These fun and easy ideas and tips will help you hit your fundraising goal by race day.

Keep in mind, you can accept donations online (through your event page) or send in donations-just write a check or money order equal to all of the cash donations, and send it to:

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
333 E. Lancaster Ave, #414
Wynnewood, PA 19096

DO NOT SEND CASH IN THE MAIL.

Be sure to include your event ID on any checks or money orders you send in. Your Event ID is a 7-digit number we use to make sure the funds you send us are credited to your event page. Your Event ID is recorded in the confirmation email we sent you after you registered. If you've saved that email, that is probably the easiest place to find it.

If you are having trouble locating your Event ID, give us a call at (866) 333-1213.

Donate To Yourself

Get started by making a donation to yourself to kick off your fundraising effort. Potential donors will know you are serious about achieving your goal!

Make The Most of Your Event Page

Your online Alex’s Lemonade Stand event page is created when you register. You can personalize it with photos and blog posts, share it with friends and family, accept online donations and use it to track your fundraising progress. Here are ways to make the most of your page:

• Send the link to your friends, family and contacts.
• Add the link to your email signature with a message like “I am running the Marine Corps Marathon this fall to make a difference for children with cancer. Please help me reach my goal of $X.”
• Post blog entries and updates about your training and send them out to supporters. You can thank them and show them how committed you are to your goal.
• Spread the word by sharing your page link on Facebook and Twitter. Ask family and friends if they would be willing to “donate” their status for a day to help spread the word about your fundraising goal. Ask them to post a status like “Help my friend fight childhood cancer by clicking here (insert event page link).”

Write a Letter

Ask for donations the “old-fashioned way” and send letters! A typed, signed letter with a short handwritten note is a very effective fundraising tool. It may seem somewhat time consuming, but mail is a great way to reach those who don’t use social media or are hesitant to give online. It’s a nice touch to include a self-addressed stamped envelope, which makes it easy for your contacts to reply and really increases your return rate! Follow up with a thank you.

Hold a Lemonade Stand or Other Event

When your register for Team Lemon, you can choose to receive a fundraising starter kit which includes an ALSF banner, poster, flyers, a prepaid donation return envelope and other items to help you host a lemonade stand or event. Return your donations (please convert your cash to a check or money order before sending) in your prepaid donation return envelope. For more information on how to host your own lemonade stand, click here.

You can also hold a bake sale, craft sale, or garage sale. Put all of the proceeds toward your fundraising goal. Tell your customers where the money is going. They may be more generous if they learn what you are doing! Check out our Other Fundraising Ideas for even more suggestions.

Follow Up and Be Specific

Once you have done your initial “ask,” follow up and ask for a specific amount. Putting a specific ask out there will motivate people and give them some guidelines to work with. For example, request that 10 friends donate $10 each (or plug in numbers that you think are appropriate). They may want to be one of the 10 people to get you closer to your goal and for some, $10 is an easy give!

Provide Some Extra Motivation to Give

You could offer a prize: “The first 10 people to donate $10 will get a free pizza coupon for Bob’s Pizza.” As an alternative, tell people you will do something silly, like send them an embarrassing photo of you, if they donate. Even though people enjoy being charitable, getting something in return can be motivating too!

Consider Matching Gifts and Dollars-For-Doers

Your company or your donors’ companies may have matching gift or dollars-for-doers programs. These are often great ways to double, and sometimes triple, your efforts. Matching gifts are offered in an effort to encourage employee giving. In dollars-for-doers programs, employers recognize volunteer efforts with grants to charity. To learn more about these programs, please click here.

Make It Mean Something

Connect your contacts to the cause by honoring a local child with cancer or one of our childhood cancer heroes. If you are interested in being matched with a local family whose child has cancer, please contact us. Other ways to make it meaningful: if you are hosting a fundraising event, create a wishing well for guests to give change and wishes for children with cancer, display photos and stories of childhood cancer heroes from our website, and distribute cards with childhood cancer facts on them.

Ask For Public Relations/Media Assistance

If you are hosting a fundraising event, invite honored guests or local celebrities and tell your local newspaper! For help garnering media attention, contact our Communications Department.

Use Other Social Media Ideas

Learn the basics of using social media to promote your fundraising efforts with this SlideShare presentation.

Join the ALSF Facebook fan page or follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

Thank you for your efforts to help children and families affected by childhood cancer. We are here to help! Please do not hesitate to contact us to ask for assistance by calling (866) 333-1213 or emailing [email protected]!