Journey to the Future is a community campaign. Blackout Boards, Personal fundraising pages, and the Day of Giving are not just fundraising tools…they are the community gathering around one another and saying:
“We are on this journey together!”
Whether you give $5 or $5,000, share a post, or host a fundraiser, you are part of the crew on this important journey. 100% of your gift will go to FOP research and, with multiple matching gift opportunities available, every effort has increased impact and provides even more fuel for this journey.
2026 is a celebration, but not a finish line. Along the way, we will celebrate the milestones that brought us this far while keeping our eyes locked on what comes next: better treatments, earlier diagnosis…and, one day, a cure. The Journey to the Future is set to launch. The countdown has begun. Join us!
The 2026 In Pursuit of a Cure Day of Giving is Tuesday, September 15.
This August and September, you have two options to fundraise for FOP research.
OPTION 1: Complete A Blackout Board
One Small Step for FOP Research, One Giant Leap toward a Cure!
Video featuring last year's In Pursuit of a Cure Campaign Ambassador, Bernadette Dimaano, who lives with FOP
Blackout Boards are one of the easiest ways to fundraise for In Pursuit of A Cure.
Here’s how they work:
- Each Blackout Board has spaces with different dollar amounts (ranging from $5-$100)
- You invite people to make gifts to help “Black Out” your board
- When a gift is made at the various levels, you black out that space and continue until you have as many spaces blacked out as possible
Request your own Blackout Board here
- Blackout Boards can be printed as a standard 8.5x11 page
- English and Spanish language boards available
- Boards are pre-filled with amounts in USD
- (NEW FEATURE) We can add a custom tribute line and photo to your board to personalize it
Deadlines to Request a Blackout Board
September 1 – Personalized
September 11 – Standard (no tribute line or photo)
Share the Board with everyone you can think of in your network:
- Family
- Friends
- Co-Workers
- Business Associates
- Church Family
- Clubs/Organizations
You can share your Board in person and/or also get the word out through:
- Text
- TikTok
- Any other social channels that work best for you
HOW TO GIVE
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Gifts can be made through Venmo @IFOPA
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Gifts can be made at ifopa.org/BOB
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Gifts can be given directly to you, and you send the total amount collected to the IFOPA as one donation once your Blackout Board is filled
Please note: Donors who would like a tax receipt for their gift must either donate directly via ifopa.org/BOB, or please collect their information on this donation form.
That’s it. It really is that simple. You spread the word and people come together to attempt to Black Out Your Board!
Here are a few pro tips from Whitney Weldon, 2026 In Pursuit of a Cure Ambassador, to give you the best chance for a successful “LAUNCH”:
- Make the first gift to your own Board! Then share about your Board by saying, “Join me in Blacking Out my Board!”
- When you share about your Board, remember to share about yourself, your loved one or friend and their journey and hopes. Personal connections are the reason people choose to give!
- If you find yourself overwhelmed and unsure if you can stay on top of communicating about your Board, ask a family member or close friend if they would take the lead for you!
“Fundraising does so much more than just raise money. It introduces new people to FOP, brings communities together, and gives everyone a way to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
GET STARTED
A Blackout Board gives your family, friends, and other personal connections an easy, meaningful way to say YES to supporting FOP research.
Boards can be completed from August 1 through September 30, with the biggest fundraising push leading up to our Day of Giving on September 15. We’ll provide everything you need: a printable Board, sample messages, and ideas to make it fun and engaging.
Whether you fill your Board one footprint at a time or host a full-on challenge, every gift helps us reach our $510,000 campaign goal—and brings us closer to new treatments and, one day, a cure.
Let’s black out these Boards for FOP research!
GIVE → LAUNCH → DISCOVER → CURE
Click the button below to request your Board, and IFOPA Philanthropy Manager Charles Hunsaker will be in touch to provide more information.
OPTION 2: Set up a Personal Fundraising Page
By setting up your own personal fundraising page, you provide additional momentum for this journey. Whether you’re honoring a loved one or simply passionate about research progress, your efforts help advance scientific discovery and bring us closer to the finish line.
“I keep in mind that there’s really nothing to lose. ANY money I’m able to raise is a benefit to the FOP fight even if it might not be as much as I’d hoped to raise. I really admire those people who organize creative fundraisers that catch lots of public attention, but I’m afraid that’s not my style, so I keep plugging away at my annual appeal. My quiet money is just as helpful as money raised in other ways, and that’s fine.”
— Sue Dupre
IFOPA Community Fundraiser and Great Aunt to Alexandria "Alex" McKean, who lives with FOP
Start your fundraiser today and join this collective journey to end FOP!
Questions or need help setting up your page?
Contact IFOPA Philanthropy Manager Charles Hunsaker at [email protected] or +1 (816) 200-0082.
