Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk

Thank you for joining us for the 2025 Furry 5K Fun Run & Walk as a fundraiser for yourself or as a team captain! Your fundraising makes a difference and every dollar you raise supports the Seattle Animal Shelter's mission to provide critical services for our community's most vulnerable animals.

Here are some tips and tools to help you get started and guide you through the fundraising process:

• Start your fundraiser profile: Set up your individual or team fundraising page by creating your own profile for you or your team. This is where you set your fundraising goals and messaging. Create your fundraiser profile here!
• Personalize your fundraising page: The most important thing you can add to your page is why you are fundraising to support Seattle Animal Shelter pets. Let your family and friends know why this matters to you. That is what they care about most! If your fundraiser is in honor of a special pet, feel free to include their picture.
• Set your fundraising goal: If you choose your goal amount for a specific reason, tell people why. Be intentional about the amount you are asking for and try to relate it back to the cause. Not all fundraising has to be done with one donation, sometimes even raising $1 a day can help reach any fundraising goal.
• Kickstart your fundraising: Show your commitment by donating to your own fundraising goal and share your fundraiser to others – have fun with it! This can be asking your employer to match your gift, friends and family, or any connection within your network. The world is your oyster.
• Make a clear ask: Asking your network for money can feel scary but remember, you are asking for someone to contribute to a cause that is important to you. Providing a clear ask helps people know what is appropriate and what you are hoping for. It can actually help your donors feel more comfortable in their giving.
• Spread the word on social media: Share your fundraising page on social media and promote your fundraising goals (be sure to include the link to your page). One of the best strategies to use social media for is to tag and thank people that have already donated while you are asking for new donations. This spreads your message further and lets people know that others are already getting behind you.
• Don't forget to say "Thank You!": Personally thank each person who donates by sending them a handwritten note, an email, calling them, or giving them a shout-out on social media. Saying thank you means they’ll likely be more willing to continue to donate!

TIPS FOR TEAM CAPTAINS

• Set a goal: Create your team fundraising goal and set a goal for the number of people you will recruit for your team.
• Recruit team members: Create your team fundraising goal and set a goal for the number of people you will recruit for your team.
• Rally your team: Create an email or Facebook group to share stories, words of encouragement, and key fundraising tips.
• Create Excitement: Host a kickoff meeting or event to share why supporting the shelter pets is important to you and get your team energized.
• Support your team: Send fundraising tips and ideas to all your team members and highlight the team’s top fundraising members.
• Incentives: Create fundraising incentives for your team members to encourage them to meet or exceed their fundraising goals. And of course, check out the incentives for the Furry 5K offerings!

TEN FUNDRAISING IDEAS 

• The Power of 10: Ask 10 friends to donate $15 each to reach a fundraising milestone of $150! 
• Donation for Days: Ask people to donate an amount per each kilometer of your 5k (3.1 miles). Instead of a $25 donation, encourage them to make three $20 donations!
• Birthday: In lieu of a gift for your birthday, ask your friends and family to make a donation to your Furry 5K fundraiser.
• Ask Your Neighbors: Write a note to all of the animal-loving neighbors on your block or in your apartment building to ask for donations.
• Yard Sign: Design a yard sign for your front yard that you can use to promote your fundraiser.
• Help Out Your Neighbors: Walk the neighbors’ dogs for a donation or dog sit while pet owners are on vacation.
• Incentives: Tell everyone that for every $50 they donate, they get a chance to win something (for instance, your world-famous brownies).
• Coffee Sacrifice: Do your friends love their coffee? Ask them to donate what they would have spent on a cup of Joe. $5 from 10 people is $50!
• Wear Your Gear: Are you a long time Furry 5K participant? Wear your old race t-shirt when you go out to walk your dog. This is a great way to get others to learn about the Furry 5K and start the conversation about supporting you.
• Share Your Inspiration: Help spread the word by sharing a picture of you with your favorite pet(s) on social media, tag with #Furry5K and share your fundraising page.