What it takes to create and execute single largest event in Canada Fundraising

HOW AND 'BORN ON THE WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER TO START?

Brian: There are tons of different fundraising events like the Weekend to end breast cancer in the United States, but nothing like it in Canada. CauseForce wanted to do a fundraiser strictly Canadian and in 2002, we persuaded the Princess Margaret Hospital to try us for a year. We said we would raise $ 8 million and we raised $ 12.7 million. It 'was the single largest Canadian fundraiser ever. After our first year in Toronto, word spread and other hospitals and cities began to call and ask for more information. Then we started to roll to another city.

WHY 'USE A PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISER to raise money for NON PROFIT?

Brian: You do not get to collect $ 40 million a year if you are relying on the kindness of volunteers to produce an event. I served on the boards, even the president was on the cards and I know that there's only so much volunteers can do. CauseForce works with nonprofit organizations to help raise funds for their mission and are proud of this.

WITH A NATIONAL EVENT, HOW do you keep the feeling LOCAL CITY FOR ALL '?

Alexis: Every city has its video orientation. It 's important for us to show our own city, so make sure that we can find local doctors, testimonies that are specific to our event in Montreal for our video so that everyone has a local touch. In 2007, 64% of our participants were Francophone so that our efforts are working.

HOW TO FIGURE YOUR INTERNET MARKETING?

Brian: It 's very important for us to build a community, a community virus. The Weekend to End Breast Cancer is not like other events, where they recorded the month before. There is a fundraising minimum of $ 2000 and people have to walk a long way. So the people are with us from January to August and we have plenty of time to engage people.

There are those who are in their 4th year on foot so that when they come back every year, you want to make sure that it is not the same site that donors and participants return never seen before. Take the effort to update it, keep it interactive and make sure to always have information about the use of funds to date.

Alexis: The people you meet on the discussion forums and become friends. They are doing training walks together in time minus -20, making walking mall in the winter, get together to party fundraising. We send emails to invite people to events such as health clinics of the foot.

HOW DOES THE WEB work at the donor?

Alexis: We have a participating center which is very interactive and easy: the participants put their own image, write your own story, then send e-mail to friends and family using our email templates. We thank you email templates set up automatic email reminders to follow up donors did not feel a bit ', automatic tax revenue. The website is very easy for donors and participants to use.

COME ON-LINE VIDEO AND DVD inserted into a marketing strategy?

ALEXIS: The videos are a great tool and use them in different ways. They are most useful for orientation sessions. These sessions are really about the event and keep half a dozen a year. We invite people to come for an hour and a half, watch a 15-minute video that shows the spirit and draws a clear picture of the event. For those who have already participated, generating enthusiasm for what they did.

BRIAN: In addition, our video guidance vary each year. It 's important to keep things fresh for those who come back every year.

ALEXIS: Another way of using video is that if participants hold a fundraising event, said that a party may borrow the video to raise awareness and help others about what they are participating, have made the commitment to collect that money.

BRIAN: This year we tried something new and has sent 15 minute documentary on DVD to anyone who ever recorded. We know that people are more inclined to see that then read a long piece of marketing in 11 point type font. There's only so much emotion and pride, sadness and happiness that occurs at this weekend-not that the writing can describe. This mini-documentary reminds people of that experience .......