Shine Brighter Together: Start a Team for Shine for MAC

Supporting individuals with autism and their families is powerful. Doing it alongside people you care about?

That’s where the magic happens.

Whether you're rallying coworkers, gathering your neighbors, or joining with fellow MAC families, starting a Shine for MAC team is one of the best ways to amplify your impact and celebrate the autism community. Every dollar you raise helps bring compassionate, personalized care to more individuals across  the midwest and helps MAC build a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

Teams bring energy, purpose, and joy to Shine for MAC. Whether you’re walking, hosting a bake sale, or simply cheering each other on, you’re helping create access to critical services like autism assessments, life skills programs, and therapeutic supports for families who need it most.

Here’s what makes team fundraising so powerful:

• Connection: You’ll have fun, share stories, and raise awareness together—deepening bonds and broadening understanding of what it means to support someone with autism.

• Momentum: Team members can tap into their own circles, spreading the Shine for MAC message far and wide.

• Creativity: From t-shirt design competitions to themed fundraising days, teams come up with some of our most memorable ideas.

• Recognition: Your collective effort will be celebrated—and teams have the chance to earn exclusive Shine swag and experiences.

Anyone! Teams can be made up of:

• Friends and family members

• Coworkers and corporate groups

• MAC Midwest staff and volunteers

• Community groups, classrooms, or faith-based organizations

Whether you're deeply connected to autism or simply passionate about creating more inclusive communities, we welcome you to join in.

Shine for MAC offers a meaningful way to give back while building team spirit and brand visibility. Here’s how your company can benefit:

• Demonstrate your values by supporting a nonprofit that serves over 300 individuals each year with autism therapy and mental health care

• Boost morale by engaging employees in a fun, collaborative cause

• Elevate your brand with positive exposure across Shine for MAC’s statewide community, both online and at center-based celebrations

• Inspire connection by sharing why inclusion matters to your team and inviting others to join your efforts

Sponsorship opportunities are also available—reach out to shine@mnautism.org to learn more.

First of all, thank you! Shine for MAC is our first-ever peer-to-peer fundraising event, and team captains like you will help make it a success. Here’s how to get started:

1. Recruit Your Team

• Think about people in your life who care about kids, community, inclusion, or making a difference

• Invite them personally—it makes a difference

• Share your team link by email, text, or on social media

• Ask coworkers, clients, neighbors, or past MAC families to join you

A team is just three or more people—but the more, the shinier!

2. Set Up Your Fundraising Pages

• Customize your team and individual pages with a photo, story, and fundraising goal

• Share why this cause matters to you and what MAC has meant to your family, team, or community

• Keep it authentic and hopeful

3. Get the Word Out

• Post updates on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn

• Include your fundraising link in your email signature

• Use Shine for MAC graphics from our digital toolkit (coming soon!)

• Host a small fundraiser—like a dress-down day, coffee sale, or friendly team challenge

4. Motivate and Celebrate

• Track your team’s progress and celebrate milestones

• Highlight a “Shiner of the Week” or share fun facts about autism to raise awareness

• Encourage team members to thank donors and share updates with their networks

• Make it fun. Shine for MAC is a celebration of inclusion, community, and the power of coming together.

We’re here to help every step of the way. Whether you’re a first-time fundraiser or seasoned community builder, our Advancement Team can support you with tools, ideas, and encouragement.

Email us at shine@mnautism.org
Call us at (952) 767-4200

Let’s Shine Together

Shine for MAC is more than a fundraiser—it’s a chance to spotlight the strengths of individuals with autism, to support families who need it most, and to show what’s possible when a community comes together with purpose.

This is our first year but with your help, it will be the start of something big!