Fundraising Tips & Tools

Your fundraising changes the world for people impacted by mental illness fueling hope and help through support groups and education programs. You can be a fundraising powerhouse – use these tips to take advantage of the many resources available and aim for the stars.

1. Know your networks – Give friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances and co-workers an opportunity to get involved and help you reach your goal. You never know who might donate to honor a connection with mental illness or who might be inspired to join your team.

I send a letter to professionals to whom I give a lot of business (my vet, my doctors, the dealership where I bought my last car, etc) – they often have a budget to show appreciation to their customers and give back to the community. – Shelly Smith

2. Aim high – Set a goal that seems slightly out of reach. It will inspire you and the people you're asking for support.

3. Give to yourself – You'll show people this mission matters to you and it will kickstart your fundraising.

Donate a dollar to yourself now and then so that your total doesn't end in a '0' or '5'. People will tend to add 4 dollars to their donation to round out the number. Works every time! – Mark Fench

4. Set up your fundraising page to tell your story – Within the fundraising dashboard, you have your own web page. Be sure to customize it with your story and your photos. Tell people why the NAMI Conencticut Walk matters to you.

5. Educate – You're not only raising funds, you're raising awareness about mental illness. People may have questions, you can always direct them to the NAMI Connecticut website for more information www.namict.org

6. Share your progress – Let people know where you stand and ask them to help you reach your goal.

7. Go mobile on iOS/Android – Upload a selfie to your favorite social network and challenge your friends and family to support you. Stay connected to your fundraising on the go.

iPhone/iPad | Android

Apple App Store badge Google Play Store badge

8. Get social and creative! – Setup a Facebook Fundraiser to engage your friends. Share facts about mental illness and give public shout outs to those who support you.

9. Double your impact with matching gifts – Many companies offer matching gifts for employees as well as loyal customers. Ask your donors to check if their company has a matching gift program that they can use.

10. Start now! – There's no time like the present. And results show the sooner you start, the more you'll raise. Give people the opportunity to give, and don't be afraid to ask again.

Ask EVERYONE you know to donate. Most will and surprisingly [it's] those you least expect. – Tammy Bolls

We're here to help.

Links

Text to Give

Sponsorship Packet

Sample Walker Recruitment Email

Team Captain Toolkit

Team Captains Duties Summary

Sample Email Asking for Support

Subject line: I’m Walking Where I am to Support NAMI Connecticut

Preferred greeting (Dear Name, or Hi, Name)

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

If you asked me what the new year would bring, physical distancing is certainly not what I could have ever imagined. People’s mental health is already being affected by this pandemic—and we won’t know its full impact on mental health for some time.  

What I do know is people need the life changing programs NAMI Connecticut provides. During this public health crisis NAMI Connecticut is meeting the needs our community and to providing help and hope to the growing numbers of people who need them with online support groups and education programs.

I’m asking for your support for (me or my team) for the 2020 NAMI Connecticut Virtual Walk NAMI Connecticut Walk.  The weekend of May 15-17, I’ll be joining NAMI Connecticut supporters from around the state to walk where I am to help ensure their free services remain available to everyone who needs them and to raise awareness about mental health.

Your support for me (or my team) as a virtual walker would mean so much to me. I know things are scary and uncertain, and our lives have been changed. NAMI Connecticut needs your support this year, now more than ever. If you can afford to donate, I would be incredibly grateful. You can use this link to make your donation (Add the link to your personal/team walk page here)

I understand times are tough now, if you can’t donate, there are other ways you can help by sharing my fundraiser with your friends and family, or by following my virtual walk story on my (your social media platform/platforms of choice) the weekend of May 15 – 17 and sharing it on your social media.  

With tremendous gratitude,