— community days in Iowa City

— how to set up a community day

Community Days are a great way to raise money for Dance Marathon and promote the organization to local businesses and community members. With a little planning, it is easy to set up a community day in your hometown!

Note: please refrain from contacting businesses in the downtown Iowa City/Coralville area, as many of them already support Dance Marathon and host community days for us throughout the year. If you are from the Iowa City/Coralville area, please consider reaching out to businesses in North Liberty or Cedar Rapids.

Step-by-Step Process

Identify a local business where you wish to have the Community Day and contact the manager several weeks ahead of time before the desired date. While there are many forms of community days, restaurants are a popular option! But, don't be afraid to get creative! Gyms, smoothie shops, and clothing boutiques can be great places too! When asking to host a community day, make sure you explain who you are, what Dance Marathon is, and where the money will be going. See templates here: Community Day Template
If approved by the business, establish the percentage that they are willing to give and the time frame of the fundraiser. Some community days last all day long, while others may be a 3 or 4 hour time frame — either way is a great option! Businesses may be unsure of the amount they should give back to the organization, so you can suggest 10-15%, but assure them that you will be appreciative of any percent/amount they're willing to give. Emphasize that all donations go directly to our kiddos and families!
Determine what customers must do in order for the proceeds to be donated to Dance Marathon. Is it all sales? Do they have to mention Dance Marathon at checkout? Do mobile or physical flyers have to be shown? Establishing the specifics of the event early on will help avoid confusion down the road.
Advertise, advertise, advertise! Once everything is approved and set in stone with the business, make sure to advertise everywhere! Create a graphic to post on social media platforms (Canva is great for making flyers, but a Word or Google Doc also works), set up a Facebook event, and ask gas stations for permission to hang up flyers. You can also ask other local businesses in the area around where the event will be held — banks, the library, etc! Email and text old friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, and teachers! The more advertising, the more successful the Community Day will be!
Host the Community Day! You should try to stay at the business for the entire duration of the event. This will allow you to monitor how things are going and make sure it runs smoothly. Be sure to thank the manager and staff members, as well as everyone who came out to support Dance Marathon. Ideally, you will be able to present at the business during the community day, to the extent that CDC guidelines permit. Make an effort to interact with people as they come in and share information regarding DM.
Follow up after the community day. It is very important to establish how you will receive your donation. We suggest that you bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the community day to make things easier for the manager. If they prefer you pick up the check in person, please return to the business when they are ready to give you the donation. If they write you a check, have them make it out to "The University of Iowa Dance Marathon" with your name on the memo line. Checks are usually best, but it may also be beneficial to provide your online giving page link. Feel free to email [email protected] with any questions pertaining to payment methods.
Send a thank-you card. It is super important to thank donors that have supported you in reaching your fundraising goal. Let them know how much they are appreciated! Send a thank you card within one week of hosting the event. Templates here: Thank You's
Deposit check, raise money, and have an amazing time at the Big Event! Thank you for your dedication to Dance Marathon and for spreading your lime to your hometown!

— flyers

Many businesses that are not from the Iowa City area may not be familiar with Dance Marathon. They will oftentimes ask for a flyer or informational sheet that explains what our organization is all about. We have included a flyer that you should give to businesses when asking to set up a community day. If a business asks you for further information about Tax IDs or other forms, please contact either Community Relations Chair or Sponsorship Director.

Community Relations Chair: McKenna Shroeder [email protected]

Sponsorship Director: Tommy Layden at [email protected]

— hometown heroes program

If you set up a community day in your hometown, that business will become one of Dance Marathon's "Hometown Heroes". This means two things:

They will be recognized on our website under the "Sponsors" tab
We will send you an official certificate that names the business as a "Hometown Hero" for them to display however they please