Food for More CHALLENGE What is the Food for More Challenge? The Food for More Challenge is a tool to help you identify new donors and encourage existing donors to increase their giving. To support you in your fundraising Feed My People (FMP) will match one pound of food for every dollar your agency raises, up to $5000, for a six-week period between June 1 and Nov 1. Why? The purpose of FMP s match is to leverage your ability to raise more money. Past experience has shown the public responds well to match programs. The Challenge promotes donations to agencies at a time other than the traditional giving season. How will this work? Your agency will select a 6-week period from June 1 November 1 to run your Food for More Challenge fundraiser. Only dollars received during this 6-week period and as a result of efforts you make connected to the challenge will count toward the match. Funds raised will be matched with pounds of food up to $5,000 per agency (not per program.) Each dollar received as a result of the challenge will be matched with one pound of food through shared maintenance food credit at FMP, up to 5000 pounds of food for your agency. You will select the food available at shared maintenance cost in FMP s inventory at the time you need it. Donors will write checks to your agency so the money is yours for immediate use. Please have them indicate match challenge on their donation. To receive your match, fill out and return the Food for More Challenge Report no later than November 9, 2018. We want to support you and your program! If you have questions or comments, please contact us at: Michelle Pride mapride@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 110 Tami Syverson tami@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 106 Suzanne Becker suzanne@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 104
Food for More Challenge Report (Deadline for submission: November 9, 2018) Agency ID # Agency Name and City Contact Name Email Address Phone Challenge Period (6 weeks from June 1 Nov 1) Total dollars raised Amount from past donors* Approximate number of donors Amount from new donors* Did you receive any single donation of $1000 or more?* Yes No If yes, was it from a new donor*?* Yes No *These responses are optional. Estimates are acceptable. 1. If your agency has multiple programs, please indicate how we should allocate the food credit match. 2. Briefly describe methods you used and attach a copy of supporting campaign material (letter, ad, newsletter, bulletin, flyer, etc.) 3. Briefly describe what you did to attract new donors or to encourage increased donations. 4. Additional Comments: I certify all dollars listed on this report were raised in response to our Food for More Challenge efforts, during our 6-week window, and with each donor s full knowledge of the campaign. Signature Date
Food for More CHALLENGE What is the Food for More Challenge? The Food for More Challenge is a tool to help you identify new donors and encourage existing donors to increase their giving. To support you in your fundraising Feed My People (FMP) will match one pound of food for every dollar your agency raises, up to $5000, for a six-week period between June 1 and Nov 1. Why? The purpose of FMP s match is to leverage your ability to raise more money. Past experience has shown the public responds well to match programs. The Challenge promotes donations to agencies at a time other than the traditional giving season. How will this work? Your agency will select a 6-week period from June 1 November 1 to run your Food for More Challenge fundraiser. Only dollars received during this 6-week period and as a result of efforts you make connected to the challenge will count toward the match. Funds raised will be matched with pounds of food up to $5,000 per agency (not per program.) Each dollar received as a result of the challenge will be matched with one pound of food through shared maintenance food credit at FMP, up to 5000 pounds of food for your agency. You will select the food available at shared maintenance cost in FMP s inventory at the time you need it. Donors will write checks to your agency so the money is yours for immediate use. Please have them indicate match challenge on their donation. To receive your match, fill out and return the Food for More Challenge Report no later than November 9, 2018. We want to support you and your program! If you have questions or comments, please contact us at: Michelle Pride mapride@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 110 Tami Syverson tami@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 106 Suzanne Becker suzanne@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 104
Food for More CHALLENGE Supporting Materials A Note for the Hesitant: Asking for money is a task many of us would like to avoid but you should not hesitate to give others the chance to give! Your neighbors appreciate being informed of ways they can help. Not everyone is able to help by volunteering but perhaps they can participate with financial support if the time is right for them. Match opportunities are effective because the donor becomes part of a joint and larger effort of many people working together for a result that will be more significant than they can achieve alone. Tips: Consider methods to attract new donors. Additions to your mailing list? A few personal asks? Schedule your fundraiser at a new time of year. Try not to have donors just shift a regular donation to this time period. Instead utilize the match as a tool designed to encourage increased giving. Consider ways to expand the challenge. For example, you could find a business that would match the second $5000 you raise. For every $1 raised, FMP will match it with 1 pound of food up to $5000 and ABC will match dollar for dollar any additional donations up to $10,000 raised. Acknowledge all donations with a timely thank-you note. Let the donor know the collective result of the Food for More Challenge. We are happy to share our logo. Samples There are many effective ways to use a match as a way to generate funds. Attached are samples of materials you can use with a few of the most common methods: Letter for direct mail to past donors, local businesses or another list of potential donors to help get the word out. Include a return envelope. Ad to place in bulletins, newsletters or newspapers Short piece designed for a church bulletin or newsletter Press release sent to newspaper, radio and television outlets Facebook or other social media post Support If you would like assistance with design, content suggestions or proofing materials for your campaign, feel free to contact us. Michelle Pride mapride@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 110 Tami Syverson tami@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 106 Suzanne Becker suzanne@fmpfoodbank.org 715-835-9415, ext 104
Sample Letter Paragraph 1: Start with something personal or specific about your program. Compliment the reader; help them feel a part of something useful. Compliments can take the form of reference to past support either by them or the community of which they are a part (church, town, business). Paragraph 2: Explain the special opportunity Tips: Keep paragraphs short. Make it easy to find how to write and where to send check. It is good to include this information in the letter and also provide a return pre-addressed envelope. Remember the match period is only open for 6 weeks. You choose the 6 weeks that is best for you from June 1 November 1. Make sure the dates in your letter correspond to the weeks you selected. Highlighted items in this sample need to be corrected and individualized by you. [July 5, 2018] Dear [ ] After [x] years of volunteering for the [XYZ Food Pantry] I am most struck by how well our community comes together to support our neighbors when they need it most. Food is a basic need and I am proud to be a part of this community that works so well together to assure that [XYZ Food Pantry] has enough and no one need go without. I am excited to tell you about a special opportunity to help our food pantry meet the growing need we are experiencing. Now through August 15, Feed My People Food Bank is partnering with us to match every dollar we receive through the Food for More Challenge with a pound of food, up to an extra 5000 pounds! Additionally, because of our relationship with Feed My People, we can stretch your donation even further. Working through the food bank, [XYZ Food Pantry] is able to obtain at least ten times the amount of food as we could through retail sources for the same cost. The deadline for receiving matching pounds is August 15. I hope you will join me in making a donation to the Food for More Challenge. I appreciate your support. It will make such a difference in the lives of so many! Sincerely, [Name] [Volunteer, XYZ Food Pantry] Make checks payable to: [XYZ Food Pantry]. Note in the memo line Match Campaign. Send to: [XYZ Food Pantry, Address, City, State, Zip]
Sample Ads for Bulletins, Newsletters, Postcards or Newspapers Food for More Challenge Pepin County Food Pantry in partnership with Feed My People Food Bank Every dollar donated to Pepin County Food Pantry through August 15 will be matched with a pound of food by Feed My People, up to 5000 pounds per program. Send checks to: Pepin County Food Pantry Address City, State, Zip Note on memo line: Match Challenge Note: If you plan to place an ad in a publication with broad circulation that includes another program s service area, please coordinate with the other programs and consider including them. For example: Food for More Challenge Pepin County Food Pantry in partnership with Feed My People Food Bank Every dollar donated to ICAA, Hope Lutheran or Ladysmith Baptist Food Pantries through August 15 will be matched with a pound of food by Feed My People, up to 5000 pounds per program. Make checks out to the pantry of your choice and send directly to them or to PO Box, City, State, Zip Note on memo line: Match Challenge plus program name. In this example checks would be sent to the program of choice if the donor knows the address. The address given in the ad could be for one of the three programs. That agency would agree to deliver checks written to the other two programs.
Sample Written Piece for Church Bulletins or Newsletters (Can be used in combination with or independent of ad) Food for More Challenge We have an opportunity to stretch our dollars in support of our food pantry from now until August 15. For every dollar donated to Hope Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Feed My People Food Bank will match it with a pound of food, up to 5000 pounds, significantly increasing the value of your donation to this program! Additionally, as a partner with Feed My People we are able to obtain at least ten times the amount of food as we could through retail sources for the same cost. Make checks out to Hope Lutheran Church Food Pantry and in the memo line write Match Challenge. For more information, contact Name, Phone. Sample Social Media Post (for Facebook, Twitter, etc.) The Food For More Challenge is here and we need your help! Financial donations received between [date] and [date] will be matched dollar for pound by Feed My People Food Bank (up to a total of $5,000). Your gift, large or small, will make a significant difference in the lives of our neighbors facing food insecurity. Thank you! Make checks out to [Agency Name], note Match Challenge in the memo and send them to [Address]. Tips with social media: Include a picture if possible. Posts with a picture are often viewed at a much higher rate. Encourage people to share the post. This is an easy way to increase your traffic and drive more people to your page. Keep your text short and engaging. If you have a web page, include a link to your site. Example:
Sample Press Release for Newspapers, Radio and Television Stations [Name, Title] [Organization] [Phone Number] [Email Address] Donation Match for Hunger Relief [City, State, Date] - [Agency Name] has an opportunity to receive one pound of food from the Feed My People Food Bank for each dollar raised up to $5,000 by [Month Day, Year] through the Food For More Challenge. The challenge, in its fifth year, is a partnership between Feed My People and the food assistance programs it serves. Every dollar donated to [Agency Name], will be matched with a pound of food, up to 5000 pounds, through shared maintenance food credit at Feed My People significantly increasing the value of your donation to this program. Additionally, because of the relationship with Feed My People, [Agency Name] is able to obtain at least ten times the amount of food as they could through retail sources for the same cost. NEW THIS YEAR We are asking people to challenge their co-workers, employees, friends, civic groups to see who can either raise the most money for the cause. Top donors will be listed in the media. The deadline for this program is [Month Day]. Please make donations payable to [Agency Name] and note Match Challenge in the memo line of the check. For more information, contact [Agency Name] at [Phone, Email]. Send checks to: [Agency Name, Address]