Fundraising

For many people, the idea of raising $4,000 dollars can be as daunting as the idea of climbing a 14,000 foot mountain. You can do both! Read about the fundraising tools you have to help you, and check out the tips and suggestions.

Fundraising Tools

1. Support from BAWT- Conference Calls

   Need help or ideas about how to raise funds for Climbing for Kids?
   Join us for one or more of the three upcoming conference calls with BAWT Executive Director Roger Miller. Roger has over 16 years of fundraising experience. We’ll talk about success stories, best practices, how to most effectively use BAWT’s Sphere online fundraising tools, your questions and ideas and more!
   Each call is scheduled to last approximately one hour.
   
   Dates and Times:
   1. Thursday, April 6th, 2010 at 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time
   2. Thursday, April 15th, 2010 at 12 Noon PST
   3. Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 at 5:00pm PST
   4. Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 at 12 Noon PST
   5. Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at 12 Noon PST
   6. Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 5:00pm PST
   7.Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 12 Noon PST
   
   Phone Number: 219-509-8222 Access Code: 443023
   
   We have 10 lines reserved for each call so PLEASE RSVP if you are interested in participating. Make sure to include date(s) of the call(s) you are interested in.

2. Online Resources

   Your online donation page accepts credit card donations, and tracks all your check donations as well.
   
   Upload your email contacts, send donation requests, post photos and stories, track fundraising progress, and most importantly, thank your donors.
   
   Download the Climber Agreement
   Download the Climber Packet

3. Letterhead and Reply Envelopes

   Handwritten notes are a great way to ask for donations. Include a BAWT remit envelope to make it easy for your donors to send a check. We will also supply BAWT Thank You cards upon request.
   o Sample Fundraising Letter
   o Donation Receipt Form
   o Donation Tracker Form

4. Fundraising Tips and Suggestions

   
   o Getting Over the Fear of Asking
   o How to Raise $2,500 in 10 Days
   o Finding Your Inner Fundraiser: A Self-Assessment Tool
   o The Importance of Follow-up
   o 53 Ways to Raise $1000
   o Putting on a House Party

5. Social Networking Sites

   If you have a Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter account, let people know about your climb by posting to your status. And, join us on Facebook at our Climbing for Kids group and fanpage.
   
   Example: “[your name here] is getting youth outdoors. Donate: [your CFK page url].”

6. Corporate Matching Gifts

   Your donors can submit matching gift requests to their employers – many companies participate. Ask them to contact their HR department for details.
   
   Earth Island is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible, nonprofit organization and our tax ID is 94-2889684. This is the organization ID (also known as Federal Identification Number/FIN or Employer Identification Number/EIN). Checks should be made out to “Bay Area Wilderness Training” but may also be made out to “Earth Island Institute” if they include “Bay Area Wilderness Training” and the climber’s name in the memo or the donation letter.
   o Earth Island’s 501(c)3 letter

7. Gifts of Stock

   Gifts of stock may be transferred to the Schwab account of BAWT’s parent organization, Earth Island Institute. For more information about making a gift of stock and a gift of stock transfer form.
   o Gift of Stock Form

Common Questions

1. Are donations tax-deductible?

   Bay Area Wilderness Training is a fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute.
   
   All donations made on behalf of a climber by someone other than a climber are fully tax-deductible. If you donate on behalf of your own climb, the tax-deductible amount of your donation is equal to the total donation minus the value of goods and services you have received in return. This amount varies between climbs so check with your Climb Coordinator for specifics.
   o Earth Island’s 501(c)3 letter

2. How is the money I raise used?

   Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT) works with over 200 youth agencies, see a map here, helping them create and implement outdoor education programs. Working directly with these groups has enabled BAWT to help over 7,000 kids experience the wilderness. The money you raise is used to fund BAWT programs like our Gear Loan Library, Wilderness Leadership Training, and Vanpool. It also supports first-time camping experiences like our Camping at the Presidio program. For more information visit www.bawt.org or read more about BAWT and the youth we serve. Use the map to find youth that benefit near your donors!