Fundraising

[ny biker]

Maybe because you feel like people are asking for money in exchange for receiving training and recreation/trips for themselves as well as for whatever cause they are asking you to contribute to? I know I have felt like that about Team in Training for years, as I got asked for contribusion again and again by a friend who use the program to train for rides and races both near and far.

Yet this year I joined the program myself, because I wanted to get in better shape and it seemed like a great training program. I also have a close friend with cancer, so it seemed like a good cause to put time into. I dealt with the conflict (or what feels like a conflict to me), by stating to everyone up-front that I was donating the 25% of the minimum fund-raising amount that went to cover the groups administrative and fund-raising costs. That made it easier for me to ask for others to contribute to the rest of my fund-raising goal.

It still felt funny to be connecting the two. I have fund-raised in the past, but not by saying that I was riding or doing something else in exhcange for the fund-raising. But I loved the training and the group, and I was succesful in raising $3000 for a good cause, so I will probably do it again.

I don't do fundraising rides for the training. I'll be riding my bike anyway. I do the fundraisers to make something good out of it, so it's not purely self-indulgent.

I worked my butt off to do 5 consecutive Livestrong rides. Planned my entire year around all of them, sacrificed my social life so I could train, experienced lots of stress trying to get ready for them. My life would have been a lot easier if I had not done them.

[Karma007]

I managed to meet my goal for LIVESTRONG- My work fundraiser netted me $25 after the cost of cupcakes and candy, but then a co-worker gave me a particularly large contribution.
The funny part is that I was REALLY ambitious choosing this particular ride- 105 miles, 2100 feet of climbs, in the July heat. I'm half elated to give it a shot, and half petrified I won't make it to the first checkpoint!

[Crankin]

You know, I guess it's because I do 50 mile rides just "riding," and I've done a few metrics either on my own or with my club. The one century I did had like a $30.00 registration fee, which went to the club that sponsors the ride. I feel like I don't need the structure to "train" and do that kind of ride, nor do i necessarily do those rides at my fastest speed. So, if I am going to do charity ride, it would be because I really believe in the cause... because I am going to be riding anyway.
I've heard some negative things about TNT, at least around here. It's "faster, harder, train more," etc., which would certainly turn someone like me off, because I generally ride these kinds of rides to "finish," although I am usually not last, either.

[Grits]

There are several charity rides (with a minimum fundraising amount of at least $200 plus the $35 or whatever registration fee) that I do not participate in just because I am not personally connected enough with the cause to feel good about asking people for money for it. I'm glad the ride is for a good cause, but really, I would be doing it for my own recreational purposes, and I don't feel right asking people to contribute to that. I realize that I am in the minority. It does not, and maybe should not, bother most people. If I had a personal interest in the cause, I think I would feel differently.

I also don't hit up my fellow cyclists for donations and hope they will return the favor. What is the point of exchanging donations back and forth between us? (This is just me with my cycling friends. I am NOT saying you shouldn't ask for help on this site or Facebook or whatever because that has worked well for some of you) I do some charity fundraising rides that just have a registration fee, but limit myself to the MS150 every year and just write the check myself. Once I had a friend whose mother had MS who volunteered to do the fundraising for me, and that was lovely!

I think that some type of fundraising event is a good idea, even if it is just having a candy jar at the office asking for donations or a bake sale or the examples already given of having a chili party or some other type of meal.

It is good that most people aren't like me or the charities would be in trouble!

[Reesha]

I'm going to resurrect this thread because it is more relevant than ever to me since I am riding across the country next summer. I am attempting to raise $8,000 for the American Lung Association over the next ten months, and any and all tips are welcome!

I know some have mentioned above that donating to charity organizations through athletic events seems like paying for vacations for the participating athletes and I kind of agree. I've had family members tell me that it doesn't seem fair. I've had other friends tell me that 'it's fine because it costs money to make money'. As such, I'm contributing the $2,500 of the $6,000 minimum that goes toward the costs of running the ride for each individual.

As a teacher, I am loath to 'use the school' to raise money, just because it can get dicey. My chair of deans said if my advisees all want to help run a bake sale or something, that is just fine. They have also agreed to let me run a raffle in our faculty meetings once a month of gift cards, products, etc donated by companies.

I am going to buy a roll of 100 stamps and just start writing letters for cash or product donations. Does anyone recommend going into some places in person rather than writing?

Is anyone aware of any larger corporations that give fairly automatically/regularly to causes like these?

All ideas/answers are welcome!

Thanks!

[_kim_]

I am going to buy a roll of 100 stamps and just start writing letters for cash or product donations. Does anyone recommend going into some places in person rather than writing?

One thing I've found is that it seems like some businesses would like the request in writing. One or two of the places I called re: donations of gift cards or coupons for a raffle asked that I email or mail them some information about the event. I suppose you could still call them first just to sort of get their attention--although some of the businesses I called seemed too distracted to really hear me out on the phone. So, yeah, another point in favor of putting it in writing.

[carolp]

I am on my sixth AIDS Lifecycle (SF to LA) and every year it gets harder and harder to raise the money. Minimum is #3,000. I have gotten creative with fundraisers and I make peppermint bark to sell at Christmas. But I am so committed to this cause I will do whatever it takes. My husband and I do the ride on a tandem so we both have to raise $3,000. We are examining ideas for a fundraiser this year which I hope can raise at least #1,000. Am going to start looking at silent auction and/or raffle items. It's not easy, but at this point, I can't imagine not doing the ride.

Carol
www.ridingtoeat.blogspot.com