FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Website and Online Fundraising
Q: WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
A: The money raised by AIDS Walk Los Angeles supports the services provided by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and other AIDS service organizations throughout Los Angeles County.
Q: WHAT IS A TEAM?
A: Teams are comprised of walkers representing a variety of companies, schools, churches, or organizations in the Los Angeles area. There are also many friends and family teams that participate, some of whom walk in memory of those they have lost. Teams can range in size from two to more than 1,000 walkers.
Q: WHAT IS THE STAR WALKERSTM CLUB?
A: The Star Walkers Club is made up of walkers who set a goal of raising $1,000 or more for AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Star Walkers who achieve their goal will receive additional incentive prizes and a Star Pass on the day of the AIDS Walk. With the Star Pass, Star Walkers will be granted access to the Star Walker Hospitality Breakfast.
Q: TO WHOM SHOULD DONATION CHECKS BE MADE OUT?
A: Please make checks payable to "AIDS Walk Los Angeles" or "AWLA"
Q: WHERE DO I MAIL DONATIONS?
A: AIDS Walk Los Angeles, PO Box 933005,Los Angeles, CA 90093-3005.
*PLEASE clearly include the name of whom you are sponsoring on the check or on
a separate piece of paper, otherwise your donation could be credited as a
general donation.
Q: I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE FUNDRAISING FOR AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES ON THE STREET. SHOULD I DONATE TO SOMEONE I DO NOT KNOW WHO IS COLLECTING DONATIONS ON THE STREET, IN PUBLIC SPACES, OR EVEN DOOR-TO-DOOR?
A: No. We strongly discourage our participants from collecting donations in public spaces such as street corners, public transportation areas, street festivals, and door-to-door to businesses. We advise you not to give donations (cash, checks, or credit card information) to someone you do not know who is soliciting donations in these settings. Please contact the AIDS Walk Los Angeles office at (213) 201-WALK (9255) for more information, or if you feel someone is collecting funds in an unsafe or unendorsed manner.
Registration
Q: HOW DO I REGISTER FOR AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES 2010 ONLINE?
A: Click on Register to Walk and complete the form. You will be guided through the registration process. Please note the username and password that you have entered. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from awlainfo@aidswalk.net. This e-mail will contain your username and password that you have selected.
If you register by phone, mail, or fax and give us an e-mail address, you will receive a system generated e-mail that will provide you a link to set your password. Please use this to access your personal fundraising Web page. Once logged in, you can design your Web page and begin sending fundraising e-mails.
Q: IS THERE A MINIMUM AMOUNT I SHOULD RAISE FOR AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES?
A: AIDS Walk Los Angeles does not require walkers to pay any registration fee or raise a minimum amount of money. However, we encourage everyone to set a fundraising goal and do their best to achieve it. Additionally, fundraising walkers for AIDS Walk Los Angeles are eligible for several Fundraising Incentive Awards.
Q: SHOULD WALKERS USE THEIR HOME OR WORK ADDRESS TO REGISTER?
A: All walkers should register using their home address. If you must use your office address, make sure you put your company name, as often times the post office will return mail sent to an individual at a business address. Providing more than one address will result in a duplicate registration.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO TO START RAISING FUNDS FOR AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES?
A: A few simple suggestions to get started with your fundraising can be found below. For more fundraising ideas, visit our Fundraising Tips & Tools page and contact the AIDS Walk Los Angeles office at (213) 201-WALK (9255).
Set up your Team or Individual Fundraising Web Page. Then send out an e-mail to friends, family members, and co-workers. Each e-mail sent from your Web page contains a link to sponsor you online with a credit card. Click here to learn more.
Matching Gift Programs. Many corporate organizations have corporate giving programs that match the contributions their employees give to a charitable organization. By utilizing the matching gift programs of your employer, or those of your family and friends' employers, you can quickly double or triple your fundraising dollars.
Host a Fundraising Party!Ask a local bar or restaurant to donate their space for a happy hour or fundraising dinner party. Charge a flat admission or suggest a donation. Plan a raffle, contest, or drink special to make the night exciting! For more fundraising event ideas, click here.
Awards, Premiums, and Incentives! Give your Team Members an incentive to sign up, raise money, and walk. Ask a vendor or local merchant to contribute to your team by providing an incentive prize or two. Award the Team Member who raises the most money for AIDS Walk Los Angeles.
Q: WHAT ARE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS?
A: Matching Gift Programs are established by many companies with the intention of supporting nonprofit organizations by matching contributions made by their employees. Ask your human resources representative about your employer's corporate giving policies and whether they have a matching gift program.
Q: HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES?
A: There are many opportunities for your team to get involved in AIDS Walk Los Angeles, from becoming a sponsor, to making an in kind donation, to volunteering. If you would like to find out more about any or all of these options, please contact the AIDS Walk Los Angeles office at (213) 201-WALK (9255).
Website and Online Fundraising
Q: I FORGOT MY USERNAME AND PASSWORD. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE?
A: Remember that your username and password are case-sensitive. Click on the "Forgot your Username and/or Password" link and enter your e-mail address. You will receive an e-mail with your username and a link to reset your password from customersupport@kintera.com. You will need to click on this link to reset your password. Please e-mail us at awlainfo@aidswalk.net for further assistance.
Q: WHAT IS KINTERA?
A: Kintera is an online service provider offering Internet fundraising solutions to charitable organizations. Through the website you can register for the event, collect donations from family and friends, send out fundraising e-mails, and more.
Q: WHY IS THERE A $25 MINIMUM FOR ALL ONLINE CREDIT CARD DONATIONS?
A: Due to credit card processing fees that we are charged by each credit card company, we are forced to have a minimum amount for online credit card transactions. If you wish to use your credit card for less than $25, simply fill out your credit card information on the bottom of your Sponsor Form (coming soon) in the credit card section. If a sponsor wants to donate less than $25, have a few people combine their donations, and have one person deposit those donations into their bank account, and use his or her credit card to donate online. That way, it will be possible to list everyone's name on the Web page. If that is not possible, checks and money orders in any amount are always greatly appreciated! You can mail those to us, and make sure that the walker's name is on the check, so we know who gets the credit. Everything helps, so please don't let the credit card minimum discourage you.
Q: HOW CAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY FIND MY INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISING WEB PAGE TO MAKE A DONATION?
A: When you send an e-mail from "My HQ," the link to your individual fundraising Web page will automatically be included in the bottom of the e-mail. Also, on the home page of the AIDS Walk website, friends and family can locate a participant by clicking on the "Sponsor a Walker" link. By typing in the name of the participant, they will be directed to the participant's individual fundraising Web page.
Q: WHY IS THE "SPONSOR A WALKER" SEARCH NOT FINDING A PARTICIPANT THAT I KNOW HAS REGISTERED?
A: While they are not case sensitive, you must type in the exact spelling of the first or last name of the person you're looking for. If you continue to have a problem locating a participant that you are sure has registered, please contact us at awlainfo@aidswalk.net.
Q: HOW CAN I SEE WHO HAS DONATED TO ME?
A: Go to the My Fundraising HQ link on the site. Use the username and password that you selected when you registered for the event. Click here if you do not know your login information to get started. You can then view your donation report to see who has donated to you and the amounts they have donated by clicking on the "Reports" tab at the top of the Web page.
Q: WHY AREN'T THE CASH AND CHECK CONTRIBUTIONS I'VE RAISED SHOWING UP ON MY PERSONAL FUNDRAISING WEB PAGE?
A: While credit card donations made through the website will automatically appear on a walker's personal Web page, AIDS Walk simply doesn't have the staff available to update each individual Web page with every check and cash contribution received. Walkers can update their fundraising Web pages by logging in and choosing the "Enter Offline Donations" option in the upper right-hand side of the screen. Click here for instructions on how to post cash and check donations to reflect on your Fundraising Web page.
Q: ALL OF MY DONORS ARE NOT SHOWING UP ON THE SCROLL MECHANISM. WHY?
A: As your donors make a contribution, they have the option of whether or not they want to appear in the recognition scroll.
Q: IS MY INFORMATION SECURE?
A: Yes. Kintera has made every effort to protect your information. We use industry-standard SSL encryption techniques to make sure that your credit card information, passwords, and personal information travel securely over the Internet. We have also installed an encryption engine on our database server so that your data is securely stored.
Q: WILL KINTERA PUT MY NAME ON VARIOUS MAILING LISTS?
A: Kintera, Inc. collects and maintains only personal information that is voluntarily submitted to us. We will only share personally identifiable information with a third party if and when the individual submitting this information has permitted us to do so, or if we are required to do so by law. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy. AIDS Walk Los Angeles will also maintain a copy of your information.
Q: WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING AN ONLINE DONATION?
A: For best donation transaction navigation, we recommend using Internet Explorer. You can download the latest version by following this link
Q: WHY AREN'T DROP-DOWN MENUS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE WEBSITE WORKING PROPERLY FOR ME?
A: If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can download the latest version of Internet Explorer 7 here for the best browsing experience on our site.
Q: WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS WEBSITE?
A: This website is unique because it offers the capability for individuals to not only register for the event, but also to efficiently collect donations from their friends and family. AIDS Walk Los Angeles staff and event participants can track the progress of collected donations by viewing secured online reports.
Q: WHAT ARE A TEAM LEADER'S RESPONSIBILITIES?
A: A Team Leader's role is to recruit, inspire, and motivate people to register as well as raise funds. In order to promote team participation, a Team Leader's first task is to distribute materials to all potential walkers as quickly as possible. After walkers begin to register, following up is the key to fundraising success. Click here to download a Team Leader Kit for more information. (coming soon)
Q: WHAT ARE GOLD TEAMS?
A: Gold Teams are the top 20 fundraising teams, announced annually. Last year, this influential group raised over one quarter of the event‚s fundraising total. In recognition of their outstanding efforts, Gold Teams have a separate Sign-In area, as well as a professional team photo taken on the day of the event.
Q: WHAT IS A TEAM MEETING STATION?
A: A Team Meeting Station is a designated area for Team Members to meet up on the day of AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Team Meeting Stations are arranged alphabetically in West Hollywood Park. Many Team Leaders decorate their meeting stations with balloons and banners, in addition to bringing T-shirts and breakfast items for their team. To qualify for a Team Meeting Station on the day of the AIDS Walk, your team must have 25 or more walkers pre-registered by the deadline of Wednesday, October 6 at noon. A list of teams who qualify for a Team Meeting Station will be posted the week of October 11. Teams with fewer than 25 walkers, who do not qualify for a Team Meeting Station, can arrange their own specific location to meet on the morning of the AIDS Walk.
Q: HOW DO I GET AN UPDATED TEAM ROSTER?
A: Team Rosters are always available on your team Web page. Click here to see the list of 2010 Registered Teams. Click on your team name to view your team's Web page and see the list of people currently registered on your team. You can also view this list from your Fundraising HQ - click here to learn how. You may also call your Team Coordinator at (213) 201-WALK (9255) to request a Team Roster.
Q: HOW CAN I PROMOTE AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES TO POTENTIAL TEAM MEMBERS?
A: We suggest doing one or all of the following:
• Check out our Spread the Word Web page and click here to download and print additional
tools.
• Set up your team Web
page and send out an e-mail to recruit Team Members. Remember, anyone can
join your team.
• Ask family and friends, or invite vendors, clients, and customers to
raise money and walk with your team.
• Put up the cardboard display stands and posters (provided by AIDS Walk)
in cafeterias, near elevators, on community bulletin boards, etc. Click here to learn how to request
promotional materials for your team.
• Form an AIDS Walk Los Angeles Committee. Encourage some co-workers to
become co-leaders. Ask senior management to write an appeal to all employees
urging them to register.
• Hold an AIDS Awareness Day with a kick-off luncheon or brunch. Sign up
Team Members at a registration table (link to How to Set up a
Donation/Registration Table). An AIDS Walk representative can attend your event
and help make it a success!
Q: IF SOMEONE REGISTERED FOR THE AIDS WALK AS AN INDIVIDUAL, CAN THEY STILL JOIN A TEAM?
A: Pre-registered walkers can still be part of your team. Simply call the AIDS Walk office at (213) 201-WALK(9255) with the walker's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available) and ask to have them transferred.
Q: WHAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO JOIN A TEAM AFTER THE DEADLINE?
A: Walkers may still become part of a team after the pre-registration deadline of Wednesday, October 6. However, they will not appear on the Team Roster you will find at your Team Meeting Station on the day of the AIDS Walk. Walkers may transfer to a team using the Team Transfer Sheets at the Team Meeting Station or at the Team Information Booth on the day of the AIDS Walk, Sunday, October 17. Simply write their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address in the appropriate fields on the Team Transfer Form and leave it with an AIDS Walk representative at Team Information. You can also call the AIDS Walk office at (213) 201-WALK (9255) to notify us of any additional people that need to be listed on your team. In the weeks following the AIDS Walk, Team Rosters will be updated with new walker names and contributions. A final list will be e-mailed to all Team Leaders in November.
Q: HOW LONG IS AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES?
A: It is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and takes roughly 2-3 hours to complete.
Q: WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY OF AIDS WALK LOS ANGELES?
A:8:30 a.m. - Sign-In Opens 9 a.m. - Aerobic Workout 9:15 a.m. - Opening Ceremony Begins 10:00 a.m. - AIDS Walk Los Angeles Begins!
Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT ANSWERED HERE?
A: Call the AIDS Walk Los Angeles office at (213) 201-WALK (9255) or e-mail awlainfo@aidswalk.net. An AIDS Walk Los Angeles staff member is always available to assist you.