Team Captain Tips

Fundraising Help

Thank you Team Captains! You're the boots that keep TGP moving. You play a vital role in the event, and we're grateful for your leadership.

How to Begin

Register online and create your team with a fun name!

Recruit 7, 8, or 20 of your friends and family to register, fundraise and walk with you.

Fundraise personally as captain and encourage your teammates to fundraise too. As a rule, team captains fundraise 3X more than their teammates.

Donate to your own campaign and your teammates to set a generous fundraising tone of the event.

Communicate frequently with your team to keep them excited and connected.

Getting Organized

Captains make it happen! 99% of being a great captain is being an encouraging friend - here's the rest of it:

Set a good fundraising goal: It's up to you to set the team fundraising goal. A $2000 goal is a good start, but it depends on your team and your expectations of them - talk to your teammates and build your own goal! Most participants raise around $250-$300, but some raise much more. What's important is to settle on a goal and talk about it often in your communication. Don't worry, you can edit your goal anytime.

Talk about the t-shirt: When any of your teammates fundraise $150 (adults) or $75 (youth) they get thanked with a nifty, freshly-designed TGP t-shirt. Talk it up!

Use the Tools!

TGP has many helpful fundraising tools, so please enjoy and share these links with your team:

How to Fundraise: The absolute basics of fundraising for beginners of all ages

Campaign Ideas: There are many ways to fundraise - pick a technique that works for your personality

Brainstorm teammates: As you begin, consider all the potential teammates you could ask to join your team. Write their names down without a lot of self-editing, and keep brainstorming. Talk to your team to get more ideas, and encourage them to bring on teammates who will fundraise too.

Communicate: Stay in contact with your team, both during the campaign and on Event Day. Group texts, short emails, and the odd phone call over the campaign period will keep you and your team encouraged and focused. Welcome new members joyfully, and celebrate good fundraising pushes! Then, on Event Day you'll want to make sure your team has your cell number handy to stay connected.

Recruitment Tips

Consider asking your...

Spouse/partner: Of course they'll join your team. Tell them it's a date... then surprise them with the news they're about to spend it with hundreds of other sweaty people wearing toques - they'll never forget the moment you asked.

Kids: Hey, why not? What a learning opportunity! The issues of aging Canadians are so important - what a great way for them to learn.

Siblings: You've got a couple on your "nice list" right? Great - now put them on your recruitment list.

Mom or Dad: Before you were born, they used to have a life. They did stuff, they had fun, they know more than you think - so ask them!

Workpeople: Yeah, that's a term. All week long they keep thinking how wonderful you are - you might as well invite them on your team and prove their assumptions correct!

Neighbours: You shoveled their driveway all last winter, so they kind of owe you now - cash in and invite them.

Friends: They'd love to join you because you're the most bestest bestie for life friend in the whole wide world, with a cherry and five hashtags on top.

Boss: She'd be soooo impressed - that's a raise for sure.

Pastor/Minister/Old-timey vicar: Tell them they can wear their vestments on the walk, if they want.

Classmates: Save them from a Saturday of Netflix binging - give them a chance to join you and do something fun and meaningful.

Church/study/small group: These folks are great fun and might love to walk for a few hours on a Saturday. If they're not convinced, tell them there's a potluck - church people love potlucks.

Pilates instructor, yoga friend, the guy beside you on the bus every morning, your favourite barista who always remembers your order, your accountant, your lawyer (it's a matter of justice, they should be all over it), your doctor, dentist, or do-gooder friend at the club - the list is endless. Enjoy the brainstorming!

Money, Safety + Waivers

Handling Money

All cash or cheque donations need to be sent directly to TGP Head Office by participants.

Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatic tax receipt for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the TGP Head Office.

Cheques: The Old Faithful - made out to “The Grand Parade” with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to the TGP Head Office along with your completed pledge sheet.

Cash: You have 2 options:

1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Cheques,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...

2. Write a cheque (made out to “The Grand Parade”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to TGP Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.

Safety First: Call 911!

Youth and children should always be supervised. Remind your team that in case of an accident or injury, they should immediately call 911 for emergency support. If an accident does occur, please contact the TGP Head Office by phone or email.

Watch for Waivers

Everyone on your team must register online before Event Day.

When they register online, they will automatically accept an electronic waiver, which is all that is needed for adults.

If you have youth or children on your team, they will need to have their parent or guardian sign a printed paper waiver.

Someone on your team (like you!) must take a photo of all child/youth waivers and send them to waivers@thegrandparade.org.