Once you have registered, you have access to various methods of sharing that you are participating and to ask for donations. Included are pre-written social media messages you can customize and post, various pre-written emails that you can customize and send asking for others to join you in walking or to make a donation to you. Customize your personal fundraising page to emphasize why Kairos is important in your life. Remember, the goal isn’t just to raise funds, but to get the word out about Kairos and plant the seeds in recruiting new volunteers.

Set a fundraising goal – Having a personal fundraising goal helps to generate more donations as donors are more willing to give to help you meet your goal. When making your fundraising asks, ensure to incorporate your fundraising goal.

Ask for support – Decide who you will be asking for support. Encourage everyone in your Advisory Council and Kairos Community to participate, ask your friends and family to support you, as well as those in your church, co-workers, your neighbors, other organizations that support your local community, local businesses, and anyone else you can think of who would want Jesus in the lives of those impacted by incarceration! Ask those who choose to support you to reach out to their networks as well. While you are asking for support from the various members of the local community, you can also recruit new volunteers.

Post to social media – Posting to social media is a quick and simple way to notify your friends and family that you are participating in the walk and to make your fundraising ask. Once you register for a walk, you will be prompted to create a Facebook Fundraiser which will be linked to your personal fundraising page, so you can see all your donations in one place. The fundraising toolkit includes sample social media posts that you can fill in with your story and fundraising links.

Send Emails (ready-made templates are available in your Walkathon dashboard) – After registering for a walk, your fundraising page has a “messages” tab where you can send out messages by importing a list of email address and customizing the pre-made templates to tell your story and make your fundraising ask. You may also use the general Distance for Deliverance email template and customize it as needed to email from your personal email.

Involve your church – share your participation with your church and other churches in your community. Include a blurb in the church bulletin or newsletter, hand out information after service, involve the church’s social or walking group, or use any other way to get the word out to the church.