FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Q: WHERE/WHEN DOES AIDS WALK NEW YORK TAKE PLACE?
A: AIDS Walk New York will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2008. The AIDS Walk begins and ends in Central Park. Walkers should enter the venue at the corner of the park at 59th St. and 5th Ave.  to turn in their funds.

Q: HOW LONG IS AIDS WALK NEW YORK?
A: It is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and takes roughly 2-3 hours to complete.

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: IS THERE A MINIMUM AMOUNT I SHOULD RAISE FOR AIDS WALK NEW YORK?
A: AIDS Walk New York does not require walkers to 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 New York are eligible for several Incentive Awards.

Q: WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
A: The money raised by AIDS Walk New York supports the services provided by Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and other AIDS Service Organizations.

Q: TO WHOM SHOULD DONATION CHECKS BE MADE OUT TO?
A: Please make checks payable to AIDS Walk New York or AWNY. Please write the name of the fundraising walker or volunteer on the check. Remember, all donations to AIDS Walk New York are tax deductible.

Q: WHERE DO I MAIL DONATIONS?
A: AIDS Walk New York, Old Chelsea Station, PO Box 10,  New York, NY 10113. .*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 NEW YORK 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, 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 for donations in these settings.  Please contact the AIDS Walk New York office for more information, or if you feel someone is collecting funds in an unsafe or unendorsed manner.

Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO TO START RAISING FUNDS FOR AIDS WALK NEW YORK?
A: A few simple suggestions to get started with your fundraising can be found below. For more fundraising ideas contact the AIDS Walk New York office at (212) 807-9255.
  
 Set up your Team or Individual Fundraising Web Page,. Then send out an e-mail to friends, family members, and coworkers.  Each e-mail sent from your Web page contains a link to sponsor you online with a credit card.
  
 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 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!
  
 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 New York.

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: WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY OF AIDS WALK NEW YORK?
A:
8:30 a.m.     - Sign-In Opens.
9:15 a.m..    - Aerobic Workout.
9:30 a.m..    - Opening Ceremony Begins.
10:00 a.m..  - Walk Begins!

TEAM INFO

Q: WHAT IS THE STAR WALKERS CLUB?
A: The Star Walkers Club is made up of walkers who set a goal of raising $1,000 or more for AIDS Walk New York. 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 Breakfast.

Q: WHAT IS A TEAM?
A: Teams are comprised of walkers representing a variety of companies, schools, churches, or organizations in the New York 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 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 New York. Team Meeting Stations are arranged alphabetically in Central Park. Many Team Leaders decorate their Meeting Stations with balloons and banners, in addition to bringing T-shirts and breakfast items for their team. For more ideas on fun event ideas for a team, contact the AIDS Walk New York office at (212) 807-9255.
 
Q: WHAT ARE GOLD TEAMS?
A: Gold Teams are the top 20 fundraising teams, announced annually. Last year, this elite group collectively raised nearly one quarter of the event total. In recognition of their outstanding efforts, Gold Teams have a separate Sign-In Area, as well as a team photo taken on the day of the event.
 
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.
 
Q: HOW DO I GET AN UPDATED TEAM LIST?
A: Team Rosters are always available on your Team Web page. Click here to see the list of 2008 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. Simply visit www.aidswalk.net/newyork. Click on "MY HQ" to log in and view the participants on your team. You may also call your Team Coordinator to request a Team Roster.

Q: HOW CAN I PROMOTE AIDS WALK NEW YORK TO POTENTIAL TEAM MEMBERS?
A: We suggest doing one or all of the following:

Set up your Team Web page and send out an e-mail to recruit Team Members. Remember, anyone can join your team.

Ask family, friends, or invite vendors, clients, and customers to raise money and walk with your Team.

Put up the point-of-purchase stands and posters (provided by AIDS Walk) in cafeterias, near elevators, on community bulletin boards, etc.

Form an AIDS Walk New York 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. 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 (212) 807-9255 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 deadline. 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, May 18. 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. In the weeks following the AIDS Walk, Team Rosters will be updated with new walker names and contributions. A final list will be mailed to all Team Leaders in June.

Q: HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT AIDS WALK NEW YORK?
A: There are many opportunities for your team to get involved in AIDS Walk New York, 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 New York office at(212) 807-9255.

WEBSITE INFO

Q:HOW DO I GET A USERNAME AND PASSWORD FOR MY PERSONAL HQ?
A: E-mail us at awnyinfo@aidswalk.net with your contact information. We will e-mail you a username and password. You may also click the link to My Fundraising HQ, and then click Forgot Username and/or Password?. You will be prompted to enter your e-mail address and you will be e-mailed your login information.

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, and more.
 

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 lastest 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 application of Internet Explorer 7 here for the best browsing experience on our site.

Q: HOW DO I REGISTER FOR AIDS WALK NEW YORK 2008 ONLINE?
A: Click on Register to Walk and complete the form. You will be guided through the registration process. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from awnyinfo@aidswalk.net. This e-mail will contain your username and password that you have selected...*If you register by phone, mail, or fax and provide us with an e-mail address, you will receive a system generated username and password via e-mail. Please use this to access your personal fundraising Web page. Once logged in you can create your own username and password, as well as design your page.
 
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 collect donations from their friends and family through a much more efficient mechanism. AIDS Walk New York staff and event participants can track the progress of donation collections through viewing secured online reports.
 
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: HOW CAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY FIND MY INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISING WEB PAGE TO MAKE A DONATION?
A: When you send an e-mail from "My Fundraising 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 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 PARTICIPANT" 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 awnyinfo@aidswalk.net.

Q: HOW CAN I SEE WHO HAS DONATED TO ME?
A: Go to the My Fundraising Page link on the site. Use the username and password that we e-mailed to you when you registered for the event. You can then view your donation report and the amounts that have been donated.
 
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. Simply follow the prompts to enter the information for each cash or check donation received.
 
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 password from customersupport@kintera.com. If you still have problems, please contact us by e-mailing us at awnyinfo@aidswalk.net, or call our office at (212) 807-9255

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: 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 New York  will also maintain a copy of your information.
 
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 transaction 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 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 don't let the credit card minimum discourage you.

Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT ANSWERED HERE?
A: Call the AIDS Walk New York office at (212) 807-9255 or e-mail awnyinfo@aidswalk.net. An AIDS Walk New York staff member is always available to assist you.