Kick-Off: A key to fundraising is building momentum. A good way to kick off your fundraising page is by being the first to donate! Consider giving back the 20% you saved on registration to Team Holden Forests & Gardens.  Also, check if your employer matches charitable contributions to make your gift go twice as far.  

Get Social: For people to support you, they need to know what you are doing (and why). Share that you are running for Holden Forests & Gardens in the Cleveland Marathon on social media. Encourage people to help you reach your personal financial goal. Also share with coworkers or running friends. 

Here is an example: 

I am excited to share that I am running the Cleveland Marathon to raise money for Holden Forests & Gardens. @CleGarden is an organization that means so much to me because… Holden Forests & Gardens positively impacts the entire community through its educational, conservation, and research programming in addition to the beauty it brings our local community. HF&G’s vision is to transform all communities into vibrant places where trees, plants, and people thrive, and every donation helps us get closer to that goal. Help me reach my goal of raising $250 for Team Holden Forests & Gardens by donating to the link in my bio.   

How to Create a Script for Social Media 

Here is a simple formula for a great post or video: 

• Announce that you are participating in the Cleveland Marathon 

• Say what HF&G Means to You 

• Say what HF&G does for the community 

• Include a “call to action” and ask for a donation to support your goal. Be specific and include the amount you are trying to raise.  

 
Stuck for ideas? Here are some examples you can use – pick what resonates with you the most: 

• $150 feeds the wildlife in the Cleveland Botanical Garden Biome for one week.  

• $150 funds a Sprouting Young Scientist classroom visit in a local pre-school.  

• $375 provides one summer camp scholarship for a student in need.  

• $500 plants 25 trees in a Cleveland neighborhood that has suffered significant tree canopy loss.  

• $750 enables HF&G to loan a special collection of plant and tree books to a local public library.  

• $1,000 manages and protects the habitat of one rare plant species.  

Match my Miles: Post a picture of a run you did that day and encourage people to “Match your Miles.” A great way to make this post even more effective is to demonstrate what the amount you are asking for would mean for HF&G. For example, a $20 gift for your 20-mile long-run equals a new book for the library, or a $8 gift after an eight-mile run equals a perennial plant for Horticulture.  

Birthday/Special Event Donation: If it is your birthday, or another significant day between now and the marathon, ask friends or family to celebrate with you by supporting your fundraising goals. For example, “for my 40th birthday I am running the Cleveland Marathon. I’d be overjoyed if you would celebrate with me by donating $26 for the 26 miles I will be running on May 18th. It would be so motivating to know I have my friends and family cheering me on every mile.”  

Make my Training Playlist: Ask friends to donate $5 to add a song to a playlist you will listen to while training.  

Countdown to Race Weekend: Give regular updates on fundraising and training efforts in the final weeks and days leading up to the race. Be sure to thank your team for all the encouragement, support, and donations thus far. If you already reached your goal, set the bar higher.  

Incentive: Official Team Holden Forests & Gardens branded running shirt & water bottle. We’ll help you gear up to represent your team on race day!  

Why it matters: This gets you started and shows your support for our cause on race day! 

Incentive: Personalized thank-you shoutout on social media + Level 1 gift. 

Why it matters: Your impact is growing, and we want to highlight your efforts! 

Incentive: HF&G level 4 membership + Level 1 & 2 gifts. 

Why it matters: $1,000 can make a BIG difference! Each $1,000 donation can support: summer camp scholarships for two children, protect 20 acres of land from damaging invasive plants, & purchase nearly 50 trees for community tree plantings. Sustain your place in HF&G’s member community with a year-long membership.  

Incentive: 2 tickets to HF&G’s annual fundraiser, Twilight at the Holden Arboreum + Level 1-3 gifts. 

Why it matters: You’ve hit a milestone that makes a big difference. Join us at our annual benefit for an immersive culinary experience catered by Spice Catering Co. Sit back, relax, reflect, and most importantly, enjoy a night out to celebrate all that you have accomplished!