If you are doing this and I am not aware, please let me know so I can send you something weekly, to encourage you on your way. Be sure to read the “Escapist Rules” at the bottom of this post to get you started:
First and foremost, besides having whatever black item of clothing you are about to wear for a month, you need to know our fundraising pages. The links are below:
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.
2.) Stuff/Resources
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). Â 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 fromÂ
Love146 here. Â 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.
3.) Discover Your Motivation
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.” Â 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).
4.) Make a Visibility Plan
 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.
5.) Communicating
Some of you have asked me to write little sound bites that you can personalize or copy and paste to post on your social network sites or in an email. Here they are:
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).
Every day for the month of February 2013 I am wearing the same dress to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking, or modern slavery. For me this is 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 all around the world, have no choice, no freedom, no say in whether they will be used, wronged, abused. Myself and the group I am fundraising with hope that enough of you will give $5+ so that we can reach our goal of $5000, which could fund a rescue operation for victims of human trafficking with International Justice Mission, and provide care to victims of sex-trafficking through Love146. Please donate here: https://www.ijmfreedommaker.org/campaign/839/Average-Advocates-Action-Little-Black-Dress/ or  http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/team?ftid=19934
This is a template of a sample letter you can send to your friends/family:
Hello!Â
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.Â
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 ________________.Â
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.Â
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:Â 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,
________________Â
6.) FundraisingÂ
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:
Elisa, this is all so very cool. I spoke with a Lisa Jones who raised money for IJM as well with the one month, one dress, one cause. Maybe you know her. Anyway, I work for IJM in the Student Mobilization department and wondered if you know of any students who have done this? I am writing a devotional book that will include stories of students doing things to raise awareness and funds to end slavery. I can use you all as an example, but if I’m looking for a student as that is the target audience of the book.
Thanks for all your support.
Brian
Honestly, I wish so bad a student did this with me, as I think it is such an easy thing to do for students to do. I think the youngest person who did it was, um, 25? I have almost talked a few into it, and hoping for some to join in this next year. Please feel free to use it regardless, and feel free to ask anything or take any quotes or information from here. I think I actually put up a guide on World Vision Acts, so some might have done it themselves on there… I will look. I think this year we raised just shy of $5000 for IJM!