Don't let the idea of fundraising keep you from helping others. It is actually quite easy to do and you will find that most people you know want to help you to help others. You need to remember that this is going to a good cause and that because of your participation, children will have a chance to live.
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Make a list of everyone that you know - friends, family, co-workers, professors, wedding guests, spouses/significant other's family, people you do regular business with—dentists, doctors, gas stations, stores you regularly frequent, coffee shops, insurance agents, bakeries, brokers, gyms, anyone.
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Prioritize - put the people you know best first. Remember, people give to people. By asking the people you know best first, you will have success and it will make you more confident in asking those you know less well.
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Set personal goals for fundraising. Most people commit to raise at least the amount of money to give one child the life-saving medicine they need for a whole year plus the registration fee: $360 + $25. But, please…raise as much as you can since every dollar gives a child another day of life.
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Download the sample letter , pledge form , and press release or create your own. Personalize it…make it exciting by printing it on brightly colored paper.
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Be specific. People like to know what is expected of them. If you know someone can only give $5.00 then ask them for $5.00. If someone can give $50, ask them for $50. By asking for a specific amount, you will be more effective.
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Keep track - get a 9x12 envelope and every time someone fills out a pledge form attach the check to it and put it in the envelope. Keep a record of everyone who has given you money and the amount and keep this record in the envelope along with the forms and checks. If someone gives you cash, deposit it to your account and write a check for that amount. Never send cash through the mail. Use the record form for recording your pledges.
Mail checks and the record form ahead of time to:
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
6221 Blue Grass Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17112
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Get the word out. You can hand people the letter, you can email it or you can mail it to them. To ensure that people will return the form with a check at a higher rate of return, put an extra size 9 self-addressed stamped envelope in the letter with your address on the outside. You should also include a note on the pledge form, telling donors where to mail their check and form.
Do you know someone with AIDS? Tell your friends that you are climbing in memory of or for someone battling the disease.
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Emphasize charity. American Foundation for Children with AIDS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization so all donations you receive are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Make sure that checks are made out to the AFCA and make sure you keep track of who gives you cash and their addresses so we can send them a thank you note.
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Give thanks. It is important for you to personally thank your donors. AFCA will send a formal thank you to donors by mail.
You are ready to go! Keep remembering that you are asking people to help make a difference in the lives of others. Remind people that by giving a dollar a day, less than what they would spend on a cup of coffee, they can save a child’s life.
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Create an online fundraising page through FirstGiving and raise money to achieve your pledge goal fast. Go to www.firstgiving.com/afca and get started!
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Add a short message about donating to your e-mail signature. 
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Use your creativity, whatever it may be. Everyone has the ability to do something well; sell your product or skill to benefit your fundraising campaign. A few ideas: cookies, lapel pins, knit caps, poems, chili, short stories, tax preparation abilities, photographs, babysitting time, car washing, drawings, language tutoring, personal training, t-shirts, designated driving, dog-walking, errand-running, gardening.
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Big Corporate Sponsorship - Identify one or more several large companies and contact them directly. They may be willing to sponsor you completely.
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Garage Sale - Time to get rid of all of those miscellaneous items in the garage and attic. Ask your friends to do the same. Put it in your front yard and sell, sell, sell! Put all the money raised toward your fundraising minimum!
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Bake Sale - Become Julia Child (and ask your friends to do the same) and host a bake sale. You can even have it in conjunction with your garage sale. It is a fact that people will buy more stuff on an empty stomach!
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Extra "Change In My Pocket" Box - Create these little boxes for your friends and family and have them place it on their dresser. At the end of the day they can drop that spare change in the box. Before the pledge deadline, you can gather the boxes and count the dough!
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Office Fundraising Challenge - Speak with everyone in your office and get them to challenge each other to raise the highest amount. Give the "winner" a prize. Maybe some movie passes? Gift certificate to dinner?
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Answering Machine Message - This will alert everyone who calls you at home that you are up to something special! Let them know that you need their support!
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Internet Chat Rooms - Post a message on an Internet chat room. You'd be amazed by how many people will be willing to help you.
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Ask your local bartender to donate a portion of one day's tips - Ask a local bartender to donate tips from one night. You can create a sign for the bartender to place on the bar stating that "All tips collected tonight will go directly to raise money for children living with HIV/AIDS." If the patrons see that sign they may be willing to dig a little deeper in their pocket! 
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Movie ticket donation - Ask your local movie house to donate several movie tickets. Sell them and put the money towards your fundraising goal.
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Radio Station - Call your favorite radio station and ask them to make an announcement on the air. They may even interview you. Donations can be sent directly to the AFCA office, with your name on the memo line so we know who to credit.
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Gym - Ask your gym to place a Pledge Jar at the front desk! Leave a stack of pledge forms at the counter, too.
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Spinning Class - Have a stack of pledge forms with you and ask your spinning instructor to make an announcement in class.
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Hair Salon - Ask your barber or hairdresser to donate $2.00 from every haircut they complete during the weekend.
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Neighbor - Write to all your neighbors on your block (or in your building). Attach a letter stating what you're raising money for and ask them to make a donation.
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Meet the Press - Does your company distribute a newsletter? Does your company have an intranet message board? Take advantage of these! It's a perfect way to get the word out.
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Neighborhood Chores - Are you a Mr. or Ms. Fix-it? A lot of your neighbors would probably rather pay you than someone else. Place signs around your neighborhood advertising your services (i.e. watering gardens, cleaning roof gutters, sweeping the driveway, fixing an easy plumbing problem, painting a room, etc.)
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ebay.com - Remember the garage sale idea? Auction off the remaining items on Ebay.com
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Company Vacation Days - Ask your boss or human resources director if they can swap one of your vacation days for a day's pay.
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Bowling Nights - Plan a fun night of bowling at the local alley. Ask the owner to waive the fees and you can collect that money and apply it to your pledge.
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Used book sale - Old books sitting in the attic collecting dust? Ask your friends, family and neighbors to donate whatever they've have and host a book sale in your front yard.
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Curse Jar - Place a Curse Jar in your office and whenever someone says a bad word they have to open up their wallet, grab a dollar and put it in the jar.
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Dress Down Day - Ask your company to allow an official AFCA Dress Down Day. For the privilege of dressing down, employees give $10.00 toward your pledge. 
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Church Bulletin - Place an advertisement in your church bulletin letting the congregation know what you're up to!
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Red Ribbon Distribution - Create small red ribbons to bring awareness to our fight against HIV/AIDS. Sell them to your friends, family members, etc.
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Is there a teacher in the house? - Get your students to help you fundraise. Kids are incredibly creative and cute, too! Have them put together those red ribbons for you!
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Other Parents - If your kids play on soccer leagues or any other sports teams distribute your pledge forms to the other parents at the event.
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Remind Them - In case you didn't receive an answer the first time you asked, ask again! Your potential donor may need a little coaxing.
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Inspirational Book Marks - Create them and sell them to your friends and family.
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Universities and Colleges - Contact your local schools and ask if you can put an advertisement in their school newsletter asking for donations. Some of the organizations may even invite you to make a short presentation.
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Computer Screen Savers - Create an AFCA screen saver and send it to everyone in your company! A gentle reminder is a good reminder!
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Share the Experience - Tell your story. The more you talk about your upcoming adventure, the more people will share in that excitement and want to pledge to you.
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Fraternities and Sororities - Contact the national chapter of your college fraternity or sorority and ask them to make a donation.
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Alumni Organizations - Call your own college or university and ask them to place an ad in the alumni newsletter asking for donations.