Fundraising for Cornerstone

We know that often raising sponsorship money is one of the hardest things when you take part in a charity challenge. However, we also know if you go about this in a positive way you will be surprised how quickly you can get the pledges of support coming in and remember, every penny really does make a difference so thank you for getting involved.

Start by thinking about your own challenge.  Why not challenge yourself to beat last year’s target, or if this is your first time, try to beat your team mates or set a new personal best distance or time?

You’ll not only be keeping yourself fit and healthy, but will be raising funds to help improve the quality of life of disables children, young people and adults throughout Scotland.

Below are some helpful hints and tips to get your fundraising underway. Take a look at these and see what's appropriate to you.

Tell Everyone
The more people who know about your fundraising efforts, the more money you can raise. Look through your address book, your email contacts, your mobile contacts, your Christmas Card list. You’ll be surprised at how many people you know!

Using a sponsorship form

• Recruit your biggest sponsors first – your mum, husband, best friend. The first person to sponsor you can set a "trend" for the rest. Always take your sponsor form with you when you go out. Don't leave home without it!

• Never be afraid to pass it round the pub, office, club etc. If possible, collect the sponsor money at the same time the person sponsors you. It can save you a lot of time later trying to `chase' up the money.

• Enlist the help of your family, friends and work colleagues to sponsor and fundraise on your behalf. Give them a copy of your sponsorship form and ask them to raise sponsorship for you.

Using the computer

• Use Facebook, Twitter, etc to let everyone know you are undertaking this challenge and ask them to sponsor you.

• Set up an online fundraising page. We have found through experience that creating a fundraising page is a simple way to reach a wider audience, helping you to raise even more money! Creating a fundraising page couldn’t be easier and it’s free!

Here’s how to create your fundraising page:

Justgiving

Log on to the Justgiving website at www.justgiving.com

  • On the home page click on ‘Get Started’
    • You are now on the ‘how it works’ page which gives an example of a fundraiser’s page
  • Click on ‘Make Your Page’ which asks you to create an account
  • Click on ‘Create an Account’ and set up your page following the simple on screen instructions!

Make your page really stand out by personalising it as much as possible- it’s amazing how raising a smile can help to raise money!

Set yourself a target and watch your sponsorship grow as more people visit your fundraising page.

Virgin Money giving

Log onto the Virgin Money Giving website at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/chooseFundraiser.action                                        

Select "personal challenge" and you will be guided through setting up your fundraising page – remember to enter Cornerstone as your chosen charity!

Make your page really stand out by personalising it as much as possible- it’s amazing how raising a smile can help to raise money J

Set yourself a target and watch your sponsorship grow as more people visit your fundraising page.

Any problems get in touch with us and we would be happy to help you or even set the page up for you.

And here is how to raise your sponsorship via text messaging:

JustTextGiving

Our Just Text Giving challenge code is text CSCH11 (for Cornerstone Challenge 2011).  So -

To donate £1 text CSCH11 1 to  70070

To donate £2 text CSCH11 2 to  70070

To donate £3 text CSCH11 3 to  70070

To donate £4 text CSCH11 4 to  70070

To donate £5 text CSCH11 5 to  70070

To donate £10 text CSCH11 10 to  70070 (£10 is maximum donation using this method)

The amount you donate will be added to your mobile phone bill and you will be given the opportunity to add Gift Aid which means Cornerstone benefits from another 25% added to your donation at no extra cost to you – easy!

Get Help From Your Company


Your workplace could be a huge source of potential sponsorship. Colleagues will applaud your efforts and it’s a great way of boosting morale in the workplace. Many companies now have a Corporate Social Responsibility policy and actively seek ways to support charities and good causes. The Cornerstone Challenge generates a lot of publicity, so you will be making your company look good too.

• Check if your company has a matched giving policy and ask them to match the total amount of sponsorship money you raise.
• If you work for a large company perhaps you can e-mail everyone about the challenge asking them to support you and pledge their donations. Direct them to your fundraising page.
• Also talk to your clients and customers about the challenge. Many will be more than willing to support your efforts.
• Get your fundraising efforts featured in your company newsletter.
• Ask your contacts to forward your fundraising page to their contacts.

The Importance of Gift Aid

Gift Aid is a scheme which enables charities to reclaim the tax on their donations, so for every £1 you raise in sponsorship, Cornerstone will receive an additional 25p from the Inland Revenue. If your sponsors are tax payers, make sure they tick the Gift Aid box. This will allow us to claim back the tax.

Don’t forget to tell your sponsors to complete their home address on the form and not their work address – this is vital to allow us to claim the Gift Aid on their donation.

Finally……………

Thank you again for taking part in our challenge event to raise funds to support vulnerable people in our communities.  Have a look at the Meet Us section to see the kind of support we provide and the people we are able to help.