Fundraising ideas and proven fundraiser tips FREE for nonprofit groups -- ProfitQuests.com walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons.

Walk-A-Thons And Bike-A-Thons

Starting The Long Trek

Probably one of the most

common fundraisers of all time is

the Walk-A-Thon fundraiser.

Over the years I have walked or

run in many worthy fundraisers of

this nature.

You'll find that many larger

organizations have utilized this

proven fundraiser to draw in large numbers of new donors and volunteers that they would have never had otherwise. Some of these groups include March of Dimes, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, National Right To Life, and many more.

Recently, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race For The Cure has built a substantial income and name recognition through its efforts starting over eighteen years ago. New funds and grants are provided partly as a result of these walkathons.

At The Starting Gate

To start any race, you must have a starting gate. I would begin by recruiting a steering committee to recruit the Chair of your event. Also utilize the steering committee in helping select other committee personnel to help insure the success of the race. Don't be mislead thinking that one or two people can effectively accomplish this in their spare time.

The Chair should immediately begin looking for someone to head each of the following:

Traffic Control finds a suitable walk site, contacts the police and city officials and completes the proper permits, recruits members to help manage the route, secures walkie talkies, secures traffic cones and tape to mark the route. Secures orange vests for all volunteers along the route (sheriff and county road departments have these).

Judging recruits several individuals that maintain the integrity of the walkathon or marathon race. This is more important if you have a race that extends 5 miles or more and you offer prizes for finishing. Judges must be at set intervals and should record those that come through their checkpoint. Many times have I been to a race and someone has later bragged that they won by getting into a car at some point, driving further into the race, and then get out of the car at a short distance before the finish line. If this practice becomes common knowledge, this will ruin the chances that others will come out next year and participate.

Hospitality Set up a well-planned Home Base site that will handle large amounts of walkers or racers. Set up a tent with tables and chairs if available, for the walkers after the race. Plan for a stage with audio/visual equipment. Provide bottled water, Gatorade, fruit snacks, and other quick treats for those that finish the race. Provide a pleasant atmosphere as people gather with music, musicians playing, or a carnival like atmosphere complete with clowns, etc. (or choose your own theme).

Publicity This person will have the responsibility to get the word out well in advance of the race. Contact businesses with up forms, notify the chamber of commerce, civic organizations, write and send TV and radio press releases. Provide recognition for all volunteers that have helped put the function on. Provide an announcer or speaker for after the event. Make sure any dignitaries in attendance are properly recognized. Obtain banners and signs from sponsors (like your local Coca Cola or Pepsi bottling plant)

Prize Coordinator Responsible for locating door prizes, awards, and certificates. Ask local or national businesses for door prizes and gifts.

Registration Responsible for properly recording all participants as they enter. Coordinate with the Prize Coordinator the proper recognition of those that received door prizes and other recognition. Hand out T-shirts to participants as they arrive. Utilize an online registration process like DoJiggy to properly set-up event management. Collect any monies and sponsor forms that are brought in making sure that proper accounting is made for each participant. Report on the amount raised at the event. Help set up a database so that all donations are accounted for and all pledges are mailed out to the proper walkathon or marathon sponsor.

Publicity

This is the key factor in promoting your event. You must have an aggressive person in charge of this effort. If your group has a staff, then your Publicity Chair should coordinate with a staff liaison to coordinate the effort. However, do not demand that the staff person be totally responsible for this important job.

Start promoting this to chamber of commerce and other civic groups a year to eight months in advance so that they can put this on their calendar of events schedule. Set up speaking engagements 4 to 5 months before the race or walk at local civic organizations, schools, colleges, etc. Three to two months prior to the event, start contacting your newspaper, TV and radio contacts to determine the best way to get the word out. Get these media outlets to be a "sponsor". Agree to put their name on walk-a-thon items and literature for free publicity in return.

Last Month Preparations

The entire race should be meeting weekly to make the final preparations. You should be getting your publicity in final gear. The chair should be attending radio talk shows, morning TV shows and interviews and newspaper stories should be out.

All volunteer walkers should be contacted by mail and reminded about the race and that you hope to see them there. Challenge them to get two more sponsors over what they were planning.

If your participants have e-mail, then e-mail them twice in the last month. There should be words of encouragement from the President of your group and final instructions before attending the race.

At The Race

Staff should be wearing the official Walk-A-Thon T-shirt (maybe a different color background or the word "staff" on the sleeve). Most of the staff should get there two to three hours ahead of schedule. Provide a simple biscuit and egg breakfast for all to encourage all to get there early.

Keep everything upbeat. Have lots of announcements. Display the door prizes and/or awards. Have your registration tables clearly marked and staffed. Be sure to have plenty of cash to make change. Anticipate medical emergencies and alert the local EMS to standby (ask them to be there for free). Then have a good time.

After The Race

Make sure that the total amounts raised are reported to the media and to all your participants and their sponsors. When contacting these people, make sure that you thank them profusely and also include a self addressed envelope in case they want to add a little bit more.

Have the President personally contact the Race or Walk Committee Chairs. In closing, be sure to ask them if they would like to be placed on the team for next year.

Pick Up Some Extra Money

Go right now and look at the Recycling Fundraiser and fill out the Recycling Fundraising Sign-up Form and you'll receive a packet explaining how your walkers can bring in extra money effortlessly. Ask your walkers to bring 5 to 10 used inkjet cartridges as an "entry fee" for a special drawing. This will give you between $3 and $4 for each used inkjet cartridge. This could boost your fundraiser by several thousand dollars alone. You provide the prize as an incentive.

Also, at the race, pass out the Inkbank Business Self Mailer and ask each participant to drop this off to one medium sized business before hand. This should bring in many thousands more.

Once businesses fill these pre-paid mailers up with used inkjet cartridges, they mail them in to the recycling company as indicated. Once received the inkjet recycling company will send them a replacement pre-paid mailer so that they continue filling these up all year long to your benefit. The advantage is that you don't have to do any collecting at all.

Really, this is miminal effort for big returns. Next year do the same for increased revenues.

Great Online Management Resources

CMarket Fundraising Auctions is a great online addition if you are also planning an auction.

For event management, you might want to use the Walkathon Pledge Software from DoJiggy which is the easiest and most complete walkathon management program available on the net.

Both allow participants to sign up over the internet. Participants are able to monitor their own personal goals and actions. Administrative processes are maintained effectually while making participant maintenance an easy task. Don't miss out on these online services to maximize your walkathon or other event.