In addition to being fun and educational events, Birdathon serves as a fundraiser for NYC Audubon's programs. We hope you will help us celebrate our 30th anniversary and reach our fundraising goal of $10,000 by collecting pledges from sponsors. Here are some tips to make it a little easier. Good luck and thanks for your support!

Visit our secure birdathon website to register and creat a team. Invite a few friends to join you, and they can have fun and help expand the circle of New Yorkers working to make sure the city is a great place for both people and birds to live! Click here to register online, or call Lisa at 212-691-7483 if you'd prefer to collect pledges on paper.

When you approach potential sponsors, explain what the Birdathon is. Let them know why you are participating and how their money will help benefit wild birds and essential habitat in New York City. Every dollar collected directly supports NYC Audubon's conservation, education and advocacy programs: Harbor Herons, Project Safe Flight, Making Buildings Safe, Natural Areas Initiative, NYC Audubon Adventures, and Look Around NYC.

Don’t be shy about asking for pledges—remember, you’re not asking for money for yourself! You’re asking your friends and family to support a good cause, and one that is important to you. You’re also helping to raise awareness about NYC Audubon’s important work. And it’s easier than you might think to meet your goal! In a full day of birding you can expect to see 75 - 100 species in New York City during May.

• $25 = 2 hours of birding, and 1 friend pledging $1 per species seen, or 4 friends pledging $0.25 per species seen
• $250 = 4 hours of birding, and 5 friends pledging $1 per species seen, or 10 friends pledging $0.50 per species seen
• $500 = 8 hours of birding, and 5 friends pledging $1 per species seen, or 10 friends pledging $0.50 per species seen
• $1,000 = 8 hours of birding and 10 friends pledging $1 per species seen

Start with people you feel comfortable approaching. Ask your friends, family, or co-workers, and anyone who may have asked you in the past to support his or her cause. Some people may even be able to double their pledge with a matching gift from their employer. You won’t know if someone will give unless you ask!

You can ask people to sponsor you in person or by email. Your personal Birdathon page (created automatically when you register online) makes it easy for you to send emails. Write a short note, and direct your sponsors to your web page, where they can make a donation to help you reach your fundraising goal.

• Describe what the Birdathon is and why you are participating. Let your sponsors know how their support will help birds and natural areas in NYC.
• Tell them about your birding route and indicate how many bird species you are likely to see. (You don't want your sponsor to be shocked if they pledge $5 per species and you later inform them that you saw 100 species!)
• Let them know that with a donation of $25 or more, they will receive a FREE one-year Individual membership in NYC Audubon, complete with discounts on our local trips and classes.
• Make sure they provide their contact information with their pledge.
• Remind them that their contribution is entirely TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!
• THANK THEM for supporting NYC Audubon and a cause that is important to you.

Now you have the ability to create your own personal webpages! Once you register for any Birdathon, you can use our website to make a homepage for your experience. Add photos, ask for sponsors, track your fundraising success and share the fun with your friends and supporters

Within a week of the Birdathon, be sure to follow up with all your sponsors to collect outstanding per species pledges and to regale them with tales of your adventurous day. Again, you can send emails from your website. Items you may wish to include:

• Make it fun for your sponsors to read; add some humor and describe the highlights of your day of birding. If you fell in a river while trying to spot that rare raptor, be sure to let them know!
• Tell them how many species you saw and mention any sightings of interest.
• If they pledged per species, let them know how much they owe and direct them to your webpage or NYC Audubon's website. (Checks can also be made payable to NYC Audubon and sent to you)
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• Remind them that their contribution is tax-deductible and that they will receive a letter from NYC Audubon acknowledging their donation.
• Most importantly, THANK THEM!

Donations made by your sponsors online will automatically be credited to you. If you have created a web page, you can enter your pledges online. If you are collecting checks, submit them with your pledge sheet to:
NYC Audubon - Birdathon
71 West 23rd St., Suite 1523
New York, NY 10010

If your sponsors give you cash, please write a check to NYC Audubon for the amount. Do not mail cash to NYC Audubon. Please indicate whose pledge the check covers.

We hope these tips will help get you started. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Lisa Synoradzki/a>. NYC Audubon is here to help!

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