"Thrive for AgScape"
30th Anniversary
Peer-to-PeerFundraising Toolkit
What is "Thrive for AgScape"?
"Thrive for AgScape" is a resource that
enables people at any time from any
location to host independent
fundraising initiatives and/or events to
support agriculture and food education
in our classrooms and at home.
We are launching this Peer-To-Peer
fundraising platform in celebration of
AgScape's 30th Anniversary. Our
collective goal is to raise $30,000!
Over a hundred years ago, about half of
Canada's population worked on farms. Today
that number is less than 2%. This means we're
further removed from where our food comes from
than ever before. As a result, our access to
reliable and legitimate resources for answering
questions about our food is limited.
By hosting your own fundraiser through "Thrive for
AgScape", you'll join others dedicated to bridging
the gap that exists between the people who
grow food and the people who eat food!
You will help to inspire the next generation to
better understand why agriculture is so important
and how it supplies people both locally and all
over the world with food, clothing, medicine,
cosmetics, employment and more.
Why take part?
"Thrive for AgScape" allows you to use your creative
ideas, outstanding talents and inspiring passions to
turn anything into your own fundraising event or
initiative. Go to
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/agscape/
p2p/thriveforagscape to set up your fundraising page
and start fundraising! You may already have a
fundraiser in mind, and in many cases, it is possible to
adapt it to a virtual event, or you may want to check
out the ideas below for some fundraising inspiration!
How does it work?
"Event" ideas
Running a Peer-To-Peer "event" doesn't have to be a huge
daunting task! It can be as simple as honouring one of your
favourite people with an activity you enjoy or sharing an
experience you had with them to celebrate a milestone in
their life. As many of you already have a passion for food
and agriculture, here is one of AgScape's top Peer-to-Peer
recommendations if you feel stuck coming up with
something easy to initiate:
A FOOD MEMORY!
Let's say it's your mother's or father's birthday. Or maybe
a grandparent is turning 70! Or perhaps your son or
daughter is graduating from high school, college or
university. You can start a fundraising page & describe
one of your most amazing food memories you have with
them. Then share your fundraising page with people in
your network. Ask them to donate to "Thrive for AgScape"
in honour of their milestone. Sharing a food memory and
donating to AgScape on behalf of a loved one who has
passed away can also be an incredibly touching way to
honour their lives and hold space for an experience with
them that was near and dear to your heart.
Here's a real time example - One of AgScape's staff had a
huge cherry tree in their parent's backyard. Every summer,
she and her dad would climb to the top of the tree and pick
the shiniest, juiciest cherries they could find. Then they
would bake & enjoy the most delicious cherry pies with the
rest of the family. So for her dad's birthday, she would
create a fundraising page describing this food memory and
post a photo. She would reach out to friends, family and
neighbours and ask them to donate to AgScape in honour
of his birthday. Her friends & family could then create food
memories of their loved ones too and do the same thing.
Such a simple and meaningful way to honour the people in
our lives we love most!
Other fundraising ideas!
Walk 30,000 steps in 3 days..or even
better..300,000 steps in 30 days
Give up your guilty pleasure for 30 days - beer!
"fast food"! sugar!
Grow an herb or tomato garden on your balcony
or backyard and challenge your friends/family
Solo Challenges
Ask your family & friends to sponsor your solo
challenge or favourite activity with your online
fundraising page in support of AgScape's 30th
Anniversary:
to try it too
A bake sale
Children's read-a-thon
Front yard talent show
For the budding chefs out there - Prepare a
meal with 5 or less local ingredients
Family Fundraisers
Fundraising is fun for all ages, so get children
involved with some of these family favourite
activities too:
,
Knit-a-thons
Yogathons
Concerts (eg., One guy we know played guitar
for 30 hours straight on YouTube live)
Live Streamed Events
Showcase your talents or your endurance in a live
streamed event from your home. Here are some fun
ideas to get you started:
How to organize your fundraiser
Your "Thrive for AgScape" online fundraising page is the
perfect way to collect and track donations while keeping your
friends and family up-to-date on your fundraising journey.
1. RegisterSet up your "Thrive for AgScape" page at
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/agscape/p2p/thrive
foragscape to kickstart your fundraising journey today.
2. PersonalizeMake your page stand out by including your fundraising goal
and personalizing it with details of your fundraiser.
3. Share Your StoryIf you have a special connection to an individual you are
honouring or commemorating OR if you have a meaningful
connection to AgScape, a teacher, a student or a farmer, share
your story to engage people with your interest in the cause.
4. Share photos & fundraising milestonesYou don't have to be a professional photographer to share your
awesome photos of loved ones or initiatives you are fundraising
for - Keep people updated and engaged with even just one
photo on your fundraising page (and be sure to tag
#ThriveforAgScape)
Promote your event on social media
Use video conferencing
Invite people you know together to enjoy your
fundraising activity via video on Facebook,
Instagram, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, What's App
or any other platform you feel comfortable on.
Communication Template
Share photos, videos and your fundraising
page across your social media channels with
captions that explain your initiative or event
Tag AgScape with @AgScapeON and/or
#ThriveforAgscape
Include your fundraising page link in your
email signature and/or e-newsletters to
reach an even wider audience
When you set up your "Thrive for AgScape"
fundraising page through our CanadaHelps
portal, you will be able to integrate your
message easily on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
and email.
Send an email out right after you've completed
setting up your fundrasing page.
The purpose of this email is to announce to
your online network (IRL & social media friends,
family, peers, colleagues, neighbours) that
you've signed on to raise funds for a cause
near and dear to your heart and that you need
their help. Basically, you've got to get the word
out to everyone you know to help you reach
your fundraising goals. The goal is to share,
share, share! Click here for your email template
or create your own.
After your fundraiser
Share your photos!
Say thank you
Contact us
Submit your donation
When your supporters donate online through your "Thrive for AgScape"
fundraising page they will receive an automated tax receipt. There is
nothing further you need to do. If you prefer not to fundraise online and
coordinate an offline or in-person fundraiser, our pledge form to collate
cash and cheque donations is found here. Please note: we can send
charitable tax receipts upon request for $25+ donations; we will need the
donors' names and addresses which you can complete on the pledge form
and mail in with your donations. Please DO NOT send cash in the mail. We
recommend sending a cheque or money order instead.
We love to see the amazing ways our fundraisers
support us, so feel free to share your photos, videos
and inspiring stories with us by emailing them to
[email protected]. Remember to tag us with
@AgScapeON and #ThriveforAgScape
Always remember to thank everyone who
supported and/or participated in your
fundraiser with a phone call, email or card.
People will enjoy hearing how much you raised
and you may be able to encourage others to
hold their own "Thrive for AgScape" fundraiser!
Sarah Smith, Fund Development Manager
Email: [email protected]
Tel #: (905) 878-1510 x410
Mailing address: AgScape, P.O Box 460,
8560 Tremaine Road, Milton, ON L9T 4Z1