MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT!

Every fundraising page created, every shirt worn at an event, and every individual you tell about NoStigmas helps raise awareness to ensure that no one faces mental illness or suicide alone.

GET STARTED

We've put together some tools to help you be successful with fundraising.  Complete the form below to get all the pro tips!

THE POWER OF YOUR PARTICIPATION:

The more funds we raise, the more mental health advocates we can train. More advocates means more stigmas erased and more lives saved– on the local level where it counts!

Every time you wear your NoStigmas gear,

Every person you tell about your goals,

Every participant you recruit,

Every dollar you raise, MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

To date, we have trained over 3.400 NoStigmas Advocates at just $25 per person. That’s the power of your participation!

With NoStigmas you have the opportunity to choose how you want to participate. We'll provide you with the tools and support needed to have fun and be successful. Join Team NoStigmas for any event, any sport, anywhere. There's no limit to what you can do!

Here’s our simple and effective 3-step method to setup your fundraiser…

  • Fundraising isn't about asking for money; it's about sharing why you're passionate about mental health and an opportunity to tell the world why you support us.

    First, open a new document and start planning with your goal in mind.

    What is it you want to accomplish? Completing a race? Impacting your community? Holding an event? Raising a specific amount?

    Capture all of the steps and goals, big and small, that this fundraiser ​is working towards.

    Next, give some thought to how you will share. Which ways do you communicate with ​your community: email, text, social media, world-of-mouth, talks/speeches, bulletin boards, forums, meetups, etc. ​​​​

    Now, let's think about timing. Typically, a fundraising campaign will last a period of time, sometimes up to a year. Think about how you will "drip" your messaging and asks over that time. A good guideline is one update every 1-2 weeks via email, socials and direct conversations.

    Finally, create calendar events or reminders for creating and sharing your updates. ​Go ahead, we'll wait here while you get your schedule on.

    Great job! This is an excellent start to your campaign. Hang on to this document because we'll add ​to it in the next step.

  • In this step you'll collect all of the assets you'll need to create an effective fundraising campaign. This will include your why, media, stats and your page.

    Start with your "why" and how that connects to your lived experiences. To your level of comfort, share your story, challenges and how you are/have overcome them. Capture all of the reasons you are undertaking this journey.

    Next, write the body of your fundraiser. This should include your goals, your why, some of your story, stats or research, about NoStigmas and how the funds will be used for NoStigmas Programs.

    By the way, nearly $0.70 of every dollar raised ​goes directly to support our educational and advocacy programs. So, for every $100 raised we're able to train 4 new NoStigmas Advocates, ready to break down stigmas and give life-saving mental health peer support, right in their local community.

    We’ve trained over 3,400 NoStigmas Advocates to-date!​

    Now, gather your media.​ This includes your pictures, videos (best practices below), graphics and anything that will visually represent your goals, purpose and story.

    ​​Got pics from when you were an awkward kid going through a tough time? Have art that is motivated by your why? Video of you in action? All of this will help create a gold-standard campaign.​​

    Finally, ​save all of your text, links and media in one place. Create a folder on your computer, a Google Drive or Dropbox space, a saved album on your phone, etc. Make it easy to find, searchable and protected against deletion so you have access during your entire campaign.

    Video is the #1 way to get more support! Start by creating a short, heartfelt video! Here are a few tips:

    • Outline your talking points, but don't script

    • Keep it between 60-90 seconds max

    • Make it personal by telling a bit of your story and what the cause means to you

    • Use a ring light or window as your primary light source– we all look better when well lit!

    • Find a quiet, distraction-free environment (unless a place specifically connects to your why)

    • Get a tripod or ask someone to help by holding the camera for you–but selfie style is fine too.

    When you're done, upload it to your social channels + YouTube so you can copy & paste the link onto your fundraising page, emails, blog, forums, etc. Don't forget to share it! You might be surprised how far your reach goes. :)

  • You have all of the information and resources that you need, now it's time to share it with the world.

    First, select/setup your fundraising platform.​ If you don't already have one designated to you (by the event, race, workplace, etc.) then it's time to decide where you'll host your fundraising page. Here are some popular platforms to choose from:

    Haku (required for Chicago Marathon)

    GoFundMe​

    PayPal Giving

    Facebook

    Instagram

    YouTube Fundraiser​

    ​​Next, load your content. It's now time for all of that great messaging and media to shine! Don't forget to set-up your thank you messages, follow-up emails, and updates too.

    Now, let's identify who will support you. Family & friends are your first natural choice, but let's go deeper and look at some others too: co-workers, social/community groups, others impacted by the cause and local businesses.

    It may feel odd to ask for support from certain people and groups, but you may be surprised by who does (and doesn't donate) to your fundraiser. Try not to get caught up in overthinking it and just share from your heart.

    People LOVE supporting a good cause. And YOU are a good cause!

    Finally, share and share and share!​ Compose your emails, write those posts, print those flyers and lock in your 1-minute pitch. A simple formula is this:​

    • Your ask– how much do you want them to give and where?

    • Your why– a brief statement on your connection to the cause

    • Your what​– your event, training program, goal, etc. come next

    • Your ask– repeat your ask, how they can give & thanks

    It's that simple. Rinse and repeat this process with different updates, facets of your story, or info. about NoStigmas and you have a recipe for success!​

    Still need help or have questions? Email us at hi@nostigmas.org and we’ll be in touch. We’re so grateful for you!