Fun Fundraising Tips

The number one reason people do not donate is that no one ever asked them! This page is designed to provide you with ideas and hints for helping you and your Relay team exceed your goals.

Top Chili

Calling all cooks! Invite Relayers to share their favorite chili recipe and cook up a batch for a Chili Cookoff. Anyone who wants to try the delicious grub can make a Relay donation for entry and all-you-can-eat experience. Don't forget to offer prizes, and bragging rights, to the guests' favorite chili cook! 

Raking For Relay

Are the Fall leaves piling up on lawns and in the storm drains? Organize a few friends or a school club for a fun Relay For Life fundraiser. Offer to rake leaves and do light yard work around the neighborhood for donations to the fight against cancer. 

Turkey Dinner Raffle

Raffle turkeys and dinner fixings for Thanksgiving. Get as many turkeys, cranberries, potatoes, and more donated from your local grocers. For a donation to Relay For Life, sell tickets to win part of a holiday turkey dinner at the store register. Announce the winner(s) a week before Thanksgiving!

 

Host a Costume Contest

Use a Halloween tradition to support your Relay For Life fundraising efforts. Host a costume contest at work, at school, or within your neighborhood. Have different categories for all the costume opportunities – silliest, spookiest, funniest, or most purple. To enter the contest, ask for a small donation. Winners receive bragging rights – and maybe a sweet treat.

Jack-O-Lanterns for Sale

Gather those creative pumpkin carvers to put their skills on display. Ask family and friends to carve a jack-o-lantern. Sell these great Halloween decorations at your church, school, or any other highly trafficked community center for a Relay For Life donation.  

Scary Flick and Friends

Get your favorite Halloween movie and pop the popcorn; invite friends and ask for a $10 viewing fee in order to join the holiday movie night. Have the movie snacks available (for an extra donation of course) and turn on the “Big Screen.” It is sure to be a scream!

Fall Field Day

Take advantage of a crisp fall day to host a fun-filled day of field activities such as a three-legged race, tug-of-war, or red rover. Spread the news through the local schools and clubs that kids and adults alike can participate in all the outdoor fun for a flat donation fee, or an entry fee per event or game.

Don’t forget to offer refreshments! A simple bake sale or a lavish barbecue can add to the great event, plus give an extra boost to fundraising.

Adult Spelling Bee

A twist on a school tradition for those adults looking for a bit of good-natured competition; host an Adults Only Spelling Bee.  Work with a school or community center to find a venue and charge a small donation for individuals to enroll or attend the event. Be sure to make the words progressively harder as the rounds progress. Make the event Relay specific by choosing American Cancer Society and cancer related words such as survivor and oncology. The winner of the Bee receives bragging rights and a small Relay gift.

Daphne’s Fundraiser

Dine and donate! On Saturday, September 21, Daphne’s California Greek restaurants are supporting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. From 11am-9pm, bring a copy of the donation flyer to your local Daphne’s restaurant and 20% of you meal will be donated to support our fight against cancer.

Be sure to spread the word to your Relay community, family, and friends!

Purple Lemonade Stand

This can be a great pre, post, or onsite fundraiser especially for the little ones!

Neighborhood festivals, block parties, garage sales...tap into where the crowds are gathering for summer fun by setting up a lemonade stand.

You need kids for maximum impact so round up some irresistible cuties who can ask for $1 donations for a glassful of refreshment. Make sure there's plenty of American Cancer Society Relay For Life signage at your booth so people know they're supporting a great cause and be sure to tell them why the lemonade is purple.

Car Wash

The tried and true car wash fundraiser lives on! During the blistering month of August, recruit your friends and family to cool off with a car wash fundraiser. Find a place willing to offer you their space and then bring signs, buckets, sponges, towels, and soap. Advertise your car wash with flyers, ads on Craigslist, inserts in church bulletins, or by contacting your local radio station or newspaper. Be sure to wear your sunscreen, position enthusiastic sign-holders on the corners to encourage drop in business, and enjoy the day! 

The Mighty Pen

In this day of social media, text messaging, and instant emails, it’s easy to forget the power of a handwritten note. Send a letter in the mail to friends, family, business associates, vendors, doctor, dentist, insurance agents, hairdresser, congregants, and co-workers asking for their support. Let them know why you Relay or dedicate your effort to someone you know. Include your story; heartfelt messages get the best response.

Unlock the Cure

This is a very creative spin on a traditional raffle. Participants purchase a key and if their key unlocks one of the locks on the door, they win one of the prizes. To put on this fundraiser, you’ll need an old door, a few locks, and many keys! Working with a local hardware store for donations would be a good idea. You’ll also need to secure some fun prizes.

This idea was brought to you by the Relay For Life of Valley Center; check out their promotional flyer!  

Walking Taco

Have you ever been walking laps at Relay and thought, “boy do I wish I could eat a taco while walking”? Well, we have just the fundraiser for you…introducing the Walking Taco!

One team from the Relay For Life of Lemon Grove hosted this great onsite fundraiser selling their Walking Tacos to hungry walkers for $4 each. To create your own Walking Tacos simply follow this easy recipe, add all the ingredients to an individual sized bag of Doritos, and add a spoon.

Walking Tacos Recipe

The ingredients we used are as follows:

Taco meat (ground hamburger or turkey with taco seasoning) chopped lettuce chopped tomato salsa grated cheese sour cream (thinned with milk do that it serves easier) chopped onion cilantro black olives individual bags of Doritos spoons

Directions:

Crunch up Doritos in the bag before you open it, put 2 tablespoons of taco meat in bag add desired toppings walk, eat & enjoy!

Weight of Your Bucket

The Event Co Chair for the Relay For Life of West Sacramento put out a weight challenge to all Team Captains. He gave each team captain a bucket and a month to fill it up; the team with the heaviest bucket won a prize. He also gave a prize to the team that brought in the bucket with the highest dollar amount. So everything counts! After a month of filling up their bucket (and additional bags of coin) the event brought in 234 pounds of money and over $1,600. What an awesome idea!

 

Heat Up Your Fundraising

Whether your Relay has taken its last lap for 2013, or is still to come, consider hosting an online challenge this summer!

Implement a Heat Up Relay Fundraising Challenge in your Relay team or you could even just challenge yourself. It’s a best practice to set up the time frame, set a goal, and if it’s a challenge for your team, to select a prize. Then it’s time to start promoting the challenge to your friends and family.

Examples of the challenge for individuals could include: Setting a goal to raise 500 online in 50 days or $100 in 10 days.

Examples of the challenge for teams could include: Asking each member of your team to raise $48 online in $48 hours, or giving a prize to the first person on your team to raise $1,000.

Use fun artwork to post the competition on all your social media sites. See sample messages you can post on Facebook here.

Motivate your team members and potential donors to engage in the challenge with stories of how the American Cancer Society creates a world with more birthdays and the possibility of bragging rights!

 

Zumba-Thon

Fun, laughter and Zumba moves! A fun-filled day of Zumba classes at a local gym is raising the bar on physical activity and fundraising. The Zumba instructor donates his or her time and participants pay a suggested donation of $20 per class. For one Relay, the six classes in one day brought in approximately $1,200! It’s a great way to fundraise, raise awareness and get in shape for the summer.

Guns and Hoses Softball Game

This is a fun summer fundraiser to get your local community involved with Relay. Challenge the local Fire Department to take on the local Police Department in a friendly game of softball. They can each sell tickets to their family and friends and the community at large…how about $10 a piece? Take it up a notch at the game itself by selling peanuts and crackerjacks, drinks, snacks or even host a BBQ.

King and Queen of Relay

Host a contest to crown a King and Queen of Relay. This is a fun way to raise money for individuals. Candidates collect money for votes during the course of the contest. One dollar equals one vote. Be creative when getting votes. Dress up and visit your local businesses, chamber meetings, festivals, sports events or place your picture with a donation box to raise money. Put a time limit of a few weeks to get the candidates campaigning for votes. The two candidates with the most money raised will be the King and Queen of Relay and will be honored at their Relay For Life event with a crowning ceremony.

Watermelon Eating Contest

A watermelon eating contest is a quick and easy fundraiser that doesn’t require a lot of prep time. Really, all you need is a lot of watermelon and a stopwatch. (A way to cut down on expenses is to ask a local grocery store to donate the watermelons.) This fundraiser works best if it takes place during another event such as a picnic or at a sporting, school or church function where there will already be a crowd. Ask each participant and/or spectator to pay an entry fee, then hand out the watermelon and start your stopwatch! This is a super delicious and healthy summer fundraising idea.

 

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

This would be a great on-site fundraiser! Bake a big birthday cake and sell candles to Relayers as they walk by your campsite. You can sell 100 candles for $10 each and raise $1,000 in a few laps alone! Everyone who donates a candle also gets a slice of cake…what’s better than celebrating 100 years of the American Cancer Society with a donation and a piece of cake?

 

Guess How Many Candles

One Relay team from a local bank filled a jar with birthday candles, and then collected donations from folks who wanted to wager a guess on the number. Friends donate for every guess they make and the winner gets a prize…maybe a birthday cake? This would be a great individual fundraiser to do at your desk at work, or you could even incorporate it into your booth at a farmer’s market or after school faire!

Party with a Purpose

Get together with family, friends and co-workers while doing something both fun and meaningful...host a Party with a Purpose! You can set a suggested donation amount, or ask that attendees donate the amount they would typically spend on a night out. If it's a birthday party, declare the American Cancer Society the official sponsor of your birthday, and have attendees donate in lieu of a present. Why not take it to the next level and add in a birthday cake walk as one of the party activities? Download the Party with a Purpose Guidebook and start planning your party today!

It’s a Party For Your Puppy!

Why not host a gathering of the neighborhood dogs or the dog park to celebrate the dog days of summer or Fido’s birthday? We know how people love their pets, so let’s include them in a celebration for a donation. Have tasty treats for both canines and humans, and incorporate some games like “Musical Sit” instead of Musical Chairs and a Frisbee competition. This one’s creativity could go on and on…so give it a try!

Hope $100 Fundraising Activity

Have you seen this great tool floating around Relay Nation? Click here for the updated PDF. Pass it out to your participants – have them ask friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor one of the 41 squares that spell the word “HOPE.” In each square is a reason and dollar amount to support the fight against cancer. Have the donor sign their square and work to get every square sponsored. Once it is full your participants will have raised their $100!!

Every Candle Has a Name

Don’t forget to encourage your Relay teams and participants to use luminaria to help achieve their fundraising goals. Donors can dedicate luminaria and give credit to teams and individuals on the updated luminaria page on RelayForLife.org. Participants can also include a link to this page in their fundraising letters and emails. Just think: if they sell only 10 luminaria at $10 they will raise their $100 OR if they sell 25 luminaria at $10 they are already at the Bronze Fundraising

Club level!!!

We Bake For You

Take the guesswork out of what will sell at a bake sale, and have a “we bake for you” sale as your next fundraiser. Decide on a list of approximately ten things that you and your group wants to bake and what you can sell each for with a nice profit. Create order forms with your selections, their prices, and the date they will be available. Maybe include pictures to really entice people. Time your sale to major holidays or sporting events. People will appreciate the convenience of not having to bake or shop. Find a commercial kitchen at a local church or school that you can borrow for the day. Assemble all the ingredients you will need. Have a bunch of bakers and group each into teams. Assign each team a specific item they are responsible for. Package each item nicely with a thank you note. Bake a few extras for last minute sales.

Relay Hug Fundraiser

Here’s a fun fundraiser for our younger participants (found on Relay Nation):

“I have a great fundraiser for you and your five year old that will cost you virtually nothing. I am the Team Captain of an elementary school team (5, 6 and 7 year olds – but mainly consists of teachers) and we get permission from a local store to sell hugs for $1 that benefit Relay For Life. The kids make signs and most people are more than generous. We also make up cards with our team web address on them to hand out if someone is not carrying cash. We usually make an average of $100 an hour when we do this and the kids LOVE it!”

Think "Mom"

The second Sunday in May will be here before you know it. So beyond making your personal Mother’s Day plans, consider a way to honor mom and support the fight against cancer. Is it a Mother’s Day brunch fundraiser? Partnering with a dress shop to stage a fashion show and tea? Hosting a Tastefully Simple or Pampered Chef party? A flower sale? Ladies-only golf tourney? Think about it … then go do it!

Relay Online Day Of Toolkit

While at Relay For Life, your community can continue to fundraise and build support online. Download a new guide to find fun and creative ways to take online fundraising to the track.

This guide includes ideas and instructions to introduce:

Cyber Relay Cafe Photo Booth QR Codes and Mobile Event Signage

Learn more about the Relay Online Day of Toolkit on a special training Wednesday, May 1 at 5:30.

Call in number: 1-888-512-3142; Code: 14937495#  

Have you gotten your Bark on?

Many communities across California are seeing success with Bark For Life fundraisers - from $200 to $5,000! Bark allows you to engage a whole new group of people in the fight against cancer and a whole new group of furry friends! This is a great fundraiser for your team to host pre or post Relay. So go on...get your Bark on!

eWaste Event

Partner with an ewaste company and create a win-win for everyone. This fundraiser took some extra planning but the community involvement and the opportunity to highlight Relay For Life and hand out information was priceless! Hold the collection at your Relay site or a local hot spot. One Relay held this great fundraiser and raised $1,200 in just one afternoon!

Bake Up Some Fundraising Success

Many companies celebrate employee birthdays monthly – why not hold a “birthday themed” bake sale each month as a team fundraiser? Co-workers who have a birthday on that month could receive a complimentary treat while the rest of the office helps support your Relay team!

Make sure to publicize your bake sale and create a buzz around the office. Paydays are always the sweetest days of the month to hold bake sales!

A Little Relay Bling

Looking for a way to add some pizzazz to that Relay tee that you worked so hard to earn last year? Want to freshen up a tee or two from prior years? Bling and Bedazzle it at Relay for $10! It’s an onsite fundraiser that has been a hit this year. Cut it, tie it, and add some bling! Your Relay tee can become a one-of-a-kind fashion statement in just a few minutes.

   

What's in the Box Auction

Curiosity is the name of the game for this team fundraiser! Have all the attendees bring a wrapped package, big or small, to the auction. They can place anything they want in the box from tickets to the theater, baked goods, or gag gift. As each box is brought in, label it with a number and place on tables that have been set up. People will be allowed to examine the boxes, picking them up and shaking them. Absolutely no unwrapping or peaking!

Run the auction with a live auctioneer or silent auction. Seed the auction with a few really great items that have been donated by local stores to keep bidding high. Let each winner unwrap their box in front of everyone after they win to show off if they chose a great prize or a dud. A great spin on a traditional fundraiser!

Spaghetti Dinner

This fundraising idea is brought to you by the Relay For Life of Norwalk!

Host a Spaghetti Dinner Night at your home inviting your close friends and family. Ask guests for a donation of $10 (a great deal for a spaghetti dinner), and have the kids dress up and help serve. Add Relay donation cans as centerpieces and decorate with a purple table cloth. Just think, even if you only ask 4 friends over for dinner, that’s $40 and every dollar counts in the fight against cancer!

St. Patrick’s Day Party with a Purpose!

Host a St. Patrick’s Day themed party with a purpose. A team could host this at a members' home, at a local church fellowship hall, or any other open location. Come up with an invitation list and create a fun invitation!

Look for different places around town to donate finger foods for your event and ask around for a good local band who will donate their time. Decorate and set up a table at the entrance where people can make donations for coming to your event. Call it  your “Pot of Gold” – don’t set a price so people will be generous.

 

A Buck for Luck

During the month of March, ask a local restaurant or business to sell "Green Bucks" for a $1 donation. Similar to Moon's and Star's, the donor can write their name on the buck and the restaurant or business can hang them around their store! If you don't like the "Bucks," you could do Shamrock's or even Gold Coins instead!

Count Your Lucky Clovers

This is a fun and simple fundraiser for a team to take on together, or you could try it as an individual fundraiser this month.

Fill a jar with candy four-leaf clovers and put it on display in prominent area in your school or business. Ask folks to guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar. Every chance to guess requires a $0.50 or $1.00 donation. The person who is closest wins a prize! 

Send an Email

Did you know that Relayers who send even just 1 email from their Relay website raise an average of $100 more than those that don't? It's a quick and simple way to watch your fundraising soar!

Log into your Relay website today and send an email to your family and friends asking for a donation. Here's a quick how to document and video to get you started.

 

Cycle for a Cure!

Spinning and cycling events have always been popular Relay fundraisers. The Relay For Life of West Hollywood kicked up their Spin For Life fundraiser a notch by adding in some celebrity love! Actress Stacy Keibler, among others, pulled on their Relay t-shirts and joined in the fun.

This type of fundraiser is easy for your team to do. Ask your gym to commit to hosting one three-hour spin session. Each participant raises at least $100 for each hour they spin! See a sample promotional flyer to get your Spin For Life started today.

Rose For Your Love

As we gear up for spring, now can be a great time to show your love with some flowers. Contact your local florist and ask them to donate slightly flawed roses for free or a reduced charge. Then sell them for $2 or $5 each. Kids can do this at schools or try hosting this fundraiser in your office. If you can't get a deal on roses, consider other flowers like carnations.

Relay Rummage Sale Raises $4,500!

Sometimes it’s the simple ideas that bring in the big bucks. One garage sale held by a few Relay teams in Willow Glen raised over $4,500 this year! We asked them how they did it, and here’s what they said:

“We have thousands of items to sell, mostly in the $1–$5 range, with 10 or 20 big items in the $20–$100 range. We also advertise in the newspaper and on Facebook and even pre-sell specific big ticket items beforehand on Craigslist. We use Relay yard signs and posters to identify it as the Relay Rummage Sale. We also offer free coffee and home-baked goods with any purchase or donation, and hoot and holler with each donation!"

Mary tells us more about the planning and preparation of the sale:

“We post flyers around town for the rummage sale and asking for donations of items. We also ask for donations of gently used ‘treasures’ on the Willow Glen e-list. Some people save their items throughout the year waiting for our next sale. Fortunately I have a three-car garage and a huge attic, and a patient husband.

Our sale is now pretty well known and we have our regulars, who both donate and shop. We’ve met many survivors and always get a few leads for people looking to form new teams. The sale itself is organized by three Relay For Life teams from our event. We have helpers from those teams as well repeat shoppers who’ve just decided they want to join in the fun by helping. It’s a good deal of work but lots of fun!”

Take Your Love of Fundraising Mobile!

Did you know that you can easily fundraise on the go for your Relay For Life event and get all the latest information?

Mobile friendly RelayForLife.org makes it possible to:

Learn how you can get involved, register, and manage your online experience for your local Relay For Life event

Make a donation to a participant, team, or event to support the fight against cancer

Dedicate a luminaria in tribute to someone impacted by cancer Easily access the most up-to-date information on the Relay For Life

movement in a mobile friendly format

Be sure to use these new and improved tools to help boost your fundraising this year!

Purple Plate Special

This is a fun twist on the dinner fundraiser. Tell people to bring an individual serving, cooked meal or dessert, their checkbook, and their sense of adventure. They will be bidding for their dinner! Meals can be as simple as a hardboiled egg or scrambled eggs, or as elaborate as Lobster Thermidor. It’s up to each person to decide what to bring. Put a cover over each meal to keep it a secret and let the bidding begin.

Either start the bidding the same for each meal, or start with a high or low bid to keep people guessing whether it’s a fancy meal or not. It’s fun to see a peanut butter and jelly sandwich go for $25 when prime rib sells for just $5. Remember to announce any potential food allergies before bidding starts.

 

Light Up the Holidays

Wow! The statewide fundraising challenge, 12 Days of Luminaria, raised more than $28,000 online. But just because the fundraising challenge has come to an end, that doesn’t mean you and your team can’t still raise money by selling luminaria. Here are some fun ideas:

Ask local businesses to sell luminaria at their counters and display them in store windows

What about a neighborhood luminaria decoration/walk? Have you seen a Bloominaria? This is a small potted plant or

flower with either an “In Memory” or “In Honor” note attached. You can sell Bloominaria at your local farmer’s markets in the spring and summer months.

Promote an Ignite the Fight week at local businesses or schools. During this week, luminaria are sold and then displayed along the hallways or corridors to promote and support our fight against cancer!

Make Some Noise with Silent Auctions

Try this to get everyone talking! Silent auctions are a great way to fundraise: you can host one at your campsite or at an event prior to your Relay. Ask local businesses to donate items or services. You could also build baskets of goodies to get more bang for your buck!

Free Publicity!

Get help promoting your team FUNdraising by working with your Relay Committee to get your fundraiser posted on your Relay web site. Just provide details like date, time, and any coupon or tickets needed.

Food Truck Rally!A volunteer for Relay For Life of Arden Park in the Great Valley Region capitalized on the popularity of food trucks and raised more than $200 for her event! They gathered a few local food trucks, spread the word with a simple flyer, and got permission to use an open parking lot. Despite the rainy weather, they had more than 30 people attend and raised about $120 from the truck’s donations and another $100 from general donations.  What a fun new idea!

The Reverse RaffleInstead of buying tickets, every participant gets one free raffle ticket when they come in the door. And instead of winning a prize, the person whose ticket is drawn will win a gag prize with some level of light embarrassment, like having to dance with a group of clowns, or having to wear a funny wig and march around the room.

Guests can “sell” their ticket back to the Relay Committee in return for a donation (so they won’t have to be part of the drawing). This is a great idea for your next Relay team meeting, office meeting, or neighborhood get-together!

 

Relay Cool Holiday BoutiqueEveryone has been to one and everyone loves them. Gather up the creative and talented people that you know and coordinate a Relay Cool Holiday Boutique to raise money to fight cancer. This is a great team fundraiser and you may be surprised when team members’ hidden talents are revealed. The boutique can be hosted at a home, school, or just about anywhere. Hot cocoa and treats can also be sold

 

to add to the festivities. What a great way to gather your team around the holidays.

Have it Your Way, CupcakeWhy not try a DIY (decorate-it-yourself) cupcake bake sale? Bring unfrosted cupcakes and many types of frosting, sprinkles and decorations. Everyone picks their own frosting and toppings and does the decorating for each cupcake they buy. You might think this fundraiser is only for kids, but grownups like to decorate their own sweets too!

Little League Teams Fight CancerThis is no backyard sandlot fundraiser! Kids are taking team fundraising to a new level. Summer little league players put together a tournament to raise money for their Relay team. Each team paid $100 to participate (approximately $10 per child) and they went out and “played ball.” A survivor threw the first pitch and all money raised from the tournament, concessions, and other sales went to the American Cancer Society! The team raised $2,900 in one day and had a blast.

The Big Team Yard SaleFundraising for every team in a big way! One Relay Team Captain challenged other Team Captains to exceed their fundraising goals this year and coordinated a “Big Relay Yard Sale.” A parking lot was used and each team had a section of the lot in which to sell their stuff.  In one day, this yard sale raised more than $6,000! Items that were not sold at the end of the day were donated to the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. Teams had fun together, raised money, and did not have to lug everything back home! Now that was a big hit!

Give a Dog a Bone (or an Old T-shirt)Have any old t-shirts that you want to get rid of? This team had a bunch of them, got creative and made chew toys out of them. Not only were these toys fun, but they were in Relay color as the t-shirts were tie-dyed purple and white first so that they could be Relay fabulous. The toys sold for $2 at Relay.  This would also be a great fundraiser to help create a buzz for an upcoming Bark For Life for your Relay.

Ready, Set, Relay Set Up!Ready to Relay but you don't want to set up your tent or are too tired to take it down? Never fear! The Relay Set-up Crew is here! For $10, they will set up or take down your tent in a flash. This team fundraiser can be set up near registration so everyone will see it. Try a little promotion at a pre-event fundraiser. This is a great fundraiser for Scouts, high school, or large group teams.

 

Project RelayAre you a Project Runway fan? This is the fundraiser for you! This works especially well if you have a lot of left over T-shirts from last year or even just a few. Add in some extra donated or cheap T-shirts. Participants qualify to enter the contest by raising a set amount ($1,000 is a good starting point). On the day of the event, qualifying participants get a few T-shirts and compete to make the most creative outfit using the shirts. Host a fashion show at Relay to display the different styles and allow a few survivors to judge! The winner gets a donated prize and Project Relay fame!

Cookbook ChroniclesWho isn’t always looking for a quick and easy healthy dinner option? We all know our friends and family are good for a few yummy ideas. Collect recipes from everyone you know and create a cookbook. Once the book is ready, you can sell it at work, your kids’ school, or at your Relay campsite. You can charge for the purchase of a cookbook and even ask the recipe contributors for a donation to be included in your masterpiece!

Post Relay Fundraising ToolkitIt ain’t over till it’s over, as the great Yogi Berra said…and in the Relay For Life world, we know fundraising isn’t ever really over. In order to fund the research and patient services we are so proud of, we must continue to fundraise year-round. Are you looking for some great post Relay fundraising ideas? Check out the new Relay For Life Year Round Fundraising Booster toolkit with tons of ideas to share!

 

Online: An Email a DayYour personal Relay webpage has lots of tools for online FUNdraising. But before you email everyone in your address book, it’s important to remember that a personalized approach works better than a one-size-fits-all tactic. Instead of "Dear Friends," try taking two minutes every day to email just one person. Your "ask" for support will be the same, but this one-a-day approach will let you add a sentence or two that personalizes the email, so they're likely to be more compelled to respond.

Pre-Relay: Kitchen KlutterChances are, most of the people on your team have been to a Tupperware, Pampered Chef, or similar party.  They purchased something for their kitchen they just couldn't live without, only to leave that item sitting on a shelf for months untouched. Now is your chance to clean out your kitchen and raise some money at the same time! This fundraiser brings together all your new (or like new) kitchen items to be raffled off. Hold it at a local restaurant and offer donated appetizers for an additional contribution.

Featured items have included:

A Double oven (Yes, a double oven!) Dishes Linens Bread machine Espresso maker Lots of rand new and like new items

Onsite: Lap BingoEach player donates two dollars per Bingo card or three for five dollars. Make a track-side Bingo Board for posting numbers. Each session starts at a given time, so from 10-12, during the session each 10 minutes a number is drawn and posted on the track-side sign. Those walking and playing mark the bingo cards with the numbers as they pass by. Whoever gets the first Bingo during that time wins a cupcake or whatever items you would like to use. Then at 12 the next game would start with a new group of contestants. You can set up game sessions to start through the entire event.

Post Relay: We Just Can't Stop Lapping the Track!This is a post-event take on a common onsite fundraiser. Start by using coin cans to collect coins for a few weeks. Then select a day (either a busy weeknight when traffic is busy) or a Saturday and start laying the collected coins next to each other around “the track.” The “track” can be the sidewalk of a small city block or a parking lot adjacent to a busy street. Create large signs that volunteers can hold on busy streets requesting more coins to try to get the entire “track” covered that day.

 

Little Artists Fight BackKnow any little artists who love to draw pictures? Who can resist the sweet little faces and heartfelt pictures that they create to fight back against cancer? Many of us have been to an art show for adults but how about an art show for Little Artists? This is a great fundraiser for youth teams, preschools and families too! One little artist on a team last year raised more than $600 selling her heartfelt pictures to family and friends. So bring out the paint and let the creativity begin!  Paintings can sell at any price or be auctioned off through a silent auction or art show.

Recycle your SneakersGreen Sneakers is a non-profit organization that pays $.50 per pound for old tennis and sports shoes. Have a team organize a sneaker drive at your next team captain meeting and donate to Green Sneakers. The team that organizes and takes the shoes in can collect the donation and put it toward their team fundraising. Most show drives have brought in about $150. Visit Greensneakers.org for more information.

Sack Lunch For A CureWork with a local restaurant or grocery store to get items donated for a basic sack lunch. Lunch bags can be sold at the office or other location for $5 each. Lunch bags can be very simple - peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, fruit, and juice boxes or water!

Movie MagicCreate some magic and set up a photo op at your Relay campsite. Create scenery from “Twilight” (or your favorite movie) and add theatrical standees of the key characters. Why not add in some live look-alikes dressed in Twilight costumes? Who wouldn’t want to take a photo with Edward and Jacob? This fundraiser was quite the busy one!

Pulling for a Cure!Add some fire to your pre- or post-event fundraising with a Fire Truck Pull! Teams of 10 pay $200 for the thrill of pulling a 47,500 lb fire truck! Team categories can include Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, Business, All Women, Service Clubs, and of course, Relay Teams. A trophy and bragging rights for one year go to the winners. For one California Relay, this event has become a tradition and a great fundraiser! This year, they  added a "Best Taco" contest and a Youth Tricycle Water Brigade. This is a high-energy, fun event that gives a lot of opportunity to promote Relay. Why not also offer luminarias, mission information and survivor registration forms too?!

eWaste EventPartner with an ewaste company and create a win-win for everyone. This fundraiser took some extra planning but the community involvement and the opportunity to highlight Relay For Life and hand out information was priceless! Hold the collection at your Relay site or a local hot spot. One Relay held this great fundraiser and raised $1,200 in just one afternoon!

Concert SeriesDoes your community already have a concert series in place? Offer to host concession stands or get permission to offer items for donation. Set up a Relay campsite or even a mini-Relay to show community members what Relay will be like. Take advantage of the opportunity to raise awareness with mission messaging, brochures, etc.

Ice Cream SocialsCool down this summer by hosting a neighborhood ice cream social. Everyone brings a different topping and donates what they would have spent taking the family to Baskin- Robbins! To make things more fun, have a sundae eating contest, most imaginative sundae recipe contest, or most unusual topping contest. Why not make it a weekly event?!

Call-a-thonHost a call-a-thon at your house and have your team members call a minimum of 25 friends, family members, coworkers, etc. and ask them to make a pledge or donation online. You can also have a call-a-thon at Relay too. Set up a station at your campsite and ask participants walking by to stop and make phone calls to family members, coworkers, and friends and ask them to go online and make a donation.

Chefs For a CureKnow any great chefs? One team connected with two well-known local chefs, and hosted a Chefs For A Cure Benefit and Silent Auction post event fundraiser. Firenze Osteria and Fabio Viviani gave their time and talent, cooking up a storm of appetizers for event attendees. Advance tickets sold for $25 each and teams got credit for every 10 tickets sold, so 100% of the proceeds went to the Relay. Live music kept everyone moving and the silent auction raised more than $3,600 in just two hours!

Fiesta FridayFiesta Friday is a great way to kick off a summer weekend! For $10 you get four tacos (chicken or beef), rice, beans, a drink, chips and salsa!  This is a great event to host on a Friday afternoon at the office or, better yet, invite the neighbors and host the party at home.  One team even added a live DJ to really add heat to the party!

Local Celebrity DinnerFirefighters are serving it up and bringing lots of people to the table for this fundraiser.  Volunteers partner with local restaurants to donate food, local firemen serve the dinner, and all proceeds including tips go to the Relay! Tickets are $20 and include a meal and beverage. This is another great fundraiser before or after Relay, and it can all happen right in your community

"You the (Wo)Man!”Enjoy one week of prime, window-front office space on the elite floor of your luxurious office building! Hold important meetings, make big decisions, invite your friends, and watch the world go by! For a price, you could be VIP for a week in your office. This is a fabulous office fundraiser. Just get your top management on board and start the bidding war! This fundraiser was a hit in one LA office and brought in a ton of donations.

 

Get People Feeling ComfortableTGIF takes on a new meaning when you ask your workplace to allow employees to "dress down" in return for a contribution to your Relay team. Work out an acceptable dress code in advance - jeans are usually the casual garb of choice - then sell stickers to be worn on the appointed day. Here's a poster and sample stickers to get started or create your own!

Hot Lunch, Desk Delivery!Too busy to grab lunch? Dreaming of sampling and learning about authentic world cuisines? The winning bidder receives a tasty lunch, delivered straight to his or her desk for five straight days, consisting of a variety of Italian, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, and Korean meals. An informational note about the food can accompany each meal. Get ready to dig in and raise a ton of money with this amazing fundraiser!

Does Your Company Match?Make your donations go farther! Double your contributions with your company's Matching Gift Program. Many companies will match charitable gifts made by their employees. What a great way to engage your company or workplace in giving back to the community through Relay For Life!

Here's how:

1. Visit www.matchinggifts.com/acs to view a list of companies that participate.

2. Download and fill out your company's matching gift form, send it to us, and we'll take it from there.

3. Our Address:      American Cancer Society Attn: Relay For Life     1710 Webster St. Oakland, CA 94612

4. If you don't see your company, don't worry. Contact your human resources department and ask if they offer a matching gifts program. If they do, simply get the form, fill it out, and send it to us.

5. Encourage your teammates to do the same.

Viva La “Fiesta Fundraiser!”Support Relay For Life with a delicious meal at any El Torito or Acapulco restaurant in California all day Monday through Thursday, June 6 – 9. Bring your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and present a copy of this Relay For Life Fiesta Fundraiser flyer when you pay your check and 25% of total food sales will go to Relay!

Click here fore more information.

Pink Tutus For Cancer FundraiserJust when you thought you were too old for tutus! Who wouldn’t do just about anything to show support and raise awareness on the track? One team sold pink tutus at Relay and boy, were they a hit. The tutus sold for $10 and came in various sizes, promoting breast cancer awareness as their team’s mission message. This fundraising also brought out a few giggles, which only fueled the fundraising.

(No) Bake Sale FundraiserGetting ready for summer and don’t want those extra calories but still looking for a great fundraiser? Try having a (No) Bake Sale or (No Dinner) Dinner Fundraiser! Share your reason to Relay and ask people to donate what they would have spent on a bake sale or on dinner! People will love saving time and their waistline in support of a great cause. This fundraiser raises on average nearly $300. Fundraising doesn’t get any easier then this!

 

Caps and CupcakesOne eager high school brought their fundraisers to the team captain’s meetings.  Cupcakes and Caps (with fun cancer messages on them) sold out in just one hour. They set up a table at the meeting and charged nine dollars for caps and one dollar for cupcakes. This team raised $300 in one night and also pumped up the other teams, getting them excited about their fundraising efforts.

A Little Relay BlingLooking for a way to add some pizzazz to that Relay tee that you worked so hard to earn? Want to freshen up a tee or two from prior years? Bling and Bedazzle it at Relay for $10!  It’s an onsite fundraiser that has been a hit this year. Cut it, tie it, and add some bling!  Your Relay tee can become a one-of-a-kind fashion statement in just a few minutes.

   

 

All-You-Can-Eat PancakesA team of police officers in one community are fighting back against cancer with a big all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at a local police station. The breakfast will include  information about cancer, survivorship activities, and raffles for additional fundraising. For just $10 per person, it’s a fantastic way to bring the community together and get everyone involved in Relay.

A Call To End CancerBe a part of the “Call to End Cancer” movement at Relay. At Relay ask your teammates to take out their cell phone and call one person who is not at the event - one close friend or relative who they can always count on no matter what. They should ask their friend to go online to our event, while they have them on the phone, and donate just $10. With over 3.5 million people participating in Relay each year together we can move the marker in our fundraising efforts and bring us closer to a cure!

Push Ups Against CancerFighting back with physical activity, recruiting team members, and fundraising all in one!  Put tables near the entrance of the gym to recruit as well as carry out this "Push Ups Against Cancer" fundraiser. For a $5 donation, participants have a chance to see how many push ups they can do in two minutes. The participant with the most push ups for the course of the fundraiser will have a chance to win $100.

Spring Cleaning Garage SaleWho said cleaning can’t be fun? We know this one has been done before but lately it has really been yielding some great results. Invite other neighbors on your block and your entire team to participate. The average garage sale is raising anywhere from $300 to $3000! Don’t forget to get the word out early and put those yard signs to use and have information about Relay!

Relay Cool VolleyballRelay Cool Volleyball tournaments raise funds and encourage physical activity.  Participants register to play for $25. Sell raffle tickets and cool beverages to the fans and watch the excitement grow. Gather your friends, family or committee together and get them on the court!

Zumba-ThonFun, laughter, and Zumba moves! A fun-filled day of Zumba classes at a local gym is raising the bar on physically activity and fundraising. The Zumba instructor donates his or her time and participants pay a suggested donation of $20 per class. At one Relay, the six classes in one day brought in approximately $1,200! It’s a great way to fundraise, raise awareness, and get in shape for the summer.

Homerun DerbyBaseball season is here and players love to showcase their talent for a Homerun Derby. Each participant donates $20 to enter and the one who goes the distance is the Homerun Champion. Get creative with this contest (most homeruns, farthest homerun, etc.) and it can be tons of fun for any age group. Let’s play some ball and fight back against

cancer!

The 25 Day ChallengeNever underestimate the power of Relay volunteers when fuelled by a good challenge! Have you heard about the latest fundraising trend? Whether it’s 25 days or 48 hours, get them revved up and see the numbers soar! One Relay took on this challenge and raised $25,000 in 25 days. All they did was put the challenge out to all of their teams and participants to share their story and ask for support. More emails + more teams + more sponsors + more luminaria = more fundraising! Raise $1,000 a day for 25 days. It’s that simple!

 

Come and Get Your LemonadeThe lemonade stand lives on! Fundraising isn’t just for grownups. This year a few of our little Relayers have become some of our best fundraisers. A little girl in El Monte is fighting back in her own way. Every weekend for the past month she has made lemonade, put out her nifty little Fight Cancer Relay signs, and watched the cars stop. Who could resist? Not only is she bringing in hundreds of dollars, she’s such a hit she has even built up some regulars. Got to love it!

 

Spaghetti Dinner and Silent AuctionCome for dinner and stay for fun. Whether you eat at home or go out to dinner, it’s going to cost you. Why not save yourself the hassle and save lives too? This fundraising approach is simple and brings the community together to raise money and awareness at the same time. Ticket sales make it easy for teams to manage the attendance and prepare for the festivities. So grab some pasta and an apron and mangia!

 

Bowling for a CauseBowling tourneys are back and better than ever! Don’t worry if you don’t have a ball or shoes, the bowling alleys have everything you need. The City of Burbank’s bowling team fundraiser last year was such a success that they are back at it again and ready to impress! It’s a lot of fun and pretty straight forward. They charge $20 for two games and host an amazing team-builder! Get your team members revved up and let the games begin!

 

Karaoke for a CauseTry Karaoke for a Cause! Sing your heart out and help fight cancer. Connect with your local karaoke lounge and set up a fundraiser. Each person pays to sing and all proceeds go to your Relay. Deck out the place with purple balloons and info about Relay and let the fun begin!  

Relay ReunionMiss your high school reunion? Love getting old friends together? Why not have a Relay Reunion? A few amazing teams held reunions and raised quite a bit of money. They brought in new teams through their friends’ new alumni teams. (Think Class of 1979 Cares, Class of 1990 Rocks Relay, etc.) Relay reunites people and together, we save lives!  

Candy Gram!Who doesn’t love chocolate? That’s what a team from Tehachapi thought and boy, were they right! This team put together candy grams for $5 at their workplace. The sweet treats consisted of chocolate lollipops, seasonal chocolates with messages on them, and other tasteful goodies. The team raised more than $250 and got the word out about Relay. Super sweet!

 

Parking Space AuctionWouldn’t it be nice to roll up in the morning and park in the VP’s spot? Now you can- for a price! A parking space auction is a great fundraiser and team builder all rolled into one. Talk to your CEO, VP, or principal, ask if they would be willing to auction off their spot for a month, and see fundraising come alive! Watch students vie for the prime spot on the campus or co-workers compete for the VP’s luxury spot. Fun, fast and super easy to do…that’s how we roll!

 

Talent ShowWe all have creative and talented team members. Why not get together one rainy evening to showcase that talent?!

Charge a $5 admission and sell concessions. Learn about hidden talents and enjoy time with friends and family!

 

Hand-Painted UmbrellasA great idea for the artistic members of your team, or you could ask a local artist to donate his/her time. Lighter-colored umbrellas will work best, and you'll need fabric paint to make sure it adheres properly. Protect the designs by spraying umbrellas with waterproof spray after the paint dries.

The umbrellas can be sold at local events or Relay meetings. You can even create an event around the activity, and let people paint their own umbrellas in exchange for a donation.

 

Coffee or CocoaWhen you think of parents picking up their kids or employees coming in from the rain, wouldn't it be great if there was a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate waiting for them?

Work with your local school, daycare, or office to set up a coffee stand and start selling hot drinks to warm those winter weather hearts!

 

Showers Bring FlowersNow is the perfect time to start selling flower seeds and bulbs. These early signs of spring are usually big sellers!

While we are cold and wet this winter, create a buzz around your fundraiser with the promise of a colorful spring!  

Rose for Your LoveContact your local florist and ask them to donate slightly flawed roses for free or a reduced charge. Then sell them for $2 or $5 each. Kids can do this at schools or try hosting this fundraiser in your office! If you can't get a deal on roses, consider other flowers like carnations.

Date AuctionCalling all eligible bachelors and bachelorettes! Everyone knows someone looking for love, so volunteer yourself and your friends to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a night on the town.

Contact local restaurants, coffee shops, and activity centers (i.e. miniature golf courses, bowling alleys, etc.) to see if they will donate gift certificates for the dates. You could make a love connection and raise money for your Relay!

All You Need is Love DiscoHost the dance that everyone in your community wants to attend on Valentine’s Day!

This is a great event for singles and couples. Secure a venue and music and put on your dancing shoes! What about a 60’s disco theme to top it off?

Make and Sell Valentine CardsAttention crafters! Put your skills to good use and gather your friends to make personal Valentine’s Day cards.

You can start taking orders now and have the cards delivered on Valentine’s Day. What a fun activity for your next team meeting!

Coffee & Company

Enjoy coffee and a chat with your friends and raise money too! Invite your neighbors to your place for a mid-morning coffee break. You supply the coffee and treats, and ask them to donate to your Relay team. Try having a few Luminaria bags handy so friends can donate and decorate right then and there.

 

Friends & Flicks

Host a movie night and watch films with ‘walk’ in the title (Walk the Line, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, The Long Walk Home, etc.). Invite friends and ask for a $10 viewing fee. Have the popcorn popping and the turn on the “Big Screen”…it’s sure to be a hit!

 

Relay For Life iPhone App is HereIt’s a New Year and we’ve got a new app! Can’t imagine that you haven’t heard, seen or downloaded it yet…yep…it’s the Relay For Life iPhone application! It’s absolutely fabulous--fast and easy to use. Now you can fundraise anywhere you and your phone go! Download the app here.

“No” Bake SaleTired of holiday baking? Everyone in your office on a fitness kick for the new year?  No problem! Hold the goods and have a “No” Bake Sale Fundraiser. Coworkers pay so that they don’t have to bake goodies! If you think bake sales are successful, you’ll want to try this!

Auctions of all kindsThis auction is easy and requires very little planning and setup. Work with your supervisor or management staff and have an “Auction of All Kinds.” Auction off a prime parking space at work.  Auction off a half day off from work. Auction a picnic lunch. It’s a great way to get the word out about Relay, build your team, and fundraise.

No School Uniform DayWouldn’t it be cool to have a “Dress Cool for Cancer” day and raise money for your high school Relay or community event? Get your school administration and teachers on board to have a day during which students have to pay to “Dress Relay Cool” instead of wearing their school uniform. Charge $5, create a big Relay buzz, and raise a whole lot of $$$ in one day for your Relay!

“Guess Who?” Photo ContestsHold a "guess who?" photo contest. Ask employees, classmates, or team members to bring a baby or childhood photo of themselves that they believe no one can identify. Everyone can make a guess for a suggested donation. The winner gets a prize- a decorated photo album perhaps?

Celebrate Snail MailIt is so seldom that we get a handwritten note these days. Fundraising letters are still a very successful way to solicit donations. Share your reason to Relay in a letter along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Consider mailing it to your friends, relatives, coworkers, business associates, doctor, dentist, insurance agents, hairdresser, and anyone else you can think of. You can set up a booth at Relay to write and send letters or send them on your own before or after the event.

Balloon PopHave team members collect prizes and/or donate their own goods or services as prizes. Before filling each balloon, put a note inside with a quick description of the prize. People receive a balloon for a suggested donation, then pop it to find out what they’ve won!

Spin For LifeGet everyone shaping up AND saving lives! It's summer and everyone is building healthy bodies so give your fundraising a whirl at the local gym and try a Spin For Life!

Your gym commits to hosting one three-hour spin session and each participant raises at least $100 for each hour they spin!

See a sample promotional flyer to get your Spin For Life started today.

Take Your Fundraising OnlineExpand your network through social media. Share your commitment to fight cancer on Twitter (in 140 characters or less) or with a YouTube video, directing all your followers to visit your Relay web site and support your efforts.

And don't forget to update your Facebook status to tell your friends about your participation in Relay. Include a link to your personal page. To add a sense of urgency, share how many more donations of $5, $10, or $15 you need to reach your fundraising goal. You'll be amazed at the response!

Road to Recovery Car ShowOne Relay team put on a Road to Recovery Car Show event! There were 75 participants and 37 cars registered. They raised an additional $740 in four hours!

The Car Show was at the Relay For Life of Lodi on Saturday afternoon, and also promoted the need for Road to Recovery volunteer drivers. This could easily be a pre-event or post-event fundraiser too...charge a car registration fee and maybe even have a few photo opportunities for donation. All it takes is a little creativity and a sense of fun!

*NEW!* Get the VIP ExperiencePurchase a VIP Card to support Relay For Life. $10 of your $20 VIP Card purchase benefits your local Relay event.

The VIP Card provides cardholders with local and nationwide discounts and special offers from restaurants, retailers, hotels, entertainment venues, attractions, and more.

Learn more or buy yours today to start saving over and over again, and support your local Relay For Life.

FUNdraising for the Official Sponsor of BirthdaysBirthday-themed fundraising is all the rage this summer!

One Relay team from a local bank filled a jar with birthday candles, and then collected donations from folks who wanted to wager a guess on the number.

Another team hosted a birthday cake walk. Still another Relayer threw her own birthday bash and asked for Relay donations instead of gifts. How will you make Happy Birthday your victory song?

 

Purple Lemonade StandNeighborhood festivals, block parties, garage sales...tap into where the crowds are gathering for summer fun by setting up a lemonade stand.

You need kids for maximum impact so round up some irresistible cuties who can ask for one dollar donations for a glassful of refreshment. Make sure there's plenty of American Cancer Society Relay For Life signage at your booth so people know they're

 

supporting a great cause and be sure to tell them why the lemonade is purple.

Relay Cool at the OfficeGet your summer snacks sack! It's simple and quick. One Relay team sold snack sacks at work containing an assortment of mostly healthy snacks: water, fruit, crackers, popcorn, and granola bars.

They rolled down the top of white paper lunch bags, put craft grass in the bottom, filled the bags with donated goodies and sold them for four dollars each. They sold out! Many people paid with five dollar bills and donated their change.

 

Relay Beach Party!Throw on your flip-flops and head to the beach! Beautiful weather, a fun group of people and a great cause- believe it or not, sometimes that’s just what you need to help save lives and create a world with more birthdays. That’s how the story went for these OC folks who put on a Relay Fundraiser that brought in more than $3,000! They sent out their invitations and provided the fun, food and festivities for $25 per person.

Bra PongGet Active! Get Bras! Raise money! Bra Pong was a hit at this local event as the line was four deep behind the teams table and it was all about “bra pong.” That’s right, one entire side of this team’s campsite was a wall of bras. For two dollars, you got one chance to hit the ping pong ball into the bra (or three for five dollars). What a great way to have fun while raising breast cancer awareness. Bra Pong was a top fundraiser at the event and raised $1,500!

 

Cut-a-ThonNeed a new summer look? Work with your favorite stylist and salon to host a Cut-A-Thon or Day of Beauty and raise money for your team! One Orange County salon opened its doors on a Sunday, stylists donated their time and talents, and all of the proceeds went to Relay. TheRelay For Life of Costa Mesa raised $5,000 at this fun, fabulous event! Attendees were excited to be able to give back and get a great new summer look at the same time! They couldn’t wait to spread the word about the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life!

 

Dress Down for RelayHost a casual day fundraiser at your company or school. Employees or students make a donation to dress down or wear purple for the day. Work out an acceptable dress code in advance, and then sell stickers to be worn on the appointed day. To really paint your workplace purple, kick it up a notch by hosting a bake sale at the office on the same day and ask your company to become a team sponsor!

 

Does Your Company Match?Make your donations go farther! Double your contributions with your company's Matching Gift Program. Many companies will match charitable gifts made by their employees. What a great way to engage your company or workplace in giving back to the community through Relay For Life! Here's how:

1. Visit www.matchinggifts.com/acs to view a list of companies that participate.

2. Download and fill out your company's matching gift form, send it to us, and we'll take it from there.

3. Our Address:      American Cancer Society Attn: Relay For Life     1710 Webster St. Oakland, CA 94612

4. If you don't see your company, don't worry. Contact your human resources department and ask if they offer a matching gifts program. If they do, simply get the form, fill it out, and send it to us.

5. Encourage your teammates to do the same.

 

Sun and Moon Donation Card ProgramOwn or work at a retail business? Sell a scannable paper card to your customers for a specified donation "In Honor" or "In Memory" of someone touched by cancer. You can offer a prize to the department or employee who sells the most! Even if you don't work in retail, you can still ask a local company to host this fundraiser for you.

 

This Little Piggy Went to RelayPigs flew right off the table like hotcakes at UCLA's event! That's right, pink crocheted pigs with white wings...who knew? These cute little pigs with button snouts were the hottest fundraiser at this college event. Everyone had to have one! They sold for $5 and disappeared in a flash. Would you believe there's a waiting list for more flying pigs?

 

Stop the BopEver heard a song that drove you insane and you would do anything to stop it? Well that's what this on-site fundraiser is all about. It's called "Stop the Bop" at Relay! One team did played Hansen's "MMM'Bop" on repeat until they raised a certain amount of money. One Relay played "Stop the Bop" and raised $50 in four minutes, and another event raised $300 in 15 minutes. With the music playing today...the sky is the limit!

 

Babysitting StationWe love having kids at Relay but boy it would be nice to be able to take a few minutes of Relay R & R. How about providing a babysitting station at Relay? Charge parents a fee to leave the kids with babysitters for several hours at the event. Make sure you have a secure area with safe toys and activities for the kids while parents are away and carefully set up a drop off/pick up system so that only a person designated by the parent can retrieve the kids.

 

A Night Under the StarsHave a large flat screen TV? Ok, maybe not, but you probably have a white sheet and can find a projector! Invite the neighbors over for Movie night - charge admission - offer popcorn, snacks, sodas, and let the good times roll. And why not go big?  How about throwing a  community gathering in your neighborhood or a park? See if you can get the equipment to show the movie outdoors on the big screen.

Never too late for Spring CleaningWith summer almost here, time to finally clear those spider webs and dust bunnies out of the garage and have a community yard sale - everyone wins!!! Proceeds go to Relay and everyone goes home to a cleaner garage or attic. You can always throw some food in the mix ---- sell hot dogs, pizza, etc. - it will encourage the whole family to come --- junior will find that used bike he's always wanted---there is no telling what treasures you'll find!  Lunch is taken care of --- and

even more money is raised!

Tots Fight Back!Is it a Bark For Life?  No wait--a Ride For Life! Nope, it's a Trike For Life!  That’s right folks…fundraising can start at any age and a group of little tots (with their parents of course) got in on the action and had their very own “Trike For Life” at their preschool! 

It was simple, easy and so much fun as parents and their little ones got involved and raised $1,800 for their local Relay!  The event was a couple of hours and brought kids, parents, grandparents and teachers together to share stories, create Luminaries’ for loved ones and get educated about their American Cancer Society Relay For Life and all that we have to offer!

Lights, Camera, Action!Always wanted to be on camera…well now you can! That’s right, you can be the “Star” in your own Relay Video. Be sure to check out this brand new tool that will make fundraising, fast, easy and so much fun!

Introducing a personalized video just for Relayers. Your family and friends are going to love it! The link to your Personalized Video has been added to your Participant Center home page.

What’s even cooler is that you can customize your video so that your friends, family, and co-workers can be featured in it too! Most importantly, anyone who watches the video can make a donation directly from the video. It’s that easy!

Bowling For Relay

You’ll be bowled over by how easy it is to organize a “9 Pin No Tap Bowling Tournament” as a fundraiser for your team. With leagues about to end, you’re likely to find your local bowling alley interested in an event that will fill your team’s Relay coffer and their lanes. Don’t have a bowling alley nearby? Organize a Wii bowling tourney instead.

Think “Mom”

The second Sunday in May will be here before you know it. So beyond making your personal Mother’s Day plans, consider a way to honor mom and support the fight against cancer. Is it a Mother’s Day brunch fundraiser? Partnering with a dress shop to stage a fashion show and tea? Hosting a Tastefully Simple or Pampered Chef party? A flower sale? Ladies-only golf tourney? Think about it … then Go do it!

Fundraising with a KickThink you have a prize-winning chili recipe? Organize a chili cook-off as part of a weekend afternoon of fun (or March Madness hoops party) and collect donations from all who attend. Tally taste-testing results, crown the winner and pass out antacids, reminding everyone that their heartburn is well worth the cause they’ve helped.

 

Double your Impact

Many companies offer matching gift programs that will double, even triple the value of a donation or volunteer time that you give. Here's how:

1. Visit www.matchinggifts.com/acs to view a list of companies that participate.

2. Download and fill out your company's matching gift form, send it to us, and we'll take it from there.

3. Our Address: American Cancer Society Attn: Relay For Life1710 Webster St.Oakland, CA 94612

4. If you don't see your company, don't worry, you might still be in luck. Simply contact your human resources department and ask if they offer a matching gifts program. If they do, simply get the form, fill it out, and send it to us.

5. Encourage your teammates to do the same.

Check out our fundraising prizes!

Reach for the Stars... and get there via the sun and moon

We've all donated a buck (or more) to purchase a paper "something" that symbolizes a cause. Local businesses can support your team by selling Relay For Life Suns and Moons to create a Wall of Hope at their establishment.

Here's a template letter and samples you can use to make it happen!

Get People Feeling Comfortable

TGIF takes on a new meaning when you ask your workplace to allow employees to "dress down" in return for a contribution to your Relay team. Work out an acceptable dress code in advance - jeans are usually the casual garb of choice - then sell stickers to be worn on the appointed day. Here's a poster and sample stickers to get started or create your own!

Plan your Work, then Work your Plan

Step one is already done if you follow this one-month FUNdraising plan. Tweak it to fit your goal then work it one day at a time.

What Could Be Better Than a Back to School Bake Sale?

Summer flew by and everyone is back in school. Why not rustle up your team and consider putting on a Back To School Bake Sale! Have everyone buzzing by making all your favorites and selling them to benefit your Relay team. Friends and neighbors will be glad to pitch in some dough for a handmade sweet treat and it's way better than the store bought stuff!

Mini Relays are Mighty!

Now is the perfect time to approach the teachers in your area about hosting a Mini Relay to involve students in the fight against cancer. Check out our Mini Relay kit and other resources available to see how easy it is to get classrooms and entire schools involved. Implementing a Mini Relay can be a great team fundraiser and can engage more people in your community to Fight Back!

Bowling for a Cure

A $10 donation gives you the chance to throw 2 balls. If you strike, your name is entered into a drawing 2 times. If you spare with your second ball your name is entered once. You can even host a Wii Bowling Tournament for the video gamers on your team. Get a nice bowling themed prize donated and bowl away cancer!

Hair Raising Fun

Agree to have someone shave their head or dye their hair purple at the Relay once a certain amount of money has been raised. Be sure to set a high goal and get the clippers ready!

Penny Wars

Compete against another Relay team or between departments in your workplace to see who can collect the most pennies for Relay. All silver and paper money in the penny jars count against the total number of pennies, so each team tries to sabotage each other’s jars with bills and large coins. Plus they raise more dough in the process!

Questions for a buck

One individual raised money by having her boss, who was constantly being asked questions by everyone to start charging a buck for each question. Word spread and everyone started asking questions and paying up.

Have you gotten your Bark on?

We shared about Bark For Life back in May and many communities across California are seeing success with these mini fund-raisers- from $200 to $5,000! Bark allows you to engage a whole new group of people in the fight against cancer and a whole new group of furry friends! So go on...get your Bark on!

Jail & Bail

For a suggested donation participants can have someone “arrested.” Participating “jailbirds” will be hauled into a jail cell for a one-hour term. During that hour, they call their friends & family asking them to make the donations they need to meet their (suggested) $500 bail. If they do not meet their bail, they are required to sit in the “can” for another hour. It’s great fun to watch local celebrities dressed in stripes and incarcerated, begging to be bailed out!

Do Real Men Wear Pink?

The ladies have Fight Like a Girl tees, but what about the guys? Teams across the country are pulling in big profit by selling these tees. Teams make the initial investment, recoup their minimal expenses, and turn in the remaining profit. Recommended retail price is $15. You are sure to be the talk of your Relay with these fabulous shirts! Are you man enough to wear pink?

California E-Mall is Open!

Are you looking to buy great Relay items from Relay approved vendors? Well, look no more! Visit the CA E-Mall and find easy access to all our Relay vendors. A percentage of proceeds comes right back to the American Cancer Society, so go ahead...shop for a cure!

Food Bar Fun

Are you and your co-workers tired of another PB&J sandwich in a brown paper bag? Spice up lunch and raise money for your team at the same time. Salad bar, build your own potato bar, nachos, desserts, fruit bar, taco bar, sundaes...the list could go on and on! Your co-workers will gladly donate $5-$8 for a super tasty lunch or afternoon treat for a great cause!

Make Some Noise with Silent Auctions

Try this to get everyone talking! Silent auctions are a great way to fundraise: you can host one at your campsite or at an event prior to your Relay. Ask local businesses to donate items or services. You could also build baskets of goodies to get more bang for your buck!

Connect with other Relayers on our Facebook page!

Looking for more ideas or support? Become a fan of American Cancer Society California! Find out all the latest happenings and extend your network with other volunteers across the state. Share tips and tricks, post photos, meet friends, and show your Relay pride!

Fight Like a Girl T-shirts

Who wouldn't want one? Teams across the country are selling these like hot cakes, pulling in big profit to increase their team fundraising totals. Teams make the initial investment, recoup their minimal expenses, and turn in the remaining profit. Recommended retail price is $15. You are sure to be the talk of your Relay with these fabulous shirts!

Party with a Purpose

Get together with family, friends and co-workers while doing something both fun and meaningful...host a Party with a Purpose! You can set a suggested donation amount, or ask that attendees donate the amount they would typically spend on a night out. If it's a birthday party, declare us the official sponsor of your birthday, and have attendees donate in lieu of a present.

Fun activities include auctioning off homemade crafts or baked goods, or selling and decorating Luminaria or Sun & Moon Cards. This guidebook and sample invitations will help you quickly and easily plan an amazing party of your own to benefit your Relay team.

Farmer's Market Fun

Many local markets offer non-profits the opportunity to set up a table and share information about their organization. Farmer's Markets are great places to promote healthy habits and to make connections with community members.

Collect donations, recruit new teams and local business sponsors, sell Luminaria, or sell Fight Like a Girl tees! Add these healthy cooking tips to your Relay Flyer to make your table a success!

Team Sponsorship Recruitment

Teams have connections and connections can equal sponsorships! Did you know recruiting a sponsor of $500 or more can go toward your team's fundraising totals? Download our official sponsorship packet and start asking your local businesses to sponsor your team and the local Relay.

Speaking of celebrities......

Round up some local celebs (the mayor, principal, a local CEO) to work as waiters for a night of FUNdraising. Use this guide to set up an excellent evening of dining, entertainment, and BIG tips that go right to your Relay team

It's show time

Set up your big-screen TV in the back yard (or put up a sheet and borrow a projector) and host a neighborhood movie night, charging an entry fee plus concessions.

Put your own spin on it! Here are 3 ideas:

Make it a date night for parents by charging $20 to drop off their kids for a movie and pizza.

Ask the local firehouse to set up a screen with a family-friendly feature and throw in a tour of the firehouse for an extra $5.

Have a movie night at a local community or high school pool... there's nothing like watching "Jaws" while floating on a raft

Purple Lemonade

It's hot out. What could be better than a refreshing summertime drink? Are there upcoming summer events in your community? Get permission to set up a Purple Lemonade Stand at the event or parade route. One community stand made $5,000 in just a couple of days.

Kids can make a great impact, so round up some irresistible cuties who can ask for

a $1 donation. Make sure there's plenty of American Cancer Society signage at your booth so people know it is for a great cause and why the lemonade is purple.

One Man's Trash

You know how the old saying goes. Summertime is a great time to host a Relay Garage Sale and everyone gets some treasure. For a few bucks you can purchase this kit to make your Relay Garage sale a hit!

Happy Birthday America...Happy Birthday Relay!

July 4th is just around the corner; a time for family, friends, fireworks, and fun. Why not celebrate 25 years of Relay as part of the fun and fundraise at the same time?

Consider having a community Luminaria ceremony in a local park following the community firework festivities.  This ceremony can be a nice way to share Relay with your community and encourage everyone to get involved.

Want that Relay Bling? Don't forget about our FUNdraising prizes...

Need a boost? Motivate your fellow team members by reminding them about our Relay FUNdraising prizes to reward their fundraising efforts! Begin by raising the minimum $100 to earn a commemorative event t-shirt, but don't stop there! There are several choices of fabulous items you can earn by achieving certain fundraising milestones.

Never Too Young...or Old

It makes good sense to ask the businesses you frequent to get involved in your cause.  So how about that compassionate, caring place you may visit everyday - your child's day care center.  Here's a list of 30 ideas to get your day care-ing community involved.   With a bit of adaptation, these same ideas can be applied to a senior center or retirement home.

 

Got a case of the Post-Relay Blues? We have the cure: Post-Relay Fundraising!

We have just the thing to keep you Relay Rock'n all year long.  Take a look at these ideas to bump your fundraising totals and help us continue to raise money for the fight.  We promise you won't sing the blues any longer!

Toss Some Bags into the Mix

Give your FUNdraising that competitive spirit by organizing a "bean bag" tournament with entry fee proceeds going to your Relay team.  If you're a little bit handy or can commandeer someone who is, use these plans to build your own bag boards.  Paint the boards purple or use other Relay-themed decor and sell chances to win the set at the end of the tournament.

Celebrate the 25th year of Relay For Life...25 cents at a time

Take American Cancer Society coin cans or create your own, print this sign, then ask businesses to help you celebrate Relay's 25th anniversary. How many business partners should your team find? That's right...25. Remember to label the bottom of the can with your name and phone number in case the can fills up before you check back.

HATs On to this Idea

You've probably seen the people who shave their heads in support of someone going through chemo. Here's a twist: HAT Day - where people wear hats to Honor All Touched by cancer. You can slate HAT Day to honor someone specific or make it a general recognition event. Here's a guide and flyer to get you started.

Party With A Purpose

We all have busy schedules that make it difficult to balance spending time with family and friends and volunteering to make a difference. So why not do both at the same time? Have fun and fight back against cancer...it's a Party with a Purpose!

 

Packages of Hope

A team in Ripon, CA put a new twist on the old flamingo fundraiser! Purple packages were placed on lawns with an envelope attached explaining the packages and forms for

donating to Relay For Life. Instructions included making your donation and then placing the packages on the lawn of a neighbor or friend. Think of the fun this fundraiser could be, before a Relay or as a follow-up to help you meet your goal!

An E-Mail a Day

Your personal Relay webpage has lots of tools for online FUNdraising. But before you e-mail everyone in your address book, consider this: a personalized approach works better than a one-size-fits-all tactic. Instead of "Dear Friends", take 2 minutes every day to e-mail just 1 person. Your "ask" for support will be the same, but this one-a-day approach will let you add a sentence or two that personalizes the email, so they're likely to be more compelled to respond. Here are some sample letters to get you started.

 It’s a hole in one for Dad!

Get a local golf course to donate their space for the day. Organize a dad’s day tournament to benefit your team.

Dad gets to golf, you raise some green, and everyone fights cancer.

Turn Your Favorite Casserole into a Relay CA$Herole

Everyone has one-dish meals that are real time-savers and budget stretchers. Now imagine the appeal of selling these ready-to-pop-in-the-oven meals to busy families as a healthy alternative to the fast food take-out window. And no matter how loudly your customers beg for the recipes afterwards, don't give them out. Save them for your next team FUNdraiser: a cookbook!

Day of Relay FUN

Beyond the memorable ceremonies and walking, much of Relay's FUN comes wrapped up in on-site FUNdraising activities. Whether you have a delectable treat to sell or a crazy, interactive game, your on-site event can add an exclamation point to the Relay and your team's FUNdraising total. Here's a sampling of on-site ideas for your team to consider.

Enthusiasm + Elbow Grease = Car Wash Ca$h

 With April showers behind us, how about organizing a team car wash? Locate an accessible parking lot with great visibility, gather some hoses, buckets, a pile of rags

and window cleaner, set up an assembly line and you've got a quick and easy event that gets your entire team involved. Sell advance tickets and position enthusiastic sign-holders to encourage drop-in business.

Eat for Success

In this fast-paced, take-out world, how do you get the family around the table to share a meal? Try a community spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast. Think of it as your extended family dinner. Try adding a bake sale for dessert; calories don't count when they're consumed for a good cause.

Go Green and Raise Green

Done with that water bottle? Rinse it out, apply one of these labels and voila... you have the perfect vessel for collecting dimes (or dollars). One 16 oz. bottle filled with dimes yields about $90 for your team.

Hey Batter, Batter

Take your Relay team out to the ball game. The concession stand is the perfect place to try these ideas.

Volunteer to work concessions in exchange for setting out Relay donation cans. See if the league will set up a special "split the pot" arrangement for a cancer

awareness game.

Expand the usual menu for a Saturday or weekend tournament by offering one of your food specialties for sale with a percentage going to your Relay.

Free Publicity!

 Get help promoting your team FUNdraising by working with your Relay Committee to get your fundraiser posted on your Relay web site. Just provide details like date, time, and any coupon or tickets needed.

The Friends and Family Plan - Relay Style Check out Two weeks, $200. Easy and fast fundraising without venturing out of your existing social circle.

Combine your fundraiser with something people enjoy

Look for ways to piggyback so that everyone benefits. Many people like to eat out, but they may be cutting back. Partnering with a local restaurant to help fill the restaurant on an "off night" can earn you a percentage of the restaurant's receipts. Here are some resources to help you get started.

May 10th will be here soon. Beyond making your personal Mother's Day plans, consider a way to honor mom and raise money for the cancer fight. Whether it is a Mother's Day brunch FUNdraiser, fashion show, tea party, or a flower sale, giving back to your community is the best way to make Mom proud. Don't forget to partner with our National Corporate Team partners, PartyLite and Tastefully Simple, to make it easy.

Paws for the Cause

Cancer affects our furry friends too. Our Bark For Life guidebook will help you start an event in your community to include Fido, Spot and Fefe in the fun! Encourage dog lovers to involve their pet stores too!

Energize Student Relayers

These ideas are especially suited for classroom or campus settings. Share with students and channel their energy for positive results.

 

Ladies Night Flyer Craft for a Cure Night Flyer Put Hope in the budget

We've all "saved up" for something special by putting aside a little bit each month.  Online Recurring Gifts allows folks to donate a little each month or on a schedule that works for them. Every month adds up, so ask early!  

Choose your own favoritesTake a peek at these ideas: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/forum/8  

Remember, you are not doing this alone. Whether you are an individual fundraiser or are fundraising with a team, the goal is to reach out to as many people as possible. Hundreds of thousands of women, men, and children will participate in Relay For Life this year and spread their passion for the cause.