How it Works:
Thank you for becoming a ProNiño USA Team Captain!
- Go to http://www.firstgiving.com/pronino/mil-abrazos-a-thousand-hugs and click "Fundraise." You need to register to create your personal fundraising page. It’s simple and quick.
- Personalize your page with the reasons why you care, why this is important, and a personal request for people to support you. Use the sample templates in this toolkit if you want. Set a fundraising target. It can be any amount you think you can raise, our suggestion is $1,500 for all fundraisers.
- Build your network. Take ten minutes and write down all the networks you are part of, e.g. school, work, church, friends, family, old jobs, hobbies, clubs, sports. Contact them to explain what you are doing and why you need their help. (“I have committed to raising $1,500 to support the boys of ProNiño and I need people to help me reach my goal. Will you consider being one of them?)
- You can e-mail the people on your lists (sample e-mails provided), asking them to donate towards your target. Use any of the fundraising ideas in the toolkit (host a party, a silent auction, raffle, etc). ProNiño USA will automatically thank and receipt anyone who donates online.
- Send reminder e-mails (we recommend one every couple of weeks). This is necessary. Even the people who want to support you receive e-mails at times when they may be busy and forget to go back to them. Statistically, people need to receive your request an average of three times before they respond.
- Watch your ‘funds-o-meter’ rise on your team’s site! At the end of the campaign, fill out the redemption certificates for your prizes.
Some additional fundraising ideas:
1. Sell tickets for a Raffle prize (i.e. donations from a local business/artist or gift certificates for a night out: restaurant, movie, or tickets to the game)
2. Host a Mil Abrazos - A Thousand Hugs dinner party at your house or favorite restaurant
3. Have a Car-wash
4. Put on a group yard sale (everyone donates items and the procedes go to ProNiño USA), bake sale (everyone loves brownies, cookies, coffee cake) or Pancake Breakfast (all-you can eat cakes for $10!)
5. Partner with a local business or restaurant to donate part of one day’s profits to ProNiño USA
6. In lieu of gifts donations. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary? Have guest send a donation to the campaign in lieu of gifts. This is a great way to involve the whole family!
THE ASKS (Donation Requests Templates)
- Personalize your e-mails, letters and fundraising page as much as possible.
- The people you ask to support ProNiño may do so because of the boys and the cause, but mostly they’ll do it because of you. Tell them why you care. If you’ve been to El Progreso, tell them your story, your experience.
- Don’t feel bad e-mailing multiple times. We receive many e-mails and Facebook messages every day, and some get lost, or we forget to come back to messages that we do care about.
Here is a sample first e-mail/donation request letter:
Send the initial e-mail asking for donations to your target on or around September 19th, our Kick-Off
Subject: Help us support ProNiño USA
Dear XXX
You may know that for ______ years, I’ve been involved with an organization called ProNiño USA . Our mission is to create brighter futures for Latin American children.
We need to raise $40,000 between today and November 6, 2011 to support the programs to rehabilitate street children, but I can’t do it alone. I am hoping that you will consider helping us get there.
$50 (or even $20) or whatever you can afford would mean so much to me and to the boys. You can donate any amount, and help me raise more by telling others. You can find out more and support me by visiting my personal (secure) fundraising site at: [insert your personal fundraising page link]
Children, as young as four years old, end up in the street for many reasons- poverty, abuse, neglect, and being orphaned are chief culprits. ProNiño gives the boys the food, shelter, healthcare, education, and the love and guidance from caring adults that are essential for a child’s healthy development.
ProNiño supporters just like me all over the world are raising small sums to help these boys. I have come to care about them very much and hope that you will too. Please help me succeed for them.
Thank you for considering helping me towards my goal. For more on ProNiño USA, visit www.pronino.org
Sincerely, XXX
Sample Reminder e-mail template:
Subject: We’re gaining!
Hello again XXX,
Just a quick note to thank you for supporting my team effort to raise funds to help street kids in Honduras.
It has only been a couple of weeks, but already I am xx% towards my goal. If you’ve been considering helping me, but haven’t had the chance to visit my team page yet (www.XXXX.com), I hope that you’ll take a minute to do it now, and support me if you can.
Keep in mind that as little as $30 a month can pay for the food, shelter, clothes, healthcare and staff support for one boy for a full year! So, please give what you can to my site today!
Thank you so much for the time and attention. It means a lot. I will keep you posted on our progress. Sincerely, XXX
Sample Event Postcard:
Check Donations Form
To donate by check, please fill out this form and include it with your check, made payable to ProNiño USA. Mail to: ProNiño USA, 603 Fords Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103
Name: __________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________ State:_______ Zip:_________
Fundraiser’s Name:_________________________________________________ Phone:___________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________
__ Check here if you would like to receive email updates and the newsletter about ProNiño USA and the children they support.
Check Amount/Notes:_______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your support!
ProNiño USA 603 Fords Road Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103