Have a Text-athon!
What is a Text-athon anyway? Andy Pandiani shares an overview of this contemporary fundraising tool that is easy for you and thoughtful for your potential donors. Andy has been involved with AngelRide for the past 4 years and with the CT Burns Care Foundation a bunch more – raising beaucoup bucks for children’s charities! Reach out to info@AngelRide.org if you would like to join in a small group Text-athon!
Tips from fellow AngelRiders:
Here are some more tried & true techniques.
AngelRide isn’t just another request for money/donations.
Don’t talk yourself out of asking them to participate by saying “everyone gets asked to buy wrapping paper, cookies, pizzas, etc. to support someone’s son’s or daughter’s school activities.” While that might be true and there might be donation fatigue, this is different. Remember the hills that you thought you couldn’t get up after 50 miles on your bike? How did you get up that hill? Realize that you are bringing a transformative experience to a child burn-survivor who might not otherwise have that opportunity for physical and emotional healing.
My emails are personal and frequent.
Tell people what AngelRide is. Tell people what The Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp is. Explain that the money goes to support life-changing programs at The Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp. Most importantly, tell them what impact this ride has had on you – if you’ve ridden before or if you are a first time rider. Explain why you are riding and what you hope to garner from this experience. As you train, write/talk/post about your successes and the difficulties, but also how excited you are to join like-minded cyclists of all skill levels to do this. If others in your family are riding or volunteering talk about that as well. Show that this really is a special community. People do care and will respond to your passion.
Seek a local bike store’s sponsorship.
A member of our team walked into a local bike store, asked if they’d be willing to donate a bike for an auction to support her and this event and, guess what – THEY DID! She raised all of her minimum through this one event. Think outside the box!
Have a celebratory neighborhood kick-off event.
My youngest son was a Young AngelRider – we hosted a neighborhood BBQ to celebrate his participation and asked those who attended to contribute to AngelRide in his name. It was a great way to raise awareness, attract new riders and volunteers, and to make a young rider even more enthusiastic about his participation in this special weekend.