Walk Fundraising Tips

Web Site Features

When you register at walk.jdrf.org, a web page is already set up for you! All you have to do is put in the e-mail addresses of the people you want to invite to join your team or make a donation. If you’ve misplaced your username or password, contact the JDRF office at 202-371-0044.

New this year – we’ve made fundraising even easier!
Recently, we launched an upgrade to our Walk registration and fundraising website. We encourage you to check it out and enjoy all of the new tools, features and benefits that are now available to you.

For tips and tricks to using our new online system, check out the Walker Cheat Sheet and FAQs!

Letter Writing Campaigns

Write letters to friends, family, clients, vendors, etc. Explain your desire to collect as much money as possible. Include your personal fundraising goal, why you’re walking, the benefits of donating, why you believe in JDRF, and where to send their contribution.

JDRF Casual Days

Sell Walk buttons for $5 in exchange for employee participation in a Friday JDRF Casual Day, Favorite Sports Team Day, Jeans Day or Shorts Days.

JDRF Wall of Fame or Intranet Page

Put up large, colorful “Look Who’s Walking On Our Team” posters with Polaroid photos recognizing those employees and members who have signed up to walk. If your company or group has an intranet, post updates about the team on it! This will get the attention of those who haven’t signed up!

Sneaker Sales

“Sneaker” sales are one way for retail stores to raise  critical diabetes research dollars. Store clerks ask customers at point-of purchase to buy a paper sneaker to help the store support diabetes research. The customer signs his/her name on the sneaker and then the sneakers are displayed throughout the store. The program usually runs for 4 weeks, but this can vary. The promotion is easy and fun for stores to implement.

JDRF will supply for free the sneakers and stickers or buttons for employees to wear.
•    Promotion enhances employee morale and breeds friendly competition amongst employees.
•    Customers feel good about supporting a store that gives back to its community. It’s a natural public relations tool.  Sneakers are a great visual. Diabetes affects one out of every three families.
•    Your customers and employees who are affected by diabetes will appreciate your involvement.

Selling Sneakers is Easy
•    Ask the customer if he/she would like to purchase a paper sneaker to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the search for a cure for diabetes.
•    Sneakers have a bar code. Scan them at the register.
•    Have the customer write his/her name on the Sneaker.
•    Display the signed sneaker in the store. Keep employees excited about Sneaker Sales through simple incentive-based prizes(provided by JDRF office).
The following are some samples from other successful partners:
•    Each employee selling 25 sneakers qualifies to go into a drawing for a pair of movie tickets. For a minimal investment, you are encouraging employees to sell more sneakers. You would hold one drawing a week over four weeks—purchasing eight tickets while raising hundreds.
•    Each employee selling 100 or more sneakers would be eligible to enter a drawing for “Lunch with the Boss” or perhaps a special parking place for a week.
•    Each employee selling 500 or more sneakers receives a gift certificate from your business or one of your business partners.
•    Any employee selling 1000 or more will receive a Golden Sneaker Award from JDRF and be invited to the Walk Awards Ceremony in the Fall.

Promotional tools supplied by JDRF:

  • “$1 Helps Find a Cure” Buttons: Employees should wear these buttons to spark customers’ interest in the campaign and to assist in selling sneakers.
  • Walk Stickers: Instead of buttons, employees may choose to wear a sticker.
  • “Goal Thermometer” Poster: Hang in a prominent area for employees and customers to see. Track weekly progress of your store by  using a marker to fill in the $ blanks and color in the gauge. Use the gauge on the bottom right of the poster to track company progress.

Get started now by calling JDRF at (202) 465-4118 or email Amanda McKinney at amckinney@jdrf.org

Wall of Sneakers

Measure each walker’s progress by posting their name on a colored sneaker according to the dollar amount reached (i.e., yellow-$25, green-$50, red-$75, blue-$100). When all walkers have a blue sneaker with their name on the wall–you’ve reached goal!

“Face of Diabetes” Wall

People participate in the Walk to Cure Diabetes for many different reasons. Being able to show the stories of those individuals who are willing to be recognized in your organization or company that Diabetes affects is both an educational tool as well as a fundraising tool. If appropriate, place a picture of the individual or family and a “story” of how diabetes has affected them.

JDRF Captain Competitions

Announce a new competition each Friday at your regular Team Captain’s meetings between your departmental/floor captains. For example, the Captain who recruits the most walkers each will receive:

- Blue “Number One” Ribbon to wear for the week
- A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant
- Their photo on a special recognition wall
- A gift certificate for a new pair of sneakers, etc.

Hold a School Walk

The Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes is an educational school fundraising program that raises money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. While raising money for JDRF, students learn about diabetes and the importance of making healthy choices. The money raised through this program helps fund type 1 diabetes research and can count towards your Walk Team’s Goal!

Additional Resources

Fundraising Tips For Walk Teams: Learn about letter writing campaigns and resources for funding in this helpful tip sheet.