The fundraising aspect of our cycling and hiking events is not only part of the challenge but it’s a rewarding and impactful piece of getting involved with the Climate Ride cause.
Challenging as it may seem, we’ve had thousands of people fundraise for Climate Ride events over the years and many have expressed that it is easier than they originally thought it would be.
The tried and true methods outlined below have proven to be effective. Throughout the process, remind yourself that you’re not asking for money for yourself, but for a cause and organizations that you are passionate about. Also remember that you are giving your network an opportunity to do something positive, just as you have done by committing to this event. Thank you!
The sooner you start asking, the more opportunities you will have to raise money for the Climate Ride cause. So once you’ve registered to become a fundraiser take some time right away to get organized and then start asking. Set aside 15 minutes each day to work through the steps below.
A great way to get some money in your fundraising coffers before you even do anything else is to self-pledge. It doesn’t need to be a large sum of money, but it lets your donors know upfront that you believe in what you’re doing and you put your money where your mouth is!
Once you log into your fundraising dashboard (from the top of our website) you’ll be able to personalize your fundraising page, which includes setting your fundraising goal. Set your goal higher than the required minimum to something that is a stretch, but feels doable. Once you get close to your goal raise it so people continue to contribute. You want to avoid prospective donors deciding not to donate because you have already reached your goal. Remember, the sky is the limit in terms of how much money you can raise for the Climate Ride cause!
Now that you’ve set your goal, take a few moments to think about why you are participating in Climate Ride and develop your “ask.” The fundraising “ask” is the most vital part of your fundraising strategy. It forms the foundation for every conversation you’ll have about why you’re taking part in a Climate Ride event. It’s critical to take some time to reflect on these questions:
The answers to these questions are a key component of your ask. When you’re reaching out to potential donors, you’ll want to be able to concisely explain your motivation and why you’re raising funds for this cause. Having a well thought out and confident response will show your donors how important this is to you and will motivate them to support you.
Once you have developed your story, write it out on your fundraising page. The most compelling fundraising pages include a personal story about why you are participating and fundraising, and include a good photo of yourself.
Make a list of everyone you know and their email address or best contact information. The longer this list is, the easier reaching your fundraising goal will be. Include people you don’t think will donate, people you do think will donate and folks you haven’t connected with for years. Not only are you giving them an opportunity to do something positive, it is a chance to reconnect with your network and spread awareness for a cause you believe in. You’ll be surprised who gives! The list should go beyond close friends and family to include:
If you don’t have an email address for them, you can give them a copy of the donate by mail form.
Now that you’ve developed your ask on your fundraising page and made a list of everyone you know, it’s time to put the two together and get the word out. The basic template is this:
We suggest you start with your closest circle first – people you know will want to support your efforts. Their donations will bring momentum to your efforts. Then, start to work through the entire list of potential donors you made.
Want to seem some succesful example emails? Feel free to make these your own:
Here are some examples for fundraising for Climate Ride during this pandemic.
Once you’ve sent your initial email blast wait two weeks and then send a reminder email. Rather than send the same email as before, try sending a progress update. Talk about your training and what you’re doing to prepare for the physical challenge. Talk about anything related to how hard you’re working to get ready for your challenge and don’t forget to mention your fundraising progress. You can send this email to everyone including people who have already donated.
Drop in this line or something like it: I want to thank all of my wonderful friends and family who have already supported me. If you’d like to help too, you still can! Then include a link to your fundraising page. Send a progress update every two weeks.
If you’re already using social media, it’s a great place to drum up additional fundraising support and to tell folks about your passion for what you’re doing. People will love to hear about your courage and the new adventure and many will be inspired to donate. Use whichever platform you’re already set up on (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) to stay in front of your networks with your message about Climate Ride. Here are a few tips and tricks:
Facebook now offers a way to set up a fundraiser for Climate Ride right on its platform. You are welcome to set this up for yourself as a tool to help reach your fundraising goals, but there are a few considerations:
Many Climate Riders have used their creative ingenuity to hit and exceed their fundraising goals. Once you’ve tried the standards of emails and social media, here are a few ideas to take you the rest of the way:
Personally thank everyone who has donated. Tell them how much you appreciate their generous support. Then ask if their company has a matching gift program, as this is an easy way to double the amount of the donation.
Thank anyone who has donated publicly as well! You can do this in your progress update emails or on social media. By thanking donors publicly, your friends may experience positive peer pressure to get involved.
Contact your local radio station, newspaper, or other publication to see if they’ll share a story about your efforts. Sending a news release to local news outlets will raise awareness about your challenge and can attract donors who aren’t already in your network. This is an especially helpful tool for people with small or “financially challenged” networks.
We’ve already done some of the work for you by creating this quick online form that gives you a press release in as little as 5 minutes. If you prefer, there’s also a Word template available. To create your news release all you need to do is follow these steps:
If you’ve worked through the above list and you’re still feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to your Climate Ride support staff. We are honored to be able to work helping people help the planet. We want you to succeed and we’ll do what we can to help. We have many more tips than we can fit into this list, so one of them is bound to help you raise money for the Climate Ride cause. Reach out so we can:
We are incredibly grateful for all the work you’re doing. We know we all have to pitch in together to ensure a future for our planet. So please know that if you find yourself needing a hand to reach a fundraising goal, we are here with an arm outstretched. Please don’t hesitate to call or email – we’re more than happy to help.
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