleep Out Saturday t-shirt or hat (pre-event delivery available for purchased t-shirts and/or hats).
- Do you attend a school with a dress code? Ask for a dress down day with a $5 donation to dress down. Add all the proceeds to your Sleep Out Saturday totals.
- Ask for friends to come over for a social gathering, show them the promotional video and ask them to contribute to your efforts.
- Send a follow-up letter/email after you Sleep Out. Add a picture of yourself with your yard sign and/or tent. Or if you don’t Sleep Out, add a picture of yourself at the Rally.
- Send a follow-up acknowledgement letter to everyone you asked – even if they did not contribute. Include how much you were able to raise and how it contributed to the pooled contributions from all our groups. Everyone will appreciate a follow-up and it will help increase your contributions for next year.
- Tell everyone you know about Text to Donate!
Remember that the process of trying to help and raise money is more important that the total amount raised.
Call Jennie at (630) 545-0610, ext. 19 with any questions.
