Your Race for Hope Fundraiser Starter Pack
5 Easy Ways to Fundraise With Confidence
Race for Hope 2026 is happeing on Saturday, April 18th at Lee’s Family Forum in celebration of Autism Acceptance & Awareness Month! This is Grant a Gift’s 17th annual race, fundraising critical funds that go towards the Ackerman Center’s family-centered clinical care, therapy, and social programming for children and young adults living with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences.
At the heart of our race fundraising efforts is peer-to-peer fundraising.
Simply put: it's people fundraising alongside us by sharing the mission with the people in their lives.
When you sign up to race, you can create your own personal page, share your link with friends and family, and invite them to support a cause that matters to YOU. People give because they’re inspired by your story, your connection, and your reason for showing up. Every page shared helps spread awareness, brings new supporters into our community, and helps us raise the critical funds that power programs and services for families. It allows the impact to go farther and grow faster than we could ever do alone.
Fundraising doesn’t have to feel awkward, overwhelming, or time-consuming! Whether this is your first Race for Hope or you’re a returning supporter, we’ve created this Fundraiser Starter Pack to give you everything you need to feel confident sharing your story and raising support for Grant a Gift Autism Foundation – Ackerman Center.
You don’t need to be a professional fundraiser to make a meaningful impact.
1. Personalize & Share Your Fundraiser Page
Your personal fundraising page is the heart of your efforts. Take a few minutes to add a short message about why Race for Hope and the Ackerman Center matter to you.
Not sure what to say? Start simple:
“I’m fundraising for Race for Hope because the Ackerman Center has impacted my life by…”
Once your page is live, share your unique fundraising link with friends, family, coworkers, and your community. People give to people, your story makes a difference.
2. Use Our Ready-Made Canva Social Media Templates
We’ve made sharing easy with customizable Race for Hope Canva templates you can use across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Stories . No design skills required!
Simply choose a template, add your fundraiser link, cutomize the photos you would like to include (simply drop new ones in!) and post.
Tip: Try posting when you launch your fundraiser, when you hit a milestone, and during the final countdown to Race Day.
3. Ask Directly (We Give You the Words!)
Asking for support can feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to. We’ve created simple, copy-and-paste messages you can use for texts, emails, DMs, and social posts.
Direct asks are one of the most effective ways to fundraise, and having the words ready makes it much easier to get started.
4. Set a Goal & Share Your Progress
Setting a fundraising goal gives people something to rally around. Choose a goal that feels achievable; many fundraisers start with $250 or $500.
As donations come in, share progress updates, celebrate milestones, and thank supporters along the way. Even small donations add up, and sharing progress often inspires others to give.
5. Show the Impact
Every dollar raised supports individuals and families served by Grant a Gift Autism Foundation – Ackerman Center. Sharing the why behind your fundraising helps others understand the impact of their support.
Don’t forget to thank donors, share how their generosity makes a difference, and celebrate being part of the Race for Hope community.
You’re Not Fundraising Alone
We’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re sharing your page once or becoming a top fundraiser, every effort matters.
Ready to get started?
• Set up your fundraising page
• Download our Canva templates
• Share your story and invite others to join you
Thank you for being part of Race for Hope and for helping us continue our mission at the Ackerman Center. Together, we’re making an impact — one share, one donation, and one step at a time.
