FUNDRAISING FOR MELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION

DIGA has made it very easy for you to fundraise. 

1. We have provided for you a sample letter and pamphlet to use for your fundraising efforts.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages.  Whichever you chose, make sure to make your efforts personal and thoughtful.  A letter sent to your family and friends can be tailored to represent each runner’s personality, thoughts, and reasons for running for this great cause.  Pamphlets look more professional and are better when distributing to people in the community or businesses such coffee shops, sporting goods stores, or any store that can readily display the pamphlets.  However, do not rely on your pamphlet being displayed in stores to get many donations.  There are so many worthy causes out there; people are less likely to donate to a cause if they do not have a personal connection to it.  YOU are that connection!  So be passionate and express to everyone you know and meet why melanoma prevention and treatment is such an important cause. 
2. When sending out your letter, be sure to put a deadline for donations, otherwise your letter may unintentionally end up lost in a pile of papers.  This deadline should be about 2-3 weeks after you send out the letter to prevent people from forgetting about your cause.  However, be sure to stress that you will still accept last minute donations at any time.  Additionally, you will get a better response if you include a self addressed envelope for people to mail their checks.  It is up to you whether you want to include a stamp on this envelope.  Anything that makes it easier for people to donate will optimize your fundraising success!
3. In addition to sending letters to your family, friends, etc., we suggest distributing pamphlets as widely as possible.  The committee members should go to local shops and restaurants and ask the managers if they would display the pamphlets. High traffic areas are always the best targets. These include places such as supermarkets, coffee shops, etc.  The pamphlets are designed to be printed on two sides of a single 8.5 x 11” sheet of paper and folded twice like a letter.  It’s best if this can be done during the copying process. If not, members of the organizing committee should arrange to fold them prior to distribution.  Be sure to edit the pamphlet and add in your name, email, marathon, and where donations should be sent.
4. Have people write their checks to the Melanoma Research Foundation, and have them send it to either yourself or a centralized address for your school’s Miles for Melanoma program, so that you can keep track of your donations.  However, after making note of your donation, you or your MFM chair should mail these checks to MRF as soon as possible.   It is inconsiderate to hold onto people’s checks for weeks at a time, as it hampers their personal accounting. 
1. A MFM committee member should keep track of all the donations (and each runner should keep track of their individual efforts) and then in a timely fashion mail donations to MRF at:

   Melanoma Research Foundation
   24 Old Georgetown Rd.
   Princeton, NJ 08540

5. Set a fundraising goal for runners in your school.  Fundraising is easier than it looks.  A few hundred (suggested at least $250-500 per runner) dollars should be suggested for each runner to fundraise*.  Set the fundraising deadline a few weeks before the race to ensure early fundraising efforts by runners.  Of course, donations should still be accepted at any time.  (*Keeping in mind  that medical students are very busy, DIGA does not want to make it too difficult for students to participate in Miles for Melanoma while still managing the rigors of medical school.  Therefore, though while we suggest that each participating runner have an official fundraising goal to reach (suggested $250+), we do not want to exclude anyone from the program if they cannot reach this goal or only want to contribute in a small way.  We welcome all support!)
6. Incentives – Incentives are a great way to increase the amount of donations!  Donation levels are best started at $20, and can increase according to the committee’s discretion. One way to encourage larger donations is to set various levels, such as gold, platinum, etc. where donations of a certain level will qualify for a gift item such as a T-shirt. The suggested levels are bronze ($50 or more), silver ($100 or more), gold ($250 or more), and platinum ($500 or more). The Melanoma Research Foundation will send a T-shirt to each bronze donor; a T-shirt and a hat to each silver donor; a T-shirt, a hat, and a hummingbird pin to each gold donor; and a T-shirt, a hat, a hummingbird pin, and a coffee mug to each platinum donor.
7. We highly encourage you to add your own incentives!  An example is offering to run in honor of anyone for a donation of $100 or more.  You can write their name on the back of your race jersey and think of them while training.  Usually families love to have their loved ones remembered in a special way.  You will be surprised how many $100 donations you will get!  See an example in our sample fundraising letter. 
8. The MFM committee should organize a group fundraiser to help jump start efforts.  Try to get donations for any costs that may be incurred to hold the event.  Many businesses are willing to donate or give discounts in exchange for free advertising and to support a good cause.  Be sure to publicize to all of your medical school, other graduate programs, and even undergraduates and community members.  Ideas for group fundraisers include:
1. Happy Hour with a cover charge going to MFM
2. Pancake breakfast (possibly before a sporting event or other big event)
3. Dinner Party/Ice Cream Party
4. Euchre (or other card games) Party
5. Garage Sale
6. Bake Sale
7. Car Wash
8. Raffles
9. Publicize your efforts!  Put pamphlets everywhere!  Get your local newspaper involved and have them write a story on your program’s efforts (and of course include information on how to donate!).  Melanoma Research Foundation will also publish your group and marathon on their webpage. 

Links
http://www.melanoma.org/MilesForMelanoma.pdf