Fundraising Made Easy!

Signing up for the Mercy Ministries Run For Mercy 5K and Family Walk is so easy. You can sign up as an individual runner, create a whole team, or if you'd rather spend time on the couch, you can still sign up as a virtual runner! If you're one of the first to register, you even get a t-shirt and drawstring backpack. Refer a friend and you get a cool water bottle.

But for many, fundraising can be an intimidating task. Don't sweat it. It's easier than you think. One of last year’s participants, Melanie, shares what she did to raise $680!

Here is what I did last year to raise $680:

• I created my team.

• I put the link for my team on my Facebook page and Twitter page from time to time (I posted it repeatedly and more often as the date got closer since many people don’t like to commit to things like this far in advance).

• I sent out personal emails to everyone I knew telling them about the event and asking them to sign up to run or walk with me and let them know that if they couldn’t attend the event, they could make a gift to my team or sign up as a virtual runner and still get a shirt and goody bag! Many of my local friends did the virtual runner thing so they could get those items, and some out of town friends who had no need for Nashville coupons made a donation.

• I found the official event page on Facebook and invited all of my Facebook friends to it.

• I wrote about the event on my blog and shared the link in case any of my readers wanted to go make a donation. I actually got about $50 donated this way from strangers in other states who read my blog.

• I talked about the event to friends and family and followed up with the info to sign up.

• I sent reminder personal emails to everyone I knew as the event date got closer to remind anyone who hadn’t signed up to please consider doing so.

• I told all my local friends and family that I’d be holding a pasta party at my house the night before as a thank you for their support (and then I did it!) This got a few extra people on board, and I got to have a fun night having dinner with my friends before the event.

I am already doing the same things this year. I just started last week and already have $205 from doing this sort of thing!

Feel free to use these great ideas to reach your fundraising goals and be creative. The most important part is getting the word out. Many are willing to give; they just need to be asked. So sign up, refer a friend, and get ready to Run For Mercy!