The University of Iowa Dance Marathon, also known as UIDM, is a student-led organization that raises funds and awareness for pediatric oncology, hematology, and bone marrow transplant patients and families connected to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

The University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital located in Iowa City, Iowa.

Funds raised by UIDM support pediatric oncology, hematology, and bone marrow transplant patients and families on Level 11 of the hospital. UIDM supports more than 1,400 families affected by childhood cancer.

The Big Event is UIDM’s end-of-year celebration. It recognizes the work participants have accomplished throughout the year while celebrating kiddos who have completed treatment, supporting those who are still in treatment, and remembering those who are Dancing in Our Hearts.

“Kiddos” is the term UIDM uses for all of the children supported through our mission, including active kiddos, forever kiddos, and Dancing in Our Hearts kiddos.

Visit our Being a Dancer Page to learn about dancer expectations, meetings, events, fundraising, and the Big Event.

Visit our Fundraising Resources page for fundraising ideas, templates, important guidelines, and DonorDrive assistance.

UIDM offers several participant types. Review the descriptions below before registering to determine which option best fits you!

Dancers are University of Iowa students who commit to raising a minimum of $400. University of Iowa students who do not fall under another participant category should register as dancers.

Leadership participants are University of Iowa students who have applied and been selected to serve as directors, chairs, committee members, or captains. The leadership fundraising minimum is $1,000.

Leadership registration types include:

• Leadership
• Leadership and Marathon Runner
• Lime Captain
• Morale Captain

Leadership applications open at select times throughout the year. Current opportunities will be shared on our website and social media.

University of Iowa faculty and staff members are welcome to participate.

For assistance registering, contact Jessie Cunningham at jessie-cunnigham@uiowa.edu

Mini Dance Marathons are elementary, middle, and high school programs that fundraise for UIDM.

Students whose schools already have a Mini Dance Marathon can register to fundraise on behalf of their school.

Students interested in starting a Mini Dance Marathon should contact the UIDM Development Director at dm-development@uiowa.edu.

Students whose schools do not currently have a Mini Dance Marathon may still register using the Mini DM Participant option and be invited to attend the Big Event.

Participants younger than 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to attend UIDM events.

Participants who have already been approved to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with UIDM should register as either:

• Dancer and Marathon Runner
• Marathon Runner Only

Interested runners must complete the current UIDM Chicago Marathon application.

[Add current application link]

Applications typically close once all available runner spots have been filled. Update this section with the current application deadline each year.

Campus organizations, fraternity and sorority life organizations, and community groups can fundraise through UIDM’s group participant option.

To register a group, contact DM-CampusRelations@uiowa.edu.

Visit our Get Involved page to explore opportunities for dancers, leadership members, marathon runners, faculty, staff, Mini Dance Marathon participants, and campus or community groups.

[Add Get Involved link]

To register as a participant, select the Register Now button and create your fundraising account.

For additional registration questions, contact the Recruitment and Retention Director at DM-RecruitRetain@uiowa.edu.

No. You do not need a HawkID or University of Iowa password to register.

Use an email address you check regularly because UIDM will send important information and updates to the address connected to your account.

Joining a team helps dancers meet other participants, communicate with their captains, and learn about fundraising opportunities, meetings, and events.

If you were recruited by a specific captain, search for that person’s name during registration to find their team.

Participants who were not recruited by a specific person may join any available miracle group.

A miracle group is made up of dancers and leadership members led by a Lime Captain and Morale Captain.

After joining, you will receive communication from your captains about dancer meetings, UIDM events, fundraising opportunities, and other ways to get involved.

Yes. Group changes must be completed before the annual group-switch deadline.

Current deadline: [Add current deadline]

For help switching groups, contact DM-RecruitRetain@uiowa.edu.

Contact DM-CampusRelations@uiowa.edu before registering. The Campus Relations team will provide instructions for creating or joining the correct group.

UIDM’s fundraising resources include ideas for personal outreach, social media, community events, selling services, hometown fundraising, and matching gifts.

The fundraising guide encourages participants to make fundraising personal by contacting relatives, family friends, hometown businesses, and community members rather than only sending mass messages. It also recommends sharing fundraising pages across multiple social media platforms.

Use the resources below to get started:

DM Master Fundraising Manual
Includes fundraising resources and templates. 
[Add manual link]

University of Iowa Dance Marathon Fundraising Guide
Includes general ideas, outreach suggestions, hometown fundraisers, and fundraising contacts.
[Add guide link]

Dancer Resource Packet
[Add Megan’s packet link]

Participants may sell certain handmade items or services, but all fundraisers must follow UIDM and University of Iowa branding guidelines.

Contact DM-Creative@uiowa.edu before selling handmade products. Items cannot use protected terms such as UIDM, University of Iowa Dance Marathon, or some other term without approval. Participants should also avoid selling products that compete with official UIDM merchandise.

1. Log in to your DonorDrive account.
2. Open the navigation menu in the upper-left corner.
3. Select the person icon labeled Your Page.
4. Scroll to the bottom of your fundraising page.
5. Select the lime green Get Page Link button.
6. Select Copy Link to Clipboard.
7. Paste the link into a text, email, social media post, or message to a potential donor.

1. Log in to your DonorDrive account.
2. Open the navigation menu in the upper-left corner.
3. Select the person icon labeled Your Page.
4. Look for the gray pencil icons next to editable sections.
5. Update your profile photo, name, goal, milestones, incentives, or fundraising story.
6. Save your changes.

To edit your fundraising story, select the pencil icon in the upper-right corner of the story section. You can remove the default content and replace it with your own writing and photos.

Your personal fundraising page is what donors see when deciding whether to support you. Sharing your connection to UIDM and explaining why you participate can help donors understand the impact of their gift.

Contact:

Jessie Cunningham
jessie-cunningham@uiowa.edu

Include the email address connected to your account and a short description of the issue.