A Guide for Teachers and Students to
Have a Successful Autism Speaks
Kids and Coins Fundraising Campaign
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Thank you for being a part of this important issue!
Autism is a complex disorder that affects the way a
person’s brain works. It affects 1 in 59 children and
1 in 37 boys. Boys are nearly ve times more likely
than girls to have autism.
Even though there are many people with autism,
each person is different in terms of his or her
challenges, abilities and personality. Some people
with autism may require a lot of help, while others
need less assistance at home, school and in
the community.
Often people with autism have difculty talking or
expressing their thoughts and may also have trouble
learning how to play or interact with others. Some
people with autism may show unusual behaviors
such as making unexpected movements or
avoiding eye contact. People with autism may also
have strong abilities that may include knowing a lot
about a favorite subject or being really good at art,
music or math – just like others!
Autism Speaks Kids and Coins is a fundraising
campaign to help improve the lives of people with
autism. Funds raised help increase understanding
and acceptance of people with autism, support
safety from wandering, bully awareness, family crisis
assistance, job training, housing and research.
By participating in Autism Speaks Kids and Coins,
students learn that they can make a difference in
the lives of others.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting
solutions, across the spectrum and throughout
the life span, for the needs of individuals with
autism and their families. We do this through
advocacy and support; increasing under-
standing and acceptance of people with autism;
and advancing research into causes and better
interventions for autism spectrum disorder and
related conditions.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Let’s Get Started!
The Autism Speaks Kids and Coins Guide may be
used with the Autism Speaks Puzzle Piece Project
Tool Kit (see Additional Resources) to help increase
student understanding of autism or as a stand-alone
fundraising campaign.
Within this guide is everything you need to help your
school have a successful Autism Speaks Kids and
Coins campaign. The materials provided offer many
ideas for fundraising and include:
- Autism Speaks Kids and Coins Container
Sticker Template – printable labels for your
students to decorate during the campaign. Available
in 3 sizes.
- Downloadable Tracking Poster – track your
school’s fundraising progress along the way.
- Customizable Flyer – promote your coin campaign
in your school and community.
Did You know?
- No two people with autism are alike.
- You can’t tell if someone has autism just by
looking at them.
- People with autism typically have difculty with
social interactions, communication and have
intense restricted or repetitive interests.
- Repetition often makes people with autism feel
safe/better.
- People with autism may be extremely sensitive
to how things feel, taste and sound.
- People with autism like to have friends just like
everyone else!
- Autism is not contagious.
- For most, autism is a lifelong condition.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Donations Help:
Increase global understanding and
acceptance of people with autism
Advance life-enhancing research
breakthroughs
Increase early childhood screening
and timely interventions
Improve the transition to adulthood
Ensure access to reliable information
and services throughout the life span
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Collecting Coins
The objective of the Autism Speaks Kids and Coins
campaign is to inspire your classroom or school to
collect as many coins as possible and then donate
them to Autism Speaks. Your campaign can range
from one day to an entire month depending on what
works best for your school. Many schools choose to
participate during World Autism Month in April, but
you can have a campaign any time during the
school year!
In the following pages you will nd resources to help
you host a successful Autism Speaks Kids and
Coins campaign including fun ways to collect coins
in your school, educational materials for teachers and
even ideas to get parents involved in your project.
Consider setting a goal of $1,000 for your school’s
campaign. Autism Speaks will send a thank you letter
to your principal and a certicate to proudly display in
your school.
You can make a difference in 5 easy steps:
1. Set a date for your campaign.
2. Choose the best method to collect coins
for your classroom or school.
3. Collect coins! Get teachers, staff and
parents involved too!
4. Mail your donation to Autism Speaks.
5. Share your photos and fun stories with
Autism Speaks!
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Creative Campaign
Ideas
Fill the box
This is a great activity for K-5 classrooms. Have
students decorate containers such as tissue boxes,
jars or plastic storage containers. Use our down-
loadable templates or create your own. Each student
collects coins in his/her container for the allotted time
period. On the last day, the student who raised the
most wins a prize.
Penny Wars
This is a team competition that is great for middle
school or high school students. Create your teams
and designate a large donation container for each
team. Then declare war! Pennies earn positive points.
Silver coins and paper bills earn negative points.
Teams want to collect pennies in their jars and attack
the opposing teams with silver coins and paper bills
to deduct from their totals. Have each grade in the
school compete and award the winning grade a prize,
or ask coaches, teachers, student council ofcers or
athletes to be team mascots and have the losing
mascot dye his/her hair blue, sit in a dunk tank,
perform a routine at the next pep-rally, etc.
59 Pounds of Change
For the 1 in 59 children with autism, collect 59 pounds
of change! Put your collection container on a scale
and see how fast your school can collect 59 lbs. of
coins. Have a race between grades or classrooms.
Can you raise 59 lbs. in 59 hours?
Estimation Competition
Spend a week collecting coins in one large container.
At the end of the week, let students pay $.25 to guess
the number of coins that have been collected or the
total amount raised. The winner gets a prize and the
change gets donated to Autism Speaks.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Trace the Track
Students collect enough quarters, nickels, dimes
and pennies to make a line of each around the
school track. How many times can you circle the
track? Take a photo and share with Autism Speaks
for our website!
Coin Days
Designate certain days of the week to a specic coin.
For example: Monday is Penny Day, Tuesday is
Nickel Day, Wednesday is Dime Day, Thursday is
Quarter Day and Friday is Any Coin Day. Consider
assigning a coin to each grade or classroom to see
who can raise the most on their day.
Light It Up Blue Classroom Competition
How blue can you be? Decorate your classroom with
blue lights, blue drawings, whatever you can think
of to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on
April 2. Let students visit each classroom and vote for
the best decorations with coins. The winning class-
room gets a prize and the coins get donated to
Autism Speaks. If you are doing your coin fundraiser
in April during World Autism Month please visit our
website at AutismSpeaks.org/WAM to register and
for more resources and information.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Maximize Your
Efforts
Kickoff Assembly
Hold an all-school assembly to kick off the program.
Ask Autism Speaks local representatives to attend or
host it yourself. Have student leaders explain how the
program will run. Provide facts about autism and the
importance of understanding what autism is and the
value of helping families and children affected
by autism.
Puzzle the Principal
Show true blue school support by having the
principal in on the game. The class with the highest
contribution can puzzle the Principal with a fun
request – have him/her sing a song over the
loudspeaker, dress up like a clown, or make a
donation.
Autism Coin “Stars”
Recognize top students who go above and beyond
during the campaign.
Please complete this form and send along with your check or money order to the address below.
Representative name:
Are you a teacher, student or parent:
School name:
School address:
Are you registered for an Autism Speaks Walk team that you would like this money credited to?
Walk Event city:
Walk Team name:
Total amount donated:
Representative phone:
Representative email:
Please tell us about how you raised the funds and attach any pictures you would like to share or email your
photos and stories to StudentInitiatives@AutismSpeaks.org:
Please mail this form with your donation or receipt to:
Autism Speaks
Attn: Autism Speaks Kids and Coins
1060 State Road, Second Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540
Summary Report
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the money spent?
Program service dollars are spent on helping families and individuals affected by autism through
research, family services, community grants, and advocacy. Autism Speaks has provided more
than 1 million FREE tool kits to families, including the 100 Day Tool Kit developed to assist
parents of newly diagnosed children through the rst critical few months.
Can we donate more than coins?
Yes! All donations – coin, dollars or checks are welcomed.
Checks should be made payable to “Autism Speaks.”
Can we donate the funds we raise to a specic program or to a local family?
Funds raised on behalf of a national program cannot be designated to a particular family.
However, funds are available to families in times of crisis and hardship. If you know a family that
is in need of nancial support, please have them email FamilyServices@AutismSpeaks.org.
Should we wish to send in a donation, where should we mail it?
Autism Speaks
Attn: Autism Speaks Kids and Coins
1060 State Road, Second Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540
Who do I contact if I have questions?
You may contact us at StudentInitiatives@AutismSpeaks.org.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Additional Resources:
- Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit
- Factors for Success
- Teachers Teaching from the Heart
- Motivate and Thank our Parents
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Puzzle Piece Project
FAMILY SERVICES
Increasing Understanding and Acceptance
of People with Autism
Make Your Fundraising Campaign
Even More Meaningful with
e Puzzle Piece Project and Tool Kit
World Autism Month, or any month, is a time to educate your community about the challenges
affecting people with autism. Spreading autism awareness in schools is a great way to promote
inclusion and acceptance in the classroom and beyond.
The Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit is a fun and interactive educational tool kit for grade levels
K-12 designed to increase students’ understanding of autism during World Autism Month.
Developed by a special education teacher for teachers, the tool kit includes age-appropriate
lesson plans, extended activities, materials and relevant internet resources.
The Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit includes
the following materials:
- Grade Level Lesson Plan
- Internet Resource Guide and Book List
- Materials Index
- Puzzle Piece Template
- Disicussion Guide for Specic High School
Reading Suggestions
- Request Form for Follow Up Lessons/Activities
from Your Special Education Team
(see Materials Index)
- FAQs Samples of Questions Asked by Kids
Download the Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit here
AutismSpeaks.org/Tool-Kit/School-Community-Tool-Kit
For more information about supporting students
with autism in schools, check out the
Autism Speaks School Community Tool Kit!
AutismSpeaks.org/Tool-Kit/School-Community-Tool-Kit
Autism Speaks would like to thank Janelle Franco, MA, for developing this curriculum for Autism Speaks.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
KICK OFF! Today, we join with schools across the country to begin our
“Autism Speaks Kids and Coins” campaign. For the next three weeks
we will be learning more about autism as well as raising funds to
make a difference in the lives of families and individuals affected
by autism! Our school goal is to raise $___. Help us meet that
challenge with your own classroom goal!
ONE WEEK We are excited to share our “Autism Speaks Kids and Coins”
LATER one-week update. We have raised $___ towards our $ ___ goal.
Mrs./Mr. ___ classroom has taken the lead with $___. I hope you
are enjoying the many educational activities in each of your classes
and learning more about this important cause. Keep up the good
work – continue to bring in your coins and watch your class
fundraising grow!
TWO WEEKS Today, marks the end of our second week of “Autism Speaks Kids
LATER and Coins” campaign. We have raised $___ toward our $___ goal.
Our classroom leaders this week are ___ with $___. With only one
week to go, let’s break our own record – (set up a new challenge,
ex., “the Principal’s ofce will start off the week with a $_ donation.”)
THREE WEEKS Congratulations on a great job with the “Autism Speaks Kids and
LATER Coins” campaign. Remember to get any last minute donations into
your classroom and we will announce the winning classroom as
soon as we have the totals. We hope you have enjoyed learning
more about autism and feel proud of your efforts to support
Autism Speaks. We are certainly proud of you!
e Principal Factor for Success
Support from the Principal and administrative staff makes a big difference!
Daily Morning Announcements – Keep the enthusiasm going! Here are some suggested morning
announcements that can be used each week to energize your campaign each step of the way.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Teachers Teaching From the Heart
Teachers, we thank you for joining in this effort to build autism awareness and raise
funds in your classroom. You play a critical role in making this initiative a success.
We have created the checklist below to assist you in these efforts.
TEACHER CHECK LIST
Download and review the Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit ahead of time to accompany
your Kids and Coins campaign. Plan your activities based on your grade and specic
interests.
Create a Materials List based on your specic activities to ensure you have all the
materials you need.
Show your True Blue Colors! Using the templates and tracking poster chart provided,
create a larger “Class Collection Box” and hang your tracking poster on the wall. Set
your sights for donating the largest amount of any classroom!
Involve Parents. Use the sample parent letter or write your own. Have each child create
their own collection box to use at home.
Challenge Students Each Day. As part of your educational activities, remind children
to bring in their change by asking parents, visitors and siblings to contribute – perhaps
donating part of their allowance or doing odd jobs around the house for coins.
(Please note: containers are not meant for door to door solicitation)
Focus on the Mission. Let students know that their donations can make a real
difference in the lives of people with autism. Donations are used to create educational
tool kits like the one you are using, to increase understanding, provide scholarships and
camp opportunities, teach children to swim, help teens get jobs and address housing
needs for adults.
Make it Real. We have many stories about real families that you are welcome to talk
about. Visit AutismSpeaks.org/Blog to read some of the amazing stories about our
community. Use the activities in the Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit or create a “Quiet
Zone” to help children better understand.
Track Your Success. Count coins daily and keep a running total. Mark your progress
on the tracking poster.
Create excitement. Use the many creative ideas included in this guide to build
excitement and friendly competition!
Collecting Coins. Create a “Coin Committee” to count coins and convert to a check or
money order.
Wrap Up. Submit donations and your Summary Form to Autism Speaks at Autism
Speaks Kids and Coins, 1060 State Road, Second Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540.
FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Motivate and ank Your Parents!
Don’t forget to engage parents. Send a message to parents asking them to join in your campaign
by supporting their children. Have children create an invitation and invite parents to attend your
classroom on a day when you are having an educational autism awareness activity. Here is a sample
program announcement letter that you may choose to use.
Dear Parent or Guardian,
In support of April, World Autism Month, the children and faculty at our school will engage in
an educational and service-oriented activity to better understand and accept people with autism.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that 1 in every 59 children in the United States is
diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
To help increase awareness, we will participate in the Autism Speaks Kids and Coins program,
to gain a better understanding of what autism is and how it affects many of their fellow students and
friends. In addition to educational activities, children will have the opportunity to collect spare coins
to help those affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Autism Speaks Kids and Coins initiative is being presented as a nationwide effort and we are
thrilled to be a participant. Many of our teachers will use this opportunity to build autism awareness
activities into their lesson plans through fun, interactive readings and class exercises. Each child will
be asked to create a colorful puzzle container of their very own to ll with spare change around the
house. It is our hope that your child will take pride in lling the container and in helping families and
individuals affected by autism.
We hope that during Autism Speaks Kids and Coins, you will support your child in this activity and
speak with them about the value of helping others. Then join in the fun by searching under the couch
cushions, in old coat pockets and deep in the car seats for lost coins. Please know that your child’s
contribution, no matter how large or small makes a big difference in solving the complex puzzle of
autism but is not for door-to-door collection.
Should you wish to make a personal donation, you may send a check payable to Autism Speaks
and we thank you for your generosity. You may also make an online donation at
AutismSpeaks.org/Donate.
Thanking you in advance for your support of this important program!
Regards,
School Representative
P.S. As the program progresses, ask your child what they are learning about autism. We think they
will make you proud! Thank you again for joining in this worthwhile cause.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs
of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding
and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism
spectrum disorder and related conditions.
To nd resources, join a fundraising walk or make a donation, go to AutismSpeaks.org.
© 2019 Autism Speaks Inc. Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks Design are registered trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved.
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