Tuesday Tips from Sean Shapiro
In just three months the young adult cancer community will take over Denver, CO for a four-day cancer date of the most epic proportions. As we gear up for CancerCon 2017, and the excitement of seeing over 600 of our closest friends in one place, we wanted to check back in with all of you.
This fall, CancerCon VIP launched! The CancerCon VIP Club is an international community of fundraisers who ensure CancerCon’s success and support Stupid Cancer’s mission to empower those affected by young adult cancer.
We understand that fundraising can sometimes seem more than a little daunting. Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Every Tuesday, from now through to the beginning of April, we will be providing you with some of our best fundraising tips! We thought what better way to start than by hearing from our Director of Development, Sean Shapiro.
“Can you believe it? CancerCon 2017 is only three months away!
Since joining the Stupid Cancer team as Director of Development two years ago, I have had the privilege to work alongside incredible patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates as we help those affected by young adult cancer.
“Although each cancer story is different, there is a thread of commonality in the unique and exceptionally challenging ways cancer affects the lives of young adults.”
In this role, I have learned the inspirational stories of our community members and the impact that cancer has had on them through their formative years. Although each cancer story is different, there is a thread of commonality in the unique and exceptionally challenging ways cancer affects the lives of young adults.
Whether it is education, career, dating, relationships, and/or fertility and family planning, there is an absolute need for community and support that knows no boundaries of cancer type or stage. This is where Stupid Cancer, and the young adult cancer movement, comes in.
“…there is an absolute need for community and support that knows no boundaries of cancer stage or type.”
As Director of Development, I am fortunate to serve in a role wherein my daily work - alongside our dedicated volunteers - contributes to making cancer suck a little bit less. Every project we work on supports hundreds of thousands around the world to face cancer, give it the middle finger, and Get Busy Living. It is seriously the best job with the best team, ever.
Reflecting on these past few years, I am most proud of the CancerCon VIP Club. Since its inception in 2012, 341 members of the VIP Club have raised $478,043. These funds help make CancerCon possible; an event that results in lifelong friendships and a collective understanding that you are not in this alone.
“…face cancer, give it the middle finger, and Get Busy Living.”
But we can’t do any of this without you! Please consider getting involved by joining the VIP Club and inviting your friends and family to do the same. It is an opportunity to make a direct impact on our cause through fundraising.
Need some extra incentive? While you raise money for the young adult cancer community, you can also earn benefits that include travel funds and free registration to CancerCon. Even if you are not planning to go, you can still fundraise and support a Stupid Cancer community member to attend. To learn more and sign up, please visit cancercon.org/#vip.
Below are my three tips to successfully fundraise and make a transformative impact:
1. Tell your story.
It is key to share your personal experience with cancer and how Stupid Cancer has made (or will make) an impact on both you and others in the young adult cancer community to Get Busy Living. When people understand your story and how close cancer hits to home, they will want to help you reach your goal knowing their support will positively improve lives.
2. Ask for help.
As a VIP Club fundraiser, it will be up to you to make asks over email, social media, phone, letters, and in-person with your friends, family and colleagues. However, ask for more than just a donation. Ask them to share your fundraising efforts with their friends, family and colleagues. They will feel good that they are helping you out above and beyond a philanthropic donation.
By reaching more people, your story is shared beyond your own network and you will receive more donations! For instance, when someone sees that the sibling of a friend is fighting cancer, they will be more compelled to give.
A simple Facebook post asking everyone will be overlooked and no one is held accountable. To start, ask each person either face-to-face or over an individual email or text message. If you don’t hear back, be sure to follow-up using another channel of communication if one doesn’t seem to work for that specific person.
3. Deadlines are important.
Without deadlines people will put off donating until a later date. Be sure to ask your network to give by April in time for CancerCon in order for you to receive the benefits of travel funds and free registration.
In addition to this, share other deadlines like your birthday or cancerversary. When you ask for donations as a means of celebrating one of these specific days, people will be more inclined to give.
Get creative with it! For instance, ask for donations of $15, $150 and $1,500 for your 15-year cancerversary. It’s a fun way of celebrating by making a special gift in honor of this special day!”
