Thank you for visiting our page and Acting with Love! Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research is dedicated to achieving a future without breast cancer by engaging the public and scientific communities in innovative research. You can help us achieve this mission by holding an Act With Love fundraiser. Your idea can be as big or as small as you want, and we are so appreciative of your support and interest in hosting an event. The funds raised from these events directly impact our innovative research and programs, and we are grateful for all donations. Whether you raise ten dollars or ten thousand dollars, it makes a difference in helping us to find the answer that will end breast cancer. Remember, all you need to be a successful fundraiser is a strong belief in the cause, follow-through with your idea, and a dose of creativity!

Here are some ideas to get you started, but the possibilities are endless.

You can host an event or do something fun and outrageous and ask people to sponsor you!

• Art show
• Awards show party
• Bake-off
• Board game night
• Book club
• Bowling night
• Cocktail party
• Film screening
• Garage sale
• Give up a vice (biting your nails, sweets, you name it)
• Picnic
• Raffle
• Shave your head or beard (or dye your hair pink!)
• Spin class
• Sports tournament
• Themed dinner party
• Yoga class

Not sure what goal to shoot for? Linking your donation amounts to your fundraiser can help. Turning 40 this year? Ask all of your friends to donate $40. Running a marathon? Aim for raising $2620!

Tips for starting your campaign and personalizing your fundraising page:

• Be creative with your page title – don’t be afraid to make it stand out!
• Be sure to personalize your page with photos and descriptions that fit your idea – don’t forget to tell people why you’re getting involved.
• Set a fundraising goal and don’t be afraid to dream big!
• Consider making a donation to your own fundraising page.  Other people are more likely to donate to your page when they see that someone has already contributed.
• Set a fundraising deadline and be sure to communicate this date to your friends and family.
• Send personal emails to some of your closest friends and family and ask them for donations first, since they are most likely to donate.
• Be sure to also reach out to more extended family and friends.  Don’t forget your co-workers, school groups, sports team members, book club friends, etc.
  • Remember, personalized emails are usually more effective when asking for donations.
  • Don’t forget to explain why Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research is important to you and include a link to your fundraising page.
• Use your social media networks and include progress updates when appropriate (see our social media guide for ready-to-go statuses and pictures)
• Thank your donors!
  • When someone donates to your page, you will receive an email notification and you’ll be able to email, call, or handwrite a thank-you soon after the donation.

Setting internal deadlines can help keep you on track to hit your goal.

Tips for Writing a General Email:

Start by explaining your connection to Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research and why it’s important to you.

In a sentence or two, explain why you are supporting us. It’s helpful for potential supporters to understand where their money will be going and what it will be used to accomplish. Remind donors that $0.81 of every dollar given to the Foundation goes straight into innovative research and programs aimed at ending breast cancer once and for all.

Include a link to your fundraising page and be clear to potential supporters that you are looking for donations.

Thank them for their time and support.

Always remember to be yourself when writing an email asking for donations. If something feels forced or doesn’t sound like something you would say, scrap it.

Social Media Ideas:

Sample Tweets:

Sample Facebook posts:

Social media share pages are embedded right on your personal fundraising page.

Other social media tips:

By tagging people who have already donated to you and thanking them, your post will be shared in their activity feed as well as yours. People also are more likely to donate when they see people have already donated to you.

Every post doesn’t need to be an ask for a donation. Get creative and share inspiring stories, personal testimonials, or interesting research!

Get creative and consider offering your own gifts to those who help you reach your fundraising goal. It doesn’t have to be something big – maybe you can make cookies or offer to buy them a cup of coffee.