The spring and summer weather are perfect for organizing a run or walk-a-thon. People are eager to spend time outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. If funds can be raised for a great cause while doing so, all the better!
What is a Walk-A-Thon?
This peer-to-peer fundraising event combines physical activity with philanthropy. You can organize a run-a-thon on a specific route, or participants can complete their miles or steps wherever they are. Regardless of how they participate, runners use their social networks to ask friends and family to pledge a certain amount per mile or step they complete.
Here are some essential tips and strategies to ensure your nonprofit’s next walk-a-thon reaches fundraising goals!
How to Plan a Successful Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser
To ensure a successful walkathon, begin by clearly defining its purpose. Consider whether you aim to raise awareness for a specific cause, gather community support, or achieve financial goals. Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for participation and fundraising will help guide your efforts effectively.
Plan your event details
If you’re planning an in-person fundraiser with a finish line, choose a walkathon date and location convenient to your target audience. Consider the weather, availability of facilities, and course safety. You should also ensure the route is accessible for all.
For virtual run-a-thons, you will need to determine its parameters. How much time will walk-a-thon participants have to reach their goals? For example, you may ask runners to complete a certain number of miles per week for a month.
Registration
Set up a straightforward registration process using online fundraising platforms to handle sign-ups, waivers, and donations. To boost early participation, offer team registrations and incentives for reaching fundraising milestones.
Safety first
If you’re conducting an in-person fundraiser, ensure participants’ safety by having medical personnel on standby, clearly marking the route, and providing hydration stations.
Activate your community
Build a team
Assemble a dedicated team of volunteers to assist with various aspects of the event, including marketing and logistics. Clearly define their roles and responsibilities.
Attract sponsors
Reach out to local businesses and organizations for sponsorships. Offer visibility in exchange for financial support or in-kind donations, such as snacks or prizes.
Promote widely
Use social media, your email list, and your website to connect with your audience and promote your event. Remember, it’s essential to reach out beyond the online world and make personal connections. Consider printing flyers and postcards with QR codes that lead to your run-a-thon fundraising site, making it easier for individuals to donate and register. It’s also valuable to inform local newspapers and radio stations about your fundraiser. Lastly, engage with local running or outdoor groups to help you spread the word.
Leverage social proof
Social proof significantly influences individuals’ decisions and actions, particularly when participating in fundraising events.
Wear coordinated colors
Encourage all event participants, whether they are joining virtually or in person, to wear coordinated colors during the run-a-thon. Whether it’s matching t-shirts, headbands, or accessories, a unified look will create a strong visual impact. When people see a large group of runners (or even a small group) all wearing the same color, it will reinforce a sense of community and commitment to the cause.
Share their journey
To inspire others to join or support your cause, encourage participants to share their journey on social media platforms. This can be done by posting training session photos or POV videos. Create a unique event hashtag to gather these posts and showcase real people actively participating.
Personal stories
Invite participants to share personal anecdotes and experiences that connect to the cause on the individual fundraising pages. These genuine and emotional stories have the power to connect with potential supporters and inspire them to get involved. Additionally, consider showcasing these impactful narratives on your nonprofit’s social media platforms and email blasts to reach a wider audience.
Highlight fundraising milestones
When someone reaches a specific donation goal, celebrate their achievement! Share their progress on social media and express gratitude for their hard work. By acknowledging their dedication, you are demonstrating how important they are. This will also motivate others to become new donors or participate in future fundraising efforts.
Use technology
Utilizing an online fundraising platform with peer-to-peer functionality can simplify the process of creating personal fundraising pages for participants. They can then readily share these pages across their social networks to gather pledges. For organizers, a fundraising platform like Eventgroove can be highly beneficial as well. It enables you to create an event page, run a virtual walkathon, accept online donations, and assists in tracking progress and collecting donor data. At the same time, its built-in marketing tools facilitate promoting your walkathon event.
Follow up
After all your participants cross the finish line, there’s a few last things to do before wrapping up!
Thank participants and sponsors
Send personalized thank-you notes to participants, donors, and sponsors, acknowledging their contribution and sharing the impact of their support.
Post-event testimonials
Ask participants about their experience and the impact they feel they have made. Share these testimonials on your website or create short video clips. Authentic feedback from actual participants adds credibility and will inspire others to participate the next time around!
Share results and impact
Consider publishing a comprehensive post-event report highlighting the total funds raised, participant numbers, and the significant impact of the event on the cause. This report can also help build momentum for your next event.
Gather feedback
Solicit participant, volunteer, and sponsor feedback to identify what worked well and what could be improved. The information will be invaluable when planning future events.
Are you ready to make your run-a-thon a memorable success? As participants lace up their running shoes and supporters cheer them on, consider the tools that can streamline your event planning. Eventgroove offers a comprehensive platform for organizing fundraisers, managing registration, and promoting your cause. We offer everything you need, from A-thon fundraising event types and individual fundraising pages to effortless online printing services. So, whether you’re hosting a charity run, walk-a-thon, or read-a-thon, explore our fundraising platform’s features and elevate your fundraising game!
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