Step 1: Create a list of potential supporters

Think of everyone you know who would be happy to support you and create a list – friends, family, co-workers, neighbours, etc.

Step 2: Personalize your approach and make the ask!

Think of the best way to contact every person on your list, whether it’s virtually through a video call, by sending an email, or by writing them a letter — personalize your approach to every potential supporter!

Step 3: Get creative and put the “fun” in fundraising

In addition to your letters and emails, we encourage you to get creative and think of a fun activity or event that you can organize to help reach your fundraising goal! While we must adhere to physical distancing guidelines, there are so many options virtually.

Step 4: Reach out to corporate contacts for large donations

Talk to your business networks and see if any companies would be interested in supporting your team! Check out our adopt-a-runner and adopt-a-team forms. A company can sponsor you or your team in exchange for recognition opportunities through Run for a Reason!

Step 5: Always say thank you!

It is incredibly important to always take the time to say “thank you” to your supporters, whether it’s through an email, phone call, or a hand-written card or letter. They played a big part in your fundraising success!

#1 Send a personalized message

Send out a personal email or letter requesting donations. Don’t be shy – ask your friends, family, neighbours, and professional network. Sample text for emails and letters are included in our Fundraising Toolkit.

#2 Get active on social media

Social media is an excellent way to engage with potential donors and create conversation about Run for a Reason! There are many different social media platforms you can use – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, a blog, etc. This is a great way to share your journey, provide updates on your fundraising, ask for donations, and show your network what Run for a Reason is all about. Make it fun!

Follow us:

• Twitter: @OttawaHospital #SupportTOH
• Facebook: @OttawaHospital
• Instagram: @OttawaHospital

Sample social media posts:

• Hey! Check out Run for a Reason – Virtual Edition! I’m running to support @OttawaHospital! Help me reach my fundraising goal of $_____! #SupportTOH #IStartHere
• I’m running __km to support the future of healthcare @OttawaHospital! #SupportTOH #IStartHere
• Lace up and join me as I Run for a Reason supporting @OttawaHospital. Virtual teamwork makes it so much more fun! #SupportTOH  #IStartHere
• I do the run for _____ (my mom, my dad, my neighbour, my best friend) and support @OttawaHospital. #SupportTOH #IStartHere

Tips

• Be sure to add a picture and get more attention on social media!
• Include the link to your fundraising page.
• If you are going to walk, simply change Run to Walk in the sample social media.
• Share several times on social media. You’ll be amazed by who donates or even joins your team.

#3 Personalize your fundraising page

Get creative and have fun! Update your fundraising page on Race Roster to include your picture, why you run or walk, and your fundraising goal to support The Ottawa Hospital. Our team is here to help you cross the fundraising finish line, which will help support ground-breaking research at The Ottawa Hospital.

Register your public fundraising event for Run for a Reason by contacting events@toh.ca with the following information:

• Event Name
• Date
• Time
• Location
• Organizer contact information

Any other details (cost, what to bring, what to wear, who can take part, etc.)
We’ll be happy to share it on social!

#4 Ask corporate sponsors

Think about your corporate networks and use our personal sponsorship forms to ask for large donations—follow the links below. By Adopting a Team, a company will:

• Have their name appear in The Ottawa Hospital Journal, a newsletter distributed to 10,000 employees of The Ottawa Hospital.
• Have their name appear on The Ottawa Hospital Foundation website.

A company will also receive some the same benefits from Adopting an Individual!

• Download Adopt-A-Runner Form
• Download Adopt-A-Team Form

#5 Go old school

Download the Run for a Reason pledge form. Using your online fundraising page and this pledge form is a great way to combine online fundraising with the traditional kind!

#6 FUNdraising milestones

Another fun way to reach your fundraising goal is to attach your fundraising to major events, celebrations, and holidays. Here are some examples:

• Birthday Celebration — Instead of receiving gifts on your birthday, ask for donations towards your run.
• Anniversary — Have friends and family celebrate a special anniversary by making a donation to your fundraising campaign.
• Virtual Lunch – While we can’t host in-person events yet, you can still connect via Zoom, Teams, or Skype. Bring a group of work colleagues together to share your story about Why You Run. Maybe something on St. Patrick’s Day, around Easter, or the first day of spring. Have your colleagues dress-up to your theme. Ask them to support your run – even a $5 donation will have an impact!

Update your email signature

Let your network know you will Run for a Reason. Add this icon to your email signature.

Sample emails

Recruit team members

Subject: Let’s move in 2021!

Dear __,

What could be better than running or walking to change lives and support The Ottawa Hospital? The training is good for our health; as a virtual team, we’ll have fun and we’ll be supporting the most important healthcare centre in eastern Ontario – The Ottawa Hospital.

It’s win, win, win!

Join me anytime from May 1 — 31, 2021, as I will be taking part in Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. But I won’t just be crossing the virtual finish line for the fun of it; I’ll also be raising important funds for The Ottawa Hospital and I’d love it if you would join me in the fun!

It’s so easy!  We don’t have to take part in the same event and you can run OR walk.  We’ll be fundraising together for a cause that’s important to all of us—world-class healthcare for those we love.

After you’ve signed up, you can ask your friends and family to support our fundraising efforts by making a donation to your online fundraising page.

Registration is simple (Share link to your fundraising team page). Visit my team page, click join team, and register through Race Roster! There will be an option to join an existing team during the registration process.

If you’d like more information, contact The Ottawa Hospital Foundation at 613-798-5555, ext. 19832, or by e-mail at events@toh.ca You can also visit the website at RunForAReason.ca

#SupportTOH

Ask People to Sponsor You

Subject: Let’s help change lives!

Dear __,

Sometime between May 1 – 31, 2021, I will Run for a Reason and support The Ottawa Hospital at the Virtual Edition of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. I’ll do the hard work, but I need your help to raise these vital funds. I hope you will consider making a donation in support of my run. When I cross the finish line, I’ll be smiling and thinking of you!

Together, we can help change lives! We’ll also be ensuring researchers at The Ottawa Hospital can continue to make advancements in diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and many more.

Donate now! (share the link to your fundraising page)

or

Send a cheque payable to “The Ottawa Hospital Foundation”. The address is below:

Run for a Reason
c/o The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
737 Parkdale Avenue, 1st floor
Ottawa, ON K1Y 1J8

Make sure you include my name on the envelope, or in the notes section of the cheque. You can also add a note if you choose to have your donation remain anonymous.

If you love to run or walk, you can also join me and raise funds for The Ottawa Hospital. Visit runforareason.ca to register!

Your support is tremendous — thank you!

Thank your sponsors email

Subject: Thank you for donating to my Run for a Reason

You are incredible!

Thank you for supporting my Run for a Reason and The Ottawa Hospital. You are helping to change lives. I couldn’t have done this without you!

Thanks again for your support!