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How to host your Larger Walk the Walk Fundraising Event

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Step One: Planning 

 

  • Get creative! Will you have a house concert? An art sale? Consider having a theme and a title for your event. What is the “hook” that will make this event fun for you to plan, and fun for people to attend?

 

  • Decide how you will feature Walk the Walk USA as part of your event. We have short videos you can share, or examples of elevator speeches. A WtW co-leader could attend.

    • Consider offering matching donations up to a preset amount

    • Reach out to outreach@walkthewalkusa.org to see if someone from WtW can attend your event. 

 

  • Set your date, starting and ending time, and location. 

    • Plan enough time in advance to ensure your guests can clear their calendars to attend

    • If you will share a short video clip or have a WtW volunteer join by Zoom, make sure you have a screen large enough for people to see and a way to connect your computer to the screen

 

  • If you want to track the donations you generate, register your event here to get a reference code! We will send you a printable flier to hand out at the party

 

  • Create your invitation list. Decide whether you want only people you invite, or will encourage people to bring others. 

 

  • Plan your food and beverages. 

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Step Two:  Extending the Invitation

  • Send out invitations with as much advance notice as possible. For a larger event with a broad audience, a written invitation or flyer sent several weeks before the event, with weekly follow-up will help increase participants. 

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  • A phone call or personal text to supplement an email invitation makes a big difference to attendance!

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  • An evite with RSVP helps you know your guest count.

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Step Three:  1-2 Days before the Event

  • Send a text, email or phone call reminder to invitees expressing your excitement that they are joining you for the party

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  • If you will be sharing a short video or having a WtW volunteer join remotely, test your technology to ensure the zoom call or video works on your screen

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  • Make sure all your supplies are on hand. These could include:

    • Nametags

    • Informational handouts on Walk the Walk

    • Signage for directing your guests to the location

    • Purchase food/beverage supplies

    • Sign-in Sheet (clipboards if desired) for guests to sign in

    • Information cards from Walk the Walk (email outreach@walkthewalkusa.org and we can mail them to you)

    • Link to video clip if you will be showing one

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  • Review fundraising pitch: Prepare comments you plan to make at the party regarding Walk the Walk and how you plan to ask for funds (see these elevator pitches, talking points, or donor reflections)

    • Stay positive! We create hope, inspiration and commitment to action by focusing on what we can do and progress that is being made. 

      • Our goal is to encourage one another to stay active and continue doing the work that we know works – one person talking to one person, building trust and democracy one interaction at a time.

 

  • If you are uncomfortable fundraising, you can frame it as an opportunity you are sharing with your friends and family to take positive action based on their values. 

    • “I wanted to share about Walk the Walk with you because it means a lot to me and I thought it might be meaningful for you. I hope you will join me in supporting our grassroots partners, but if that is not in the cards I hope you will be inspired by the good work people are doing.”

    • See more suggestions on our FAQ page

 

 

Step Four: The Day of the Event

  • Set up chairs, food, signs, posters/info sheets with WtW information

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  • Set up video equipment, if you are using that

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  • Welcome your guests and enjoy the party! It's a great idea to allow some time for people to settle in and mingle before you start the main attraction, whether that is a house concert, an art show, a themed dinner, an auction, a fun run...

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  • Spend a few moments featuring Walk the Walk. You could open with a video clip and then say a few words, or hear from someone at Walk the Walk in person or by zoom. 

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  • Encourage donations

    • Share a word or two of thanks and why supporting WtW is important to you. Remember you are empowering the people in your community with an opportunity to take action in support of their values

    • If you are doing a matching donation, share how much match per dollar donated, and up to what amount, as well as a timeline

    • Point out any materials you have on hand for people who want to learn more

    • Show your guests how to donate using the QR code if you want to find out the amount of money raised from your event, or how to donate from the WtW website if you are not tracking the total amount​

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  • Share how your guests can help

    • People often ask if there is anything else they can do in addition to donating. YES, this is where the power of relational organizing comes in! The most impactful thing they can do is to spread the word about the Walk the Walk strategy. WtW started with one friend who said "hey this is interesting". And another and another. That’s the power of relational organizing. You can do it. Right now. You have the power.​

    • See if some of your guests want to plan the next party with you. Expand your guest list. Have your guests propose names for the next party.

    • Other hints:

      • Build your network of WtW support. Make phone calls and send emails (along with phone calls and texts). (Emails alone may be overlooked or ignored.)

      • Inform people of the upcoming zoom, even if they are already on the WtW list. (Sometimes mass mailings go to a Promotions file whereas your personal email may get delivered.)

      • Form buddy groups to encourage each other.

      • After a grassroots partner is announced from a particular battleground state, think about: is there anyone in your own network who is particularly interested in that state? Invite them to the zoom and ask them to tell invite their friends. WtW works nationally and we all have connections in different areas. Let’s strengthen those connections.

 

  • Enjoy the best part of relational organizing! The people!

    • Robert ​​Hubbell, in Today’s Edition Newsletter, April 19, quotes a member of another grassroots organization, Field Team 6, saying, “’Come for the cause, stay for the people.’ The secret embedded in that statement is that they are one and the same. We, the people, are in this together. We are ‘the cause.’ And if we hope to win, we must come together in grassroots groups to sustain and motivate one another. That’s one opinion everyone should agree with!"

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Step Five: After the Event


For help with any of these ideas, contact outreach@walkthewalkusa.org and feel free to check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

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