Issue #7

Miles for More

Hey Reader!

Weekly check-in time! And real talk, I'm two days away from wrapping up my run streak for June, which means I've been logging miles every single day this month. This month has been hot, humid, and rainy. And this week in Chicago is going to be HOT. The news is calling it 'corn sweat' weather, so this is going to be interesting.

No matter the weather situation where you're at, remember this: We're out here, running anyway, fundraising anyway, sweating through it all anyway. That's the thing about charity running, isn't it? You keep going even when it's uncomfortable, because the reason behind it is bigger than the inconvenience.

Weather aside, let's talk about what's in this week's edition: a really fun mid-year fundraising ask, a reel idea you can film this week, three silly holiday hooks to make asking feel less awkward, and a closing note just for you.

Ready for some fundraising tips? Here we go!

tl;dr

I know you're busy! If you want an overview for topics in this issue, here are the highlights!

1. Featured Resource: Ooooh, we're halfway there!
2. Hook of the Week: You won't believe this!
3. Fundraising Tips You Can Use Next Week - Week of July 6th​

Featured Resource

Halfway Through 2026

Here's a little perspective check: we are literally at the midpoint of the year. Six months down, six to go. And that's actually the perfect excuse to send one of the easiest, most casual fundraising asks of your whole campaign.

Half of your total goal. Half of what you still need to raise. Half of anything, really.

The beauty of this is that it's a completely non-pressure ask. It's light, it's timely, it's tied to something happening in the world (the calendar, not just your campaign), and it gives donors a super easy mental anchor. Here's why it works so well:

• It's a natural conversation starter. '2026 is halfway over, so I thought I'd ask for help getting halfway to my goal' is something you can literally say out loud without it feeling scripted.
• It lowers the perceived ask. Donors hear 'help me get halfway there' and it feels doable, not overwhelming.
• It creates urgency without pressure. The year really is almost over and race day is getting closer
• You have nothing to lose. Even if you get a handful of small donations, that's real progress for your charity

This works whether you're at 20% of your goal or 80%. Just reframe it around the midpoint and make the ask feel effortless. Draft your version, drop it in your stories, send a text to three people, whatever feels doable today.

For more simple fundraising ideas, check out this post.

Hook of the Week

What's a hook?

A hook is the opening moment of a video or caption designed to stop the scroll on social and make someone want to keep watching. This is your one-second pitch for the viewer to continue watching. It can be text on screen, a visual, or both and it makes all the difference between someone watching or swiping past.

This week's hook:

For your caption: Tell the reader the caption should ways they can donate to your charity, whether it’s your link in bio, sending you a Venmo for you to donate on their behalf, or other fundraising events you have coming up.

How to film it (keep it to 7 seconds!):

1. Open with the text hook on screen over b-roll video. B-roll is observation "fly on the wall" video. Examples would be a clip of you on a morning run clip, running in a race, or you in your cross-training routine
2. Keep the visual moving; no static shots
3. Add the text hook to the top of the screen (like a headline) at the start of the video
4. Layer trending audio underneath (check your Reels or TikTok audio tab for what's climbing this week) or a song that fits the clip
5. Let the hook do the heavy lifting! You don't need to say a word on camera
6. In the last 3-4 seconds, add text that says Details for How to Donate Below!

Fundraising Tips for Next Week

I want to make sure you have enough time to plan out ideas for these fundraising posts.

Here are a few ideas you plan for the week of July 6th:

• National Chocolate Day (July 7): Turn your favorite treat into a tracker. Break a chocolate bar into squares and assign a donation amount to each one. Every time someone donates, you 'eat' a square (or just post a picture of crossing one off). It's visual, fun, and gives donors something to cheer for.
• National Blueberry Day (July 8): Perfect to call out since blueberries are a training staple. A "fuel my miles" angle works well here: "Every $5 donation buys me a week's worth of blueberries to fuel my training." Light, personal, and easy to make funny with a self-deprecating note about mid-run fueling. Also love this for a charity with a blue logo.
• Build Your Own Sundae Day (July 11): This one is made for a visual fundraising goal tracker. Each topping = a donation milestone. Think of it like building the perfect sundae: ice cream base is your first milestone, hot fudge is the next, whipped cream after that, and the cherry on top when you hit your goal. Great for Instagram because you can literally illustrate this.

Here's ideas to start planning your July-themed fundraising ideas and read below for ideas for a whole year:

Fundraiser Shop

For my fundraising shopping list with things like letter boards, social media planners, pens, thank you notes and more, check out my fundraising store.

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See you on the run!

-Liz

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