"I began this fight because my significant other has been afflicted with breast cancer and survived. Through my experience with this local Affiliate, I have worked with many who collectively have a mission and a goal to help make a difference. This thing called breast cancer does not discriminate - it affects us all."

Guidelines for Special Events, Benefits or Promotions

Thank you for your interest in benefiting the Komen Madison Affiliate. Donations to Komen Madison Affiliate are an important vehicle in advancing our mission of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease through research, education, screening and treatment. Below are guidelines we hope will help you with the details of event planning and introduce you to some useful ideas for managing your fundraising event.

Some thoughts before you get started…

  • As responsible stewards of public funds, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® believes that a reasonable percentage of the gross revenues from all fundraising events should be directed to our mission. Therefore, it is recommended that a third party that organizes an event to benefit Komen Madison Affiliate keep expenses to 25 percent of gross revenue.

  • We also want to ensure that your event runs as smoothly and safely as possible. A Letter of Agreement will need to be in place and executed (signed by both Komen Madison and the third-party) prior to planning or promotion of your event. In addition, you will need to obtain all the necessary permits and insurance for your event and for the specific event location. The following entities must be added as additional insureds on the liability policy for the event:

    Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
    5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250
    Dallas, TX 75244

    Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Madison Affiliate
    8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 306
    P.O. Box 44531
    Madison, Wisconsin 53717

  • If you are planning a sporting event, you must have all participants sign a waiver/release.

  • Any item(s) you are planning to sell as a fundraiser for Komen Madison must be non-controversial in nature. As part of good fundraising practices, we require that the public be informed of the specific dollar amount or the percentage of the sale that will be donated to Komen Madison.

  • As an organizer of this event, you should be prepared to initiate publicity for this event and commit the necessary funds.

  • While we are able to provide guidance for your event, Komen Madison does not have the personnel to handle administrative tasks for your event. These tasks may include but are not limited to: distributing invitations, compiling RSVPs, or selling tickets.

  • Application for special events

Other aspects to keep in mind…

  • A third party must request written permission to use Komen’s name and/or logo. A signed Letter of Agreement constitutes such a request. All references to Komen in publicity and promotional materials, on tickets, invitations, etc. should say:

    1. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Madison Affiliate (for the first reference)
    2. Komen Madison Affiliate (this is acceptable for subsequent references)

  • All promotional material related to an event benefiting the Komen Madison Affiliate must be reviewed and approved by the Affiliate prior to its production and distribution. This includes, but is not limited to, invitations, press releases, newspaper or newsletter articles, merchandise etc.

Komen Madison negotiates with many different financial underwriters and sponsors for our own events. We require that you inform us of any sponsors you have or any efforts made to recruit financial underwriters/sponsors. This will ensure that there is not duplication of efforts.

As an organizer of this event, you are responsible for complying with IRS regulations regarding the event. IRS regulations governing charitable deduction are quite specific and the Komen Madison Affiliate can provide some information and guidance.

When it comes time to make your donation…

Please have participants make checks payable to the organization that is holding the event. Organizers of third party events specifically may not offer underwriters or donors the option of writing checks to the Komen Madison Affiliate for tax purposes.

Thank you for considering the Komen Madison Affiliate as a beneficiary of your company's third party event. Last year, third party events contributed to over $50,000 of our local fundraising dollars. We appreciate your contributions to finding a cure for breast cancer.

If you would like to move forward with your “third party” event or if you have any questions about the guidelines and process, please contact:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Madison Affiliate
(608) 836-1083 • (800) 435-3405
info@komenmadison.org