How to make your Diabetes Summer Surge event count!

Here are some tips to help you turn your summer event into a successful fundraiser for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Set a stretch fundraising target. Your family and friends will want to support you and see you succeed.
Keep people updated about your fundraising progress. They may be inspired and do some fundraising for you!
Make sure everyone knows about the donation deadline of September 15 so they don’t miss it!

Create a list of potential supporters. Consider asking all of the people in your life to join in the fight to end diabetes. Use your address book and invite family, friends, neighbours and co-workers. Consider people who have asked you to support them in their charitable work and include them. Don’t leave anyone out!
If a friend asks what they can do to help with your event, remind them that they can easily and safely donate online. Or suggest they create their own Diabetes Summer Surge event.
Remind friends to add the Diabetes Summer Surge to their next event to help end diabetes!
Get your workplace involved! Ask to host a corporate Diabetes Summer Surge event, or ask your company to make a donation.

Ask for donations by sending emails from your personal event page. Remember that you can also ask people to support you face-to-face.
Have donation details handy during your event and remind invitees that you’d appreciate their support.
Get the local media interested in your campaign. Your community will be interested in your fight to end diabetes. Click here (PDF) for a sample media release and media tips.
Print off the resource materials about diabetes (PDF) and where your fundraising dollars will go to share with interested supporters.

Send thank you notes to your supporters for making a donation.
Follow up with friends who haven’t responded. Try phoning them or sending a quick email to make sure they haven’t forgotten about the request.