Fundraising tips

Your personal fundraising page 

Maximize your fundraising efforts with your own personal web fundraising page!

It's never been easier to raise money online. Once you register for the Canadian Cancer Society's Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer online fundraising website, you'll have access to fundraising tools to help you get the word out about your efforts. Your site registration e-mail will include a link to your Participant centre and instructions on how to customize your personal fundraising page.

Include a personal photo 

Be sure to include your photograph and personal message on your page. You can then send custom e-mails to your friends and family and invite them to support you in the event and donate to the cause. When they visit the site, they can use our secure online system to pledge you with their credit card.  They will then receive an official electronic tax receipt by e-mail.

Tell your story

The most compelling fundraising pages offer personal stories. You may want to include some information on why you have chosen to get involved with the Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, or you might provide a history of how much money you have raised to date. The choice is yours! The best advice is to personalize your page with a photo and give your friends and family compelling reasons to support your efforts. You'll be glad you did. In fact, on average, online event participants who use their personal fundraising page and e-mail tools raise twice as much as offline participants, and take less time to do it.

Collect offline pledges too 

If you would like to gather pledges in person, your event coordinator can provide you with the tools to do so.  Receipts will be mailed to donors who make a donation in person.

More suggestions on how to increase your donations 

• Contribute $20 yourself, then ask 4 friends, co-workers or relatives to contribute $20 (or ask 15 people for $10 each). You will be amazed at how quickly it adds up.
• Set a fundraising goal for yourself see what a positive impact you can make.
• Place a donation jar on your desk at work.
• Ask your employer to match any money you raise.
• Raise your money in honour of a friend or co-worker who survived cancer.
• Raise $100 or more in pledges and receive your Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer event t-shirt!
• Kids 14 and under, raise $35 or more and receive your Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer event t-shirt!
• Promote the event and be ready to take donations everywhere you go: work, school, church, shopping, sports and social clubs, and so on.
• Who can you ask for donations? Everybody!! Ask your accountant, banker, pharmacist, dentist, doctor, lawyer, personal trainer, hairstylist, florist, the owner of your favourite restaurant, and so on.
• Make a list of potential donors, and how much money you think they can give.
• It's best to be specific about how much you would like as a donation.
• Be enthusiastic when asking for money. 
• Let potential donors know where the money goes. 
• Be creative! Catch their attention!
• If you have asked a number of people, keep track and follow up. People tend to be busy and forget unless they’re reminded.
• Thank your donors!