Arthritis Ireland Fundraising Handbook
A Heartfelt Thanks from our CEO
Congratulations! You’re officially on your way to becoming a fundraising success!
Firstly, let me say thank you for your willingness to fundraise for Arthritis Ireland. Whether this is your first fundraising effort, or your 100th, we want you to know how grateful we are for your commitment to improving the lives of more than one million people who are living with arthritis in this country. While there have been dramatic improvements in our knowledge and understanding of arthritis, and in how people are diagnosed and treated, there is no shortage of fresh challenges.
Arthritis Ireland is determined to create a better world for people living with arthritis today, and a world without arthritis tomorrow. Without you, we could not deliver those supports which are essential to our service users We recognise that there are so many other important causes that you could choose from, which is why we are especially grateful that you are willing to put your trust in us when it comes to your fundraising efforts.
We hope that this fundraising booklet will help you throughout your fundraising journey, from beginning to end It has everything you will need to succeed, from important policies to tips and tricks which will help your efforts run smoothly
We are truly grateful for your support, and we look forward to working with you to make this the most rewarding experience possible for all those involved. We cannot wait to hear all about your wonderful efforts, and we wish you the very best of luck!
Sincerely,
Fundraising Tips & Tricks
We are so grateful to you for your willingness to fundraise for Arthritis Ireland As you begin this fundraising journey, we wanted to provide you with steps for success to help make your efforts as smooth as possible Please see some useful resources, hints and tips in the next few pages Contact us on fundraising@arthritisireland.ie so we can support you in making your fundraising event as successful as possible
Plan, Plan, Plan
Before you begin fundraising, knowing exactly what you want to do and how you plan to do that is the most important piece of the puzzle. By having a clear vision of what exactly it is you want to achieve with your fundraising, you can be more strategic with your efforts.
Tip #1: Look for inspiration on our webpage, and online, for ideas about unique challenges and opportunities in which you can get involved
Set a Reachable Goal
Think of fundraising as a marathon, not a sprint. It requires consistent effort and engagement with potential sponsors Set a goal which will challenge you, but that you know you can hit
Tip #2: Setting monthly targets so that your overall goal becomes less daunting and more manageable By starting early with your fundraising, it will give you more opportunities to fundraise in advance of your event.
Create a Fundraising Page
To get your fundraising profile up and running, create your own unique online fundraising page which tells the reader your WHY Helping others to understand the reason why they should give to your campaign can make a huge difference
Tip #3: Identify your key sponsors and work out what level of support they can give e.g., corporates are more likely to give one-off larger donations compared to friends and family who may give more regularly
Spread the Word
Once you have created your online fundraising page, feel free to share the good news with family and friends across the world
Tip #4: Use social media to grow your potential sponsor pool When sharing your fundraiser on social, ensure that you include accurate information about Arthritis Ireland and the reason why you’re doing the fundraiser A personal story can strike a chord with people
Engage Your Community
Whether you are involved in a choir or volunteer at your local school, why not encourage your community to participate in the fundraiser with you? A little support can go a long way to sustaining that momentum You may even find somebody who is just as passionate about the cause
Tip #5: Create a flyer with information about your fundraiser and ways in which people can support you, whether that is taking part or contributing financially to your efforts
Tip #6: Some employers may offer a matching sponsorship program Ask your employer if they would be interested in supporting your cause.
If You Don’t Ask, You Won’t Get
Cliché though it may be, asking others for support is a critical piece of successful fundraising While it may seem intimidating, people are happy to support an important cause. The worst that can happen is that they ignore your request or simply say 'no', which is not the end of the world, as the next person may say 'yes' Tip #7: Send reminders to your sponsors in the lead up to the event and ensure that you thank them for their donation
Have Fun!
Regardless of how you choose to make a difference for Arthritis Ireland, we want to ensure that you have a smile on your face and that you have fun!
Tip #8: The more energy you can bring to your fundraising event, the more likely it is that people will cheerfully give to support your endeavours
Capture the Moments
You’re doing amazing things, so don’t let the moment pass without recognising it Take photos and videos to bring your fundraising event to life and share it with your followers and supporters. And you can always share your photos with Arthritis Ireland too so that we can share with the rest of our amazing supporters
Tag us on social media and follow us across our social media platforms
Tip #9: Invite your supporters to witness, or partake in, the fundraiser You want to make sure that they remain an integral part of your story
Thank Your Supporters
You couldn’t achieve your efforts without great supporters It is important to thank them for their support and send them a note of appreciation
Tip #10: Combine the content which you have captured, with your experience of the event, and create a letter which will be sent out to everyone who supported you. Or you could update people via your social media channels and/or local newspapers ***
Need more support? Contact the fundraising team today to have a chat about ways in which you can make this the best fundraising experience possible
Email: fundraising@arthritisireland ie Phone: 086 075 7404
Permits and Other Requirements
We want you to have the best experience with your fundraising event so do consider any legal requirements that may apply to your event at the outset of your planning Aspects of fundraising are subject to certain legal requirements and may require permits from Gardai, local authorities, the courts or insurance cover Some of the most common requirements are below If you are in any doubt about whether a permit may be required, contact the fundraising team on fundraising@arthritisireland ie and we will be able to advise Specific guidelines, including the need for a permit, are in place regarding raffles Should you be interested in running a raffle, please contact us before you begin so we can advise on best practice: fundraising@arthritisireland.ie. If you are collecting cash donations in a public place (street, outside a shop etc) you will require a permit from An Garda Siochana Please contact the fundraising team who can advise about the process to apply for this permit.
Brand Guidelines
To ensure that we have consistent branding across all our fundraisers, please ensure you follow these steps:
1 All Arthritis Ireland logos must be provided directly by the organisation
2.If you plan to create any printed materials or digital assets (posters, flyers, images for social media etc), please note that these will need to be reviewed by Arthritis Ireland prior to their publication and use. Please consult the Fundraising team for specifications
3.Any promotional materials you create for your event must use the following disclaimer: “This event will raise funds on behalf of Arthritis Ireland, but the event itself is not directly organised by Arthritis Ireland.”
4 Arthritis Ireland will provide relevant information and statistics as required to help you in your promotion All media promotion must be reviewed by our fundraising team before publication. Unfortunately, we have limited capacity to promote individual fundraising events on our social media prior to the events taking place. We will be able to highlight your fundraising efforts after the event takes place on our social media channels
Fundraising Ideas
Inspiring Stories
Noel Murphy
Fundraiser: Climbing Croagh Patrick
“Despite going through difficult times with her condition, she never lost her sense of life, wit and love of others ”
Olivia Murphy (née Delargey) from Galway was 46 when she passed away from the effects of Raynauds scleroderma Raynauds scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, affects the connective tissue in almost every part of the body. Despite the challenges which Olivia faced during her 21 years living with the condition, she lived her life to the fullest.
Given its rarity, her husband, Noel, wanted to raise funds for research which could improve the lives of those who are living with the disease And so, Noel, along with friends and family, chose to hike Croagh Patrick, raising over €7,000 in the process
Peter O’Rourke
Fundraiser: The Great Limerick Run
In the words of Peter O’Rourke, his mother, Mary, was “a dear wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend ”
After a courageous battle with Covid-19, Mary passed away in January 2022 In the last 15 years of her life, Mary lived with rheumatoid arthritis Yet, it was her supportive and caring nature which made her so memorable, and the reason why she was so loved
To honour her, and to raise vital funds for research efforts that would improve the lives of people living with rheumatoid arthritis, the O’Rourke family decided to take on a challenge Inspired by the slogan of National Arthritis Week 2022, ‘Let’s Get Physical,’ the family decided to take part in the Great Limerick Run in May 2022 They believed it was important to "help raise awareness of the benefits of physical exercise for people who live with arthritis "
In 2022, the O’Rourke family raised more than €9,000 in their fundraising efforts Such was their success, they decided to partake in the run again in 2023, 2024, and 2025 It is their hope that they will be able to honour Mary each year by partaking in the Great Limerick Run
“Research and awareness are absolutely crucial for people living with arthritis a new treatment plan, medication or therapy can have a huge impact on their quality of life ”
Understanding how rheumatoid arthritis affected Mary’s life, the O’Rourke family wanted to ensure that others knew about what it means to live with the condition on a day-to-day basis And so, it is their hope that the support and care which Mary showed to so many throughout her life can be passed onto many others through this fundraising effort
Donation Collection
Online Giving Platform
We recommend using iDonate. By using this platform, you will be able to receive donations from family and friends around the world, track the progress of your donations, and have donations go directly to Arthritis Ireland
Cash
If you receive cash donations, it is essential that all donations are securely collected, and properly managed Therefore, please adhere to the following steps:
If you are collecting cash donations in a public place (street, outside a shop etc) you will require a permit from An Garda Siochana. Please contact the fundraising team who can advise about the process to apply for this permit All cash donations shall be collected securely by secure collection units. These can be collected from the Arthritis Ireland Office, or requested by mail, by contacting fundraising@arthritisireland.ie.
Any secure collection unit used must be always supervised. No unit shall be left unattended at any point and must remained sealed throughout the collection process
When counting cash, it should take place in a secure environment with at least two people present Once it has been counted, it should be held in a secure place and taken to the bank at your earliest convenience, no more than one month after the event
Detailed records of the collection, counting and depositing procedures must be undertaken for reconciliation purposes We ask that you do not engage in door-to-door collections
Donation Submission
Online
Click here to put your donations through our website Please ensure that you leave a comment which indicates your fundraising event Email us on fundraising@arthritisireland.ie or call us on 086 075 7404 to let us know you are transferring your donation to us so we can record and receipt it
Bank Transfer
For information on bank transfers drop us an email on fundraising@arthritisireland.ie or call us on 086 075 7404.
By Phone
Call the fundraising team today: 086 075 7404
Postal Order / Cheque
You can return funds using a cheque or postal order to the below address Please include a note with your name, contact details and information about your fundraiser with your donation so we can record your donation and issue your receipt Drop us an email on fundraising@arthritisireland ie or call us on 086 075 7404 to let us know you are sending the donation to us
Arthritis Ireland 1 Clanwilliam Square Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2, D02 DH77
Cash
Given current banking practices, we encourage all fundraising contributions to be sent to Arthritis Ireland using one of the above methods Contact the fundraising team if you have any questions fundraising@arthritisireland ie
Terms and Conditions Statement
Arthritis Ireland accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury which occurs as part of third-party fundraising events, including, but not limited to personal injury and damage to property and our insurance cover does not extend to cover any such events. Third party events include any events not organised directly by Arthritis Ireland fundraising team staff members. Please assess the level of risk involved in your fundraising event to determine if insurance cover will be required, especially if you are inviting members of the general public to attend. Seek independent insurance advise if your event requires it.
Should you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions of fundraising for Arthritis Ireland, contact fundraising@arthritisireland.ie
Data Protection
As part of your fundraising efforts, you may encounter some personal information of those who are supporting your event While you may acquire information from various sources, including but not limited to email and sponsorship forms, it is important to securely destroy any of this data once the event has finished For more information on our privacy policy, click here.
For specific questions in relation to data protection, contact: skushnirenko@arthritisireland.ie