2024 Boston Marathon® - FUNDRAISING GUIDE

Thank you so much for fundraising $10,000 or more for Special Olympics Massachusetts as part of our Xtra Mile team for the 2024 Boston Marathon. To help you reach your goal, we've put together a fundraising guide with tips and tools you might need along the way.

As always, if you have questions or if there is anything you need that you don't see here, please reach out to us: XtraMile@SpecialOlympicsMA.org.

Reaching your Fundraising Goal 

Here are some ideas to help get your fundraising started! If the following ideas aren't what you're looking for or if you have an idea and need help executing, please reach out to us: XtraMile@SpecialOlympicsMA.org

• Host a Happy Hour, Fitness Class, or Game Night - Charge an entrance fee and have a great time!

  • • Work with local businesses* to donate space and fitness instructors to donate their time 

    • Pair it with a 50/50 Raffle or Auction with prizes from local businesses.

• Double your impact by asking your employer about their match gift program.

• Donate your Special Day- whether it's your birthday, a baby or bridal shower, going away party ask your friends and family to skip the presents and donate money to your personal Boston Marathon Page! 

• Sell Super Bowl Squares or organize a March Madness bracket  

• Use the Venmo punch card below and request $5, $10, or $20 from friends and family with a description saying “Help me reach my fundraising goal of $10,000 for the 2022 Boston Marathon®. I'm running for Special Olympics MA!” Some may decline, others may accept, and others may send you more.

• Tips for successful activist fundraising

*Please note: Special Olympics MA has ongoing relationships with the major New England sports teams, Bank of America, TD Bank, Arbella Insurance, Walmart. Therefore, we ask that you do not personally solicit raffle items or sponsorship from these organizations as they donate to Special Olympics Massachusetts directly. 

Social Media Guide

We encourage sharing your fundraising page to your social media networks. GivenGain allows you to share your fundraising page on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and by URL, email, and QR code.

Best Practices:

• Keep it short, sweet, and to the point

• Connect your ask to your why

• Use our shareable social media graphics

• Include status updates and photos of your progress and training 

  • • "Donate $1 or $5 for every mile I run from now until Marathon Monday!" 

• Post often!

At a loss for words? Here are some ideas to get started:

• "Hey - I’m running the 2024 Boston Marathon® for @SpecialOlympicsMA! I am running to help create a more inclusive space for all athletes to be part of a team, make and achieve goals, develop confidence, and build friendships - opportunities some may not find anywhere else in their communities. 

My goal is to raise $10,000 and your support would mean so much to me and these athletes! Please donate to my link here: [Insert Fundraising Link Here] "

• "It's Fundraising Friday! Please consider making a donation today to my 2024 Boston Marathon® run with @SpecialOlympicsMA. After the pandemic, Special Olympics is getting Back to Better inviting 19,000 pre-pandemic athletes to Stay and Grow with them and 5,000 new athletes from communities all over the Commonwealth to Find them and be included in their local sports programs. Help them by donating through this link: [Insert Fundraising Link Here]"

  • • Insert creative incentive like "when you donate $100 or more, I will write your name on my shirt on Marathon Monday"

Connecting to your "Why"

Understanding and communicating the purpose behind your fundraising is going to ensure the success of your endeavor. Ask yourself:

Why did I choose to raise funds for Special Olympics Massachusetts, instead of another nonprofit? Why is inclusion important to me?

Personalizing your reason for fundraising will help your donor understand why your efforts are so important to you, and make them more likely to give, and give more than once. Think about why you're training to run 26.2 miles, and why you've specifically joined the Xtra Mile for Special Olympics Massachusetts team to do it. What is it about inclusion that motivates you to train for the marathon now?

Why is it so important that I raise funds for Special Olympics Massachusetts now?

Timing is everything! Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) is getting Back to Better by delivering its mission in new and exciting ways to provide a path forward for people to Experience Inclusion. SOMA just announced an ambitious goal of $24 Million Dollars to ensure the organization can grow to 24,000 participants by the end of 2024. Your donors' support is important now because it will help Special Olympics:

• Eliminate barriers across Special Olympics so new athletes, families, and volunteers can more easily Experience Inclusion.

• Strengthen the continuum of service so that from young athletes to senior sports, Special Olympics is there every step of the way.

• Call on community leaders to expand their impact on this movement.

Graphics for Social Media 

Resources and Documents

In the course of your fundraising, here are some resources and documents you might find useful ask you ask for donations:

• Donation Solicitation Letter - Template

  • • Download as Word Document and fill in the highlighted fields with your personal information. 

• Donation Thank You Letter - Template

  • • Download as Word Document and fill in the highlighted fields with your personal information. 

• Special Olympics MA's Mission Statement

• Special Olympics MA's Impact 

If you find yourself in need of Special Olympics MA's 501(c)3, W9, 990, or other tax-related documents, please reach out to XtraMile@SpecialOlympicsMA.org and we will provide you with that documentation.