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Food for Thought Host Toolkit

An AFTD Fundraising toolkit for event hosts, educators, and eaters.

Dear AFTD Volunteer,

You inspire us every day through your commitment to raising FTD awareness and supporting AFTD’s mission.

This year marks the 13^th annual Food for Thought campaign, running from September 21 to October 5. We invite you to host an event to raise awareness, share your story, and gather around for a good cause.

In this toolkit, you’ll find planning tips, inspiring ideas, and everything you need to make your event meaningful. From bake sales to cooking demos, social media campaigns to community potlucks, you’ll find your flavor here and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Let’s Pave the Path Forward to End FTD!

Step 1: Let Us Know You’re In

Fill out the Contact Form to share your idea or let us know you’re interested. We’ll reach out with next steps, answer questions, and support your planning.

Step 2: Create Your Fundraising Page

Create your fundraising page on AFTD’s preferred platform. To customize your page, use this checklist tool.

Step 3: Plan Your Event

You should have fun with your event! Pick a format that fits your time, energy, and interests. Bake sales, virtual cooking classes, dinners with friends- whatever brings people together around food and FTD awareness.

Keep your expenses manageable. AFTD can’t legally incur costs, and thus can't pay for/reimburse you for your event. Questions? Email us at fundraising@theaftd.org.

Once you know what you want to do, submit the information in our Event Detail Form so we can help promote your event and send you materials. Please complete this form before August 29 to receive your materials in time for your event.

Promote and Fundraise

You’ve got your event planned, you let us know the details, it’s time to promote and fundraise!

Use these channels to promote your event and grow your impact:

There are several ways to collect donations for your event.

Checks can be made payable to “AFTD” and mailed to:

AFTD
2700 Horizon Drive
Suite 120
King of Prussia, PA 19406

- Don’t forget to write your event name on the check's memo line!
- Donations made payable to AFTD are tax-deductible.
- Donations made directly to AFTD will receive an acknowledgment letter.
- If you receive a check made out to you personally, you can endorse the check and add “payable to AFTD”.
- AFTD can’t accept checks made out to “Food for Thought”, “FFT”, or the name of your event if you choose to call it something else.
AFTD can accept donations made by credit card, PayPal, Venmo, bank transfer or digital wallets (ApplePay and GPay) via our Food for Thought page.
Ask your donors if their company has a matching gift program. If they are unsure, direct them to their Human Resources office to inquire.

Gaming

“Gaming” is defined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as “include(ing) bingo, beano, raffles, lotteries, pull-tabs, scratch-offs, pari-mutuel betting, Calcutta wagering, pickle jars, punchboards, tip boards, tip jars, certain video games, and other games of chance.” So, by this definition, even a simple auction, as is seen so frequently at events, falls under the definition of gaming. These rules apply for both virtual and in-person events.

Check your local regulations before including any of these into your event.
AFTD is not able to obtain permits or licenses for your event, nor are you permitted to obtain one using AFTD's name.

Sponsorships

Using Logos

Step 4: Wrap Up and Recognition

As soon as your event is over, please fill out a Post Event Form to let us know how you did!
Don’t forget to send us your photos! You can include them in your Post Event Form, or email them to us at fundraising@theaftd.org
The Golden Donut
- We love celebrating fundraisers like you. This year, the Golden Donut can be yours!
- AFTD staff will vote on hosts who place #1 in each of the bolded categories:
  - Best 1^stTime Host
  - Best Food Display or Table Set Up
  - Best Photo
  - Most Creative Use of #13
  - Most Donors Reached
  - Most Raised
  - Outstanding Returning Hosts
- We want to celebrate you! Please submit your Post Event Form and send us your photos before October 9^thso we can make sure you’re mentioned in our Fall Newsletter and consider you for the Golden Donut!

FAQs and Resources

Downloadables

FAQs

Q: What platforms can I use to host a virtual event?
A: You can host your Food for Thought event on platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, Messenger, or WhatsApp. Or keep it simple with a food-themed fundraiser on our preferred fundraising platform, Facebook, or Instagram—just share a loved one’s favorite recipe and raise funds in their honor or memory.

Q: What if I want to host an event but am inexperienced or nervous?
A: If you’ve gotten this far, you’re already ready. No one is more qualified to tell your story than you are, and you’ve got this! If you still don’t feel prepared, talk to AFTD's Events Department. Recruit a family member or friend to help. And remember, an event is a chance to connect with others, and not carry it all yourself.

Q: What materials will you provide me to distribute/give away at my event?
A: AFTD-branded educational and awareness materials such as brochures and bracelets.

Q: When will you mail me the materials?
A: Once you confirm your event details with AFTD's Events Department and what you need, everything will be shipped out the week of September 2, 2025.

Q: What if someone writes out a check to me instead of AFTD by mistake?
A: You can endorse the check and add “payable to AFTD.”

Q: Will AFTD cover upfront expenses in preparation of my event?
A: Expenses incurred for Food for Thought events are the responsibility of the host. AFTD cannot provide any overhead costs. Out-of-pocket expenses incurred for the event may be tax deductible. Maintain all receipts and consult with your tax advisor for direction.

Q: Who should checks be made out to?
A: Checks should be made payable to the “Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration” or “AFTD.” AFTD cannot accept checks made out to Food for Thought, FFT, or the name of your event.

Q: Where do I send my checks?
A: Checks can be sent to:
AFTD
2700 Horizon Drive Suite 120
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Q: How will AFTD acknowledge donations?
A: AFTD will send a thank you/receipt for any checks or electronic donations we receive. AFTD cannot receipt individual cash donations. If you receive cash donations at your event, AFTD will send you a letter acknowledging the lump sum. This letter may be copied and distributed to anyone who contributed. It is the responsibility of the donor to work with their tax advisor regarding the amount they contributed and deductibility.

Q: Are online donations to my event via the preferred fundraising platform tax deductible?
A: Yes. The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and online donations made via our preferred fundraising platform are tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

Q: Are there t-shirts for purchase?
A: Yes. Ask AFTD's Events Department for details.

Q: What is the best meal of the day?
A: All of them!

Q: Does AFTD have communication tools to help me so I don’t have to start from scratch?
A: Yes. AFTD can provide you with the following samples: fundraising letter, thank you letter, flyers, media release, etc..

Q: How can I find out how much money I raised?
A: AFTD can let you know how much you have raised. Be sure that checks are mailed in with a note or memo stating that they are for your event so we can properly credit you. If you have a fundraising page on our preferred platform, we will add any checks we receive to your page offline.

Q: How do I create an online fundraising page?
A: GoFundMePro (formerly Classy) is the fundraising platform AFTD uses. It provides simple step by step instructions to set up and create your own page. To get started click here.

Q: How do I re-size the logos while keeping their shape?
A: Place the cursor in one of the four corners of the logo and drag it to the size you want. The logo needs to remain the same colors. Any use of the AFTD or Food for Thought logo must be approved by AFTD staff.

Q: Can AFTD sign or obtain a contract or permit for my event?
A: No, any contract or permit that needs to signed or obtained is the responsibility of the host, and cannot be signed or obtained by or on behalf of AFTD. This is included in the rules and regulations associated with Gaming.

Q: Can AFTD help me solicit in-kind donations?
A: Yes, AFTD can provide you with examples and templates for in-kind donation asks—however, AFTD cannot directly solicit in-kind donations for your event.

Q: What if my question wasn’t answered here?
A: For any other questions – including specific culinary advice – please contact AFTD’s Events Department at: fundraising@theaftd.org.

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