HOMEWALK HANDBOOK IN THIS HANDBOOK, YOU WILL FIND TIPS TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE FUNDRAISING PROCESS. TOGETHER WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS!

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1 5th Annual 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park HOMEWALK HANDBOOK THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES. FUNDRAISING IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE SUCCESS OF HOMEWALK. AS A HOMEWALK FUNDRAISER YOU ARE TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN L.A. COUNTY. WHERE DOES MY FUNDRAISING MONEY GO? Every dollar fundraised through is distributed back into the community to help quickly re-house homeless families and provide permanent supportive housing to the chronically homeless. $750 Helps a homeless family move into permanent supportive housing for one year $550 Helps support a community interview their homeless population to prioritize them for housing $450 Provides one year of case management to support a chronically homeless person stabilize in permanent housing $250 Provides a chronically homeless person vital health care treatment in permanent supportive housing IN THIS HANDBOOK, YOU WILL FIND TIPS TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE FUNDRAISING PROCESS. TOGETHER WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS! 1

2 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park GETTING STARTED MY FUNDRAISING GOALS IS $ FUNDRAISING CHECKLIST Here are some steps to help you raise awareness of the crisis of homelessness and the funds to do something about it. MAKE A PLAN Set individual and/or team fundraising goals and start raising money by asking for $10 from 10 people. This is an easy way to raise $100 from the start. Once you reach you goal, don t stop there, ask another 10! Start by letting everyone know that you are participating in. Use our Memory Jogger to remind yourself just how many people you know! Use your personal HQ to send s to friends and family asking them to join you at the walk or donate on your behalf. You can import your address book from other applications such as Outlook, Gmail and Yahoo. Send a letter or to everyone in your address book. (See page 4 for a sample fundraising letter). Share from your heart why you are participating in. UPDATE YOUR PERSONALIZED HOMEWALK WEBPAGE Once you register, login to your account to personalize your webpage. Upload personal photos and text, choose a background and make it as unique as you are. This is a free and easy way to share why you re participating. FOLLOW UP Call or everyone who said they will donate and help them to follow through on their commitment. THANK EVERYONE! No matter what the size of the donation, always remember to thank your donors for their generosity. $1 dollar from one person is just as impactful as $100 from another person. 2

3 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park FUNDRAISING TIPS AND IDEAS PERSONALIZE YOUR E-SIGNATURE Include a personalized e-signature with a link to your personal fundraising page at the bottom of all your messages. This is a great way to let both personal and business contacts know that you are walking and that they can join or sponsor you. UTILIZE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES Log into your participant center and add a fundraising badge to your Facebook page. Post the link to your Team page on Facebook and/or Twitter asking friends in your network to either join or donate to your team. MATCHING FUNDS Does your employeer have a company match program? Utilize this program to increase fundraising and ask donors to inquire about their own company match programs. Organize a Dress Down/Jeans day Ask management if you can have Dress Down/Jeans Day to benefit your team at work. Ask your co-workers for a $5 donation to wear jeans to work on that day. Religious Organization NewsletterS Ask your house of worship to include your fundraising letter in their newsletter or online bulletins. This is a great way to build a team, too! Ask Your Favorite Restaurant to Help You Fundraise Bring business to your favorite restaurant and donations to your fundraising total by asking for a portion of one evening s proceeds to go towards your fundraising total. Invite everyone you know to dine at the restaurant on the selected night. Office Fundraising Breakfast Host free bagels or doughnuts for co-workers. Set up the goodies in a high traffic area and ask for donations. Company Newsletter Ask your company to include your fundraising letter or run an ad in the company newsletter, encouraging co-workers to you for more information. Car Wash Find a local gas station to sponsor a car wash. Bring your own soap, buckets, etc. Recruit family and friends to help out. Ask drivers for a donation in exchange for a car wash. 3

4 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park SAMPLE FUNDRAISING LETTER Dear family and friends, On Saturday, November 19th, I am participating in of Greater Los Angeles 5th Annual and I m asking you to support me in the fight against homelessness. lessness is the most extreme form of poverty. The number one reason for homelessness is loss of a job. Los Angeles County is experiencing double digit unemployment who doesn t know someone who has been let go or laid off from their job? With over 50,000 homeless in Los Angeles County, we are the homeless capital of the nation with: 40% women and children 12,556 chronically homeless individuals 9,141 homeless veterans Our goal is have one person at for each of the 12,500 chronically homeless individuals we are trying to house. Please join me at in taking action to raise awareness of the homelessness issue and the funds needed to do something about it. I have set a goal of fundraising goal of $ and I need your help to get there. Every dollar raised goes directly back into the community to insure that homeless families and individuals have access to permanent supportive housing. Donating is easy! Just go to and click on DONATE. Select DONATE TO A WALKER OR RUNNER and type in my name. Now more than ever we need to work together to fight poverty so that we can end homelessness for good. Thank you! For more information please visit our website 4

5 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park MEMORY JOGGER DON T THINK YOU KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE TO JOIN YOUR TEAM OR ASK FOR A DONATION? FILLING OUT THIS WORKSHEET WILL HELP YOU JOG YOUR MEMORY OF THE VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH BUT MAY HAVE SLIPPED YOUR MIND. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU WILL HAVE A LONG LIST OF POTENTIAL DONORS AND TEAM MEMBERS TO HELP YOU END HOMELESSNESS IN L.A. COUNTY. WHO IS/ARE MY? I KNOW PEOPLE AT OTHER FRIENDS I KNOW Sisters Sisters-in-law Parents Aunts Uncles Cousins Brothers Brothers-in-law Accountant Attorney Babysitter Barber Bartender Bookkeeper Carpenter Caterer Chiropractor Coach/Coaches Dentist Dog/Cat Groomer Drycleaner Electrician Financial Planner Florist Grandparents Gym partners Hair Stylist Landlord Mailman Manicurist Nurse Personal Trainer Pet Groomer Pharmacist Physical Therapist Physician Property Manager Real Estate Agent Recruiter Security Guard Veterinarian Wedding Planner Yoga Classmates Bowling League Camp Chamber of Commerce Childcare Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Temple, etc. Coffee House Favorite Restaurant Golf Course Gym Hospital Library Neighborhood Café Pharmacy School Supermarket Children s Friends Children s Teachers College Friends Facebook Friends Fraternity Friends High School Friends LinkedIn Contacts Military Friends Facebook Friends Neighbors Parents Friends Former Co-workers For more information please visit our website 5

6 SEPTEMBER 18 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY OCTOBER REGISTER Commit to fundraising for walk THIS WEEK! Register yourself and talk to potential teammates. 27 ASK 25 people for and ask for a $10 donation. Direct them to your fundraising page. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 3 COLLECTION JAR Place a coin jar on your desk and ask co-workers to make a donation. Put your own spare change in the jar FUNDRAISING CALENDAR FACEBOOK Post a message to your friends on Facebook about walk. Invite them to join your team and forward the details. 11 BAKE SALE Bring a yummy treat to work. Sell your goodies with proceeds going to your walk fund. SET A GOAL No goal is out of reach! 28 START FUNDRAISING Send a personalized letter or to your friends and family explaining what you re doing and why it s important to you. 29 HAPPY HOUR Plan a happy hour at your favorite establishment. Ask them to donate a portion of the sales to your fundraising. 30 GARAGE SALE Start planning now! Ask your neighbors to donate items to sell at your garage sale next month. WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY JEANS DAY Give your co-workers a chance to come to work in jeans when they make a $5-10 donation (with company permission). 13 ASK Ask 5 people for $25: hairdresser, delivery person, soccer coach and more GAME NIGHT Invite friends and family over for game night. Collect an entry fee that will go towards your goal CATCH UP Call family and friends that have been out of contact. Tell them about walk! GARAGE SALE Make sure you have walk brochures to hand out! TURN IN YOUR JAR It s amazing how spare change adds up! Turn your jar of change into a donation. 25 SHARE YOUR TALENTS Are you great with numbers? Do you love watching kids or walking dogs? Offer your service for a donation SEND AN Follow up with potential donors for contributions HALLOWEEN WEEKEND Invite friends over for a party or potluck. Ask them to donate. 6

7 NOVEMBER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY FUNDRAISING CALENDAR MOVIE NIGHT IN Invite friends for a movie night. You provide the movie, popcorn, soda and couch. Take a donation for admission. ASK Ask your boss for a company contribution of $100. BROWN BAG IT Ask employees to bring their lunch to work and hold a brown bag party. Ask them to donate their lunch money. THANK YOU S Send a thank you to all your donors. Update them on your total raised and the event total! WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY COLLECTION JAR Place a coin jar on your desk and ask co-workers to make a donation. Don t forget to put your own spare change in the jar VETERANS DAY Encourage others to support our veterans. What better way than by making a donation to your walk fundraising? HOMEWALK TIME TO WRAP UP Contact those who wanted to donate to your efforts but forgot. Tell them about your walk experience and collect their donations. 30 TURN IN YOUR JAR It s amazing how much you can accumulate in spare change. Turn your jar of change into a donation. 7

8 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park FAQs Q: How do I start my fundraising campaign? A: Once you register, you can start fundraising right away by: Customizing your webpage (aka Participant Head Quarters) to share your story of why you are walking and fundraising. Importing Addresses and sending an to friends, family and co-workers asking them to support you. Downloading your walker materials and forms from the website. Q: How do I turn in my donations? A: Download the donation and/or deposit forms from the website. Clearly indicate your name, address and phone number on the deposit slip. Write your name in the memo section of each pledge check. Then you can either: Mail it or drop by the office: Bring it with you to in your Donation Collection of Greater Los Angeles Envelope and hand it in at check-in. ATTN: 1150 South Olive Street, Suite T500 Los Angeles, CA Q: What is the fundraising minimum? A: There is no minimum pledge to join. However, we encourage you to raise at least $100 from friends and family. Q: Will my donors receive a tax letter or receipt from of Greater Los Angeles? A: Download donation receipts from the website to give to your donors. Under IRS guidelines, of Greater Los Angeles is required to send a donation letter for tax purposes to any person giving a single gift totaling $250 or more. Q: I m walking with my family. Should they register for? A: Children under the age of 5 do not need to pre-register but should report to the check-in table on day. All others should register and report to check-in on either on bib-pick up day or on the day of the walk to get a bib number to participate. Q: How long is? A: is a 5K Run/, which is 3.1 miles. Q: I will be out of town during. Can I still participate? A: Yes! You do not have to physically walk or attend the event to participate. You can volunteer or be a Virtual er as an individual or team participant. As a Virtual er, you can raise money and will be eligible to receive all benefits and prizes as walkers. Q: I am having trouble with my Account. Who should I call? A: Please contact us at (213)

9 5K Run/ Nov 19 at Exposition Park contact us UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES 1150 South Olive Street, Suite T500 Los Angeles, CA (213) PHONE (213) FAX HOMEWALK Exposition Park 700 Exposition Park Boulevard Los Angeles, CA PARKING COST/LOCATION TBD General event information Including Sponsorship, In-Kind Donations and Expo Booths Lara Alexander ext Offline/mailed donations Tony Caballero ext HOMEWALK WEBSITE Registration, personal fundraising pages, online donations, general fundraising and recruiting help Lisel Tucker ext PUBLIC RELATIONS and Media Inquiries Taulene Kagan ext Information on the homelessness issue and ending homelessness Christine Marge ext Volunteer information Elizabeth Heger ext Visit our website for additional event day information, driving directions, parking and event schedule. 9