The ALS Society depends on and is so appreciate of the generosity of family, friends, and others in the community who year after year host 3rd party fundraising events to help families living with ALS.
The proceeds from these events are vital in helping our 50+ families in Nova Scotia going through their ALS journey.
Our clients range in age from 36 – 85. We usually have a number of families with children living at home. Proceeds from these events helps with our equipment loan program so we can decrease the burden of the caregivers, help the individual with ALS cope with the daily challenges of decreased mobility and independence, and ease the emotional worry of finding money to rent or purchase expensive equipment.
Our equipment ranges from simple walkers and bathroom devices to specialized hospital beds/mattresses, manual and power wheelchairs, bed lifts, and speech generating devices to name but a few.
Fundraising 101 – Let us help you from start to finish.
What is a 3rd Party Event ? 3rd party events are fundraisers planned and executed by people or organizations independent from the ALS Society. They are usually (but not always) initiated by a friend, family member, co-worker, that has had a personal connection with ALS. No event and no donation is too big or too small. Every penny counts. Every effort is acknowledged and appreciated.
How to Plan Your 3rd Party Fundraising Event
1. Plan the Work and Work the Plan
· What is my event?
· How will it raise money?
· Who will attend?
· How will I advertise the event?
· Do I need anyone to help me?
· How will I recruit volunteers?
· Where? How? When?
2. Set a Fundraising Goal – How much money would you like to raise?
3. Do a budget.
· Knowing how much money you want to raise and the costs to raise that money will be of great assistance in the execution of your event.
· Be practical and realistic about the costs of the event and the anticipated revenue you can raise.
· It is helpful to get as much of the required elements of the event as you can donated. This cuts down on the costs and helps you raise more money.
· Ethical fundraising includes distributing accurate information about event proceeds. Example: “$10 from every ticket sold will be benefit the ALS Society of Nova Scotia”.
· Track your expenses for the event and keep copies of all receipts. Deduct your expenses from the revenue and submit the proceeds to the ALS Society when the event is over.
· Do a simple financial report using the form provided by the ALS Society and keep the report in your records for your protection and for future event planning.
4. Working the Plan
· Develop an action list and time line for all tasks and assign responsibility to those helping you.
· Create an event day schedule and communicate it to your volunteers in advance. When the event is well planned and those helping you know their role your guests will have a better experience and you’ll leave them wanting more!
· Apply for any necessary permits – gaming or alcohol.
· Book your venue as soon as possible.
· Think about how you will include information about ALS at the event. Will you have a table with information. Will you invite a guest speaker (keep it short!). Will you have take away information for them? The ALS Society is happy to assist you with this aspect of your event. We want to ensure accuracy about ALS and the work of the Society. We can provide talking points, assistance with Public Services Announcements, etc.
5. After the Party’s Over
· Celebrate with your volunteers!
· Say thank you to donors, volunteers and guests! Let people know they made a difference in the lives of those living with ALS.
· Get in touch with the ALS Society. Send us pictures to include on our website and in our newsletter.
· Evaluate your success.
Did the funds raised meet expectations?
Did your guests have a great time?
Will you do the event again?
How can you grow the event?
What will you do differently to enhance your volunteer and guest experience?
Was new awareness about ALS raised?
And . . . did you have fun?
· Submit proceeds with an event report to the ALS Society.
The ALS Society of Nova Scotia
3617 Dutch Village Road
P.O. Box 22112
Halifax, NS B3L 4T7
(902) 454-3636
Event Ideas
Be creative – no event or donation is too small. When lots of people are working to support the ALS Society, it all adds up!
Here are just some ideas:
· Throw a dinner party and ask your guests to make a suggested donation based on a similar meal cost in a restaurant.
· Host a Memorial Event for a Loved One – One NS ALS family hosts a fireworks event as part of their family reunion in honour of their loved one. Family members make a donation to the fireworks and the proceeds are sent to the ALS Society.
· Pack a special lunch for your co-workers on an agreed upon date and ask for a donation to the ALS Society.
· Host a dessert night.
· Host a sporting or games tournament. Baseball, hockey, scrabble, card night.
How the ALS Society Will Help
Important Precautions
· Advice and expertise – we’ve done lots of events so don’t hesitate to run an idea by us or ask us lots of questions.
· Ideas to assist with planning.
· Provide promotional support – posters, event listing on our website.
· Letters of support to validate the authenticity of the event.
· Provide information on tax receipting.
** Caution: Because of the independent nature of 3rd party events, the ALS Society cannot guarantee success. Keep accurate records of your expenses and receipts. The ALS Society of NS will not reimburse expenses. These must be deducted from the revenue of the event. The ALS Society cannot release donor or patient information. Although we will make our best efforts to attend the majority of events, there may be times when this is not possible. The ALS Society cannot take responsibility for permits, licensing, and any insurance that may be required due to the nature of the event. The ALS Society cannot find sponsors or prizes for your event. From time to time, the Society may have on hand a surplus of prizes or auction items and so on a case by case basis may be able to assist in this area.
The ALS Society is required by law to follow these guidelines set by the Canada Revenue Agency.
1. The ALS Society issues receipts for cash donations of $10 or more. If an individual donor requests a receipt, the ALS Society must be provided with their full name and home mailing address. If the donor is a corporate donor, the full company name and company mailing address must be provided to the Society.
2. In Kind Donations (prizes/products). A receipt for a donation of a prize or product (printing, donation of venue, food) will be issued to the fair market value of the product received. The Society requires a written invoice or other supporting documentation that confirms the value of the donation.
3. The Society is unable to issue receipts to individuals or corporations who purchase items such as raffle tickets, admission tickets, golf green fees.
4. For fundraising events such as a dinner, auction, or golf tournament, a tax receipt may be issued for the entry fee less the “advantage” the participant has received. The advantage amount cannot exceed 80% of the entry fee.
Example: If someone pays $500 as an entrance fee to golf. The amount of the receipt is determined by deducting the price of the advantages – the green fee, the cart rental, any prizes received, the meal.
**Please contact the Society for assistance is determining the amount of the advantage for receipts issued under statement no. 4.
