Guest Post: How Sam Became #1.

Hello, PETA Pack team!
I was joking to someone on last Saturday’s training run that I might actually be enjoying the fundraising aspect of this more than the running part (ha ha). OK, only true on some days when my knees would rather have a cat curled up on one side and the newspaper on the other.

But I’ve actually had great luck in fundraising so far, and wanted to share some of my “best practices” if they’re helpful. Feel free to use any and all ideas and/or content!

• Start with your base of family and close friends. I told my family their donations were the only Christmas presents I wanted this year. It worked! And I hear presents are STILL coming my way. (See email #1)
  

• After your initial email, send another sweep. You’ll catch the inevitable procrastinators from your “base,” and you can start adding other targets such as select work colleagues, gym friends, etc. (See email #2)
  

• Be prepared to send yet another sweep. I added a lot of contributions from this third email, with no restraining orders issued to date. People are busy this time of year, and it helps to keep in front of them. (See email #3)
  

• Send direct correspondence. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to send a quick email or IM - ask them directly if they plan to support your run. Tell them you’re reaching out to remind them before the year ends, so they can write it off on their 2008 taxes!
  

• Leverage breaking news to give meaning to their donations. I forwarded PETA’s recent press release announcing the undercover operation at the W.Va turkey farm. (Apparently I “completely ruined Thanksgiving dinner” for quite a few people. :) But these same people then donated heavily.) If you prefer a softer angle, share the doghouses drive PETA conducts every winter.
  

• Use the email function on Active.com. Provides a convenient, centralized tool to broadcast your initial emails, track who you’ve already contacted, and automate follow-ups.
  

I honestly wasn’t sure what response I was going to get when I started this fundraising effort. But I’ve been amazed at how overwhelmingly everyone has been - with most people thanking me for giving them a chance to help animals.

Don’t feel guilty about reaching out repeatedly – just keep it light, with some humor, and most importantly tell them it means a lot to you. Most of us have never passed the hat before this, and they’re aware of this.

Good luck! And stay tuned to this blog for other fundraising tips and techniques as we uncover them before our race.

Happy holidays, all.
Samantha

[Sam said you can copy and paste any of her text if you'd like to use it for your fundraising!  Contact me if you want any recent PETA news or e-mails to send out. --Alex]

Sam's e-mail #3: Forward a strong message

click on the PETA e-mail above to enlarge it.

EMAIL #3 – Send individually to each contact, forward Ingrid’s Angel for Animals email

Subject:
Make a difference in the life of a cold dog

Body:
Hi [first name].
I'm going to donate $250 again this year for PETA's annual doghouse drive - see below. This is a great program in which PETA supplies cold backyard dogs around the U.S. with shelter and warm straw during the winter.

If you were thinking of supporting my fundraising run (no pressure, of course!), plse let me know if you need the link again. I'm reminding people before the year ends, so they can write it off on their 2008 taxes!

Thanks,
[your name]

Sam's e-mail #2: Share recent animal news to inspire your friends

EMAIL #2 – Broadcast to all remaining targets

Subject:
Fundraise for [YOUR NAME]'S RACE FOR ANIMALS

Body:
All -
The results of a two-month undercover investigation at a W. Va turkey-processing plant were recently released in an exclusive PETA gave to the New York Times. The story has since been picked up in USA Today and the Associated Press.

Fair warning: don't read these articles if you're squeamish. I just wanted you to know exactly why I'm putting on my running shoes to support groups like PETA and the Humane Society who work hard to help uncover and fix these abuses.

Please support my upcoming run if you can: [add your site address] I'll be paying for my knee-replacement surgery out of my own pocket. ;)

Thanks,
[name]

***************************
Group Documents Cruelty to Turkeys
New York Times
Wed Nov 19, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/dining/19peta.html

Sam's E-mail #1: Send to everyone!

EMAIL #1 – Broadcast to all targets

Subject:
All I really want for Christmas this year...

Body:
...is the support of my family and friends for my upcoming fundraising race! I'm actually running a half-marathon (still amazes me and my knees) in support of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and have a couple months to 1. get my body in fighting shape and 2. raise a minimum of $1,000.

With your generous support, you'd be:
- supporting very important animal-welfare causes around the world.
- avoiding countless hours spent trying to find me just the perfect Xmas gift (ha ha).
- receiving a 100% tax-deductible write-off for 2008.

You can access my fundraising site here: [add your site address] Thanks for your support! It means a lot.
[your name]

Quick Tostadas

Running food: As we’ve discussed before, we want to eat a lot so we’re never hungry, but we want to eat low-fat.

The only way to lose weight, or keep weight off, is to burn more calories than you consume. That’s it.

If I eat 5,000 calories a day, but only burn 4,000, I’m going to gain weight. If I start running and burning 5,200 calories a day—I’ll lose weight.

However...If I start running and then increase my eating because I think I’m “safe” from all the exercise, I could end up eating 7,000 calories and only burning 5,200!

The trick is to eat lots of low-fat, high-fiber, healthy foods. Baked chips instead of fried. Rice and beans. Baked tofu instead of deep-fried chicken. Oatmeal instead of fatty, sugary mega-muffins.

Check out Dr. McDougall’s website for tons of recipes (look under the newsletter link).

Here’s one of my favorite work snacks:

Buy one package of fresh, soft corn tortillas (not the crispy fried ones!).
One can of vegan fat-free refried beans (most of them are veg and fat-free, actually).
One jar of your favorite salsa.

Plop a big spoonful of beans onto the tortillas. Spread evenly. Top with another tortilla. Microwave for 1 minute. Top with your salsa and eat. That’s it!

If you’re feeling like a chef, add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and/or whole beans. Add vegan ground “beef” or vegan “chicken” strips if you like that sort of thing.

Sometimes I’ll eat 4 of these in a day, but I never worry about the fat or calories. They leave me so full I’m not even tempted by the bag of greasy chips sitting on the office kitchen table.

Alex

Are you thanking your supporters?

And I mean—are you really thanking them?

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
- William Arthur Ward

Many of your supporters might be feeling a little nervous about donating to support you. Perhaps they’re afraid their gift will be lost in a sea of other donations. Or they’re new to the idea of helping animals. Or they’re not 100% clear about your training.

Please thank them when they donate, and thank them from the bottom of your heart. It will mean the world to them. Their gift meant a lot to you, right? Your gratitude means a lot to them.

Chances are, if you let your supporters know how much their gift meant to you, and if you give them some updates on your training, they will donate again. Let them know if you’ve crossed a new milepost (I’ve never run 5 miles at once before!). Let them know that you had to drag yourself out of bed the morning after your high school reunion for training (and you did it!).

Many supporters hesitate to donate because they wonder if you’re going to stick with the program. Well, you are. That’s all there is to it. So if you’re brother hasn’t donated yet—and you know he loves animals because he won’t stop rescuing every sad stray he drives by—then check in with him again. Tell him you’re still training and you will be crossing that finish line on February 1st. Tell him how much his support will mean to you, and then when he donates, thank him very much.

And thank YOU all for raising funds for animals!!

Alex

Need an idea for your New Year's Eve meal?

Check out this new vegan “turkey.” I had it and I give it a 9 out of 10 possible yum points!

Perfect for your next holiday meal.

http://scvegan.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/the-vegan-thanksgiving-post/