Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program

Ways to Fundraise
 

There are great prizes for top fundraisers in specific categories. And every dollar raised above the minimum requirement ensures more veterans will get the help they need – and they have earned.

We’ll provide you with tools to assist your efforts. To view a sample fundraising letter template that you can download and edit to personalize, click here.

Online credit card donations to your individual fundraising page will be accepted only until 5pm on Monday, April 29, 2013. Any donations made via check must be received by Monday, April 29, 2013 to be credited to your fundraising page. After that date, checks and other donations will be accepted as general donations to supper the Home Base Program, but will not count towards your personal fundraising minimum requirement.

If you register after Monday, April 29th at 5pm, the minimum fundraising commitment is due the day of the race.

  Download a Sample Fundraising Letter for an Adult Walker or Runner

Help promote the Run-Walk by reaching out to your local media and sharing your story about why you are participating in the Run-Walk.  You can find a sample press release HERE.  Simply update the press release with your information and send it to your local paper. 

Simple and Easy Fundraising Ideas

EMAIL
Email your fundraising letter to friends, family and coworkers and ask them to support your Run-Walk. Your email message should include a direct link to your personalized Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance fundraising page. When friends donate to you online, they will receive an automated tax receipt for their donation. Once a donation clears, it will show up as a credit in your tally on your fundraising page. To increase the impact, ask friends to forward your appeal to additional 5 people who want to salute our veterans and help the wounded get the care they need.

HOUSE PARTY
Host a fundraising party at your home for friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. Watch a Sox game together on TV and create a silent auction or raffle.

CORPORATE MATCHING
Take advantage of your corporate matching gifts programs. Many of your donors may also work for companies that have a matching gift program - and their donation could double if they simply fill out a form from their corporate Human Resources department.  The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital are both 501(c)(3) federally recognized non-profits.  Donations to the Run-Walk to Home Base are eligible for most matching grant programs.

TRIBUTE DONATIONS
Encourage donors to make contributions to your Run-Walk “in honor of” or “in memory of” loved ones or a veteran they knowand want to honor.

VOICEMAIL
Change your voicemail/answering message to announce your participation in the Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance and explain how callers can join your team by donating to your fundraising page!

EMAIL TAGLINE
Add a tagline to your emails stating “I’m participating in the 2013 Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance.  Please support our wounded veterans by sponsoring my run at www.runtohomebase.org. Also add a link to your own fundraising page.

SILENT AUCTION
Ask local businesses to donate items or gift certificates and hold a silent auction at your fundraising event or on a payday at work. Suggest a book of car wash certificates, pet grooming, a week of free coffee – the list is endless!  Set minimum donation limits and allow people to bid up.

BENEFIT NIGHT
Throw a fundraising party at a local establishment.  Charge your guests an entrance fee (donation).  Ask the host venue, such as a local restaurant, ice cream parlor or teacher’s supply store, to support with a donation of 10% (or more!) of the night’s sales – don’t be too shy to ask.

POTLUCK PARTY
Organize a potluck party and ask everyone to bring a dish to pass while socializing friends and neighbors. The entrance fee to the party becomes your donation.

BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY/WEDDING
In lieu of gifts, ask your friends and family to make a donation. Delegate: Give 10 friends 5 donation forms and ask them to help you seek donations to help our wounded heroes here in New England.

DRESS DOWN FRIDAY
Ask your boss if you can host a “Dress Down Friday” or “Red Sox Day.” Ask your employer for permission to allow employees who donate to the Run-Walk to Home Base Presented by New Balance to dress down or wear Sox-themed apparel on an assigned day.

GARAGE SALE
Ask your friends and neighbors to participate by donating items for sale.  Make signs that indicate all proceeds are going to the Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Hospital Home Base Program.  Add home baked goods and/or lemonade stand, and provide a cash donation jar.  Every dollar donated brings you closer to your goal!

CAR WASH
Get friends and family to help you wash cars for a donation.

SUPER CHANGE JAR
Ask your friends and family to put aside their spare change to be added to the super change jar.  Every month or so, empty it out and let everyone know that “a little at a time” adds up!  This is a great idea to put into action at work, too.  Decorate the jar with inspirational quotes and photos from your training runs.