Breast cancer.
It has probably touched your life no matter who you are or where you live. And whenever you hear these two words, it’s easy to feel scared or powerless.
But every time Breast Cancer Awareness Month arrives, you can change that. This October, you can fundraise for breast cancer.
You might not be a research scientist or run a big nonprofit. But you don’t have to be to make a difference. You have a voice, a passion, and now - Braid Money Pools, which make collecting donations easy and fun.
Keep reading to discover what Braid Money Pools are, how simple it is to collect donations, and 11 fundraising ideas sure to garner contributions for your chosen organization.
Content:
- How can I help breast cancer research?
- What are Braid Money Pools?
- How to set up Braid Pools and Pool Links for breast cancer awareness fundraisers
- What can you do to raise money for breast cancer: 11 fundraising ideas
- How can I raise money for someone with breast cancer?
How can I help breast cancer research?
When faced with a problem as significant and prevalent as breast cancer, you may wonder how you can make a meaningful difference.
One of the most important things you can do is fundraise. Fundraising supports the brightest and best minds in pursuing life-saving ideas. And everyone’s contributions, no matter how big or small, provide much-needed funding.
If you’re unsure who to raise money for, consider these four organizations. They’re on a mission to put breast cancer into remission:
1. Breast Cancer Research Foundation: In their own words, “We seek out the best minds in science and medicine to help us unravel the complexities of cancer, and then we provide them with the funding and freedom to pursue their greatest ideas.”
2. Susan G. Komen Foundation: This organization started when Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, she would do everything she could to end breast cancer. That was back in 1980. Since then, they’ve invested over $3.3 billion in research, community outreach, advocacy, and programs in over 60 countries.
3. National Breast Cancer Foundation: Founded by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, this charity donates over 80% of its funds to programs focused on early detection, education, and patient support.
4. Breast Cancer Alliance: This private organization invests in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, and dignified support and screening for the underserved to improve survival rates and quality of life.
Still unsure? Use Charity Navigator to find an organization that resonates with you.
What are Braid Money Pools?
Braid Money Pools are a new way to collect, manage, and disburse breast cancer donations.
Unlike popular platforms, like GoFundMe and PayPal, it’s free to start and run your money pool. We never take a percentage of your donations or transactions, and you can give 100% of the donations to your chosen organization.
How do you collect money online? With Pool Links. Donors don’t need to sign up for a Braid account to contribute. They only need your Pool Link to make a quick, secure, and convenient donation. (Keep reading to learn more about them!)
Another thing you’ll like about Braid is that it’s designed for multiple users, so you can share the pool and manage donations with other volunteers.
Click here to learn how start a free Braid Pool and collect breast cancer donations.
How to set up Braid Pools and Pool Links for breast cancer awareness fundraisers
Before you explore the 11 fun fundraising ideas below, here’s how to set up your Braid Pool to collect donations and disperse them when ready.
1. Start your pool
Once you download Braid, you can set up your pool in minutes. We don't check your credit history or report anything to the credit bureaus. We need to verify your identity before you use money on Braid. But it only takes a few minutes, and once completed, you can continue the set-up process.
2. Manage your pool with other volunteers
Braid is ideal for fundraisers because it’s designed for multiple users. Other admin members can:
- View the pool and check the balance at any time
- Track contributions
- Spend or send pool funds with the Braid card
With Braid's collaborative design, you don’t have to do everything alone. Selected volunteers can track and manage contributions for the fundraiser's duration - whether you’re hosting an evening event or a month-long campaign.
Send people an invitation link to join the pool to create new admin members. Once they download Braid, they can accept your invitation and share admin tasks with you.
Ready to set up your first Braid Pool? Click here to get started.
3. Set up your Pool Link
Every pool comes with a customizable Pool Link. This link is fundamental for your breast cancer fundraiser. It’s also fun, customizable, easy to share, and even easier to use for donating.
How to customize your Pool Link:
Don’t you hate it when you share a link with someone, and it’s an incoherent string of letters, numbers, and symbols? That doesn’t happen with Braid. Your Pool Link is clear and says exactly what you want it to say.
When donors see your Pool Link, they immediately understand it and know where it’s taking them. For example, your Pool Link can say "braid.co/p/Pink-Fund-Campaign" or "braid.co/p/Breast-Cancer-Walk."
You can make your Pool Link even more personal by choosing a color palette, uploading a meaningful image, and providing a brief description, explaining your fundraising goals and how you plan to disburse donations.
How to share your Pool Link:
No matter what kind of breast cancer fundraiser you run, your Pool Link will fit like a comfortable bra. That’s because you can share it anywhere, like:
- Emails
- Newsletters
- Landing pages
- Social media
- Text messages
- QR codes. Not sure how to make a QR code? Insert your Pool Link into a QR code generator and export the QR code. Place your QR code on flyers and signs at live events, like pink parties, haircut parties, walkathons, karaoke nights, or 50/50 raffles. You can also place the Pool Link QR code on social media posts, landing pages, etc.
Once people have your Pool Link, they can donate from their mobile devices (or computers) in minutes.
Whether you’re hosting pink parties, haircut parties, karaoke nights, bake sales, or galas, patrons can use Pool Links to make a quick payment with a credit or debit card.
Debit card donations are free, and patrons incur a 3% fee for credit card donations.
You’ll love Pool Links because compared to GoFundMe or PayPal’s generosity networks, there are no lengthy set-up processes, fees, or deadlines. And you don’t have to get Braid’s approval for your charity or nonprofit organization.
With Braid Pool Links:
- You’re ready in 5 minutes or less
- Your pool stays open as long as you need it to
- You never pay fees
- You pick your charity, nonprofit organization, or individual to support
4. Collect contributions
Braid is a pink fund favorite not only because donors get to make effortless donations, but also because collecting donations is a walk in the park for you.
Donations collect into your pool and stay there until you choose to disburse them. They never mix with your finances or bank account.
When you choose Braid’s instant notifications feature, you can see payments in real-time and monitor your fundraiser’s progress.
Plus, when you share the pool with other admin members, they can track and monitor donations, too.
5. Disburse donations
When your fundraiser’s done, pat yourself on the back. You gave patrons an effortless way to donate with Pool Links.
Now you get to see how breezy it is to disburse donations to your chosen organization.
With Braid, you can disburse funds using the free Braid debit card wherever Mastercard is accepted. There are no transaction fees, maintenance fees, or overdraft fees. You can donate 100% of the contributions.
Additionally, if you want to transfer pool funds to an organization’s bank account, you can do that, too. Use your pool account and routing numbers to transfer pool funds.
It would help if you had a Braid Pool for your fundraiser. Start here!
What can you do to raise money for breast cancer? 11 fundraising ideas
These 11 fundraising ideas are just what the doctor ordered. They spread much-needed lightheartedness and hope. And they don't just ask people for money. They involve donors in something fun and personal, too.
1. Pink Party
Pink Parties are precisely what they sound like. Have fun transforming your venue with pink decor, pour rosé, and set the tables with pink treats. You can even ask guests to wear pink attire. To reserve a spot, guests can donate with your Pool Link.
2. Walkathons
Breast cancer walks and runs are famous all over the world. Anyone can participate irrespective of their fitness levels, and attendees make a donation based on the distance they plan to walk or run.
To increase donations, sell commemorative t-shirts, water bottles, or coffee tumblers at the finish line.
3. Bake sales
The weather might affect walkathons, but you can run a bake sale come rain or shine. Read about bake sales here, and remember to include pink-themed treats to entice hungry patrons!
4. 50/50 raffles
50/50 raffles are easy to pull off - especially when you combine them with other breast cancer fundraisers, like pink parties, walkathons, haircut parties, or karaoke nights.
Attendees buy raffle tickets using your Pool Link. Then, when the raffle is finished, one lucky winner takes home 50% of the pool balance, and you donate the rest to your chosen organization.
During the raffle, you can check the pool balance from the app and track contributions with Braid’s instant notifications. This way, you can announce how much you’ve raised and how much the lucky winner will take home.
5. Haircut Parties
Breast cancer patients often lose some or all of their hair during treatment. Haircut parties are a compassionate way to support them.
Team up with a local salon or hair stylist to provide haircuts, and take it one step further by donating everyone’s locks for patient wigs.
6. Barbecue parties
Do you and your friends grill finger-licking barbecue ribs? Give people a taste in exchange for donations.
To maximize contributions, combine barbecue parties with other events, like breast cancer walks or karaoke nights.
Easily collect donations by generating a QR code for your Pool Link. Remember to spread the word so you have a great turnout.
7. Karaoke or band night
Who doesn’t like to unwind at the local bar listening to live music or someone’s best rendition of Shania Twain?
Partner with a local bar or restaurant to host a karaoke or band night. Contact music stores to borrow equipment and invite local bands to entertain for a good cause.
There are several ways to use your Pool Link:
- Ask patrons to donate once for the entire night.
- Create pools for each performer, and invite people to vote for their favorite one by donating to their pool.
Click here to host your breast cancer campaign with Braid Money Pools.
8. Donation-based fitness classes
Are you a yoga or pilates teacher or personal trainer? Offer donation-based classes and give the proceeds to a breast cancer organization. For a personal touch, teach lessons to honor someone affected by breast cancer.
9. Milestone donations
Transform personal milestones into opportunities for generous giving. Instead of collecting gifts for birthdays, graduations, or holidays, ask friends and family to contribute to your Pool Link.
It’s an excellent opportunity to raise funds to honor a specific friend, family member, or colleague or to support the tens of thousands of people affected by breast cancer every year.
10. Host a virtual live fundraiser
Do you and your followers have a great rapport online? Invite them to join you for a virtual fundraiser. You can engage viewers and increase donations by sharing your platform with breast cancer survivors, hosting a giveaway, or offering a live performance.
11. Raise funds at work
Whether your coworkers work remotely or share a brick-and-mortar office, invite them to contribute to your Pool Link during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Send an email sharing why you are personally raising funds, along with information about your chosen organization. Share breast cancer statistics and invite people to donate whatever they can.
When your breast cancer campaign is finished, tell them how much you raised and thank them for participating.
How can I raise money for someone with breast cancer?
If you know someone with breast cancer, you want to support them however you can.
Raising money is a tangible way to offset treatment costs and hospital bills, and you can use any of the 11 fundraising ideas above to support them.
Although many people turn to popular crowdfunding platforms, like GoFundMe or Kickstarter, keep it simple and hassle-free with Braid.
- Your Pool Links are ready in 5 minutes or less
- There are no deadlines; your pool stays open as long as you need it to
- You never pay fees
- You get to pick your charity or nonprofit
- You choose how to disburse funds. You can use the Braid card or transfer them to a bank account whenever you want
- You can have the recipient join the pool and provide continuous support
Host your next breast cancer fundraiser with Braid Money Pools. You and your donors will enjoy the ease and convenience they bring to the campaign. And together, you can raise money for much-needed research, education, and support for those affected by breast cancer.
