Fundraising Tips

Here are some quick and easy ways to tackle fundraising for your Buddy Walk at the grassroots level.  The following ideas were compiled from Buddy Walk survey results. Feel free to contact us at buddywalks@ndss.org to discuss other fundraising concepts that might work best for you.  Suggestions and ideas are encouraged.

Get Your Child's School Involved
A teacher at a private school instituted a "dress down day" for the entire student body and faculty. For a $5 donation, a student or teacher could dress in jeans or other casual clothes for a day instead of the uniform. If students already have a casual dress policy, invite them to wear a hat, shorts or other attire that is normally not allowed. It also helps to remind the school that October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month if you are planning an activity at that time of year.

A Letter Writing Assignment

Students can compete to see who receives a donation from the longest distance away. Ask them to write letters about the Buddy Walk to people or companies located out of your state or out of the country. The student who brings in a check from the farthest point wins a prize.

Get Your Company Involved
A district manager of a national retail chain encouraged her company to participate. The employees of each store challenged one another to form at least one team per store and raise money for Down syndrome. They had fun, raised money and increased morale all at once! Another way to have your company raise money is to have one (or more) “dress down days” with the money collected going towards the Buddy Walk.

Get Your Religious Organization Involved
Ask to put a poster on the bulletin board. See if an announcement can be made during a service. Leave a donation envelope in the coffee room or in the lobby. See if the youth group is looking for a social action activity.

Contact Your Child's Girl/Boy Scout Troop
Scouts could be eligible to earn a variety of badges by participating in a Buddy Walk.  Scouts may also want to help set-up or teardown your event, so keep them in mind as volunteers as well.

Other ideas

• Community activities: Car wash, a dog wash, garage sale, bake sale, "Dimes for Down Syndrome Day" at work, school or your local bank.
• Encourage walkers to get pledges from family, friends, colleagues, doctors, dentists, dry cleaners, hairdressers, and places where they are frequent patrons.
• Sell raffle tickets and hold a drawing (or drawings) for items that were donated to you by friends or local companies.
• Make and sell Buddy Walk ribbons (in the blue and yellow Buddy Walk colors) and sell them for $.50 or $1.00 to increase awareness of your Buddy Walk.  Try selling them in front of a busy supermarket or shopping mall.