Dance Marathon

Ways you can raise money


Four Hundred Dollars?! How can I raise that much money?!

Raising your $400 is actually really easy, and there are several ways to do it! Probably the most common way is to ask your friends and family to make donations.

  1. Use our Online Giving System
    Create your own online giving page and sending out emails to friends and family. Learn more about creating your own Online Giving Page or click here to login to your page.


  2. Letter Writing
    The more traditional approach is to send out letters or postcards to your friends and family. Remember, people still LOVE to get personalized mail!


  3. Canning
    The most social way to raise your money is to go "canning" downtown on a weekend night.


  4. Hometown Heroes
    Hometown Heroes is a new program meant to get more businesses involved in Dance Marathon while helping dancers raise their money for the BIG EVENT! Click here to read more.


  5. Matching Gifts
    The UI Foundation will help you raise money by matching donations! Click here to read more.


  6. Websites that give back to DM!



  
  • Letter Writing Campaigns/Personal Letters


  • One of the most effective, easiest, and most traditional ways to raise money is to send personal letters or postcards. These letters should describe what Dance Marathon is, explain your involvement and smiply ask for donations. You can do this all straight from the comfort of your home!

    Not in the mood to write? Use our Online Letter Writing System Dance Marathon will send the letters for you through our letter writing campaign! . Just Click Here to use our ONLINE LETTER WRITING system. Here, you can submit the names and addresses of people you would like to contact and we will send the letters for you! You may also include a brief, personalized paragraph that will be included at the end of each letter that is mailed. The online letter writing chair, Gabby, prints everything off and mails it all to the people you requested. They will get a return envelope and postage that will come right back to the IMU with your name attached and it will be deposited directly in your dancer account by the Business Letter Writing Chair, Amanda! SO EASY! Take advantage of this quick and easy way to fundraise!!!


      
  • Canning

  • Have you ever seen someone standing downtown on a Thursday night holding a can and asking for money to help kids with cancer? That person holding the can was a University of Iowa student who was canning. Canister Solicitation is one of the most profitable forms of fundraising for The University of Iowa Dance Marathon.


    Canning is an excellent way to raise money. There are three types of canning: neighborhood, downtown, and football. You should ask your morale captain about specific canning dates coming up. Remember that you must sign up in advance for each canning event, and a morale captain or another leadership member will organize these drives and go with you.


    Canning Tips:

      All students canning should wear bright, visible clothing and a Dance Marathon T-shirt, carry their University of Iowa ID, and should have signs and cans that have information about Dance Marathon, including phone number and website address.

      Be enthusiastic and communicate clearly Dance Marathon's mission and purpose (please refer to the mission on the homepage).

      Be patient with people. Most people are going to ask questions before they open up their wallet.

      Welcome questions with a smile and be confident in your answers. To do this get to know the facts of Dance Marathon and what exactly the money is used for by referring to the "What is it all about?" section of this website.

      Be sure to inform donors that all donations qualify for tax deductibility and make available Dance Marathon's Iowa tax number, which is 42-0796760.

      If people do not contribute money when asked, do not make rude or sarcastic comments. Thank everyone and tell them to watch for Dance Marathon in February.

      And of course, HAVE FUN! Get to know the people in your canning group (they are great support) and keep reminding yourself how great you will feel after all the hard work you have put in.


      
  • Hometown Heroes



  • What It Is: Hometown Heroes is a new program meant to get more businesses involved in Dance Marathon while helping dancers raise their money for the BIG EVENT!

    How It Works: It’s simple. All you have to do is fill out
    THIS FORM and email it to dm.hometownhero@gmail.com – we’ll do the rest! Dance Marathon will contact the business with a professional business mailing, and we’ll let you know what donations are received.

    Why You Should Participate: For every dollar donated from the companies you refer, you get 50% of those donations credited towards your dancer total! The more businesses you send in, the more potential you have to raise money! For example: If you send in information on businesses and those businesses end up donating a total of $500, you will get $250 credited towards your dancer total!

    Contact dm.hometownhero@gmail.com with questions or for more information! Note: Dancers will not get credit for businesses that already donate to Dance Marathon. Hometown Heroes Program will send out monthly updates on donation totals.

      
  • Matching Gifts



  • Gift Matching Through the UI Foundation

    Visit the UI Foundation website for more information at www.uifoundation.org/matching
    Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. So your gift could be doubled or tripled! Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses.


      
  • Websites that support Dance Marathon



  • Goodsearch and Goodshop

    Use Goodsearch and Goodshop to help raise money for Dance Marathon! If you type in University of Iowa Dance Marathon in the charity line and select U of I DM (not ISU J ). Search away and we get a penny for every search which can add up quickly! Likewise on Goodshop, you can select Dance Marathon as your charity of choice, find the stores you like to shop at, and by using Goodshop Dance Marathon will receive a percentage of your purchase!


    iGive


    Dance Marathon is now listed with iGive! iGive is a great opportunity to jump start your holiday shopping while raising money for Dance Marathon. Up to 26% of each purchse will be donated to Dance Marathon.


    iGive.com
    1. Every time you go shopping, a percentage is donated to Dance Marathon.

    2. Visit iGive.com. Find your cause. Register to be a member (its free!!)

    3. Check out the great offers and deals, like free shipping and double donations.

    4. Use the links to shop at your favorite stores. There are over 680 stores to choose from online.

    5. iGive will send us the money raised.



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