How to Host a Fundraiser
Hosting a Baystate Health Fundraiser
Let's have a fun-draiser!
Baystate Health Foundation (BHF) is the charitable entity for Baystate Health. BHF provides much needed funds to support Baystate hospitals, programs, services, and additional locations. Much of this funding comes from outside sources. And, that's where our community comes in.
If you're interested in raising funds for any of the Baystate hospitals, clinical areas, or to help with a specific Baystate Health fundraising priority, we can help make it happen.
All fundraisers that identify Baystate Health as the fund recipient, regardless of the size or complexity, must be approved by the Foundation before they can be held. The first step to holding a fundraiser is completing the fundraiser interest form. Once you complete the form, a member of our team will be in touch.
We appreciate your support!
BHF does not extend its non-profit tax exemption to event organizers or provide tax receipts for any in-kind and/or monetary gifts made to third-party events. Donations from third-party events should be sent to BHF within 30 days of the event. Upon receiving the donation, which should be sent to BHF in a single check, BHF will issue a tax receipt to the organization or individual responsible for the third-party event. BHF does not provide funding/reimbursement for event expenses, provide hospital and/or donor mailing lists, or provide insurance coverage.
Let Us Help You Hold a Strong Fundraiser
Looking for Fundraising Ideas?
Here are a few ideas for your next fundraiser:
- Car wash
- Kake sale
- “In lieu of” gifts for weddings, birthdays (i.e., instead of wedding gifts, donate to BHF)
- Facebook fundraisers or social media/digital challenges (i.e., biking 50 miles to support cancer care at Baystate)
- Corporate fundraisers
- In honor of or in memory of fundraisers
- Sports team or school fundraisers
- Golf tournaments
- Fun run
- Raffle or opportunity drawing
Get creative when promoting your event!
- Use social media. Social media is an effective (and usually free) way to raise awareness.
- Create a Facebook event and encourage friends, family and other followers to share it. You can also create a Facebook Fundraiser through Baystate Health Foundation's page to support any area of Baystate Health.
- Create a GoFundMe or similar page to promote online giving if you’re looking to accept online donations.
- Submit information about your event to BHF for potential posting on the Baystate Health Foundation Facebook page.
- Create flyers or other print materials to promote your event. We’re happy to share a special BHF logo you can use.
- If the event is open to the public, submit your event information to community calendars through Facebook, local organizations, and radio and TV stations
- Talk about your event with friends, family members, colleagues, and anyone else you feel may be interested. Word of mouth serves as an excellent way to share your message.
There are many entities, areas, and programs you can support across Baystate Health. Here are a few:
- Baystate Children’s Hospital/Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center
- Baystate Medical Center
- Baystate Noble Hospital
- Baystate Home Health
- Baystate Wing Hospital
- D'Amour Center for Cancer Care
- Heart & Vascular Program
- Rays of Hope
Things to Know: Hosting a Fundraiser for Baystate Health
General Policies
When you submit your request to host your own fundraising event to BHF, you agree to:
- Not promote the event or make any public announcement about the event until you get approval from BHF
- Not represent yourself as an agent of Baystate Health Foundation (BHF), Baystate Health or its member entities or programs
- Have your event project a minimum net profit of 75% of the gross proceeds; all net proceeds from the event designated to benefit BHF must go to BHF.
- Be solely responsible for any insurance, as the event organizer.
- Cancel your event if BHF asks you to do so. You must also comply and release BHF, BH, its member entities, officers, and employees from any liability in connection to a canceled event.
Legal Policies
- No contracts or service agreements should be signed before we give you approval for your event. BHF reserves the right to review all related contracts and agreements.
- As the event organizer, you are solely responsible for any state or local licensing, event permits, and, when appropriate, the filing of appropriate forms with the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you have questions, reach out to a member of the Baystate Health Foundation staff.
- You, as the event organizer, are solely responsible for any insurance.
Tax Policies
As the event organizer, you are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local tax compliance, including but not limited to, all tax reporting and related tax withholding. Raffle permits and reporting are the responsibility of the event organizer.
Information and permits can be obtained by the city or town hall where the winning raffle tickets will be pulled. For example, if your event is held in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and that’s where you’ll draw the winning ticket(s), you must obtain a permit from the town of South Hadley. Learn more about the laws in Massachusetts.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you plan your event:
- You must submit the names of any businesses solicited for support to BHF so that we can avoid conflicts with sponsors and donors who may already be involved with other BHF fundraising efforts.
- Although we approved your event, refrain from using your connection with BHF to secure sponsorships.
- We can’t provide volunteers to help support events or to assist in ticket sales or sponsorships.
- We don’t endorse products. BHF may choose to accept proceeds from discount promotions by reputable firms that sell products wholesale or retail. In each case, the product promotion will be reviewed by the BHF for approval. Background information may be required from an organization that wants to do a promotion to benefit BHF or its affiliated entities.
- The public should know how BHF or its affiliated entities will benefit from the event. If BHF or its affiliated entities will not receive 100% of the proceeds, an exact percentage or amount must be stated on related publicity. (e.g., If $5 from every $20 ticket sold is benefitting BHF, that should be disclosed)
- All print collateral must be approved by a member of the BHF team. Submit your print materials to BHF for approval at least 10 days before you plan to use them. It’s a good idea to hold off printing anything until after you receive approval from BHF to avoid doubling your work and costs.
- Baystate Health member entities or program logos may only be used along with the BHF’s “In Support of” logo, which you’ll receive via email after we approve your event.
- Give notice to a member of the BHF team when media coverage is purchased or earned.
- All logos may only be reproduced in original colors or black and white.
- Do not stretch logos or otherwise manipulate logos in any way.
Additional Guidelines for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
- When referring to this entity, always use the full name: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
- The logo may only be reproduced in its original colors or solid black and white. The logo should not be reformatted in any way. Using the balloon only or “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals” in any other combination is improper.
- The tagline may only be removed from the logo if the logo is printed with a width of two inches or fewer or when readability is an issue.
Please send donations from your fundraiser within thirty (30) days of your event to this address:
Baystate Health Foundation
280 Chestnut Street
Springfield, MA 01199
Checks should be made payable to Baystate Health Foundation.
Don’t forget to include your event name and contact information with your donation.
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