Tips for Walkers
The annual walk-a-thon is Northwest Pilot Project’s most important fundraising event. It’s just a leisurely one hour “walk in the park” with friends, kids, pets, balloons, prizes, pizza and great music! See the Information Sheet for details. Prizes include gift certificates to Portland’s finest including: Nike, Nordstrom, REI, Powell’s Books, Finnegan’s, and more. For more information, see Prizes and Board Match. Show your support for this great organization and the people we serve by following these tips to maximize your walk-a-thon impact.
1. Spread the word about NWPP
For over 40 years, NWPP has helped provide a life of dignity and hope to Portland’s downtown elderly, disabled, poor and homeless. Services include: housing assistance, transportation, in-home services and advocacy. You can share the profiles of NWPP clients and help put a face on our work. Corporate sponsors cover all the costs of the event so donations go directly to NWPP services. It’s easy to ask for sponsors when you know the contribution will be so well used. Contributions are tax deductible.
2. Solicit sponsors
You can either get pledges and NWPP will bill your sponsors or you can collect the pledges with checks made out to NWPP. Pledges can be per lap or a flat amount. There are at least five approaches to maximize what you raise for the walk-a-thon. Try these strategies:
· Ask friends, relatives and colleagues to sponsor you. Make phone calls or go door-to-door. Use the pledge sheet to record complete names and addresses of your sponsors and their pledges. You do not need to collect money from your sponsors.
· Mail a personal letter to friends, relatives and colleagues telling them about the walk-a-thon and ask them to send a donation directly to you. Click this link for a sample letter. If possible, include a stamped envelope pre-addressed to you (not NWPP) for supporters to mail a check. You may also suggest sponsoring you on-line at. You may want to send a note of personal thanks as well.
· Request donations via email. For many people e-mail and the Internet are convenient ways to get the word out (and the donations in). Create a message based on the sample letter on NWPP’s website and e-mail to everyone you know. The letter includes a link for on-line donations. NWPP will let you know who donated on-line on your behalf, so that you can list them on your pledge sheet (as paid) for the purpose of competing for prizes, and so you can acknowledge their support.
· Create a team. Recruit friends, relatives and colleagues and form a team. Team members can use any of the means described above to solicit sponsors. This is a great way to cast a bigger net for NWPP and bring people together for a good cause. As team “captain” you might challenge your team members to each raise or donate $100. Teams are a special category in the competition for prizes. Contact NWPP for a team packet.
· Sponsor yourself. While we encourage you to spread the word about NWPP and broaden our base of support by seeking walk-a-thon pledges, don’t be left out of the fun. We are grateful to all our walkers, regardless of the size of their pledges and donations.
3. Record your sponsors
Write the name, address, telephone number and amount pledged for each sponsor on your pledge sheet. Complete names and addresses are necessary for proper billing. Please be sure writing is clear and legible. If a sponsor makes a donation at the time of the pledge, please mark them “paid” on your pledge sheet. Turn in your pledge sheet at the walk-a-thon. Sponsors that have not paid you directly or given online will be billed by NWPP.
4. Collecting pledges:
NWPP will bill the unpaid sponsors listed on your pledge sheet in the form of a thank you letter. For pre-paid donations, attach the money to your sheet (be sure to mark them paid) and turn it in at the walk-a-thon registration, 12:30 pm the day of the walk. You will be notified of online contributions made by your sponsors. Add them to your pledge sheet and mark them paid.
- Start seeking sponsors early. Many of us like to get started before tax time rolls around.
- Be sure all names and addresses on your pledge sheets are complete and legible.
- Bring your sponsor sheets to Registration between 12:30 and 1:00 pm.
- Bring a friend, kids, your dog, and plan on lots of fun with music, prizes and pizza.
- At the walkathon, introduce yourself to someone you haven’t met before. NWPP supporters are great people.
- Feel great about your support for NWPP.
Where can I get more information and materials for the Walk-a-thon?
Contact Wendy Rudman at 503-478-6877 or check this NWPP website for materials. We’d love to hear from you.