"Fundraising was so much easier than I expected. My friends and the people I know from work and business were all eager to help me succeed. I was able to raise close to $5000 last year."
Lisa Curley, CFL 2003

Click here for cool fundraising ideas from participants -  

1. Begin by making a list of everyone that you know - friends, family, co-workers, professors, wedding guests, spouses/significant other's family, people you do regular business with -dentists, doctors, gas stations, stores you regularly frequent, coffee shops, insurance agents, bakeries, brokers, anyone.
   
   
2. Prioritize them - putting the people you know best first. Remember, people give to people. By asking the people you know best first, you will have success and it will make you more confident in asking those you know less well.
   
   
3. We already have an impressive list of sponsors and you can let people know that all of the major climbing companies are behind us. That will help to make them feel more comfortable as people like to give to causes that other people support. Our corporate sponsorship list includes: Black Diamond, DMM/Excalibur, Petzl, CAMP and Northface.
   
   
4. We recommend that you set personal goals for climbing and fundraising. Most people commit to climb at least 1000 feet and raise $1000.
   
   
5. Download the sample letter and pledge form or create your own. Put it on some brightly colored paper. Personalize it. Do you know someone with cancer? Tell your friends that you are climbing in memory of or for someone battling the disease. It does not have to be ovarian cancer.
   
   
6. People like to know what is expected of them. If you know someone can only give $5.00 then ask them for $5.00. If someone can give $50, ask them for $50. By asking for a specific amount, you will be more effective.
   
   
7. You need to keep track - get a 9x12 envelope and every time someone fills out a donor form attach the check to the pledge form and put it in the 9x12 envelope. Keep a record of everyone who has given you money and the amount and keep this record in the envelope with the forms and checks. If someone gives you cash, deposit it to your account and write a check for that amount. Never send cash through the mail. Use the handy record form provided with the sample letter and pledge form for recording your pledges. View Forms and Letters
   
   Bring your checks to the event or mail checks ahead of time to:
   

   HERA Ovarian Cancer Climb for Life
   Box 664
   Carbondale, CO 81623
   USA
   Attn: Sean Patrick

   
   
8. You can hand people the letter or you can mail it to them. Whatever feels most comfortable to you. To insure that people will return the form with a check, putting an extra size 9 self-addressed stamped envelope in the letter with your address on the outside ensures a higher return rate.
   
   
9. It is helpful for you to set a goal for how much money you want to raise. Many charitable runs and bike rides have a required minimum that participants must raise - any where from $3500 - 5000. We do not have a required minimum but a suggested target goal of $1000. That is 20 donations of $50 or 40 donations of $25. Easy enough to do - most people who have done this before find that the average donation they get is $40.
   
   
10. There is no minimum amount to raise to participate in the weekend, however this is a fundraiser so to be included in the raffle, you must raise a minimum of $250. **
    
    
11. The HERA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization so all donations you receive are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Make sure that checks are made out to the HERA Foundation and make sure you keep track of who gives you cash and their addresses so we can send them a thank you note.
    
    
12. Thank yous. We have a simple thank you form that you can give to everyone who donates money. HERA is required to send thank yous to people who give $200 or more. Individuals or companies who give less than that can use their cancelled checks as their receipts, They do not need a letter from the HERA Foundation to claim a deduction on their taxes.