Other Ideas

Encourage participants to pay a small registration fee, usually between $5 and $25. This contribution will help to cover event costs such as t-shirts and promotional items. You may also want to set up a price that is geared towards families of 4 or more.
Instead of charging a registration fee (or providing t-shirts free of charge to all walkers), some Walks choose to provide a free t-shirt to individuals with Down syndrome and to sell t-shirts to additional family members and friends for $5 or more.
Use incentive prizes to reward participants for their fundraising efforts. For example, if you raise $50 you will earn a baseball hat, if you raise $100 you will earn a tote bag, etc. Set a deadline so that Walkers are motivated to raise money at a quicker pace (leverage the competitive spirit of your Walkers).
Sell raffle tickets and hold a drawing (or drawings) for items that were donated by local organizations.

Obtain small prizes (incentives) to give away as fundraising awards. For example, raising $50 earns a baseball hat; raising $100 earns a tote bag, etc. Set a deadline so that Walkers are motivated to raise money at a quicker pace (leverage the competitive spirit of your Walkers).
Fundraise for your Walk year round: Work with local restaurants and stores to have a day or night each month where a portion of the proceeds will go to your organization to raise money for your Buddy Walk. “Dining for Down syndrome” is becoming popular across the country! (For more information on setting this up in your area, check out the Fundraising chapter of the Buddy Walk Manual or contact the Rehoboth Beach Buddy Walk.
Sell Buddy Walk lollipops, cookies or other treats near the cash register at local businesses. This is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth and raise awareness of your organization and event. The Luzerne County Down Syndrome Network has been very successful selling Buddy Walk lollipops at their local Wendy’s restaurants and other smaller shops.
Make and sell Buddy Walk ribbons (in the blue and yellow Buddy Walk colors) and sell them for $.50 or $1.00 to increase awareness of your Buddy
Include names of donors/sponsors on the walk t-shirt as an incentive for making a donation.
Ask local businesses if you can place cans in their shops to raise “Dimes For Down syndrome” (or any spare change). Decorate the cans with your logo and information about the Buddy Walk (date, time, place) so people who drop in their change can learn more about the event.`
In your school, place of employment or house of worship, find out if you can have a special collection of spare change for the Buddy Walk. Make sure you publicize the collection time/location in multiple places so that all parties know about it.

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