Information on how you can start fundraising for your Relay event successfully!

1. Team Captain Seminar 1

2. ACS Fundraising Goals
 a) Refocus fundraising as a priority at the
national, Division, region, and community levels.
 b) Ensure that fundraising best practices reach every
participant, not just captains, and explain them with
“how to” steps to maximize success.
 c) At a minimum, every Relayer should write a
fundraising letter.
 d) Ensure fundraising is taught to diverse
populations, being sensitive to cultural differences.
 e) Ensure fundraising is taught to youth populations.

3. Fundraising Facts
 $375 million
 $24 million increase over 2005
 Seven percent increase over 2005
 Achieved $1.25 per capita income nationwide
 Online income grew from $16 million to $37 million
 $18.3 million raised from all-youth and campus events
 Averaged $82,000 per event
 $2.27 billion raised since 1985

4. Setting a Goal
 Fundraising goal setting is an important first step in
developing your strategy and should include a
communication and education plan for teams and
individuals. Teams that are successful in fundraising
set goals, track their performance, and celebrate their
success.

5. 2012 National Participant Goal
 There is no nationally recommended fee, although all
team members are expected to raise a minimum of
$100.
 In honor of 2012, we ask that each member
commit to raising $212!

7. Why We Fundraise BEFORE the
Event
 Bank Night is a time prior to the Relay For Life event
designated for team captains to turn in their team
money. Having funds turned in before the event
means that the accounting volunteers have more time
to process the money and prepare reports.
Also, turning the money in early prevents thousands of
dollars from being on site the night of the event – a
safety matter for all those in attendance, especially
your Accounting chair.
 SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE NIGHT!

8. Staple Relay Fundraisers
 Luminarias- handout
 Track Signs- handout
 Sponsorships- handout

9. Pre-Event Individual Fundraising
Ideas
 Ideas Handouts
 Online Resources
 Letters/Emails
 eCards
 Personal Page
 Social Networking

10. Letter/Email Writing
 Letter writing has proven to be the most successful
form of Individual fundraising.
 When writing your letter to friends and family, remember
these tips:
 Include your personal story.
 Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. This makes it
easier for the donor and they will be more likely to contribute.
 List your goal and even your total from last year.
 Ask for a specific dollar amount.
 Include information about your event and the American
Cancer Society.
 Give a deadline for their response.

11. My Relay Center
 Sample Letters
 eCards
 Personal Page

12. Be Creative! there are many other ways to fundraise
In addition to letter writing,
on your own. What you excel at may help you to come up with your
personal fundraising ideas.
Do you bake? Are you an artist? Do you make a unique product?
Here are a few easy-to-implement examples:
 Are you a talented cook? Auction off dinner for four to be cooked
at the winner’s home.
 Keep a change jar at work on your desk throughout the year and
ask your coworkers to contribute their spare change.
 Love pets? Offer your services as a dog walker or pet sitter.
 Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to support
you in your fundraising efforts by giving a donation to the
American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

13. Donations
 Online Credit Card from Personal Page
 Mail-in Check with Donation Form
 Cash Envelope with Log
 Matching Gift Information

14. Fundraising Incentives
 Individual Incentives Handout
 Incentive prizes are rewards offered for reaching a
certain level of funds raised. For example, raising $100
earn you a T-shirt, $250 might earn you a Relay tote bag
or umbrella, and so on. An incentive program can
motivate a Relayer to raise that extra $50 to get to the
next prize level.

15. Pre-Event Team Fundraising Ideas
 Handouts
 Marketing Events
 Social Networking
 CHS website
 Announcements
 PTSA newsletters
 Yahoo Groups Blast
 Connect Ed Calls

16. FundraisingHandout
 Teams Incentives
Incentives
 Examples of awards include:
 Top Team
 Top Youth Team
 Top Individual
 Top Rookie Team
 Most Improved Team
 Most Improved Individual
 Top Online Team
 Top Online Individual

17. On Site Fundraisers
 While we encourage each team and participant to
meet their fundraising goals BEFORE the event, teams
are allowed to fundraise at the Relay.
 Ideas Handout
 Hint: Don’t assume you will have electricity!
 General Relay Fundraising Programs
 **Disclaimer: All team on site fundraisers MUST
be preapproved by event chair!

18. Where Does the Money Go?
 We get this questions a lot; know how to answer it:
 handout