Get Started Fundraising

There are many different ways to help fundraise for Pitt Hopkins syndrome.
Your effort and support is greatly appreciated by all PTHS families around the world.
The following links are examples of ways to help, but we welcome your ideas, too.

Facebook DonationsStart an Email CampaignDirect mail fundraising cardsCreate a Giving Page Do a Profit ShareOrganize an Event!Organize a Race/Golf TournamentBe a Pitt Hopkins RacerShop for Pitt!

Visit this GOOGLE DOC to see a step-by-step guide to creating a Facebook Fundraising Campaign and an Instagram Fundraising campaign.

Steps to creating a fundraiser on Facebook:

Or to manually create one follow the steps below:

  • Select “Create Fundraiser” from the drop down menu bar.
  • Click on “Get Started” to begin
  • Choose who you are raising money for
  • Search for your nonprofit
  • Create and publish your first post!

Or add a Facebook Donate Button to your Post:

To add a donate button to your post, click What’s on your mind? on your News Feed or timeline and then follow one of these options:

  • Tag the nonprofit, click Post and then click Add Button to confirm that you want to add a donate button.
  • Click Feeling/Activity and scroll down to click Supporting. Select a nonprofit, click Post and then click Add Button to confirm that you want to add the donate button to your post.

Best Practices for a Facebook Campaign:

  • Make your campaign meaningful – Tell your friends and family about the child or adult with Pitt Hopkins this fundraiser is in honor of–include photo(s) and a heartfelt plea of why fundraising for a treatment or cure is important to you.
  • Consider going Live within your Fundraiser sharing why this campaign is so meaningful for you.
  • Find Facebook friends that have a lot of followers, and ask them to share and promote your campaign with their friends. If some friends want to do more or can’t donate, suggest sharing as a way for them to help.
  • Consider starting with a modest goal, then update it incrementally as you reach milestones.
  • “Like” donations and comment on them as they come in.
  • Periodically during your fundraising campaign, make a post to thank those supporters who have already donated.
  • Praise your supporters after the campaign is over by thanking them for their support, and include why your fundraising was important to you.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org
with any questions you might have or for more information.

Start an Email Campaign

Parents Audrey and Eric Lapidus spear-headed an email fundraising campaign that raised an astounding amount. This money was raised simply by sharing their story, by opening their lives to their friends and family and their community. People want to help. All Eric and Audrey did was give them the chance they’d been looking for.

But the money we’ve raised is just a start. To really see this dream through, we need your help. We’d love for you to get involved and help fundraise so that we can reach this goal. We’re happy to share with you how easy it can be.

Please email us at phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org for a sample email campaign letter you may use and customize for your family. Thank you!

See Simple Ways to Nail Fundraising Appeals, from Fired Up Fundraising:

Give your family and friends a way to help your child with supporting research into finding a cure, by sending Direct Mail Fundraising Cards. They want to help your family, and will love getting a card from you in the mail.

  • Make a card online (Shutterfly has great templates) or by hand, sharing your story of how Pitt Hopkins impacts your child, asking for a tax deductible donation by check or online
  • Add a personal note to your donor on a Sticky Note
  • Include a self addressed stamped envelope
  • When a donation made, send a personalized thank you card or email to your donor, as soon as possible
  • Ask grandparents, relatives or good friends to send personalized cards too
  • Mail cards in the Fall, for end of year giving (for tax deductions)
  • Back of card includes the PHRF mission and % of donations going to research (the PHRF can provide this % for you)
  • The Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation will send your donors a Charitable Gift Receipt in the mail with check donations, and an email with online donations

Please email the PHRF at phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org for an example of a fundraising card campaign. We are here to help you!

We can help you create a giving page for collecting donations on your families behalf. Please contact us at information@pitthopkins.org to get started with this. See the families that have joined this initiative below:

Alexandra’s Pitt Crew – https://pitthopkins.org/alexandraspittcrew/

Edith’s Lost Boys – https://pitthopkins.org/edithslostboys/

Inspired by Ian – https://pitthopkins.org/inspiredbyian/

Mighty Macy – https://pitthopkins.org/mightymacy/

Sofia’s Story – https://pitthopkins.org/sofiasstory/

Stand with Myles – https://pitthopkins.org/standwithmyles/ 

Team JohnWesley – https://pitthopkins.org/teamjohnwesley/ 

Team Jackson – https://pitthopkins.org/jackson/

Do a Profit Share

First step…

Choose a couple restaurant options (a personal connection is always nice but not necessary) and ask about partnering for a profit share.

Tips on asking…

  • Tell them about the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation and how the money will help
  • Ask if they have ever done one before (they might have a system on how they have done them in the past)
  • Explain what your plan is, how this would benefit them as well by bringing in more customers for the day/evening

Marketing the event…

  • Ask them about using their logo/name to promote it
  • Create flyers for social media, emails, etc
  • Send email to family and friends
  • Ask family and friends to help you spread the word and invite people they know
  • Share with the school/therapists/doctors that know your child
  • Possibly have a personalized Thank You coloring page to print out for the kids at the event
  • Create a personalized donation page for those family members and friends who can’t make it but would like to support your child!

As always, don’t hesitate to contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org
with any questions you might have or for more information.

Organize an Event

PTHS families and friends have organized many different types of events, big and small, to help fundraise for research into finding a treatment for Pitt Hopkins syndrome.  These events have included:

  • Ella’s Bounce Extravaganza event in a Sports Complex
  • A percentage of proceeds from a weekend of photography sessions
  • Lockets of Love jewelry party
  • Birthday parties with donations to the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation in lieu of gifts
  • Children’s lemonade stands

Please contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org for more information.

Organize a 5K Race or Golf Tournament

Organizing a 5K Race or Golf Tournament is a wonderful way to gather family, friends, PTHS families, and your community to support PTHS research.  In addition to being a successful fundraising activity, this kind of community event is wonderful for raising awareness and understanding.

Several families from different parts of the country have organized annual 5K Races or Golf Tournaments in their communities.

Please contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org for more information.

Be a Pitt Hopkins Racer

An individual way to raise funds for research is to become a Pitt Hopkins Racer. This enables you to fundraise as a part of a endurance or distance event that you are already signed up for. Pitt Hopkins racers participate in races, half marathons, full marathons, triathlons and more around the country and internationally.

This type of fundraising enables you to have flexibility in choosing what race fits your schedule and location. You simply pick an event you want to participate in, then raise funds by gathering individual and corporate sponsors. You get to achieve your fitness and endurance goals while giving our children hope for a brighter future. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Please contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org for more information.

There are many different ways to support the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation while you are shopping online.
Check out our Shop for Pitt! Page here:

Shop for Pitt!

As always, don’t hesitate to contact phrf-fundraising@pitthopkins.org
with any questions you might have or for more information.

OVER 93% OF ALL FUNDS DONATED GO TO FINDING A CURE

Our board and officers are parents and professionals who volunteer their time, without compensation for their service, so that over 93% of all funds donated go to finding a cure.

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