Create a Fundraiser

Why Your Fundraiser Matters: The Direct Impact of ALS Fundraising

How fundraising dollars translate into care, counseling, and community support for ALS families

ALS carries an estimated lifetime care cost exceeding $1.4 million per person, with annual out-of-pocket expenses reaching over $200,000 even after insurance coverage is applied [1]. Every dollar raised through fundraising for ALS directly offsets those gaps — funding counseling services, adaptive equipment, accessible home modifications, and programs like "Care for Kids," which provides grants so children in ALS households can access the same enrichment opportunities as their peers [2]. Fundraising also supports integrated systems of care that span medical services, public policy advocacy, and community events — all working together to reduce the financial and emotional burden on families navigating this disease [3]. We are here for you, and your fundraiser makes that possible in concrete, measurable ways.

The gap between need and resources: why grassroots fundraisers are critical to ALS United's mission

Real stories: how past fundraisers have funded support services, advocacy programs, and medical resources through ALS United
The 2014 [ALS Ice Bucket Challenge](https://alsunited.org/blog/the-als-ice-bucket-challenge) remains the clearest example of what peer-driven fundraising can accomplish, raising over $220 million globally and funding research that directly advanced understanding of the disease [5]. Beyond viral moments, campaigns built on personal storytelling — walks, tribute events, and community drives — consistently convert donor trust into tangible services: social workers embedded in ALS clinics, counseling for caregivers, and equipment loans for people who cannot afford adaptive devices. Research shows that nonprofits practicing full financial transparency receive 53% more in contributions than those that don't, meaning every dollar raised through an honest, community-centered fundraiser compounds into greater service delivery over time [6]. We are here for you — and the track record of fundraisers like these shows exactly what that commitment looks like in practice.

How to Raise Money for ALS: Step-by-Step Fundraiser Planning

Step 1: Choose your fundraiser type and align it with ALS United's community-driven approach

Step 2: Set a realistic fundraising goal and use ALS United's clinic finder and support network to understand local needs
A realistic fundraising goal starts with understanding what your local ALS community actually needs before you choose a number. Our clinic finder connects you to ALS clinics and member organizations near you, giving you direct insight into service gaps — equipment loans, caregiver counseling, or transportation assistance — that your campaign can directly address. Research on nonprofit goal-setting shows that SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) paired with data from past fundraisers consistently outperform broad aspirational figures. [9] Breaking your total target into smaller milestones — a participant count, a mid-campaign dollar marker, a final stretch number — makes progress visible and helps donors see exactly where their contribution lands. [10] Connecting with [ALS support groups](https://alsunited.org/blog/als-support-groups-connecting-with-others-facing-the-disease/) in your area before finalizing your goal grounds your fundraiser in real community need, which is the clearest signal to donors that their gift will reach someone close to home.

Step 3: Leverage ALS United's educational materials and counseling resources to craft a compelling fundraiser narrative

A compelling fundraiser narrative centers on three elements: a relatable person facing the challenge, a clear description of what ALS takes from them, and a direct line showing how a donation changes that outcome. [11] Our [educational materials and caregiver guides](https://alsunited.org/blog/literature-for-coping-and-understanding) give your story factual grounding, while our counseling team can help you frame the emotional reality of the disease in ways that feel honest rather than exploitative. [12] Being transparent about where funds go and which specific services they support builds the trust that sustains donor relationships beyond a single campaign. [11] Rooting your narrative in real community need, backed by credible resources, is the difference between a story people read and one that moves them to act.

Proven ALS Fundraiser Ideas That Generate Real Results

Community events and local fundraisers: partnering with ALS United member organizations near you

Community events like charity walks, runs, and local gatherings consistently produce strong results for ALS fundraising because they turn personal connections into collective action. Our member organizations coordinate events across the country — the Pittsburgh Walk to Defeat ALS raised over $530,000 in a single event, while the CEO Soak brought together more than 40 local executives to raise $273,000 for western Pennsylvania families. [13] Partnering with a member organization near you gives your event built-in infrastructure: clinic connections, volunteer networks, and local sponsor relationships that individual fundraisers can't replicate on their own. [13] Activities like 5K runs, team walks, and fitness challenges work particularly well because they draw in participants from schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods who may not yet have a personal connection to ALS — expanding the donor base while deepening community ties. [14]

Online fundraising campaigns: using ALS United's advocacy programs and storytelling resources to maximize reach

Online fundraising campaigns reach donors where they already are — 5.22 billion people use social media globally, spending an average of two hours and 24 minutes there daily, and 51% of nonprofit website traffic now comes from mobile devices. [15] The most effective online ALS campaigns pair personal storytelling with a clear line showing how each donation funds a specific service — counseling, equipment loans, or advocacy work — because that directness is what moves people from reading to giving. [14] Our advocacy resources and educational materials give your campaign factual grounding, while our member organization network can amplify your message well beyond your immediate circle. [15] If you're building an online fundraiser for ALS, our [ALS donate guide](https://alsunited.org/blog/als-donate-a-complete-guide-to-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-donations/) explains exactly how donations reach people directly, giving your supporters the context that builds trust and drives repeat giving. [14]

Creative tributes and memorial fundraisers: honoring loved ones while supporting ALS United's comprehensive services

Tribute and memorial fundraisers center a campaign around the life of someone lost to or living with ALS — giving donors a specific, personal reason to give. [16] Supporters can build a fundraising page that reflects a loved one's passions or milestones, then share it with the family and friends already moved to give in that person's name. [17] These campaigns work because the connection between donor and honoree creates built-in motivation that extends well beyond a typical fundraising appeal. [16] Our counseling team and educational materials can help you frame your tribute in ways that honor the person and clearly show donors which ALS services their gift will fund.

Maximize Your Fundraiser Impact: The 80/20 Rule and ALS United's Support Framework

Focus your effort where it matters most: identifying the 20% of activities that drive 80% of fundraising success

The 80/20 rule holds that roughly 80% of fundraising results come from 20% of activities — and in practice, the split is often steeper, with 90% of individual donor revenue coming from just 10% of donors. [18] Applied to ALS fundraising, this means auditing which efforts — personal outreach, community events, tribute campaigns — actually convert into donations, then cutting those that produce no measurable return. [19] The benefit is twofold: you recover time and budget from low-yield work and redirect both toward what actually drives your campaign. [18] Identifying your most engaged supporters early and giving them personal attention is what turns one-time donors into long-term advocates for the cause. [20]

Partner with ALS United to amplify your message: access to advocacy networks, counseling support, and medical expertise

Running a fundraiser through ALS United's network connects you to infrastructure individual campaigns can't replicate: advocacy programs that reach state and federal policy channels, counseling support for families navigating caregiving, and clinical expertise embedded in ALS clinics. Research on peer support programs shows they reduce social isolation, improve practical self-care knowledge, and help participants navigate health systems more effectively — benefits that extend to the caregivers and donors connected to your campaign, not just those living with the disease. [21] Our member organizations bring these resources directly to your fundraiser, giving your message the credibility that comes from being part of a unified network — one where we are here for you at every step of the journey.

Track, measure, and celebrate: how ALS United's transparency ensures every dollar reaches people who need it most

Donor trust in nonprofits has dropped from 59% to 56% since 2020, with a lack of transparency identified as the primary driver — donors now expect to know where their money went, much like tracking a delivery. [22] Sharing impact updates after each campaign, whether through a social post or a direct message to supporters, gives donors concrete evidence that their gift reached the families it was meant to help. [22] Celebrating specific outcomes — a caregiver counseling session funded, an equipment loan delivered, an advocacy bill advanced — turns each fundraising milestone into proof that the work is real. When donors can see their contribution in action, one-time givers become long-term advocates for the cause. [22]