Ambassadors – FAQ
1) What is the ASPCA Ambassadors Program?
The ASPCA Ambassadors Program is an online, grassroots fundraising program that gives our supporters the ability and tools they need to raise funds and awareness for the ASPCA’s mission of fighting animal cruelty and finding homes for America’s adoptable pets.
2) I love animals and I want to be an Ambassador for the ASPCA but I don’t know how to get started. Can you help?
We’re thrilled to hear that you would like to lead the fight against animal cruelty in your community by becoming an ASPCA Ambassador. The first step in becoming an Ambassador is to log on to www.aspcaambassadors.org and read about the three ways that you can register to become an Ambassador which include: Creating a Personal Event, Creating a Tribute Page, and Attending an ASPCA Event. The majority of our Ambassadors host their own grassroots events which fall under the Personal Event category.
3) What is a Personal Event and how can I host one?
A personal event is any fundraiser that you hold in your community to raise funds and awareness for the ASPCA. Some examples of these include bake sales, concerts, dog walks, marathons and house parties. More Ideas »
4) Once I decide on my fundraiser, how can I spread the word about my event?
Once you have decided on the details of your fundraiser, the next step is to register it on the site under personal events. Simply follow the instructions on the Ambassador site and begin creating your own personal fundraising page. In addition to including the details of your event (start with who, what, where when and why), you can upload photos and begin promoting your event online to your friends and family.
5) What is the Ambassador handbook and how can I make use of those tools to enhance my personal event?
The Ambassador handbook is a collection of marketing materials that we encourage you to use to help you promote your event and educate the public about the ASPCA’s work. In the handbook, you will find logos (which you can use to create your own flyers, premium items, banners and anything else you may be interested in creating to help you promote your event), a stationary template (great for creating fundraising letters), an ASPCA fact sheet (print these out to distribute at your event to educate the public on the ASPCA’s mission) and an anti-cruelty pledge form (help us collect signatures and emails and then send the form back to us).
6) I tried to register my event and they asked me for a credit card. Do I need to pay to become an Ambassador?
The Ambassador Program is designed to help our supporters raise money for the ASPCA and the programs and service we provide to homeless animals around the country. There is a $25 fee to register your personal event which acts as a direct donation to the organization and helps you kick-off your fundraising efforts.
7) Can I plan an Ambassador event and then split the proceeds between the ASPCA and my local shelter?
Absolutely. It’s a great idea to hold an event that includes participation and adoptable animals from a local shelter. You can register your event on Ambassadors and mention on your page that you will be splitting donations between the ASPCA and the group(s) of your choice or you can choose to split up your ask from the get go between online donations using a credit card (which would go directly to the ASPCA) and cash on site which could be given to a rescue group of your choice.
8) What if I receive checks at my personal event?
All checks should be made out to the ASPCA and can be sent to the following address:
Attention: ASPCA Ambassadors
c/o ASPCA
520 8th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Once received and processed, the donations will be reflected on your fundraising page.
9) What if I have a business and would like to donate a portion of proceeds to the ASPCA?
If you are a small business looking to donate a percentage of proceeds to the ASPCA, please register your promotion on our ASPCA Ambassadors site under Personal Events and include the specifics of the promotion on your personal fundraising page. To comply with Better Business Bureau requirements and protect our nonprofit status, we ask you to clearly inform the consumer about the specifics of the donation. For example, "$1 from each sale will be donated to the ASPCA". If you use a % instead of a $ amount, specify if it is from the gross or net proceeds. Please also note the timeframe of the promotion and any minimum or maximum amounts.
10) Who do I contact if I need help?
Email us at ASPCAAmbassadors@aspca.org.