Again, with both of these pages you can make your own personal page, connecting it to the main group/team fundraiser if you’d like your own personal link to keep track of what you raised specifically.

You should have a button to wear if you want to wear it, but if you don’t have one, let me know and I will get one to you (I also have one that says “shirt” for those who aren’t putting on a lovely dress).  I also have a bunch of material about IJM and many more business cards pointing to my website for this if you’d like. You can easily download fundraising essentials from Love146 here.  Last year I actually printed a page full of the links on little slips of paper, which I passed out to those who were interested.

The next question you need to be asking yourself is why you are doing this. Although we all must have some similar reasons, I am sure it varies. As you take on this challenge, your influence in spreading awareness and raising funds is directly related to communicating your story, or your “why.”  And if your motivation is more personal, it is okay if you don’t want to share your “why” with everyone you come in contact with. Still, if you don’t know your motivation already, it will really help you to figure out why you set this goal for yourself (or talk with me and I will help you process that).

 Ask yourself how you can make what you are doing visible. For me, last year I posted a picture on my facebook page and wore the button everyday. I also wrote a letter to many people I knew, telling them what I was doing at the beginning of the month and when I was completing it. There is a fine line between bugging people and sharing what you are doing, giving them an opportunity to be part. You all have to decide what that looks like for yourselves.

With every picture you post:

Or

In the explanation of an online photo album of your dress pictures (or you can make an album on pinterest or facebook of infographs or images about modern slavery).

This is a template of a sample letter you can send to your friends/family:

 

Hello! 

 

I just wanted to let you know about this challenge I am starting. Every day for the month of February 2013 I am wearing the same dress to bring awareness to the 20-30 million slaves, or victims of human trafficking in our world. Doing this is only a small sacrifice- I don’t get to choose what I want to wear, what is always cute, comfortable, practical or clean. But the victims of modern slavery, both in the USA and around the world, have no choice, no freedom, no say in whether they will be used, wronged, abused. 

 

Personally, I am doing this because _____________. I have been learning about this issue and one thing that stands out to me is that ____________________. I think this is ________________. 

 

Myself and the group of people I am fundraising with hope that everyone they talk to this about will give $5 to our campaign  If enough of you will give money, we can reach our goal of $5000. This is the cost of funding a rescue operation, yes, literally freeing slaves, with the organization International Justice Mission. This goal also supports the work of Love146, an organization that aims to provide care to victims of sex-trafficking. 

 

If you are interested in jumping on board with this project yourself, wearing the same item of black clothing for even just a couple weeks, please check out this post on the Average Advocate: Project Little Black Dress 2013

 

If you are interested in donating funds to this project, please donate here: https://www.ijmfreedommaker.org/campaign/839/Average-Advocates-Action-Little-Black-Dress/ or  http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/team?ftid=19934

 

Thank you so much for helping me take on this challenge!

 

Always,

________________ 

 

6.) Fundraising 

You might not realize it yet, but fundraising is actually pretty hard. The key is to not get discouraged. Please check out this post about fundraising here: Fundraising 101

 

 

Related Posts:

Action: Little Black Dress Pt.1

Action: Little Black Dress Pt.2 (The How)

Art of Advocacy: Wearing Hope in a Little Black Dress

Review: Action Little Black Dress in Retrospect

2013 Little Black Dress Support