fundraising made easy
YOU CAN DO THIS!
For nearly 20 years, Run 4 Kids participants have consistently met and often exceeded their fundraising goals. If $500 feels like a stretch, you’re not alone, but it is much more achievable than you might think.
Peer-to-peer fundraising works because people give to people. When friends, family, and coworkers hear directly from you about why this cause matters, they are far more likely to step up and support you.
Goals like this are often reached by simply reaching out to your personal network, including friends, family, coworkers, and social circles, and making a clear, personal ask.
What works best:
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Share why you are participating. Your story matters more than perfect wording
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Reach out directly through email or text, not just social media
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Start with a few close supporters to build momentum
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Follow up and share progress along the way
Email and personal outreach consistently drive the most donations, especially when
messages feel authentic and individualized.
Most importantly, you are not doing this alone. We provide tools, templates, and support
to help you succeed every step of the way.
Bottom line: If you are willing to ask, $500 is absolutely within reach, and you may even surpass it.
10 WEEK FUNDRAISING STRATEGY
1) Week 1 — Target: $285
Start with yourself. Make the first gift yourself, even $25. It signals commitment and makes every future ask more genuine. Then send 10 personal messages to close friends asking for $26 each. Handwritten notes and personal emails outperform mass messages every time.
2) Week 2 — Target: $75
Family. Follow up on last week's messages. Then reach out to five family members with a simple, direct ask. A $15 request from someone they love is rarely a difficult conversation.
3) Week 3 — Target: $75
Your workplace. Ask five coworkers to sponsor you at $10 each. Then ask your supervisor directly for a company contribution. Check with HR about employer matching gifts. Many companies will double your donations automatically, and most people never think to ask.
4) Week 4 — Target: $25
Your neighborhood. Start with your neighbors and a $5 ask. Bring your kids if you have them. People say yes more often than you'd expect when someone shows up in person with a real story.
5) Week 5 — Target: $15
Host something small. A backyard gathering, a workplace bake sale, a casual raffle. It doesn't need to be elaborate. Small events create momentum and give people a reason to engage with your campaign beyond a donation link.
6) Week 6 — Target: $25
Local businesses. Ask three businesses you already have a relationship with. Your doctor's office, your gym, your favorite coffee shop. A familiar face making a $5 to $10 ask is often an easy yes.
7) Week 7 — FOLLOW UP
Follow up on everyone. Go back to anyone who hasn't responded yet. A short, warm follow-up is not pushy. It's a reminder that the cause is still real and your commitment hasn't wavered. This is often the week that early conversations turn into actual donations.
8) Week 8 — EXPAND YOUR CIRLCE
Think about people you haven't contacted yet. Former colleagues, old friends, people from your faith community or hobby group. You don't need a close relationship to make the ask. You just need a genuine reason — and you have one.
9) Week 9 — SHARE YOUR JOURNEY
Post an update on social media. Share a photo from training. Tell people how your fundraising is going and remind them what the money does for kids in crisis. People who passed on your first ask sometimes give after they've seen your commitment play out over time.
10) Week 10 — THE HOME STRETCH
Race day is June 28th, and this is when many team members see their biggest donations come in. Send a final personal message to anyone who hasn't given yet. Keep it simple and warm. Let them know the race is almost here and that it's not too late to be part of it.
Don't Get Discouraged by the Quiet Weeks
Here’s something every experienced Run 4 Kids fundraiser knows: the middle weeks can feel slow. You’ve made your asks, you’re waiting, and it’s easy to wonder if it’s working. It is. Donors have busy lives, and many intend to give but simply need a reminder. The team members who reach their goals are the ones who stay consistent, keep sharing their story, and don’t interpret silence as a no. Keep your fundraising page updated, keep mentioning it in conversation, and keep sending warm, personal follow-ups. The weeks leading up to June 28th have a way of bringing it all together.