Whether you’re rallying as a team or starting solo, this toolkit can help you achieve your fundraising goal.
Leading up to our BATL for Mental Health axe-throwing tournament on March 21, we’re challenging you to take a swing at stigma and raise funds for more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs. Not signed up yet? Register here. Then come back!
Your goal is to raise a minimum of $500 per team (or $100 per person).
By fundraising, you’ll support local mental health initiatives and the teams that raise the most will win great prizes for the whole group to enjoy.
FIVE FUNDRAISING TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
A little goes along way. Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends, or coworkers to support your fundraiser. If just five people in your network give $20, then you’ve reached $100 already. Start by donating to your own fundraiser and then ask others to join you.
Share your goal. People will want to help you get there! It always helps to have a clear benchmark to work towards. And it feels great when you’ve brought a group together to achieve it.
Show the impact. One in five people in Canada struggle with their mental health. Their donation will ensure more people get the help they need, when they need it. Learn more about GenNext’s mental health cause.
Let your personality shine through. Start by using the sample emails and social posts below, but be sure to add a personal touch. When you ask someone to donate, let them know why this cause matters to you. You’ll also get more responses with a personal ask, rather than bcc’ing your whole address book.
Take the conversation offline too. Sharing a fundraising ask on your personal Instagram or LinkedIn is great—don't get us wrong. But if you’re feeling stuck trying to achieve your goal, consider asking a friend out for coffee or bringing up your fundraiser at a family dinner.
🌟 Bonus: If you have a bit more time to spare, you could organize a bake sale, clothing swap, or trivia night in exchange for small donations. At the end of the day, this is all about fun and philanthropy. We want you to have a good time for a good cause.
It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to say thank you! It means a lot when someone chooses to donate, so make sure to let them know—whether it’s with a written note or a big hug—how grateful you are for their support.
Because of your fundraising efforts, GenNext East Ontario can create lasting change in the lives of the most vulnerable people across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County.
SAMPLE EMAILS
Hi NAME,
On March 21, I’m participating in BATL for Mental Health—a fundraiser with GenNext East Ontario for more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs.
One in five people in Canada struggle with their mental health. I want to make sure that when a person is ready to reach out for help, someone will always be there to listen—immediately, appropriately, and with care.
My team’s goal is to raise $500, and we’d love your support to help us get there. (OR: My goal is to raise $100, and I’d love your support to help me get there.)
Make your donation here: ADD THE LINK TO YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
Your donation will go towards one-on-one counselling, suicide prevention initiatives, peer support groups, mental health initiatives in after-school programs, and more. Get more info about how your donation will make a difference on GenNext’s website.
I hope you’ll donate today and help me go to BATL for mental health.
Thank you!
Hi NAME,
Will you join my team for BATL for Mental Health? It’s an axe-throwing tournament and fundraiser with GenNext East Ontario on Thursday, March 21.
We need a team of five people and I’d love for you to be part of it! It’s going to be a fun night out at BATL Ottawa where we’ll get to throw some axes, enjoy some snacks, and maybe even win some prizes.
The goal is to raise $500 as a team with funds going towards more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs.
I hope you’ll join TEAM NAME today and help me in this BATL.
Register here: ADD LINK TO REGISTER
When you fill out the registration details, it’ll ask you to either create or join a team. Choose “join a team” and search for TEAM NAME to get added to our group.
Thank you!
Hi NAME,
Thank you so much for donating to my BATL for Mental Health fundraiser with GenNext East Ontario.
It means a lot to me that you chose to support me and this important cause. Thanks to your generosity, GenNext will be able to provide more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs to those in need. So, it’s easier for people to get help when they need it.
You can learn more about GenNext here and sign up for their free newsletter to see the impact of your donation in the community.
My team reached our $500 fundraising goal, and we couldn’t have done it without you. (OR: I reached my $100 fundraising goal, and I couldn’t have done it without you.)
Thanks again!
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Share or customize one of the posts below to get the word out about your fundraiser. Follow GenNext on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to reshare our posts and encourage others to join you.
Download images you can add to your posts.
❓ Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians over the age of 12 said they needed help with their mental health in the past year? Would you be surprised to find out that nearly half (45%) of those struggling were unable to get the support they needed to feel better?
I’m participating in #BATLforMentalHealth with GenNext East Ontario to raise funds for more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs. I want to let people who are struggling with their mental health know that they are not alone. ❤️
My team’s goal is to raise $500, and I need your help to get there! (OR: My goal is to raise $100, and I need your help to get there!)
⏰ If you can, please donate to help me reach my goal before March 21: ADD LINK TO YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
❓ Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians over the age of 12 said they needed help with their mental health in the past year? Would you be surprised to find out that nearly half (45%) of those struggling were unable to get the support they needed to feel better?
I’m participating in #BATLforMentalHealth with GenNext East Ontario to raise funds for more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs. I want to let people who are struggling with their mental health know that they are not alone. ❤️
My team’s goal is to raise $500, and I need your help to get there! (OR: My goal is to raise $100, and I need your help to get there!)
⏰ If you can, please donate to help me reach my goal before March 21: ADD LINK TO YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
I’m really axe-cited about this 🪓 Will you support my #BATLforMentalHealth?
I’m participating in an axe-throwing tournament with @GenNextEastON that aims to take a swing at stigma and raise funds for more accessible, affordable, community-based mental health programs.
One in five people in Canada struggle with their mental health and I want to do something to let them know that they aren’t alone. ❤️
My team’s goal is to raise $500 by March 21, and I need your help to get there! (OR: My goal is to raise $100 by March 21, and I need your help to get there!)
🔗 Click the link in my bio to make a donation or send me a DM for more info.
I’m going to #BATLforMentalHealth with @GenNextEastON and I need your help. I’m fundraising to support local #MentalHealth initiatives, and my goal is to reach $100 before March 21. Will you donate today? Any amount helps. Donate here: ADD A LINK TO YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
——-
DYK 1 in 5 people struggle with their #MentalHealth? 🧠I’m participating in #BATLforMentalHealth to let people who are struggling know they aren’t alone. 💕Help me raise $100 for @GenNextEastON in support of community-based mental health programs. Donate: ADD A LINK TO YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE
FACTS AND STATS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
1 in 5 Canadians ages 12+ reported that they needed help with their mental health in the past year, but 45% of those struggling felt their needs were unmet or only partially met.
Nearly half (44%) of Ottawa students reported fair or poor mental health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in Canada.
Lack of transportation, unreliable internet, and limited access to technology can make it difficult for rural and low-income families to access mental health supports.
When someone’s mental health is compromised, it can negatively affect all aspects of their life, from education and career to relationships and overall wellbeing.
GenNext East Ontario, as part of United Way, provides one-on-one counselling, suicide prevention initiatives, peer support groups, mental health initiatives in after-school programs, and more. Learn more
Donations to GenNext’s BATL for Mental Health go towards community-based mental health programs in Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County.
We’ll have great prizes for the team that raises the most. A little healthy competition couldn’t hurt, right?
If you have questions about BATL for Mental Health before March 21, check out our FAQ or reach out to gennext@unitedwayeo.ca.
