FAQS
This page should answer any question you have about The Floating Hospital’s Walk for Families event. If you don’t see the answer to a question you have, please email TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org.
Participation in the walk
Because of rising health concerns over the Delta variant of the coronavirus, we are shifting the event from an in-person walk to a fundraising walk that participants can do wherever they want, at any time during the month of October.
Register at the Walk for Families registration page and walk in solidarity with us at any time between October 1-31. (The fundraising minimums are $150 for adults, and $75 for anyone age 18 or younger.) You can do the walk by yourself or encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join you and raise support as a team.
You can organize your walk in any way, shape or form you wish. Some ideas include:
- Walk around your community and ask neighbors join you as you pass their homes and plan a celebratory meal or self-care treat afterward.
- Walk or run on a treadmill and challenge yourself to go a little farther than usual..
- Hike a trail in a park on a beautiful fall day. Set a goal of achieving a certain number of steps (there are about 2,000 steps in a mile) on a given day or over the course of a weekend .
Need more ideas? We can help you brainstorm. Contact us at: TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org or call 718-784-2240 ext. 215.
When and wherever you decide to walk, please snap some shots for us to share on our social media and in our newsletter.
Fundraising
Yes! Please see below:
- Click the link in the registration confirmation email you received where it says, “Fundraising Portal.” You will be led to your personal fundraising page/dashboard.
- Follow the directions under “Message from The Floating Hospital” on how to set up personal fundraising page.
- Write a compelling ask (funding request) in your “My Story” about why you wish to support The Floating Hospital’s historic mission. This can be about your relationship with The Floating Hospital and why you hope others will support this important cause , too. Be sure to include the link to your fundraising page in your “My Story,” so your friends, family and colleagues can support you.
- Make a list of people in your network that you plan to reach out to help you reach your goal. Be specific about the amount you are asking of each donor.
- On your dashboard under “Promote Your Fundraiser,” click either the email icon or one of the social media icons and send out your messages.
- The Floating Hospital will send occasional “send updates” on the Walk and messages that you can repost and share with your contacts.
- We encourage you to send your contacts personal updates on your fundraising progress and preparations for the Walk. To do so, select “Post Update” tab and hit “Send.”
The money raised through the Walk for Families directly help The Floating Hospital continue to provide health care, social support and basic essentials (such as food, diapers, clothing and personal-care items) to families in New York City living with homelessness. To find out more about what your support will do, link here.
You can advise your donors to give to your walk online by sharing a link to your personal fundraising page via email, and your favorite social media platforms. Don’t forget to tag us @TheFloatingHospital on Facebook and Instagram, and @TheFloatingHosp on Twitter.
Your personal and team fundraising page links can be viewed and edited in your fundraising portal:
- Log In to your fundraising portal, this will lead you to your personal dashboard.
- On your dashboard click either “Fundraising Page” (that’s your personal fundraising page) or the “Team” tab for your team fundraising page.
- Under either tab, you can update your pages by clicking “Edit Page.”
- To change your fundraising page name or team affiliation, click “Edit” on “Page Settings.”
- To update “My Story” (your fundraising “ask”), click “Change” under “My Story.”
- To change your cover photo, click “Change” under “Cover Photo.” You will be guided to upload an image.
- To update your fundraising goal, click the pencil icon next to your current goal. Then, under “Goal Amount” type in your updated goal and click “Submit. (Reminder, the minimum fundraising goal for those over 18 years old is $150; and $75 for those age 18 and under).
You or your donors can mail checks or money orders to:
The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 3391
New York, NY 10163-3391
Attn: Walk for Families
Checks should be made out to The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc. and should include your name in the memo line. For donations to a team, please include a separate note with instructions to apply to the team and team name. Please note – we are unable to accept cash.
Make sure to include your name, address, number of checks enclosed, and your name on the outside of the envelope.
Please also include your name in the memo line of the check to ensure proper credit for your fundraising.
- Once the donations are processed, your personal fundraising page will be updated, and you can view all donors on your fundraising portal.
- If there is a specific way that you would like a supporter to be recognized on your page, please indicate the proper format.
- If you are submitting donations on behalf of another walker, please ensure checks other than your own are marked with the donor information so each receives credit.
Due to the high volume of donations, it may take up to two weeks for your donation to be processed and appear on your personal fundraising page.
No. However, increasing your fundraising goal is a great way to motivate your donors to give support. The average participant’s goal is an achievable $1,000.
Endorse the check by writing “Pay to the order of The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc.” and sign your name on the back of the check.
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept cash donations. If your supporters give cash, your options for submitting the donations are:
- A money order filled out with your supporter’s information to ensure they receive full recognition for the donations.
- A donation on your personal fundraising page for the amount you’ve received and charged with your credit card. Enter your supporter’s information in the online form with your credit card information to ensure they receive proper credit.
- If you receive multiple cash donations and would like individual supporters to be recognized on your page, each donation must be submitted as a separate check, money order, or online donation.
- Note: If a supporter sends you cash and you make a donation for him or her online or submit a personal check, you, not the cash supporter, will be entered as the official donor and receive the acknowledgement for tax purposes.
Yes. Once we receive the eligible matching donation form and verify the original donation, the match will be added to your fundraising total. Please ask the company completing the match to include the name of the requesting employee on the form.
Consult your donors’ company Human Resources departments to verify their matching gift policies or your donor can search here to see if they provide matching donations.
If the original donation is made online, please have your supporter print out the email confirmation they received upon making the donation and mail it with the matching donation form to:
The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 3391
New York, NY 10163-3391
Alternatively, if a supporter makes a donation online, and their company has an electronic donation submission program, please ask them to email the confirmations of both their donation and matching donation submission to alipman@thefloatinghospital.org.
If a supporter would like to match a donation they made by check, please have them mail the matching donation form along with the donation to the address above.
Many employers’ matching donation forms require the following information:
Tax ID Number: 30-0102842
Contact: Ann-Louise Lipman
Email: alipman@thefloatinghospital.org
Phone: 718-284-2240 ext. 215
Address: The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 3391
New York, NY 10163-3391
To change your fundraising goal:
- Log In to your fundraising portal
- On your personal dashboard, click the pencil icon next to your current goal
- Under “Goal Amount” type in your updated goal and click “Submit”
To edit the text, picture, or video on your personal page:
- Log In to your fundraising portal.
- On your dashboard, select ” Edit Page” on the top of the page.
You can share your personal fundraising page link on social media by copying the link into your social media status–be sure to include a note about why you walk. If you cannot remember your personal fundraising page URL, you can log in to your fundraising portal to view it on the dashboard.
- Log In to your fundraising portal.
- Go to “Promote My Fundraiser.”
- Click onto the email or social media icon that you wish to use to reach out to your contacts. It will populate your “My Story” into the body of the message.
To access a list of your current year donors and to see the donation amount:
- Log In to your fundraising portal.
- On your dashboard, click “Donations” at the top right of the page. You can thank your donors via email or social media by click “Thank” next to each donor’s name.
Making a donation
The Floating Hospital Foundation is an IRS Type I not-for-profit supporting organization that operates exclusively to support The Floating Hospital’s mission, operations and activities. To learn more about the hospital’s mission and history of providing access to healthcare to the neediest New Yorkers since 1866, please link here. To learn more about The Floating Hospital Foundation and its efforts to raise support for the hospital to continue to provide care for all who need it, please link here.
Please contact the Walk for Families event staff at The Floating Hospital Foundation at TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org or call 718-284-2240 ext. 215, as soon as possible.
Contact TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org or call 718-284-2240 ext. 215, to request a copy of an email acknowledgement.
Supporters can write a check payable to The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc., and mail it to:
The Floating Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 3391
New York, NY 10163-3391
Attn: Walk for Families
If your supporters make online donations, they will immediately receive payment confirmation and a gift receipt via email. Supporters will also receive an acknowledgement letter by U.S. post.
For online donations, your supporters can enter the name of the person whom they are honoring by clicking “In Honor Of” on the donation webpage. If your supporters would like an acknowledgment letter sent to a loved one, family member, or friend, please ask them to contact TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org.
Yes, once they are verified.
Yes. Your supporters can give donations of stocks or securities and we also accept donations from donor-advised funds.
Donors can use the DAF link here and confirm their donation with their DAF adviser. Please note the donation designation (The Floating Hospital’s Walk for Families 2021/walker’s name).
For more information on how to donate stocks and securities, please contact ebarker@thefloatinghospital.org or call 718-284-2240 ext. 213.
If your questions cannot be answered by the guided instructions on DAF Direct, contact ebarker@thefloatinghospital.org or call 718-284-2240 ext. 213.
Yes. Everyone who walks must be registered, pay the registration fee, and commit to the fundraising minimum.
Your registration information cannot be processed unless you agree to the following policy:
I, the “Participant”, wish to participate in The Floating Hospital’s Walk for Families, a live event, with the option to participate virtually, occurring on October 2, 2021 (the “Event”). I agree to collect the corresponding fundraising minimum below (registration fee included) for the benefit of TFH and to be personally responsible for the difference if I fail to collect the required funds: Virtual walkers ages 18 or older on Event Day: $150. Youth virtual walkers ages 18 years or younger on Event Day: $75. The deadline for receipt of the full fundraising minimum is October 31, 2021. I understand that the outstanding balance towards the minimum fundraising requirement will be charged to my credit card if I have not met this requirement by the deadline.
Registration
Yes. Complete a separate registration for each person and process each registration payment as a separate transaction. Every participant must be registered with a different email. Note: if you use your credit card to register other walkers, your card will be charged if they do not meet the fundraising minimum by the October 31, 2021, deadline.
Yes. You can update your personal or contact information, change route selection, switch teams, join a team, or even start a new team by following these steps:
- Log In to your Fundraising Portal
- On your dashboard, select “Edit Page” tab
- Edit personal and contact information in the “My Story” tab
If you need assistance registering a large group or wish to make any registration changes, please contact TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org.
You must cancel before noon on September 30, 2021, to be released from your chosen fundraising minimum requirement . If you do not cancel by September 30, then you are responsible for the fundraising minimum whether you participate or not. The registration fee is non-refundable. Please note: Each walker is required to agree to the cancellation policy at the time of registration.
Teams
Teams can be as small or as large as you want! Please note: Sponsored teams come with eight (8) free registrations and other perks. To learn more about sponsorship, please visit our sponsorship page here.
Yes. Each team member participating in the walk is responsible for their personal fundraising minimum ($150 for 18 or older;$75 for youth under 18). Please note that the minimum must be posted on everyone’s fundraising page and not on the team page.
No. The team fundraising goal is a tool to motivate your team and supporters. Each member of the team is responsible for their chosen fundraising minimum by October 2, 2021.
If you are registered as an individual, but want to start a team, contact TFHwalkinfo@thefloatinghospital.org or at 718-284-2240 ext. 215.
Yes. Donors can give to the general team page by searching for the team’s name and by directly giving on the team’s fundraising page.
Teams can be formed in honor or memory of a friend or loved one, or to represent a company, organization, group, or family. Teams are a great way to show unity and make fundraising and walking fun.
No. You can walk individually or with a team.
The team captain recruits members and encourages the team’s fundraising efforts. Captains also have online access to customize their team’s fundraising page, communicate important information to members, and serve as a general resource.
Your name will appear first on your team’s fundraising page.
Yes, we encourage teams to be as creative as they want to be with their Walk attire. Because this is family-friendly event, we do ask that participants wear appropriate clothing exclusive of offensive language or imagery. Anyone who registers before September 10, 2021 will receive a free Walk for Families T-shirt, which is a terrific way to show your support and raise awareness about The Floating Hospital.
