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.
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? Dance Marathon will send the letters for you through our letter writing campaign! Later in the year an online submission form will be posted online. There, 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.
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).
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.
