Fundraising

Connect to Facebook Fundraisers

• It's incredibly easy to fundraise on Facebook! After you register for our event, you will have the option to link a Facebook fundraiser to your team on Qgiv. Thermometer totals will be updated automatically as you receive donations thru Facebook fundraisers. Make fundraising extremely easy for your networks!
• Note that you must create your Facebook fundraiser via Qgiv's My Fundraising Dashboard and not directly through Facebook. If you create the fundraiser on Facebook first there is no way to connect your fundraiser to our event. 
• If you don't connect to Facebook when setting up your profile, you can connect at a later time. Navigate to your personal fundraising dashboard then click the link to connect your fundraiser to Facebook. The button is located toward the bottom of the personal fundraising dashboard.

Forming a Team

• Forming a team is the perfect way to celebrate your loved one with Down syndrome, and you get to participate in the BIGGEST Awareness party in South Central Wisconsin! Your team can be as large or as small as you want. Plus, your fundraising changes lives. Although fundraising is optional, the difference you make in the lives of more than 1,000 people across the greater Madison area is tremendous. Whether you raise $10 or $10,000, YOU are making a difference for people with Down syndrome and their families in Wisconsin. Remember, fundraising does not have to be scary! Most people are happy to give to a cause that is important to you and your family.

Recruiting Team Members

• Make a list of people you know best - family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. Ask the people on your list to join your team! You could ask them via email, social media, or phone. Explain why it's important to you and your family, and encourage your team to fundraise. Giving them a sample fundraising letter (see below for an idea!) and a picture of your loved one to send to their networks can be incredibly helpful. In addition, remind them that business sponsorships can count towards your team's total!! Ultimately, this process is not just about fundraising: it's about spreading awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome.

Fundraising Template

• Fundraising is scary to many people, but it doesn't have to be! It can be as simple as sending an email or posting on social media. Try using this template to ask for donations from your friends and family:
  
  “Dear Friends,
  
  This year, my family has formed a team for the DSAW-South Central 21st Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk, which will be on October 1st  at Fireman's Park in Deforest, WI. The goal of the Walk is to spread awareness and acceptance of Down syndrome throughout South Central Wisconsin, and to raise funds for our chapter's life-changing programs and services. As you may know, this cause is very important to us. [insert personal story]
  
  Would you consider joining our team and/or making a donation to support our team and [insert name of loved one with Down syndrome]? Your donation will have a large impact on thousands of lives in Wisconsin. Please forward this email to your friends and family, too! In addition, if your business would be interested in sponsoring the walk, the funds will count towards our team's total! Visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/southcentral2023/sponsors/ to download sponsorship benefits.
  
  Use this link to join our team and make a donation: [insert personal link]
  
  Thank you for supporting Down syndrome awareness! [Your name]”

Fundraising Ideas

• The majority of our programs and events are fully funded by fundraising that takes place at this annual Awareness Walk. We need YOU to come out strong at this Walk, and we have some fun ideas of how to fundraise!
  • Host a trivia night with your friends 
  • Donate your talents! If you are a yoga instructor (or another fitness coach), or have an artsy hobby that you can teach people (knitting, painting, cooking a dish) offer a free session for a donation 
  • "If I raise $____ for DSAW in the next week, I will..."
    • Share a video of my kid throwing a pie in my face
    • Participate in a viral Tik Tok dance challenge with my kids
    • Do 21 minutes of live stand-up comedy on Facebook
    • Have my kid give me a hair cut
  • "If you donate $___ to my Walk team, I will go one mile in any way you choose!"
  • The sky is the limit! If you have other fundraising ideas or use one of these, share with us!