Fundraising Ideas & Tips

With myAccessFund, you can be as creative as you'd like in setting up your fundraising campaign. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Ideas for engaging fundraising campaigns

  • Give up birthday or Christmas presents. In lieu of gifts, ask your friends and family to make a donation to support a cause that you care about—protecting America's climbing!
  • Do a climb-a-thon. Ask your friends, family, and climbing partners to sponsor your efforts to climb every 5 star route at your local crag, or climb 100 pitches in a month, or reach a certain grade by the end of the year. 
  • Commit to a challenge. Agree to do 5 pull-ups for every dollar donated. Or commit to climb a 5.9 for every $9 donation, 5.10 for every $10 donation, etc. (Use the V scale if your a boulderer!) 

Fundraising tips

  • Show your passion. Use your personal webpage and your e-mails to tell your friends and family why you are raising money for the Access Fund. Explain why the particular program inspires you and how their donations can help.
  • Make your fundraising page specific. We've provided you with stock images and language to use on your personal webpage, but pictures of YOU or a climbing areas that could be impacted by your fundraising is always more compelling.
  • Put a deadline on your efforts. Open-ended fundraising is great, but deadlines help compel people to give. If you're undertaking a climb-a-thon or a personal challenge, give yourself a reasonable deadline to complete your efforts and commit to it.
  • Remind folks that donations are tax-deductible. The Access Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Every donor will get an e-mail receipt that they can keep for tax records.
  • Set a realistic goal. We know that you'd love to raise a million dollars for the Access Fund, but that's probably not realistic. Give yourself an attainable goal—$25, $50, $100, $500, whatever feels right—and then go for it!
  • Communicate often. Keep your donor/sponsors updated on your efforts—both your fundraising efforts and any projects you've committed to. If you've told people that you're going to climb 100 pitches in a month, let them know how close you are to your goal around mid-month.