Frequently asked questions

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Registration | Planning | Promotion | Finance

Registration

How do I register?
Visit bostonchildrens.org/fundraise and click "create a fundraiser." Choose the fundraising activity that matches closest to what you are planning. Click "get started." Answer a few questions. Then we'll get in touch with you within a week.

How will I know when my fundraiser is registered?
We'll contact you in a few business days.

Are there restrictions on fundraisers?
Your fundraiser must align with the mission and image of Boston Children's Hospital for us to endorse it. For example, we cannot endorse fundraisers sponsored by alcohol or tobacco companies. We'll let you know if we're concerned with any aspect of your fundraiser during our initial call.

When can I host a fundraiser?
Whenever you'd like; our program runs year-round. Although, fundraisers of 100+ participants cannot be scheduled on the same day as an event hosted by Boston Children's Hospital without our prior approval.

What can I name my fundraiser?
Boston Children's Hospital can only be identified as the beneficiary of your fundraiser. For example, it cannot be called "Boston Children's Hospital Ride for Kids"; instead, it should be "Ride for Kids benefitting Boston Children's Hospital."

Can I designate my funds raised?
Yes! If you have a particular hospital area in mind, please discuss this during the initial call with your staff partner. Please note, certain funds might not be available if this is your first year fundraising.

Can the funds I raise cover expenses for a specific patient?
While you can fundraise in honor or in memory of a specific person, Boston Children’s is unable to direct funds to cover a specific patient family’s expenses. Our social work team works closely to connect families with internal and external resources that can assist them. You may choose to direct your fundraising efforts to the Extraordinary Needs fund, which allows Boston Children’s to ease some financial difficulties for families that are experience challenging times.

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Planning

How do I fundraise?
Take it one step at a time. Log in to your Fundraising Center for helpful tips and tools, and to edit and share your Personal Fundraising page. Create a budget, set a goal, use social media, and engage friends and family. We'll also provide you with staff support and guidance along the way.

How do I access my Fundraising Center?
Go to bostonchildrens.org/fundraise and click the "Log In" button. Use the same credentials you created when you registered your event. From the Fundraising Center, you can edit your Personal Fundraising Page, send emails, and access lots of tools to help you succeed.

Can someone from Boston Children's attend and/or speak at my event or committee meetings?
We cannot guarantee physicians, staff or volunteers at your event. We also can't provide patient images or stories (for their own privacy).

Are there any guidelines around sponsorship and in-kind donations?
To avoid duplicate solicitations, we ask that you notify us before asking a business or company for a donation, cash or in-kind.

Can I have a raffle at my event?
To legally conduct any gambling activity or "game of chance" in Massachusetts, including raffles, bazaars, and "Las Vegas night" events, your organization must maintain 501c3 status and acquire a permit from the clerk of the city in which the fundraiser will take place. For more information, visit the Department of the Attorney General's website.

What about an auction?
Yes! You can absolutely host a silent or live auction. As a reminder, when advertising any items in a silent or live auction, you must display the fair market value. No items can be priceless because the donor will not be eligible for a tax receipt. Boston Children's Hospital will only issue IRS-compliant tax receipts if the donor pays beyond the fair market value and if payment is made directly to Boston Children's Hospital.

Does Boston Children's provide event insurance?
The fundraising coordinator (that's you) are responsible for obtaining any permits or insurance.

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Promotion

Will you help promote my fundraiser?
We're here to guide you and we provide tools in your Fundraising Center to help you promote your event. We can't manage your event, provide donor lists, stationary, or promote on hospital property.

Can I use Boston Children's Hospital's name and logo?
Yes, you can download "benefiting Boston Children's Hospital" logos and our seal in your Fundraising Center. Whenever you use our logo or name, your final piece (flyer, etc.) needs to be approved by our staff.

Can you post my event on the Boston Children's Facebook page?
We love sharing your success! Contact your staff partner to discuss Boston Children's sharing your event photos and success on Facebook. Please note, we do have guidelines and posts are at the discretion of our social media and marketing team. We also may include your event in the featured fundraiser section of our website.

Can I post about my fundraiser on social media?
Yes, it's a great way to promote your fundraiser and spread the word! We recommend that you share the link to your Personal Fundraising Page, so your friends and family can read your story and easily donate online—even if they can't attend an event.

Should I send a personal thank you card to my donors?
Yes, we hope you do! Mail some of your own or email your staff partner to receive branded thank you cards.

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Finance

Do I need to create a 501c3 (non-profit) organization to host a fundraiser for Boston Children's?
No need! You just need to register online for our approval.

Can Boston Children's Hospital issue tax receipts to my donors?
Yes. Boston Children's will issue IRS-compliant tax receipts to the full extent of the law, only if a donation of $250 or above is made payable directly to Boston Children's Hospital along with detailed contact information of the donor. Please do not promise any kind of receipts; issuing an inappropriate receipt can hurt our charitable tax status.

Can I pay myself back for expenses I've incurred?
You're responsible for covering event expenses and will not be reimbursed by Boston Children's. If you are paying for expenses, please deduct these from the funds raised prior to sending your donation check. Your expenses shouldn't exceed 30% of funds raised. We maintain an average fundraising ratio of 22% and strongly encourage the same standard.

Where do I send proceeds?
All proceeds need to be made payable to Boston Children's Hospital and mailed to us within 30 days of completing your fundraiser. Boston Children’s reserves the right to prohibit future fundraising if proceeds are not sent in a timely matter. Please mail your donation with the mail-in donation form found in your participant center.

Fundraise Your Way Boston Children's Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215

Can I use a third-party online donation site?
We strongly advise that you register and utilize our fundraising pages so we can best support you. If you need to use a third-party site, please be mindful of the following: Third-party sites take fees from each donation, while 100% of donations made through our fundraising pages comes back to the hospital. We also cannot guarantee that money received from a third-party site will be earmarked in honor/memory of someone or designated to a specific area of the hospital.

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