December 3rd: Sponsorship Cut-off Date

• Please make sure you submit donations by December 3rd.

• If you are unable to make that date, we will do our best to accommodate last-minute sponsorships on a case-by-case basis. Please make arrangements with our finance office. On the cut-off date, we will post a cut form for you to submit with last minute donations.

• If you are unable to make the deadline and haven’t made arrangements with our finance office, the donations will be applied toward the 2018 Wreaths Across America.

December 11, 12:15 pm: State Capitol Remembrance Ceremony

• State Capitol Rotunda, Olympia, WA

December 15, 9 am: Nationwide Remembrance Ceremony

• Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042

---

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

It’s very important that you include your Group ID and Location ID on the printed forms you distribute and the funds you submit.  This is the only way your group will receive proper credit!;

---

FUNDRAISING TOOLS:

Various tools are available to help you in your fundraising efforts.

1. Access important fundraising information at this link.

2. Get the new Location and Fundraising Group 2018 Handbook at this link.

3. Fundraising Kits:  These kits are available to groups only for $45 (a $200 value).  You can call 877-385-9504, x503, to order your kit. It is also available at this link.

   ---

   WAWG Resources: We have created the following resources for you!  

   a. 8.5" x 11" -- Standard flyer. This is good to hang up at your local Starbucks, Gym, Library, or any other high-traffic area for which you have asked permission.
   
   You can get color copies made at Office Depot using our discount at just $.22 per page. Account #: 801 276 105 44 (click to see reverse of card).
   
   

   waa flyer - 2018 - 8x11.jpg 
   waa flyer - 2018 - 8x11.pdf 
   

   ---

   

   b. Social Media -- This is the above flyer, cropped. It's good to post on social media when asking for donations!
   
   

   waa flyer - 2018 - crop.jpg 
   
   
   
   

   ---

   
   c. 11" x 17" -- This undated flyer was created for use with a FedEx Kinkos 11x17 stand-up sign kit that runs about $18 (before applying the Washington Wing CAP account/discount # 0795549625). Note that the date of the event is blank so you can make this a reusable sign. If you would like a version of this sign for a non-Tahoma National Cemetery event Location, please email us with your request.

   waa flyer - no date - 11x17.jpg  waa flyer - no date - 11x17.pdf 
   
   
   
   
   

   ---

4. WAA Facebook: Request to be added to the Facebook Fundraising Group Leaders team so we connect group leaders through this forum to share fundraising ideas and experiences. Follow this link.

   WAWG: Invite people to our Facebook Event for the Tahoma National Cemetery ceremony.

5. Online Donations: To make it as easy as possible for you to communicate with donors, you will have an online fundraising page. This is the most efficient, effective method for accepting donations and the best way to ensure you get credit for your Wreaths Across America sponsorship efforts.

• Make sure your prospective donors have your Group ID, not just the location page, to ensure that their contribution will be applied to your group’s wreath sponsorship.

• Sponsorships placed through the location page only will not be credited to the group.

• Please instruct donors to search by your Group ID to ensure they are getting the correct page to donate to your group.  

6. Mail-in Donations: Cash and check donations are also accepted.

• Downloadable fundraising forms are available at this link.

Regarding donations you receive by mail, please remember the following:

• Do not staple or tape checks to sponsorship forms because it delays our ability to process checks promptly, especially during what is our busiest time of year.

• Do not hold onto checks. Instead, send checks in with their sponsorship forms regularly. If you are submitting multiple checks, please provide a tally sheet and send them to us in a timely manner.  Holding onto checks too long upsets the donor and causes it to be “stale dated,” in which case the financial institution won’t process it and we will need to contact the donor for a new check. This causes a longer processing time for the group funds.

---

IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES:

Fundraising Share Program: If you opted to receive $5 back of every $15 wreath sponsorship sold under your Group ID, we will send checks within 30 days after we receive your wreath sponsorships.  Group payback checks need to be cashed within 90 days of issuance or they will be considered a donation to Wreaths Across America.

If you are participating in this option, you must submit a W-9 form.

3 for 2 Option: If you have opted to receive a third wreath for every two wreaths sponsored, you are not required to submit a W-9.

Submit a W-9: If you are a for-profit organization new to WAA or you didn’t submit a W-9 in 2016, please provide an updated W-9 to ensure we have accurate and complete information.  This is a new policy instituted because of our continued growth. We assure you that any information you provide is ONLY for our recordkeeping and any reporting requirements we have. We have received W9’s from National CAP; National DAR and National American Gold Star Mothers.  If you are a chapter/unit/squadron of one of these organizations you do not need to submit a separate W9.

• Click here for a W-9 form.

• Submit your W-9.

• Email: rachel@wreathsacrossamerica.org

• Fax: 866-956-1625

• Mail: Wreaths Across America; Attn: Rachel Worcester; PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623

Notify Your Location Coordinator: Because we do not share group leader contact information, please contact your coordinator as soon as possible to let them know you are gathering sponsorships.  

• Find your Location and Group Page at this link.

• Once on the page, choose the “View Ceremony Details” button for your coordinator’s contact information.

Please note: The wreaths that are delivered to the location for placement will not be marked for specific groups. This allows any volunteer to place wreaths on any site. If your group wishes to make special arrangements for placing wreaths at specific graves, please contact your coordinator prior to the ceremony.

---

ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS:

Since this online sponsorship system represents a fundamental upgrade of our systems, from our back office to our websites, we expect to encounter a few hiccups.

The implementation of the fundraising webpage means a great deal for Wreaths Across America and will allow us to expand our mission to “Remember, Honor, and Teach.”

Please report any issues you experience as we continue with planned upgrades that are critical to our growth. From basic features such as “live” wreath counts to a new mobile app for collecting donations, we have a bold vision for the future.

Please send an email to helpdesk@wreathsacrossamerica.org to ask questions and provide feedback.

To familiarize yourself with the new system, we recommend you take the following steps:

1. Visit the new homepage at this link.

2. Watch the following short videos that provide general guidance for supporters:

1. How to Search for Locations, Groups, Etc.

2. How to Volunteer or Donate

3. Watch the more detailed short videos designed only for Location Coordinators and Group Leaders:

1. How to Sign in to Your Account

2. How to Use the “Manage Page” (for Location Coordinators)

3. How to Use the “Manage Page” (for Group Leaders)

4. Please sign in to complete the following checklists (the videos above show you how to complete each step):

1. Review and edit “Group Details.”

2. Review and edit your “Fundraising Plan.”

3. Make sure your “Group” is set to support the correct locations.

4. Update your “Donation Page” content.

5. Add known “Group Members” to your group.

6. Bookmark this link to the sign-in page.

7. Set a wreath count goal for your group.

8. Share your page with your friends and supporters.

5. Reach out to prospective donors and ask them to visit http://www.wawg.cap.gov/wreaths to donate through your unit!