Setting your 2013 MS Walk fundraising goals

You’ve started to recruit your team, chosen a team name, and registered to participate. What’s next? Setting your individual and team goals.

The MS Walk is more fun when you and your teammates are working toward a specific goal or set of goals. Goals give you something to focus on and get excited about, plus a real sense of accomplishment when you meet your targets.

Your individual and/or team goals will vary, but here are some ideas to get you started.

• Aim for a specific fundraising amount. When you use our online fundraising system, you will be prompted to set an initial fundraising goal. For extra motivation, check out the fundraising rewards and prizes you can be eligible for at each fundraising level.
• Aim for a specific number of recruits. If you currently have three team members, why not aim for ten by event day? This will allow you to get to your fundraising goal sooner or take you to the next level of funds raised. Or if you’re an individual walker, why not challenge yourself to recruit two friends to give you some friendly fundraising competition?
• Aim for a specific number of donors. Rather than focusing on a specific dollar amount, you might instead try to reach out to as many of your friends, family members and colleagues as possible. Before you know it you’ll have met your fundraising goal.
• Complete a fundraising event. Successfully pull off a fun and creative fundraising event like a garage sale, pancake breakfast, bake sale or rubber duck race to give your fundraising goal that extra boost.

For a little extra challenge add new goals as you complete the ones you originally set. Once you have ten team members, why not try to make it fifteen? If you’ve already raised $125 to earn a free MS Walk t-shirt by January, why not go for $500 and add some great gift cards by May? The sky’s the limit if you work together with teammates, family, friends and colleagues!

Once you’ve set a goal, make a plan for how you will accomplish it. If it helps, assign certain team members certain responsibilities, or set monthly targets. Check in frequently over the coming months to make sure you’re on track to meet your goal, and to come up with new ideas and strategies. Don’t let event day sneak up on you and catch you unprepared!

What are your individual or team goals for the 2013 MS Walk, and how do you plan to accomplish them? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.