It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Here’s how to run your fundraiser with Pool

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 — Pool, which makes collecting donations easy and fun.

Keep reading to discover what Pool is, how simple it is to collect donations, and 11 fundraising ideas sure to garner contributions for your chosen organization.

Contents:

• How can I help breast cancer research?
• What is Pool?
• How to set up Pool for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser
• 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 is Pool?

Pool is 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 Pool. We never take a percentage of your donations or transactions, and you can give 100% of the donations to your chosen organization.

Pool helps groups collect, manage, and spend money together. Organizers can invite trusted volunteers to join the Pool, collaborate on fundraising efforts, track contributions, and manage expenses from one dedicated place.

How to set up Pool for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser

Before you explore the 11 fun fundraising ideas below, here's how to set up your Pool to collect donations and disperse them when ready.

1. Start your Pool — Sign up at Poolmoney.com and 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 Pool, but it only takes a few minutes. Once completed, you can continue the set-up process.
2. Manage your Pool with other volunteers — Pool 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, and spend or send Pool funds with the Pool card. With Pool'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. Invite volunteers to join the Pool. Once they've signed up and accepted the invitation, they can help manage fundraising activity, track contributions, and share responsibilities based on their assigned permissions.
3. Invite members to participate — Once your Pool is set up, invite trusted volunteers and organizers to join. Members can contribute funds and help support fundraising efforts in one shared place.
4. Collect contributions — Donations collect into your Pool and stay there until you choose to disburse them. They never mix with your finances or bank account. Pool keeps contributions and account activity organized in one place, making it easier for organizers to monitor fundraising progress.
5. Disburse donations — When your fundraiser's done, pat yourself on the back. With Pool, you can disburse funds using the free Pool debit card wherever Visa is accepted. There are no transaction fees, maintenance fees, or overdraft fees — you can donate 100% of the contributions. If you want to transfer Pool funds to an organization's bank account, use your Pool account and routing numbers to do that, too.

What can you do to raise money for breast cancer? 11 fundraising ideas

These 11 fundraising ideas 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 contribute to the fundraiser through your Pool.
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. 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. Attendees buy raffle tickets using your Pool. 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 on Poolmoney.com and track contributions at any time — so 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. Add the money you made that day to your dedicated Pool to keep all fundraised money in one place.
7. Karaoke or band night — 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. Ask patrons to donate once for the entire night, or create separate fundraising Pools for each performer and invite attendees to support their favorite act.
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. 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 — Invite your followers 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 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 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, Pool keeps it simple and hassle-free:

• There are no deadlines; your Pool stays open as long as you need it
• You never pay fees
• You get to pick your charity or nonprofit
• You choose how to disburse funds — use the Pool card or transfer 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 Pool. 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.