obiwan kenobi

Have any of you registered and raised funds for charity rides? I want to do the Audi Best Buddies ride in September but, the minimum is $1550. which, if you don't raise the funding, your credit card is charged.

Have you done this, had success raising funds, what strategies did you use?

loopybunny

Wow, that's a high minimum!

I usually send out an e-mail through the site explaining why I'm participating in the ride and ask for donations. It's important to mention that even a small amount can help out.

I also ask people at work. Last year I put together goodie bags with a Livestrong wristband, sunscreen, an informational flyer about the LAF, and a personal note. I brought in donuts as well.

This year I baked chocolate chip cookies. Put two cookies in a bag and closed them with a label that said, "Benefiting Livestrong" or something like that, with the URL of my personal donation page. I put them in a big basket surrounded by Livestrong wristbands and a flyer explaining what I was doing. I made smaller flyers and included some of the mail in donation sheets for people who didn't want to donate online.



I've also used Twitter, my journal, and Facebook to try to generate donations. I frequently update people on training, sharing pictures from rides, post maps, etc. through social media sites.

I've found that if I talk about it, people don't forget. If I show enthusiasm, they usually get excited as well.

Ironically, I've gotten more donations from people online through Twitter than I have people I work with.

Best of luck!

johnny99

Take all you friends and relatives and co-workers out to lunch on you (individually or in groups, depending on how close you are). During the lunch, explain what the charity does how they really need their financial support. Tell them that you are personally donating XXX dollars and hope that they can do the same.

If you're the boss, do not do this to people who work for you. Some people will consider that to be extortion.

On the other hand, don't be afraid to ask your boss for a donation, since he or she is probably richer than you.

Don't send generic form letters to people, except maybe to that rich aunt or uncle who gives money to everyone.

Really slimey of them to charge you if you don't make the minimum. This is the charity that Arnold's wife is advertising, right? He should pick up the difference in these hard times.

BBChallenge

Hi there,

I'm actually an employee of the Audi Best Buddies Challenge. I have also personally raised the fundraising commitment 3 times now and can honestly say that it's not as hard as you might imagine. This year I even signed up my mom and aunt to participate (my aunt has already hit her fundraising goal and my mom is hoovering at $700 at the moment with plenty of time to continue fundraising!). Anyway, $1550 might sound like a lot to raise, but with the tools we give you, I'm sure you'll be able to meet your goal. Once registered your donation website will be your biggest tool, you'll also be assigned a fundraising Coach that will work with you to develop plan based on fundraising ideas that have been proven to work with hundreds of other riders.

Also note, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge is not your typical charity ride. As we like to say, our event is the only 5-star ride. Beyond the spectacular coastal route, after your ride you'll pick up your gift bag, grab a hot shower, receive a professional massage, and then head up to the Hearst Castle Ranch for an all you can eat gourmet BBQ, open bar with top shelf liquor, and a private concert (this year's musical guest is Natasha Bedingfield). At the party you'll be hanging out with Tour de France riders, celebrities, and Miss USA contestants ;-)

Best of all, our Title Sponsor, Audi, underwrites the "5-star" production costs of the event so unlike many other charity rides, all of the money you raise actual goes directly to the Best Buddies organization to support friendships and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities (more at www.bestbuddies.org).

Well, I hope my personal fundraising experience and my description of the event overall helps you come to a decision. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Cheers,

Jeremiah Angel
Marketing and Technology Director, Audi Best Buddies Challenge

chineezguy

I've been on a Team in Training team every year since 1999. Minimum fund-raising goals averaged $3,000. I've raised about $30,000 over the years.

I did mine via letters to everyone I know. I explained what the charityis all about, the event I was doing and I appealed for a donation (also included a self-addressed envelope).People are very generous and want to help. All they need is for someone to ask them.

sauerwald

There is one charity ride which I have done 7 times (www.charitytreks.org) This ride is very different from most other charity rides in that 100% of all money raised goes to the end beneficiaries, and there is no fundraising minimum. The ride is also nice in that it is a small ride (fewer than 100 cyclists), so by the end of the ride (4 1/2 days, 450 miles), you will know pretty much everybody else on the ride, and their stories.

From a fundraising perspective, I have always been relatively low-key, sending out a letter soliciting donations to friends and family, and have generally come up with $3000 to $4000 each year. I send thank you notes to each donor when they donate, and I also send them each a post card from along the route during the ride.