1. Fundraising 101

2. All Forms Are Available on the NEW Area Resource Webpage
Reminders
Walmart Community Foundation Opens February 1, SOWA staff will be applying, but we strongly encourage area directors/area leadership to touch base with local store managers in your area.
In-kind Donation Forms MUST be completed for any and all gifts received by teams and areas including donated spaces, ski lift tickets and more. This provides donors will the proper recognition for their gift and helps us properly track incomes vs expenses.
Envelopes were sent to the homes of all area directors. Please discard all previous years envelopes as we redesigned for tracking purposes. More can be sent if needed.
Planning an event? Remember to complete the Team Event Form prior to marketing for approval.
All Forms Are Available on the NEW Area Resource Webpage

3. Peer-to-Peer

4. Peer – to – Peer Fundraising
Seasonally launched to be inclusive of all athletes no matter their sport
Individual goal of $100 – not per season, but for the year
Incentives include $100 = water bottle, $200 = hoodie
Special incentive for the top funder in areas that meet quarterly goals
Area Support
Campaign ideas throughout the year with sample text and graphics
Custom URL donation page with quarterly goals
Custom crowdfunding pages for teams, individuals, and supporters to donate directly to the area goal

5. Nurture them throughout the fundraising process
Connect With Coaches
Nurture them throughout the fundraising process
Check in on their progress
Congratulate them on success
Encourage them to tell their OWN story
Encourage each Coach to lead in a team fundraiser page (great job for a volunteer parent also!)
Share their team story – members, team goals, games, and more
Learn from them.
Connect with your top fundraisers to learn what techniques they used, both online and offline, to achieve their success.

6. Business Solicitation

7. Be Prepared - Get the Facts
Be prepared with the facts a donor/company needs
Jurisdiction – what areas you serve
Number of teams and the sports offered, athletes, volunteers, coaches
Annual budget, quarterly budget, sports budget
Mission Statement
Special Olympics Washington BUILDS Communities and LEADS in Wellness through Sports and Inclusion.
Tax Statement
Special Olympics Washington, EIN , is a registered charity governed under Federal Statutes and the Laws of the State of Washington. Gifts to the organization may be considered tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Affiliation Statement
Special Olympics Washington serves the entire state of Washington with 10 local area programs. AREA NAME supports athletes, volunteers, families and donors in the LOCATION.

8. Tips for Business Solicitation
Tip #1: Make Connections & a List Tip #2: Identify the Right Person Tip #3: Do Your Research Tip #4: Write Personalized Letters Tip #5: Don’t Get Bogged Down in Formalities Tip #6: Be Specific Tip #7: Make it Easy to Donate Tip #8: Follow Up

9. Be Specific In Your Ask
Show the company you did your research. Use the company name, find a contact, and when possible circle back to a value, mission, or vision from the company that aligns with SOWA.
Ask for an amount, in-kind contribution, or action item. Don’t leave it generic.
Remember to submit an In-kind Donation form for any donation. This includes rental facilities, ski lift tickets, and more.
Match the company to the need. A local business is more likely to reply to an ask that supports the town team that needs $100 for equipment, than a general “we need money.”

10. Hyper Local Businesses Fitness Focused Businesses
Sample Leads
MOD Pizza
Taco Time
Hyper Local Businesses
Fitness Focused Businesses
CrossFit Gyms
Gold’s Gym
Running Stores or Groups
Tabling Opportunities at Local Events
Chamber of Commerce
Sporting Events
Golf/Country Clubs

11. Example: Mod Pizza

12. WE CALL IT SPREADING MODNESS Giving back to the communities we serve is part of our purpose-driven mission at MOD. We support a variety of charities throughout the year, working primarily with groups that serve youth and families. Our efforts are focused at the local level, in the neighborhoods where we live and work. To be considered, your organization needs to be located near a MOD Pizza and provide services within that area.

13. Preliminary Research FUNDRAISERS
Host a fundraiser for your local school group or charity at MOD Pizza.
MOD DONATIONS
Make your charity event pop with MOD swag and gift cards.
SPREADING MODNESS
Every November we celebrate Spreading MODness – a week set aside just for giving. During this time $1 from every MOD-size pizza we sell goes to each store’s selected charity. It’s a great chance for our Squads to experience the good vibes that come from generosity, first hand.
CHARITY PARTNERS
Each time we open a new MOD we donate 100% of pizza sales from opening day to a local nonprofit chosen by the store. It’s the beginning of what we hope to be a lasting partnership – building a genuine connection between the MOD Squad and their community.

14. Grants & Foundations

15. Be sure to connect with SOWA before beginning any application.
Grants & Foundations
Review the Grants Matrix from SOWA in hopes that someone in your network has a direct connection. SOWA staff is applying for the grants listed on this document.
Research other foundation and grants in your community including possibly United Way foundations, family foundations, community/town foundations and more.
Be sure to connect with SOWA before beginning any application.

16. Events 101

17. Events 101
Fundraising Goal: Everything in the event plan will be geared to raising this specific amount of money. The amount you choose should be what you hope to net, that is, the amount you plan to raise after expenses are deducted. Budget: Every fundraising event plan should contain a complete budget listing all of the expenses that will be required to hold the event. Your budget should include marketing, space rental, catering, entertainment, transportation, utilities, and anything else that will be required to make the event a success. Your budget should take into account your fundraising goal, ensuring that you raise that amount above and beyond all expenses. Be sure to leave a little extra room in your budget for unforeseen costs. Leadership: As part of your fundraising efforts, your event will most likely have an event committee and one or more committee chairpersons. These people are responsible for helping find sponsorships, donors, and business to join in at the event.

18. Event 101
Target Audience: Who is the target audience for your event? Is this a general fundraiser where everyone will be invited? Or is this event geared towards a specific group like business people, parents, or young professionals? In short, you must decide whom you will invite to your event. Set – Up: Your event staff should plan the event set-up well in advance. The set-up includes all of the particulars of the actual event: Where will it be? Will food be served? Will there be entertainment? What kind of dress will be required? What is the itinerary for the event? Do we have a guest speaker? Who will be making the ask at the event? Marketing: Your event needs to be aggressively marketed to your target audience. You need to convince your supporters that your organization and event are worthy of their time and money. Draw up an entire marketing plan for the event. Practice: While you probably won’t need a full run-through of your event, it is essential that everyone who is working the event know, ahead of time, what their responsibilities are, where they should be during the event, and how the event is going to “flow.”

19. Other Ideas Casual Friday or Blue Friday Donation/Table at Facilities
Car Wash
Office Olympics
Bowl a Thon
Office Steps Goal
Best Seat in the House
5K Fun Run
Donation Jar Round Up
Sponsor an Athlete “tree”
Trike a Thon
Hyperlocal bloggers and news sources
Team Sponsorship
Event Partnership - Sports - Water Stations
Sponsor an Athlete Board
Monopoly/Bingo/Bunco
Hot Dog/Candy Sales
Tabling Events

20. Gratitude & Tracking

21. Records & Thank You
Keep track of all asks, amounts, and dates of communications. Share this with the Area Fundraising Manager (Donna Lindsay) to help reach your goal.
When recording donations include donor/company name and contact information. This must be sent to SOWA in order for the donor to receive their charitable giving receipt for tax purposes.
Although thank you letters will be sent when information is provided to SOWA, a personal thank you for you goes a long way in establishing a relationship for future funding. Maybe invite the donor to see their dollars in action at the next upcoming game.
If a donor sponsored a specific team or event, send them a quick report with a thank you just letting them know how much their money made a difference.