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FringeA-Thon FAQs

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Sat, May 20, 2017
12 noon–12 midnight
Blue Cross RiverRink
101 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106

FringeA-Thon FAQs   Social Media Toolkit   Fundraising Toolkit   Sponsor FringeA-Thon   For Artists/Non-Profits


Jump to questions about . . .

Fundraising
Fundraising Page Setup
Event Day
Donations
Teams



FUNDRAISING

Is there a fee to participate in FringeA-Thon?

Yes, there is a $25 registration fee to participate in FringeA-Thon. In order to participate as a dancer, all fundraisers must register with $25, which also acts as your first gift to yourself.

What does the money raised go to?

FringeA-Thon is a new and exciting benefit for FringeArts and Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector.  FringeArts is Philadelphia’s home for contemporary theater and music performances.  Dozens of Philadelphia cultural non-profits and artists have also been invited to participate in FringeA-Thon, raising money for their own organization as beneficiary partners.  Beneficiary partners keep 75% of every dollar they raise, including registration fees.

Got any good fundraising tips?

Tip #1: Make the first donation. Your registration fee acts as your first gift to yourself. You can increase your gift to an amount that you think your supporters will respond to. It sets the tone for your fundraiser and people like seeing that you’re supporting the arts as well.

Tip #2: Tell a story. Make sure your fundraising page is so compelling that your supporters feel like they can’t leave without donating. Get personal with your story—explain why you’re fundraising, what will their money does for FringeArts and the arts in Philadelphia. Add lots of photos and videos. The more well-rounded your page, the better your fundraising campaign will perform.

Tip #2: Set a goal.,Set a fundraising goal beyond the $300 mark. The suggested fundraising goal is $300. Challenge yourself and go higher. Supporters like to help you work towards something big. It also gives you something exciting to message about during the course of your campaign. Sending out an email when you’re at 50% of your fundraising goal is super motivating and allows your donors to see how their donations have made an impact on your campaign.

Tip #3: Say thank you. When you receive a donation, you’ll get a donation alert. Make sure to use the Thank You tool to immediately thank your donors. If they feel like their donation is appreciated, they will be more likely to give again and share your fundraising page.

Tip #4: Double the donation. Ask your donors to double their impact. When you thank your donors, make sure to ask them if their company offers a matching gift program. Every company’s matching program is unique and may have different requirements. The paperwork is usually easy and is well worth the extra step. You can also ask your donors to help you get the word out by sharing your fundraising link with their networks, friends and family.

Tip #5: Follow-up. Reach out more than once. Use email and social networks to ask supporters to give to your campaign. Keep them posted on your goals, where their money is going, how it’s helping and what it means to you personally. Be relentless. It’s for a good cause.

Tip #6: Fundraising toolkit. If you need more tips, refer to your FringeA-Thon fundraising toolkit packet which is full of helpful fundraising tips and tools. Each participant will receive a fundraising toolkit upon registration.

Why should I make a donation to my own fundraiser?

By making a donation to your own fundraiser, ($25 or more), you’re showing your supporters that you are super passionate about FringeArts and FringeA-Thon. Make sure your donation is an amount that you think your supporters will respond to. It sets the tone for your fundraiser and people like seeing that you’re supporting your campaign as well.

How do I get my friends to support my fundraiser?

If you ask your friends to support you, they will. Ask two or three times if you have to. It’s ok to ask multiple times. We recommend setting a goal for your fundraiser and keeping everyone you know updated on how close you are to your goal. They’ll want to help you get there if you give them a reason why it’s so important to you. Emailing a link will always work the best. Also, add your link to your email signature (personal and work signatures). In addition to emailing a link to your fundraiser, share it on all your social networks. To make it easy, you can go to the MANAGE CAMPAIGN tab on your fundraising page and click any of the social icons in the Ask For Donations section. Be sure to thank every donor as quickly as possible. It goes a long way.

How do I promote my fundraiser by email?

Email is still the most effective way to get your friends to support your campaign. Email your contacts two or three times if you have to. Here’s what we recommend:

Use your personal email. Sending email from whatever email program you use every day is the best way to make sure your email gets delivered and opened.

Send in small batches. Send an initial email to everyone you can possibly think of, from close friends and family to your dentist. Make sure to email them either individually or in a small group of people so they don’t feel anonymous. Write a personal message asking them to donate to your cause and be sure to include a link to your fundraising page that’s high up in your email so they don’t need to scroll down to find the link.

Thank your donor fast. When you get a donation, you’ll receive a donation notification. You can click on the THANK YOUR DONOR button and instantly thank your donor.  We recommend thanking your donor as quickly as possible.  Make it personal (even if you copy and paste the same personal message over and over) and definitely make sure to do two things — ask them to go one step further and share a link to your fundraising page with a few of their friends, and also ask them to inquire about a matching gift.

Follow-up. You’ll have plenty of people on your email list that don’t read your first email or read it but forget about it. You shouldn’t take it personally. Everyone gets so many emails, so it’s helpful to send out reminders. It’s ok to email people up to three times to get them to donate.  With each email, create a greater sense or urgency and tell them you really need their help to hit your fundraising goal.

Ask us. If you need help crafting your messages or just want us to spell check them for you, we’re here for you. Simply email us at fringeathon@fringearts.com.

How do I promote my fundraiser on social media?

Email is still the most effective way to get your network of friends and supporters to donate.  The second best way is to use social media. In Crowdrise go to the MANAGE CAMPAIGN tab on your fundraising page and click any of the social icons in the Ask For Donations section.  You can post to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.  Be sure to include a link to your fundraising page and ask your network of friends to help you hit your fundraising goal.   The more personal you make the ask (don’t write a novel unless you are actually working on a novel), the more effective it will be.

How do I know if someone donated to my fundraiser?

You’ll receive an email alert to the email address associate with your CrowdRise account. You’ll then be able to send a super fast and amazing Thank You to your donor.

When should I thank my donors?

We recommend you thank your donors immediately after getting the notice that someone donated to your campaign. Here’s why…when you thank a donor fast, they’ll feel appreciated and that goes a long, long way. They’ll be more likely to give again which can make all the difference in your campaign, and they can also help spread the word faster.

When you’re logged in to your CrowdRise account, use the Thank You tool to immediately thank your donors.

Can you give me some tips for writing a thank you note to my supporters?

For sure. Thanking your donors is so important. Here are a few tips:

  • Thank them super fast. The quicker the better. Use the Thank You tool when you’re logged into CrowdRise. Email them or send an old-school paper note. Either way, do it fast.
  • Make sure to let them know what their donation means to you.
  • Give them an update on your fundraising and dancing progress and let them know that they are a part of it all. For example, “I’m halfway to my goal of raising $300 and it’s because of donors like you that I’m able to raise so much money for my campaign”.
  • Don’t forget to ask them to help you by sharing your fundraising link with their contacts, as well as inquiring about a matching gift.

Are there prizes for raising the most money/dancing the longest/having the coolest outfit?

Yes! Participants who reach the suggested $300 fundraising goal will receive a fun FringeA-Thon t-shirt. Stay tuned for fun and exciting incentives offered to fundraisers who go above and beyond the $300 suggested fundraising goal!


FUNDRAISING PAGE SETUP

I don’t want my fundraising page to be live yet, how do I hide it? And, while we’re at it, how do I unhide my fundraising page?

If you don’t want your fundraising page to be live, it’s super easy to hide. Here we go…

To Hide a Fundraiser

  1. Log in to your account and click on the MY FUNDRAISERS tab in the top right.
  2. Click the HIDE FUNDRAISER link in the upper right corner to hide your page.
  3. When you’re ready to unhide your fundraising page, here are some quick steps on how to make it happen…

To Unhide a Fundraiser

  1. Log in to your account and click on the MY FUNDRAISERS tab in the top right.
  2. Click SHOW FUNDRAISER to unhide your page.

Why can’t I upload a photo?

Make sure that the photo you upload is a maximum of 3 MB and a minimum of 375×375 pixels (that just means you shouldn’t use really tiny photos). Please also ensure that the file is in any of the following formats: jpg, jpeg, gif or png. The bigger your photo, the longer it will take to upload but it should only take between 3 seconds and 1 minute to upload.

Why does my photo look stretched out?

Make sure that any photo you upload is at least 375×375 pixels (that just means you don’t want to use really small photos or they won’t look as good). Also, your photo may have been originally cropped by you and then uploaded to the site. Make sure that you upload the original uncropped photo. You will have the ability to crop your photo in the CrowdRise picture upload system.


DONATIONS

Are donations made on CrowdRise secure?

CrowdRise processes donations through Network for Good and WePay. WePay and Network for Good are not affiliated with CrowdRise. Both are PCI Level 1 Compliant (that’s the best). WePay and Network for Good both use industry-leading Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. WePay processes transactions for over 250,000 merchants. Network for Good is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity that meets all of the BBB standards for charity accountability. They have processed more than $500 million in donations for 50,000 charities through their giving system.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Your donation to FringeArts, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, is 100% tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You’ll automatically receive an email receipt that meets the IRS requirements for a record of your donation.

Do I need an account to donate?

You DO NOT need a CrowdRise account to make a donation.

What credit cards does CrowdRise accept?

Visa, Mastercard or American Express are all accepted.

Does CrowdRise accept Paypal as a donation payment form?

Unfortunately, CrowdRise does not accept Paypal.

Can I make a cash or check donation? How?

CrowdRise is only set up for credit card donations, which are processed safely and securely by Network for Good and WePay.  If you want to make a donation by check, the best next step would be to send your check directly to FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19106. In the MEMO write, “FringeA-Thon gift for PARTICIPANT/TEAM NAME”).

Do you accept international donations?

Yes, CrowdRise can accept donations from all over the world.

How do I set up a match donation?

To match a donation on CrowdRise, the donor making the match donation can make a donation to your page for the same amount. You also have the ability to leave a comment during the donation process saying something like  “This donation is a match for NAME’s donation of $$$” in order to clarify your match.

However, every person and/or company’s matching program is unique and may have additional requirements that have to be met. We’d recommend reaching out to the company providing the match to find out what their specific requirements are for a matching gift. Please email us at fringeathon@fringearts.com if you have any questions about matching gifts.

How do I donate anonymously?

To make an anonymous donation, click the DONATE button and then select the Don’t Show My Name checkbox. Your donation will show up on the CrowdRise website under the name “Anonymous.” Your information is shared with the fundraiser, charity and/or event organizer but is hidden from the public main page. You can also choose to hide your donation amount by clicking the Hide Amount checkbox.

Can I hide my donation?

Yes. Just click the Hide Amount box next to your donation and your donation amount will be hidden from the public view. If you’ve already made your donation and want the amount hidden, email fringeathon@fringearts.com

Why won’t my donation go through?

To minimize fraudulent transactions, the CrowdRise payment processors choose to decline the authorization on charges where the address, zip code, or card security code does not match the information on file with the issuing bank. Most people make an error when entering their billing address so you should probably check that one first.

If your address and zip code are absolutely correct, here are some other possibilities…

  1. The issue may be resulting from a poor internet connection, which is causing the page not to fully load. If there is another location you can try to donate from, that may solve it.
  2. If you’ve downloaded or enabled some browser plug-in’s or set up your browser settings in a certain way, that can also prohibit pages from loading or links from opening up on some websites. In this case, you should open an alternative browser and complete the donation.
  3. If number one or two do not work, the very last troubleshooting option would be to try donating from a different computer on a different internet connection. If you’re able to make a gift from a different computer, we know that the issue is definitely unique and has to do with your computer settings or could even be a Firewall setting if you’re trying to donate from a workplace or other community network.

Why does my card keeps getting rejected?

CrowdRise uses WePay and Network for Good to process donations. Both are PCI Level 1 Compliant (that’s the best) so your credit card information is secure. However, sometimes your donation is rejected.  Be sure to enter the name and billing address that’s on your credit card statement and double check that you entered the payment info perfectly and try again.  If that doesn’t work, please try a different credit card. Most importantly, don’t give up!

I got a chargeback notification. What is that and what do I do?

A chargeback notification means that one of your donors has disputed the donation charge with their credit card company. In most cases, someone disputes a charge because they forgot about their donation or don’t immediately recognize the charge when they look through their credit card statement. We recommend reaching out to your donor so you can remind them about their donation to your campaign. Going directly to your donor is by far the most efficient way to solve this and keep the donation.  Feel free to use the email below that you can cut and paste to send to your donor, but the idea is simply to ask your donor to call their credit card company and cancel the chargeback.

Hi NAME –

I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know that we got a notification that you have disputed a charge for a donation to my FringeA-Thon fundraiser, benefiting dozens of arts and culture non-profits in the city. Hopefully you meant to make the donation and this email helps you recognize that the charge on your card is legit, and if that’s the case, would you please reach out to your credit card company and ask them to cancel the chargeback?

Any donation, large or small, makes a huge difference. We really appreciate all your support and please let me know if your have any questions. Or, you can contact our fundraising platform, CrowdRise at quintas@crowdrise.com with any questions as well and they’ll get right back to you. Thanks so much.


EVENT DAY

Do I have to dance for 12 hours?

While we encourage all participants to challenge themselves and attempt a full twelve-hour dance marathon, you will not be penalized or sent to jail if you don’t dance the entire time at FringeA-Thon. But, you’ll be a superstar if you do!

What do I receive at the event?

Stay tuned for more details on what participates will receive at FringeA-Thon.

I want to raise money but I can’t attend on May 20th. Can I still participate?

Of course! While you will miss out on all the fun, your work is still going to support Philadelphia as a cultural destination. You can dance all day long from wherever you may be that day.


TEAMS

Can I fundraise with a team?

Of course! We encourage you to participate with friends, family, co-workers and strangers! Everyone on your team will get a personal fundraising page but will also be part of a team page, managed by one team leader.

What are the best next steps after I join a team?

As soon as you Join a Team, you’ll have to create your own fundraising page. Make sure to customize it by adding a story, uploading a few photos and even a video. Once your fundraising page is compelling, reach out to everyone you know and ask them to donate and help spread the word about the fundraiser. Hopefully you’ll not only help raise money yourself, but you’ll get some of your friends to become fundraisers, too. This is viral fundraising and it’s the easiest and it’s the absolute best way for you to have a huge impact for FringeArts.

How do I invite my friends to join my team and help me fundraise?

When you’re logged into your fundraiser, you’ll see an INVITE button on the THE TEAM tab. We give you sample text that you can email to everyone you know. Change it up if you want. Just get the word out if you want people to join your team and help you raise lots of cash money.


Register to Dance

Donate to a Dancer/Team

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