Fundraising
Your fundraising fuels cutting-edge research and delivers critical services to help those affected by MS live their best lives. The more you raise, the larger the impact, not to mention you can earn some amazing incentives and have the opportunity to join some of our fundraising clubs.
Don’t forget, all participants must fundraise $750, or $500 for ages 12-17, by the day of the event in order to participate.
Become a fundraising powerhouse and use these tips and tools below to get started and hit the fundraising throttle.
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Fundraising Ideas
Get Online
Dive into your Fundraising Center
- Set a goal and aim high!
- Make a self-donation to kickstart your fundraising and show others that you’re leading the way.
- Personalize your page by sharing your story of why you participate. You can even create a custom URL!
- Add Fundraising Milestones which allow you to create mini goals to inspire your donors to give a little bit extra to reach your next milestone. Add competitive milestones, such as “halfway to my goal,” to the mission milestones we’ve included for you, to show donors how their support is making an impact. If you raised $800 last year, consider adding a "Help me reach my last year’s best" milestone at $800.
- Use the Power of Social Media
Share your story, videos and photos. Launch a Linked Facebook Fundraiser from your Fundraising Center. Learn how to use Facebook to power your fundraising in the Toolkit section below. - Thank Your Donors
Click on the Donations tab where you can customize a thank you message for each donor and track who's been thanked. - Download the DonorDrive App
The DonorDrive app is a powerful tool to help you raise funds and awareness for a world free of MS. There are exciting features — like mobile check deposit and creating QR Codes — that help you go the extra mile in your fundraising and connect with your community.
- Add Fundraising Link to Your Emails
Include your fundraising link on all outgoing emails and texts. Also, re-record your voicemail to include a mention about participating and a request to contact you about donating. - Donor Incentives
You can set any kind of prize, item or giveaway for incentives. For instance, one participant offered to bake a cheesecake for anyone who donated $100 through incentives. - QR Codes
There are many ways to make a QR Code!- In Google Chrome on a desktop, right click and find the option to create a QR code or use a free QR code generator. Save and copy the image file, then print it out to use for fundraising events.
- Make a QR code from your app and save it directly to your phone! Pull it up on your DonorDrive app to show it to friends and family so they can scan it with their phone and donate.
- When making a donation on a mobile device, there are multiple payment options such as Venmo, Paypal, Apple Pay and more.
- Video or Stream
Link your YouTube or Twitch channel(s) to your Fundraising Center! Put on a livestream or use a pre-recorded video to share your story or document your snowmobile journey.
Get Creative
Silent / Online Auction
This can be a great way to get your local community involved! Host a silent or online auction where you can have local businesses donate goods and items or work with local artists in the area to contribute pieces of art that you know people will love. Maybe you’re a creative yourself and you could auction off your own pieces!Happy Hour
Host a happy hour! Grab your teammates, friends, family and co-workers to show up at your place or your favorite restaurant or pub — this can be a great way to recruit new members as well. A fun additional idea: Work with the location of your choice to provide tickets to guests that include discounts for food or drinks!Garage Sale
Go through your things and see what you can sell at a garage sale! This is a great way to repurpose your old stuff for a great cause.Trivia Night
Organize a trivia night with friends and family. Host one at a favorite local community spot or at your home! Sell tickets for the event that will go towards your fundraiser or do a 50/50 drawing at the end of the night to encourage your team members and more to come out and support you.Matching Gifts
Many companies offer matching gifts, which double or even triple donations with no extra effort on your end. -
Clubs & Benefits
Cure Trackers ($1,500-4,999)
- Free registration for next year’s MS Snowmobile Tour
- Recognition of fundraising club status on name badge
- Recognition at evening program
- $50 Home Depot gift card
Sled Heads ($5,000-7,499)
- Free registration for next year’s MS Snowmobile Tour
- Recognition of fundraising club status on name badge
- Recognition at evening program
- Personalized Lunch Stop Signage Recognition
- 1 Complimentary Drink Ticket each night
- $150 Home Depot gift card
Snow Makers ($7,500-9,999)
- Free registration for next year’s MS Snowmobile Tour
- Recognition of fundraising club status on name badge
- Recognition at evening program
- Personalized Lunch Stop Signage Recognition
- 2 Complimentary Drink Tickets each night
- $200 Home Depot gift card
Trail Blazers ($10,000-14,999)
- Free registration for next year’s MS Snowmobile Tour
- Recognition of fundraising club status on name badge
- Recognition at evening program
- Personalized Lunch Stop Signage Recognition
- Personalized Door Signage Recognition
- 2 Complimentary Drink Tickets each night
- $250 Home Depot gift card
Golden Skis ($15,000+)
- Free registration for next year’s MS Snowmobile Tour
- Recognition of fundraising club status on name badge
- Recognition at evening program
- Personalized Lunch Stop Signage Recognition
- Personalized Door Signage Recognition
- 3 Complimentary Drink Tickets each night
- $300 Home Depot gift card
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Fundraising Challenges
Leading up to MS Snowmobile Tour weekend, we will have a fundraising challenge to help us reach our fundraising goal.
Individual Fundraising Week Challenge
Date: January 13-19, 2025
Challenge: Raise the most money for the week OR receive the most number of gifts for the week.
Prize: The person with the most money for the week will receive a ski package courtesy of C&A Pro (includes mounting kit, carbides, and skis). The person with the most number of gifts for the week will receive a Yeti Roadie Hard Cooler.
Early Bird Challenge
Raise at least $500 or recruit a rookie rider by December 6 and receive an exclusive MS Snowmobile Tour tumbler!
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Fundraising Toolkit
Facebook Fundraisers
Set Up a Facebook Fundraiser
Starting Facebook Fundraisers is easy, and they automatically end when your event has completed fundraising for the year.
Set Up During Registration
Log in to your Fundraising Center and click on the Create a Facebook Fundraiser link below your progress bar.
Syncing
Donations through your Facebook Fundraiser will sync automatically to your MS Snowmobile Fundraising Center. If you make changes to your photo, story, goal etc. on either your MS Snowmobile fundraising page or your Facebook Fundraiser after the creation of your Facebook Fundraiser, the changes will not sync.
Donations
100% of all donations raised via Facebook Fundraiser go toward your event fundraising goal.
Due to Facebook’s privacy policy, donors will show as “Facebook Fundraiser” on your donor honor roll. To see who donated, you can click on the receipt button for each donation or download an Excel list of your donors. You will also see who donated to you when you look at your fundraiser on Facebook.
Facebook Fundraisers can only accept U.S donations. For international donations, send your MS Snowmobile Tour fundraising page link.
Receipts and Refunds
Facebook will send a receipt to the email address associated with your donor’s Facebook account, which will include the National MS Society’s EIN/tax ID number, along with a thank you email if they opt to receive emails from the Society.
To request a refund, please use Facebook’s donation support form.
Impact Images
Show the impact of participating in MS Snowmobile Tour. Add these to your social media channels, email signatures and more to help you recruit team members, raise awareness and share your fundraising progress!
Videos
Need help explaining what MS is? The impact of MS Snowmobile Tour? These videos will get the job done.
DonorDrive App
Take MS Snowmobile Tour with you anywhere you go! The DonorDrive app is a powerful tool that will help you fundraise for all Society events. Download it today to let your passion shine by connecting with donors and easy-to-use fundraising tools from the palm of your hand.
How to Get Started
1. Install the DonorDrive App
- If you have the previous National MS Society app, remove it from your device(s) - it will not work for 2024 events
- Search “DonorDrive app” through the Google Play or Apple App stores or click the icons above and tap download
- Open the app and tap “GET STARTED”
- Search for “MS” at the top search bar
- Select National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)
- Tap “LOG IN” and use the email address and password when you registered. You can also choose "FIND AN EVENT" to search and register for an event if you have not registered yet.
- Select MS Snowmobile Tour (note: any 2024 event you have registered for will also appear on screen)
2. Explore App Features
There are in-app only features that will make your fundraising feel like a breeze. Take a quick snap to instantly deposit checks. Create your own QR codes — you know, those fun bar codes you take pictures of that link you to additional info — to easily share your fundraising page with others. The app will also automatically track your activity! Enjoy all the features of your Fundraising Center, on the go, like access to your fundraising progress, sharing your page link, messaging your donors and more.
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Donations Guide
Matching Gifts
The Basics
A matching gift is a gift from a donor's employer that matches the donor's original gift, often dollar-for-dollar. You can significantly increase your fundraising by asking your donors to apply for matching gifts if their employer offers them.
How Matching Gifts Work
Donors must submit the appropriate information to their company regarding matching gifts for their donation. The company may reach out to us to confirm the donation was made and our staff will send confirmation to the donor's company.
Once we receive the matching gift check, we will credit the amount to your fundraising. Please remember, this process may take some time depending on how frequently companies pay out charitable donations. However, if we have received the matching gift paperwork by the fundraising deadline, we will include the pending donation in your fundraising total.
Steps to Submitting a Matching Gift
1. Search for Employer’s Matching Gift Program
To find out if your employer has a matching gift program, search for your employer below, ask your human resources staff, or visit your company's intranet.
2. Request a Matching Gift
Talk to your employer about their matching gift process. Generally, your human resources department is a great place to start.
3. Send a Matching Gift Form
Refer to the instructions on the matching gift form from your employer. If you need to mail or email the form to us, please use the following information (please include the participant's name and event with your matching gift form):
Email:
MatchingGifts@nmss.orgMailing Address:
National MS Society
Attn: Matching Gifts
733 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017Our Tax ID# is 13-5661935.
Track Your Matching Gift
Check the "Progress" section of your Fundraising Center. It usually takes months before we receive matching gifts; however, you will still receive credit for matching gifts for prize purposes – just make sure the gift shows as “pending” in your fundraising totals.
If the gift is not yet showing as "pending" on your fundraising totals, please save the confirmation provided by the company when you submitted the matching gift request and email MatchingGifts@nmss.org.
New Ways to Reward Donors
Set up donation incentives and milestones right in your new Fundraising Center. Encourage donors to contribute and then reward them for their support. You know what motivates your donors — giveaways, shoutouts or simply a virtual high five. It’s up to you!
Checks & Receipts
Checks
Checks must be made out to the National MS Society.
If you receive a check payable to your team, write National MS Society above your team name. If it's made out to you, please endorse the check payable to the National MS Society.
Please be sure to write your name, event, and event year on the memo line of every check you turn in (e.g., Jane Doe, MS Snowmobile Tour) – whether through the app or mail.
Download the DonorDrive app to upload checks directly from your phone or tablet. Typically, your fundraising total will instantly update after uploading the check (some checks may take up to 3 business days). This is the quickest way for check donations to reflect in your fundraising account. After you upload the check, there is no need to mail the physical checks.
Mail your donations (made out to National MS Society) with a completed Donation Tracking Form to:
National MS Society-Wisconsin
PO Box 88540
Carol Stream, IL 60188Tracking Donations
It may take up to 4 weeks to process donations during peak event times. If it's been less than 4 weeks since submitting your donations, please check your Fundraising Center later to see your fundraising total.
If more than 4 weeks have passed since you submitted your donations, or you have additional questions about your fundraising total, please contact Fundraising Support at 855-372-1331 or by email at FundraisingSupport@nmss.org.
For the fastest processing of your donations, encourage people to donate online. If you receive checks, upload them using the check capture feature (coming soon!) on the app or mail your donations to your local office immediately upon receiving them.
Donor Receipts
Everyone who makes an online donation will receive an e-mail confirmation receipt for tax purposes. Donors who give $250 or more will receive a thank you letter and receipt by mail. For donations less than $250, the IRS will accept the following as proof of a charitable donation: a canceled check, bank or credit union statement or a credit card statement.
