Fundraising Tips

Here are a few ideas to help you get started and reach your fundraising goal. Remember, every gift counts and it is okay to follow up several times with those who haven’t supported you—no reply does not mean no! If you need additional support, please reach out to marathonteam@bwh.harvard.edu.

Getting Started

  • Review the fundraising plan you submitted on your application and finalize.
  • Take the time to draft and personalize a thoughtful fundraising letter.
  • Create a list of people in your network to solicit (family, friends, colleagues, groups).
  • Know the demographic of individuals that you are soliciting donations from and determine if email, stamped letter, or both will be most effective when sending them your personalized fundraising letter.
  • If mailing a letter, include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.
  • Attach a photo that ties to the cause.
  • Include your personal fundraising link in your email signature.

Virtual Fundraising

  • Host a virtual event on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, FaceTime, etc. (examples: bingo night, game/trivia night, karaoke night)
  • Livestream a training run to encourage others to donate to your personal TeamRaiser fundraising page
  • Create a calendar of challenges or entertaining tasks to complete for donations. Check out our example here!

Social Media

  • Social media (Twitter, Instagram, etc.) is a great way to spread the word about running and fundraising for the Boston Marathon.
  • Include status updates and photos, and ask friends to spread the word for you.
  • Use the hashtags #steppingstrong, #bostonmarathon and #runBoston
  • Acknowledge gifts publicly with a tweet or an updated Facebook status—for example, “Thank you @Caroline Duncan, for your donation! I can’t believe the @Boston Marathon is less than a month away! #steppingstrong #bostonmarathon #runBoston”
  • Tag the Brigham’s official pages so we can like and share your updates:
  • Other pages to tag to increase your reach:

Host an Event

  • Secure a location early on and ask the venue to support you by providing food and beverage at no cost, waiving your room rental fee, or donating gift certificates for opportunity drawing prizes.
  • Create a theme.
  • Have a friend stand at the door to collect an entry fee or sell opportunity drawing tickets (suggested donation of $25 per guest)—but don’t be afraid to continue to ask for donations throughout the evening and from those who are unable to attend.
  • Customize the Sample Flyer to promote your fundraising event.
  • Event Ideas:
    • Host a fitness class (spin, yoga, etc.)
    • Organize a Cornhole Tournament

Other Ideas

  • Ask your employer to sponsor you.
  • Explore options for matching gifts.
  • Ask for donations in lieu of birthday and holiday gifts.
  • Sell Super Bowl Squares or organize a March Madness bracket.
  • Dress down at work or school and have each employee or student pay $5 in your honor to wear jeans for a day.