IMPORTANT UPDATES

boy smiling wearing cape in pediatric garden hospital

Big or small, fundraising events help make a difference in the lives of patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. All it takes is a bit of motivation, a guest list and a good idea to organize your very own fundraiser.

At Children’s, we are fortunate to have dedicated community members who care passionately about the work we do to help improve the lives of Georgia’s kids. We are grateful for the impact they have on our not-for-profit organization through their involvement in hospital and community events and for their efforts to organize their own fundraising events to benefit our patients and families.

If you are interested in organizing a fundraising event for Children’s, take a look at the tips below for guidance.

When it comes to deciding what kind of fundraising event to host, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Here’s a list of possible ideas for inspiration:

  • Dinner with friends: Host a dinner party for friends, asking each couple to bring a check for Children’s in the amount it would have cost them to go out for dinner. Even an intimate dinner party can help raise funds to help Children’s.
  • Kids can help kids too: Encourage your children to do around-the-house chores or open a lemonade stand to raise money for Children’s. Kids for Kids activities offer fun opportunities to teach children the importance of giving back on behalf of the patients at Children’s. 
  • Sporting activities: Consider organizing a running or cycling event, tennis tournament, fishing event, walk-a-thon or any number of activities that engage sporting enthusiasts.
  • Unwrapping help for Children’s: Rather than asking for birthday or other special occasion gifts, invite party guests to bring a check for Children’s. While having a fun celebration, attendees will know they are helping our young patients.
  • Put it on the menu: Speak to the manager at a favorite restaurant or local store, and ask if he or she can donate a portion of sales or gratuities to Children’s.
  • Strength in numbers: Think of fundraising activities for groups that are already established, such as knitting groups, scrapbooking groups or book clubs. Incorporate a fundraising activity that the group can do together at a regularly scheduled meeting or gathering. Selling knitted items or scrapbooks can be a fun way to use your group’s creative talents to help Children’s.
  • Community yard sales: Invite several neighbors or friends to set up tables for a community yard sale, with proceeds benefiting Children’s.
  • School fundraisers: Students searching for a great community service or club project may be interested in raising funds and awareness for Children’s. Consider hosting a fundraiser during a pep rally, field day or school dance.
  • Facebook fundraiser: Facebook has launched a simple tool that makes it easy for you to host your own online fundraiser. You can invite online friends to support your organization.

Start your own online fundraiser

Your support has the power to make a difference. By fundraising through Click for Kids, you can make a greater impact than ever before. It’s simple and fast, and gives you the chance to raise funds for Children’s. In just a few easy steps, you can create your own fundraiser or join an existing team to honor a patient or commemorate a special occasion.

Get Started Today

The first step in organizing your own fundraiser for Children’s is to register your event and get prior approval from our team. This will allow our team to give you support and advice and to approve the use of our benefiting logo. We can also provide a letter of endorsement so that everyone will know your event is officially sanctioned by Children’s.  

Once we receive your application, a Children’s Foundation representative will reach out to you to discuss the details of your event, including the date, time and place of the event or promotion.

Additional guidelines to consider as you are planning your event may include:

  • Spending limits: Children’s recommends spending no more than 25 to 30 cents for every dollar raised, with some exceptions made on a case-by-case basis.
  • Event name: Mention Children’s as a beneficiary of your event, but not in the name of your event (“XYZ event benefiting Children’s,” not “Children’s XYZ Event”).
  • Business sponsors: A list of potential business sponsors for your event must be approved by Children’s before your first contact, as many local businesses have longstanding involvement with Children’s.
  • Fundraising: Children’s is authorized to have access to all fundraising records and accounting of its community events.
  • Proceeds: Event proceeds must be submitted to Children’s within 45 days of the event date.

Review the complete list of event guidelines

 

Contact Melisa Morrow, a Corporate Development Officer at Children’s, at 404-785-7338 or melisa.morrow@choa.org if you have any questions.

Can I get mailing lists from Children’s to help promote my event?
We would love to help, but confidentiality requirements do not allow us to provide any mail lists. We recommend asking friends and family to spread the word.

When will I know my fundraiser has been approved?
We will contact you within five business days after receiving your event application

Can I use the benefiting Children’s logo?
Yes. Once your event is approved, we are happy to provide a benefiting Children’s logo for use in your promotional materials. Submit materials for approval before printing or use.

Will someone from Children’s help me plan or run my event?
We are busy planning Children’s events like the Season on the Square, Hope and Will Ball, Southern Sizzle and many others and are unable to manage community events. We can, however, give advice and provide support for your event.

Can Children’s issue tax receipts to my donors?
We supply tax letters for donations made directly to Children’s.

Can I have a raffle at my event?
The state of Georgia requires a raffle license, and we are unable to provide this for community events.

Can Children’s provide items for my auction?
We are unable to provide auction items.

Can Children’s send a press release or solicit media coverage for my event?
Unfortunately, we are unable to help with media outreach. We highly recommend asking friends and family to help spread the word about your event and using personal social media channels for publicity.

Does Children’s accept toy donations?
Review our guidelines on toy donations.

Does Children’s provide insurance for my event?
Children’s can’t assume any liability for an event conducted on its behalf.

Will Children’s find volunteers for my event?
Event organizers are responsible for finding volunteers to help with planning and staffing of the event.

How do I pay for expenses from my event?
We strongly encourage event organizers to include a budget that covers expenses. Children’s cannot reimburse these costs. We are happy to provide a budget planning worksheet to help you.