• The link to the People for Trees giving page is: 2025 — 2025 Cleveland Marathon — Race Roster — Registration, Marketing, Fundraising 

• If people would like to give via check, we ask that they send the check to: 

Holden Forests & Gardens 
P.O. Box 7422 
Cleveland, OH 44194-0002

We also ask that they include “the Cleveland Marathon” in the memo of the check or an online donation on HF&G’s website. 

• Please also share with friends and family who may be interested in supporting HF&G and the Cleveland Marathon through volunteering. Please reach out to Ellie Rial at [email protected] if you would like to help during the race weekend. 

Kick-Off: A key to fundraising is building momentum. Kick off your fundraising page by donating back the 20% you saved on registration to Team Holden Forests & Gardens. *See if your employer matches charitable contributions to make your gift go twice as far. 

Introduction: 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 (a guided script is attached below). Make the link easily accessible by posting it on your story or in the bio of your social media accounts. Encourage people to help you reach your personal financial goal. Also share with coworkers or running friends. 

Bingo board: Help me get my training started on the right foot by matching my miles my first two weeks of training. 

Example Bingo Board: 

*Adjust numbers as you see fit. A key is to have a variety of prices so people can choose the amount they are comfortable donating. Update your bingo card by tagging your friends that have sponsored your miles. If this is a successful tool for you, do it again in the second half of your training with your current mileage numbers. 

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 40^th 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 18^th. 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 a one-month out update on fundraising and training efforts. First, 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. If you have fallen behind on sharing your training, share an update and ask for further support to get through the last month of training. 

The formula for a great post or video

• Announcement

• What does HF&G Mean to You

• What does HF&G do for the community

• Could be your fundraising goal and what that equals: 

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

• HF&G goal : (see mission and vision statements on page 1) 

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.  

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!