Start now. Create and maintain your personal web page for Strut Your Mutt – it’s easy and fun to do!
Your web page provides donors with a secure way to donate and you don’t have to deal with collecting checks and cash. If you have donors who want to give you their donation and you need a paper PLEDGE FORM, click here for a PDF.
Set a goal. Decide how much you want to raise and share it with the people supporting you.
Donate. It’s easier to ask for money if you have donated yourself. Donate an amount you want others to give.
Ask for donations. Ask everyone to donate – you may be surprised who comes through – family members across the country, colleagues at work and neighbors may be glad you asked. They will donate to help a friend, even if they don’t know how important Strut Your Mutt is to the homeless animals of Great Falls.
Is asking difficult for you? Remember that people like to be asked to help, and are most likely to donate if they have a good reason. Personal stories about why you are raising funds to help the Animal Foundation will be especially powerful.
Make a list of people to approach and how much money you are going to request from each. Asking for a specific amount gives your potential donors a target and makes it more likely that they will donate. Remind people that their donations are tax deductible.
Ask friends to register for Strut Your Mutt. Fund raising is more fun with friends. You can compete with each other, cheer each other on, and celebrate together.
Follow up and keep records. Update people who have supported you, and those you are hoping will, on how much money you have raised and how close you are to your personal goal, so they can share in your success. Keeping records of who supported you and how much they pledged will help with your thank you letters and will provide a list of people you are going to ask again next year. Measure your fund raising progress to see when you meet your goal.
Other Ways to Raise Pledges for the Strut Your Mutt
- Change your voice mail greeting at work and at home to include your participation in Strut Your Mutt
- Ask for donations from all of the businesses you have supported over the years – your dentist, dry cleaners, insurance agents, massage therapists, personal trainers, hair stylists, veterinarians, doctors, etc.
- Include a tag line on your e-mails to include your participation in Strut Your Mutt, with a link to your personal or team web page.
- Ask for matching funds. Many businesses will match donations made by employees. Ask your donors if their company has a matching gift program.
- Start a competition between groups – your coworkers, community group, family or friends to see who can raise the most money.
- Ask your college fraternity/sorority or any social organization you belong to for a donation.
- Make a brief presentation at your church, social club or business group.
