5 Ways Shot@Life Advocates Fundraise to Help Provide Lifesaving Vaccines
See how our champions are campaigning for increased access to immunization through individual fundraising events.
“For many, supporting causes they are passionate about is done through donating, and in that way, the act of giving is advocacy,” says Shot@Life Corporate Partnerships Officer, Roberta Plantak.
As seen on our donation page, a gift of $25 helps protect a child against polio, measles, pneumonia, and diarrheal disease for life (the main killers of children under 5 years old). Many of our champions not only donate themselves, but they also help raise money in their communities in creative ways. They know how to put the “fun” in fundraising! Here are five ways that our advocates have helped raise money to increase vaccine equity and improve global health:
1. Sending an email
For her birthday, Ohio advocate, Mariam Bahova, decided that instead of gifts, she would ask her friends to donate to Shot@Life to mark the occasion. She sent an email to her friends and family that explained why vaccine equity is so important to her and included a link to Shot@Life’s donation page. By keeping it simple, she displayed that fundraising does not have to be hard or overly time consuming. Her friends appreciated marking her special day in a way that they knew for certain was meaningful to her.
Ohio champion, Mariam Bahova, with Senator Sherrod Brown.
2. Facebook fundraisers
If you are on Facebook, the social media platform helps put digital fundraising at your fingertips. Many champions hold fundraisers around special days, such as their birthday. This is also an easy way to find common ground with a friend you haven’t seen in ages. Win-win! Find step-by-step instructions on how to launch a Facebook fundraiser here.
Examples of Facebook fundraisers supporting Shot@Life.
3. Hats off to hosting an event
Oklahoma advocate, Felisa Hibert, hosted a tea party with her friends that was not only a lovely afternoon and fabulous opportunity to wear a hat, but it also helped raise funds for Shot@Life. She even invited members of her Senator’s office to join, and they did!
Felisa Hilbert invited staff from Senator Lankford’s office to her Shot@Life-themed tea party to spread the word about the importance of global vaccines.
Pro tip: Lawmakers and their staff are often very happy to be invited to and attend fundraisers. It is a terrific opportunity to strengthen those relationships and show them how important global vaccines are to you and your community.
4. Sweet in person, face-to-face appeals
Kentucky champions, Bridget Murphy and Irene Stamper, know how to multitask. They took advantage of a General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) regional meeting to not only connect with their fellow clubwomen, but also to hold a fundraiser that involved receiving candy that was all green (Shot@Life’s signature color) in exchange for donating.
They report that some people passed on the candy and just wanted to donate to help save lives. Just seeing their table and being asked spurred them to make a difference financially.
Bridget Murphy and Irene Stamper raising money for Shot@Life at a meeting for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).
5. Class is in session
With the help of Dr. La Vonne Downey, a Shot@Life champion in and professor in Illinois, students at Roosevelt University raised $1,800 through a class fundraising project using the message #giveashotaboutkids for World Immunization Week. It raised both funds and awareness around global vaccines among their fellow students.
Illionis advocate, Dr. La Vonne Downey, leading a creative fundraising idea with her students.
Our champions prove that fundraising really can be fun and effective. You know your friends and family better than anyone else and are the expert on the best way to reach them. Take one of these ideas or get creative. As always, the Shot@Life staff is happy to help – just reach out to champions@shotatlife.org if you would like help getting started on your fundraiser!
Shannan Younger
Shannan Younger joined Shot@Life in 2016. Prior to that, she worked as an attorney and a nonprofit professional. Shannan attended the University of Notre Dame, where earned her degrees in English and in law. She also earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She is a writer, with many pieces on health and education published in regional magazines, and a storyteller, recently participated in a pandemic story workshop with The Moth. After living her whole life in the Midwest, Shannan and her husband recently moved to Charlotte, NC, where she has discovered the joy of both hiking and biscuits. She has a daughter in college who is also a Shot@Life Champion and a research beagle.