iCAN Fundraising ToolKit
Are you passionate about empowering pediatric patients worldwide and wondering how to support the incredible work that iCAN kids accomplish across the globe? Each year, we need to raise funds to support our year-round programming and our Summit, and we would love for chapters to get involved in these fundraising efforts. iCAN encourages you to channel your passion into tangible change! Help support the organization’s mission to reach more kids every year. Check out the tools below to kickstart your fundraising journey!
In-Kind Donation Form: This form is an example that you can use to create your own in-kind donation form! Typically, these are forms you send (via email) or present in person to businesses that might be willing to donate to your fundraiser. Donations could include gift cards, monetary contributions, physical items, and more.
"channeling Your Voice" - iCAN Summit 2025
iCAN Fundraising Ideas
Get Inspired, Be Empowered!
We encourage creative ideas! From online to in-person, group to individual—any idea is a good one. Below, you will find a wealth of suggestions to get you started. As you craft your fundraiser, be sure to consider the type of activity that excites you and fits your skill set. Your passion will shine through!
iCAN Chapters and youth members across the world continue to change the landscape of pediatric medicine! They have hosted fundraisers and awareness campaigns over the years, demonstrating that anyone—regardless of age, nationality, or talents—can make a difference. Below are real-world examples of fundraisers iCAN chapters have hosted, along with other ideas to inspire your own project or event. Use these as models, or come up with a brand-new idea—we are so excited to see what you will create! Historic iCAN Chapter Fundraisers: Benefit Concert: KIDS CHOC members Fiona and Sofia used their incredible piano talent to host a benefit concert in their local community. Through friends, family, and community donations, they raised over $7,000 to attend the iCAN Summit. Local Business Partnership: KIDS Rady partnered with a local ice-cream shop to host a community fundraiser. A percentage of all funds raised that day went directly to the chapter’s Summit travel expenses. Running Challenge: KIDS Uganda ran one mile a day as part of iCAN’s annual Challenge of 10 fundraiser. They received corporate sponsorship for their efforts. Fundraising Ideas: Letter-writing campaigns Donation cans at local businesses Bake sales Auctions Benefit shows Community business fundraising (Chipotle, grocery stores, Chick-fil-A, Home Depot) Pancake or pizza nights Tabling at local fairs, farmers’ markets, or college campuses Raffles Car washes Virtual challenges Video game tournaments Social media campaigns Social media influencer partnerships Virtual trivia Virtual classes
Getting Started
Change Starts with Small Steps
So you’ve been inspired and have started brainstorming your ideas; what’s next? Getting started can often feel intimidating, but remember: change has to start somewhere. You’ve already taken the first step toward changing the world!
"Making a difference together!"
Your iCAN family thanks you for hosting a fundraising event or activity! There are a few starting steps you can take to clearly outline your fundraising goal. These steps can be adapted to your own vision and project. 1) Start by picking your fundraising project Your project can span a wide range of activities. From online to in-person, creative to physical, group or individual, iCAN encourages all ideas and concepts. If you’re unsure where to start, check the first section for inspiration. Think about what is most accessible to you. For example, if you are a high school student, what school resources can you use to support your fundraiser? If you volunteer with a local hospital or are familiar with the healthcare system, could you target doctors or use space within the hospital to host an event? Hint: It’s okay to start small! Fundraisers with manageable goals are a great way to begin your fundraising journey. Choose a project that aligns with your passions. If you love to draw, craft your fundraiser around that. The more engaged you are, the more your passion will shine through to your audience. 2) Create a project outline Answer the important questions: For both in-person and virtual fundraising, it’s important to think through logistics. For example, you will need to identify: Who is your audience? Where will your event take place? How will you ask for and collect donations? What is your ultimate timeline? By outlining these questions ahead of time, your project will be better organized, and you’ll be more prepared to answer questions along the way. Example project outline: Title: KIDS Utah Bake for Betterment Type of Fundraiser: Group fundraiser, In-Person Timeline: Valentine’s Day, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Fundraising Goal: $750 Location: Utah University campus Audience: College students and campus visitors Idea: We want to have a bake sale on Valentine’s Day. My friends and I all enjoy baking, and we think we can raise money for the 2026 Summit by selling a variety of sweets. Each sweet will come with a flower. We already have a table and a few chairs, and our parents have offered to drive us to campus. We estimate needing $150 to buy supplies. Marketing Plan: Posting flyers around campus and letting older siblings and friends know about the opportunity. Reaching out to a campus newsletter is also a good idea. 3) Carry out the project logistics and marketing Once you have your outline, run it by a friend and the iCAN team for feedback. Working with a group is a helpful way to split the workload. Make sure you have all the permissions needed if hosting an in-person or virtual event on a platform or location outside of iCAN’s requirements. You can also reach out to potential sponsors. Local companies may not be able to provide monetary support, but they may offer in-kind donations. For example, a grocery store could donate baking supplies, or a printing store could donate flyers. Don’t be afraid to ask! In-kind donations can be both simple and valuable, especially for young fundraisers. 4) Post-event checklist After completing your fundraiser, make sure to say thank you! Craft a thank-you letter to your donors as well as the people or companies who supported you. This not only shows appreciation but can encourage future commitments and donations. Hint: Encourage your donors and supporters to engage with iCAN beyond your fundraiser!
"Teamwork makes the dream work"
Support from iCAN
Innovation Doesn't Happen in a Silo!
As you continue on your fundraising journey, iCAN is with you every step of the way. We want to make sure your fundraising event or activity is a success. Learn how we can support your efforts below.
The iCAN team is dedicated to ensuring that you are excited about your fundraising project or activity, and we encourage you to keep us in the loop. We are here to help brainstorm, share the word, and highlight your successes and efforts! We encourage you to reach out to iCAN staff via their emails or through the general iCAN email (contactus@icanresearch.org) at any point during your fundraising journey. Additionally, we suggest having iCAN staff review your event, as we may be able to provide additional ideas and resources. iCAN can set up your fundraising webpage for you! Whether through GoFundMe or Zeffy, iCAN staff can create a page specifically for your fundraiser. This process streamlines online donations and ensures that the funding is hosted securely. Let us know about your upcoming events so we can feature them on the iCAN homepage and share them with our network via the monthly iCAN newsletter and email blasts. iCAN can also provide support in creating marketing materials and give you access to the iCAN style guide. These resources will ensure that your fundraising project aligns with iCAN’s branding and media requirements, strengthening brand consistency and recognition. Marketing materials could include thank-you letters on iCAN letterhead, social media designs, flyers, presentations, and more. We encourage event organizers to create the materials themselves, with iCAN staff providing guidance and support as needed.
Fundraising Guidelines
Stepping Stones Towards Success
As you continue to shape your fundraiser into its final form, it is important to consider iCAN’s established guidelines. Following these guidelines will help your fundraiser run smoothly and ensure it aligns with our overall mission. Use them as building blocks to support the success of your event or activity.
"community full of heart!"
Across all marketing and logistical elements of your event, the International Children’s Advisory Network, Inc. (“iCAN” or “iCAN Research”) must be listed as the fundraiser’s beneficiary using the language: “to benefit” or “to support iCAN/The International Children’s Advisory Network, Inc.” Fundraising efforts should support the Summit, as iCAN covers stipends for attendees. Please note that it costs approximately $2,500 per child to attend the Summit, and Summit occurence is not guaranteed if sufficient funding is not raised. If there are questions from a chapter’s host organization (for example, a hospital or other nonprofit), the iCAN team is happy to respond to all inquiries. Please do not hesitate to connect with us! Fundraiser Expenses: All anticipated and actual expenses resulting from the fundraising event are the sole responsibility of the individual project coordinator or chapter. iCAN and its representatives are not responsible for these expenses and are released from all liability related to event processes or activities (both virtual and in-person). iCAN Branding: iCAN encourages you to utilize and adhere to brand guidelines, including the use of the iCAN logo, iCAN chapter logos, and other visual elements such as fonts, colors, images, and iconography. iCAN reserves the right to request edits to branding elements and their usage and may require the removal of any brand element at any time. Event Proceeds: iCAN can host personal fundraising pages, typically through platforms such as Zeffy or GoFundMe. These platforms will automatically generate tax receipts for individual donations, as iCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations can also be accepted via check or cash; however, only individuals who donate directly to iCAN via check are eligible for a tax receipt. Donations made to the community organizer or another entity (such as your event name) will not qualify for a tax receipt from iCAN. iCAN Messaging: Event organizers are welcome to request assistance from iCAN staff in reviewing messaging about iCAN. When in doubt, reach out! A sample in-kind donation letter and a one-pager explaining what iCAN is are available at the top of the page for your use. Editable versions are available upon request.