For fun with Fundraising Ideas, click here to play the Fun-raising Game!

The Arthritis Foundation's California Coast Classic program is structured to help give you a successful training and fundraising experience. As soon as you join the team, you will receive our detailed fundraising kit with techniques and tips to help you raise the $3000 minimum. These tools have worked for thousands of participants from across the country! Fundraising clinics are also provided to help keep you motivated.

I've never raised money before, where do I start?

If your only experience in raising money has been buying a box of Girl Scout cookies, not to worry! This easy step-by-step guide will make your job easier and perhaps even fun! Remember, successful campaigners have told us that they received most of their money from those they expected to contribute the least! So leave no stone unturned.

The key to successful fundraising is starting AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

JUST DO IT!

Register Now!

The most important thing is to start today! Once you start to train for the California Coast Classic, you will want to focus most of your time and energy on improving your physical endurance. While it is not impossible to conduct your fundraising campaign during your physical training, and many have done it successfully, you may wish to make it easier on yourself. The closer you are to your financial goal early on, the more undivided attention you can give to your conditioning program.

Raising the bucks to make a difference!

It is important to remember the real reason you are raising money. Your fundraising has a crucial purpose. The Arthritis Foundation is the only national voluntary organization that works on behalf of people with all forms of arthritis and related conditions such as lupus, scleroderma, and fibromyalgia. These chronic, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening diseases affect nearly 70 million Americans, including 300,000 children.

Letter Writing Campaign

This is absolutely the most effective aspect of California Coast Classic fundraising effort! Here's how it's done.

  • Educate yourself about the mission of the Arthritis Foundation.
  • Choose an honoree with their picture and information about the type of arthritis they have.
  • Understand that there are more than 120 forms of arthritis.
  • Personalize your letter – and be honest.
  • Humor Helps!
  • Keep it short and sweet.
  • Include a self-addressed envelope with all of your letters, so your friends and family can easily mail back a donation.
  • Matching Gifts will double your donations; so in every letter ask if their company has a matching gift program.
  • Follow-up. People get busy and intend to donate, but your letter may not be on the top of their list.
  • Don't be shy. Everybody needs a reminder!
  • Ask everyone. You'll be surprised how many people are affected by arthritis or have someone in his or her family who suffers with this chronic pain.

Don't forget, once you become a California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour team member you will receive a complete fundraising handbook with sample letters to guide you through your letter writing campaign.

Each letter is an opportunity for a donor to get to know more about the Arthritis Foundation and contribute to your campaign. Be patient! It's highly unlikely that you'll meet your fundraising minimum after one mailing. Life today is a hectic balancing of work and family commitments and to be honest, sometimes your letter is not the most pressing issue of the hour. With a solid, consistent letter writing campaign you can be sure that you'll never be far from their thoughts – or their checkbook! Don't give up.

Online Fundraising Tool – now available!

Online fund-raising is just what it sounds like – the ability to raise event funds online through the Arthritis Foundation Web site. It enhances any fund-raising event program by taking some of the worry and hard work out of fund-raising.

Now event participants have one place to:

  • Register online
  • Create a free personal fund-raising Web page
  • Execute an e-mail campaign to solicit donations
  • Track their fund-raising progress

It's also easy and fun. In just five minutes, you can set up your own page, which you can then edit – changing text and adding photos. In no time at all you can download your personal address books and shoot out an e-mail solicitation to everyone you know. Or you can send personal e-mails to potential big donors. Then you can monitor visits, donations and encouraging messages from donors by visiting your Event Center. Even better, thank you e-mails that can be used as receipts for tax purposes are sent automatically. Fund-raising just became fun!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION – Set a personal goal!

Remember that the funds you raise will help fund arthritis research and Arthritis Foundation's quality of life programs. Your family, friends, co-workers and business associates will have tremendous respect and admiration for your commitment. You will be amazed by their generosity! So believe in yourself and you will reach your goal.

HOW TO RAISE $600 IN SIX DAYS

  1. Sponsor yourself for $20.
  2. Ask five family members to sponsor you by contributing $20 each.
  3. Ask five friends to contribute $20 each.
  4. Ask five co-workers to contribute $20 each.
  5. Ask your boss to sponsor you by contributing $80.
  6. Ask four businesses you frequent to donate $50 each.

As you get more confident with your fundraising you may consider asking for a larger amount. Give your donors choices with the lowest amount being $50. The larger donations typically come from those that you would least expect!

Identify your resources.

We all have a variety of people in our lives that can donate to the Arthritis Foundation.

Prospective Donors

  • Aerobics/Spin instructors
  • Attorney
  • Babysitter/Daycare Center
  • Banker
  • Business Suppliers
  • Car Dealer
  • Christmas Card List
  • Children's teammate's parents
  • Clients
  • College Classmates
  • Co-workers
  • CPA
  • Dentist
  • Doctors
  • Dry Cleaner
  • Employer
  • Financial Advisor
  • Florist
  • Golf Partners
  • Grocery Store
  • Hair Stylist
  • Insurance Agent
  • Interior Designer
  • Lawn Service Co.
  • Manicurist
  • Mechanic
  • Minister/Church Members
  • Neighbors
  • Parents, friends
  • Pediatrician
  • Pharmacist
  • Printer
  • Professional Associations
  • Psychologist
  • Realtor
  • Relatives
  • Service Organizations
  • Sorority/Fraternity
  • Spouse's Business Associates
  • Tenants in office/apartment
  • Travel Agent
  • Veterinarian

TOP TEN TIPS TO REMEMBER

  1. REGISTER NOW!
  2. ASK EVERYONE
  3. SET A GOAL
  4. BE INFORMED - GET THE FACTS
  5. SEND OUT YOUR LETTERS TODAY
  6. INCLUDE SELF –ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WITH EACH LETTER
  7. FOLLOW-UP
  8. THANK EVERY DONOR
  9. PROMOTE YOURSELF
  10. DON't GIVE UP!

Educate your sponsors about arthritis, the disease's devastating effects and impact in our community. Stress the importance of any size donation.

Remember you are 'fun'draising. So make sure you are having fun. Below are some 'fun' ways to boost your bucks.

  • Car wash
  • Birthday cards
  • Wine tasting party
  • Dress down days at work
  • Offer your career skill for sale
  • Host a game night
  • Bake sale
  • Sell raffle tickets

Never rely on any one event. Your letter writing campaign must be your number one focus.

BE STRONG. Be proud of what you're doing and ask everyone to donate. That means every single person you make contact with. You are asking on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation!

GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON JOINING THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION'S
California Coast Classic BICYCLE TOUR TEAM.