Finathon®

FUNDRAISE FOR OCEAN PROTECTION

FINATHON.ORG

YOUR GUIDE TO FUNDRAISING FOR OCEAN PROTECTIONAbout Finathon® ................................................................................... 1

Fundraising Step by Step .................................................................... 3

Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................... 5

ABOUT FINATHON®

WHAT IS A FINATHON®?Like a marathon, bike-a-thon or bake-a-thon, Finathon is an exciting fundraising challenge to support a cause close to scuba divers’ hearts: ocean protection. From swimming to baking cakes, participating in a sponsored Abseil event to donating your birthday, Finathon is the way divers fundraise for ocean protection – fins on and off.

WHY FUNDRAISE?It’s fun and easy! As divers, we know that tackling two of the biggest threats facing our ocean – marine debris and over-exploitation of shark and ray species – is a real challenge, one that we must address together if we are to secure a brighter future for the ocean. Finathon brings the dive community together to raise funds and awareness for the plight of our ocean and its wildlife. Ocean protection depends on all of our actions, large and small, fins on and off. Now more than ever before, divers are taking a stand for conservation.

WHY SUPPORT OCEAN PROTECTION WITH PROJECT AWARE? Divers are true leaders in ocean protection, heroes numbering in the millions across the globe. Project AWARE is dedicated to supporting ocean advocates and amplifying their voice, supporting an unprecedented global movement of divers around the globe acting in their own communities to protect the ocean and implement lasting change. We are deeply concerned about emerging threats to the underwater world. Together, we’re rethinking what’s possible, sharing a positive vision and taking action to protect our ocean future.

We believe together our actions will make a huge impact and will help to rescue the ocean. Every voice and action counts towards protecting the ocean planet – one dive at a time.

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ABOUT FINATHON®

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HOW DOES MY SUPPORT HELP? Fundraising for ocean protection with a Finathon helps Project AWARE:

• Fight to stop the ugly journey of our trash A staggering 250 million metric tons of plastic could make its way to the ocean in the next 10 years. Project AWARE collects essential marine debris data from divers through its flagship citizen science program, Dive Against Debris™. This data is essential because it helps build a clearer picture of the underwater trash that threatens ocean life. We’re closing the knowledge gap, helping ignite community action and influence change needed to prevent marine debris. Project AWARE works with dive volunteers year-round to remove and report trash from underwater environments and pushes for policy changes leading to marine debris prevention at national, regional, and international levels.

• Insist on full protections for the most vulnerable shark and ray species We advocate for science-based fishing limits for sharks and rays and a precautionary approach to be taken when species information is lacking. We fight the tough, long battles needed to implement protections for some of the world’s most threatened sharks and rays – including global wildlife agreements and inter- government treaties like CITES, CMS or regional fishery regimes. Project AWARE fuels a global movement of shark and ray advocates to help protect the most vulnerable shark and ray species.

• Negotiate strong policies to ensure a brighter future for our ocean and its wildlife Together, we’re making strong arguments for change. Scuba divers and eco-tourists represent a powerful economic constituency and economic incentive to protect marine environments. Project AWARE represents your voice, the scuba diver voice, emphasizing the importance of keeping the ocean clean and healthy when and where the decisions are being made.

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HEATHER MURRAY RAISED

$8,230.50 WITH HER

“SHAVE FOR SHARKS”

THE FLORIDA KEYS COMMUNITY

COLLEGE SCUBA CLUB RAISED

$1,325 WITH A GROUP SWIM

RICH COAST DIVING RAISED

$1,800 THROUGH A

NIGHT OF SHARK AWARENESS

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GET STARTEDVisit www.finathon.org to create a personal profile. Get started today! The more time you have to fundraise, the greater impact you can make.

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUPersonalize your fundraising page from the heart, make it about you. Fundraising is most effective when you share your personal story. Your friends and family want to support you. Wear your heart on your sleeve and share why you are passionate about ocean protection and explain what your fund-raising challenge is all about. Make it compelling; photos and videos can go a long way to convey who you are and why you are passionate about the cause.

TEAM CHALLENGE? Want to make a huge splash for ocean protection? Rally some friends to join your Finathon chal-lenge. You can create a team page from your personal profile under “Teams” > “Create a New Team”. Name your team, add a photo, enter an appeal and details of your action and you’ll be set. Don’t forget to invite your friends to join your team and start fundraising.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE Get your fundraising challenge off to a great start, be sure to show your commitment and donate yourself. This sets an example for others to follow. Then let your close friends and family know you made a donation and ask them to support your challenge by sharing why you’re passionate about ocean protection.

SPREAD THE WORD While making announcements and updates on social media is a great way to get the word out, sending personal emails and snail mail letters are very effective (especially if you include a self-ad-dressed envelope) way to ensure a positive response. Let your supporters, friends and family know about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Use our email template to get started.

Use social media as a follow up too. Using funny, personally relevant images or memes are a great way to grab attention. Here are some social media messages to get started:

• Did you know shark fishing is largely unregulated around the world? Overfishing, bycatch and finning slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea - kill thousands of sharks every year. Join me to give sharks a brighter future through my #Finathon Fundraiser (insert: your personal fundraising page url)

• I’ve taken on a fundraising challenge for ocean protection and am excited to do whatever I can to help! Please support my #Finathon fundraiser today! (insert: your personal fundraising page url)

• I’m FINatical about ocean protection and have taken on a #Finathon fundraising challenge! We are all part of the environmental solution. Please give generously! (insert: your personal fundraising page url)

FINATHON® FUNDRAISING STEP BY STEP

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KEEP UP THE MOMENTUMDownload the Finathon toolkit. It’s full of free templates as well as printable and digital materials to support your fundraising success.

FOLLOW UPSend follow up emails. Don’t be shy to send a follow up. People are busy and they will appreciate a reminder. Include an update on your challenge (maybe share a blog post and or photos of your preparation in action) and remind them how their donation helps. Use the email template we created or write your own. You can use Project AWARE’s My Ocean online community (www.projectaware.org/myocean) to post the event, blog and share photos and video. FINISH STRONGSend a final reminder in the last few days before your event. Urgency is powerful. Most people donate the week of or after a big challenge and appreciate a final call to remind them. Be sure your friends know your challenge is coming soon and they can help you smash your fundraising target.

SHOW GRATITUDEProject AWARE will send acknowledgement for all donations but be sure to send all your supporters a personalized thank you email or letter. Let them know how much their support means to you. You can write your own or use our email template that we have created for you.

PUBLIC RECOGNITIONPost acknowledgement on social media. Public recognition makes us feel good about ourselves and our contribution. Post this Thank You Graphic on supporter’s Facebook page. They will love it and it might even encourage more donations from others on the fence!

The Bali Funathon Team

raised

$14,125 with their

community event

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MASTER DIVERS RAISED

$5,704 THROUGH

A SOLO SWIM

“CYCLE FOR SHARKS”

PEDDLED ACROSS EUROPE

TO RAISE $2,911

TORI DAENEN RAISED

$913 THROUGH HER

40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

FAQsWe know you love the ocean but what else excites you? Love running? Create a team of runners and knock your fundraising socks off! Is bowling up your alley? Then get your mind in the gutter and hit a strike for ocean protection! There’s no set formula for the Finathon – your options are as vast as the ocean.

IS IT A RACE?The Finathon is not a competition. It’s all about raising funds and awareness while having fun. If you are competitive, create a team, invite others and make the most of your challenge and push yourself to raise more than the other Finathon Fundraisers for the greatest impact.

ARE DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?Immediately after a donation is made online, donors receive an email acknowledgement which serves as a receipt. Project AWARE Foundation is a registered, nonprofit organization. All or part of the gift may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

DO I NEED TO SIGN A LIABILITY RELEASE FORM?These are available for download and should be collected for every team member involved with phys-ical challenges (for example swimming, scuba diving, running etc). Please ensure all team members are trained as appropriate according to the event challenge.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE?Participation is free but we suggest you to commit to raising $500. You may be surprised by how easily $500 can be raised and you may need to set your fundraising goal even higher.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?You can start by creating your online fundraising profile at www.finathon.org. Soon afterYou create your profile, we will be in touch to offer you support along the way.

ARE THERE SUPPORT MATERIALS AVAILABLE?You can find a range of support online for your fundraising success within the Finathon Action Kit - www.projectaware.org/resource/finathon-action-kit

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Thank YOU!The challenges for the future of our ocean are vast, but scuba divers are taking a stand

for ocean protection – fins on and off. Since you’re passionate about protecting the ocean

and its wildlife we thank you for supporting ocean protection with a Finathon challenge.

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