FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Q: WHERE/WHEN DOES AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO TAKE PLACE?
A: AIDS Walk San Francisco will take place on Sunday, July 20, 2008. The AIDS Walk begins and ends in Golden Gate Park at Sharon Meadow. Walkers should enter the venue at the intersection
of Haight Street and Stanyan Boulevard to turn in their funds. Day-of-Event Map & Directions
Q: HOW LONG IS AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO?
A: It is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and takes roughly 2-3 hours to complete.
Q: WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE DAY OF AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO?
A:
9 a.m. Sign-In opens in Mother's Meadow. Walkers turn in donations, pick up fundraising awards, and receive their official 2007 AIDS Walk San Francisco walker button and AIDS Walk
Guide.
9:30 a.m. Aerobic Warm-Up
9:45 a.m. Opening Ceremony in Sharon Meadow. Live from the stage: community leaders, musical guests, and celebrity speakers
10:30 a.m. AIDS Walk begins!
12:30 p.m. Post-Walk concert and family entertainment in Sharon Meadow with live music and the announcement of the fundraising total for AIDS Walk San Francisco 2008! The KidZone
features a bounce house, face painting, and free carousel rides!
Q: WHERE DO I SIGN-IN?
A:Sign-In is just inside Golden Gate Park, in Mother's Meadow, from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Q: WILL THERE BE SECURE BIKE PARKING AVAILABLE?
A: Yes! There will be a secure place to store your bike on the day of the AIDS Walk, monitored by volunteers. Bike parking is located on Hippie Hill in Sharon Meadow.
Q: WILL REFRESHMENTS BE AVAILABLE AT AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO? WHAT ABOUT RESTROOMS?
A: Water and a variety of snacks will be provided free of charge at the venue and at the designated checkpoints located throughout the route of AIDS Walk San Francisco. Portable toilets
will also be available at the venue and throughout the route.
Q: HOW CAN MY COMPANY BECOME A SPONSOR OR DONATE PRODUCTS TO AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO?
A: Please contact our Sponsorship and Communications Manager, Brent Colby at brentc@aidswalk.net.
Q: WHEN DO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES BEGIN FOR AIDS WALK 2008?
A: Typically we have in office volunteer opportunities starting in April 2008. Please call our office (415) 615-9255 or e-mail sfvols@aidswalk.net
for more information.
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. FUNDRAISING INFORMATION
Q: WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
A: The money raised by AIDS Walk San Francisco supports the services provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), in addition to
other benefiting organizations representing the entire spectrum of HIV/AIDS services.
Q: IS THERE A MINIMUM AMOUNT I SHOULD RAISE FOR AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO?
A: AIDS Walk San Francisco 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 San Francisco are eligible for several incentive awards.
• $150 or more – AIDS Walk T-shirt.
• $250 or more – AIDS Walk Cap and T-shirt.
• $500 or more – AIDS Walk Eco-Friendly Tote Bag, Cap, and T-shirt.
• $1000 or more –-Join the Star Walkers Club by calling (415) 615-9255; then set a goal to raise over $1,000. You'll earn all of the award items, including the special Star Walker
Athletic Jacket and Pin. You will also be invited to the Hospitality Breakfast on the morning of the AIDS Walk, and you will receive your fundraising royalty crown to wear during AIDS Walk San
Francisco!.
Q: TO WHOM DO I MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE, AND WHERE DO I SEND THEM?
A: All checks can be made payable to AIDS Walk San Francisco or AWSF and may be mailed to:
AIDS Walk San Francisco.
P.O. Box 193920.
San Francisco,
CA 94119-3920
*If a walker is to be credited for the donation, please be sure to include the walker’s name along with your check! Also please be sure to inform your walker’s that you’ve supported them.
Remember, all donations to AIDS Walk San Francisco are tax deductible.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO TO START RAISING FUNDS FOR AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO?
A: A few simple suggestions to get started with your fundraising are listed below. For more fundraising ideas, contact the AIDS Walk San Francisco office at (415) 615-9255.
• Set up your fundraising Web page, then send 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 fun!
• Include AIDS Walk information as part of your e-mail signature. Include a link to your AIDS Walk Web page in your signature. Each time you send a message, the recipient will be provided
with a reminder to sponsor you.
Q: WHAT ARE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS?
A: Many employers have matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. To find out if your employer, or your sponsor's employers, have a matching
gift policy, please use our matching gift search engine.
Q: WHY IS THERE A $25 MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR ONLINE DONATIONS?
A: Due to credit card transaction fees, a $25 minimum is required for all contributions made online; however, the AIDS Walk is happy to accept donations in cash or by check for any
amount.
Q: WHY AREN’T THE CASH AND CHECK CONTRIBUTIONS I’VE RAISED SHOWING UP ON MY FUNDRAISING WEB PAGE?
A: While credit-card donations made through the website will automatically appear on a walker’s personal Web page, the AIDS Walk 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’M HAVING TROUBLE LOGGING IN TO MY PERSONAL FUNDRAISING Web page. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
A: Keep in mind that your username and password are case-sensitive. To check your username and password go to “My Fundraising Page” and click the link “Forgot Username and
Password” and your password will be sent to you via the e-mail address you registered with. If you still are experiencing trouble logging in, please contact the AIDS Walk office at
sfinfo@aidswalk.net.
Q: WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR MONEY TO BE TURNED IN FOR INCENTIVE AWARDS OR TO BE CREDITED TO A TEAM?
A: Contributions (including corporate matching gifts) must be received by the AIDS Walk San Francisco office before 5 p.m. on Friday, August 15 to count toward incentive awards or Team
totals. We will still gladly accept contributions after that date, but they cannot be credited to specific individuals or Teams.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT ANSWERED HERE?
A: Call the AIDS Walk San Francisco office at (415) 615-9255 or e-mail sfinfo@aidswalk.net. An AIDS Walk San Francisco staff member is always available to assist you.
TEAMS INFORMATION:
Q: WHAT IS A TEAM?
A: Teams are comprised of walkers representing a variety of companies, schools, churches, or organizations from all over the San Francisco Bay Area. There are also Many friends and family
Teams that participate, some of whom walk in memory of those they have lost or in support of those living with HIV/AIDS. Teams can range in size from two to more than 1,500 walkers. Any Team
that registers 25 or more walkers by Tuesday, July 3, at noon, qualifies for a Team Meeting Station at AIDS Walk San Francisco.
Q: WHAT IS A TEAM MEETING STATION?
A: A Team Meeting Station is a designated area for Team members to meet on the day of AIDS Walk San Francisco. Team Meeting Stations are arranged alphabetically throughout Sharon Meadow.
Many Team Leaders arrange a meeting time and provide T-shirts and breakfast for their Team For more ideas on fun event ideas for a Team, contact the AIDS Walk San Francisco office.
Q: WHAT ARE GOLD TEAMS?
A: Gold Teams are the top 20 fundraising Teams, announced annually. Last year, this elite group raised a collective total of $1.4 million. In recognition of their outstanding efforts, Gold
Teams have a separate Sign-In Area, large table space, and 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 and 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 CAN I PROMOTE AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO TO POTENTIAL TEAM MEMBERS?
A: We suggest doing one or all of the following:
• Set up your Team Web page, 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 the AIDS Walk) in cafeterias, near elevators,
on community bulletin boards, etc.
• Form an AIDS Walk San Francisco Committee. Enlist co-leaders and 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: HOW DO I SET UP MY AIDS WALK TEAM WEB PAGE?
A: Setting up your AIDS Walk Web page is easy! Visit www.aidswalk.net/sanfran and click on “My Fundraising Page.” Enter your username and password (contact your Team Coordinator
if you do not know your username or password). Once you login, you can customize your Web page, send out Team recruitment e-mails, set Team goals, change your password, and talk with other Team
Leaders on our bulletin board! As the days go by, you can monitor the success of your Team by checking fundraising statistics and obtaining donation and Team recruitment reports.
STAR WALKER CLUB INFO
Q: WHAT IS THE STAR WALKER’S CLUB?
A: The Star Walkers Club is made up of walkers who set a goal of raising $1,000 or more for AIDS Walk San Francisco. Star Walkers who achieve their goal will receive additional incentive
prizes, including a limited-edition Star Walkers Club Pin, a Star Walkers Club jacket, 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 Tent and Breakfast.
WEBSITE INFO
Q: HOW DO I GET A USERNAME AND PASSWORD FOR MY PERSONAL HQ?
A: Click the link to My Fundraising Page, 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. You may also e-mail us at SFinfo@aidswalk.net with your contact information. We will e-mail you a username
and password.
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 lasters version by following this link.
Q: HOW DO I REGISTER FOR AIDS WALK SAN FRANCISCO 2008 ONLINE?
A: Click on Register Now! 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 SFinfo@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 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 San Francisco 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 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 Participant" 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 SFinfo@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 SFinfo@aidswalk.net, or call our office at (415) 615-9255.
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 San Francisco
will also maintain a copy of your information.
Q: WHY IS THERE A $25 MINIMUM FOR ALL ONLINE CREDIT CARD DONATION?
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 call our office at (415) 615-9255..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 San Francisco office at (415) 615-9255 or e-mail SFinfo@aidswalk.net. An AIDS Walk San Francisco staff member is always available to assist you.