Comments on: What I Know About Fundraising http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Cycling Dad http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-583302 Cycling Dad Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:18:15 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-583302 Hi Elden, You're a big inspiration for us, just having launched our startup blog http://cyclingparents.com over here in Europe. We'll try to raise EUR 5500 for the SOS Children's Village in Hinterbruehl, Austria. One Euro for every meter in altitude gain on the legendary Oetztaler Cycle Marathon. Do you think that's achievable? Keep up the good work. Love your family. Love your bike. Hi Elden,

You’re a big inspiration for us, just having launched our startup blog http://cyclingparents.com over here in Europe. We’ll try to raise EUR 5500 for the SOS Children’s Village in Hinterbruehl, Austria. One Euro for every meter in altitude gain on the legendary Oetztaler Cycle Marathon. Do you think that’s achievable?

Keep up the good work. Love your family. Love your bike.

]]> By: Kiwi http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-583107 Kiwi Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:43:46 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-583107 Thanks for the keen tips. This is perfect timing as I signed up for the Tour de Cure in Roseville, CA (Diabetes Ride) and also just signed up for a certain team whose battle cry is about craving a baked good after riding in the LiveSTRONG Challenge... Would you (or anyone else) be interested in donating to either of these causes in my name? http://main.diabetes.org/goto/kiwi http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/kiwi Hey, it's worth asking :) @Maureen, you bring up a good point, when I was fundraising for LiveSTRONG last year I verbally thanked the people I could, the others got nice fb or email thanks. Something I tried to do was send out a monthly 1 page email newsletter about how I was training for the ride. I threw in humorous posts about my bro while he was battling cancer and also some cycling tips. Not only did I want people to help, I wanted to get people out on the road too! Thanks for the keen tips.

This is perfect timing as I signed up for the Tour de Cure in Roseville, CA (Diabetes Ride) and also just signed up for a certain team whose battle cry is about craving a baked good after riding in the LiveSTRONG Challenge…

Would you (or anyone else) be interested in donating to either of these causes in my name?

http://main.diabetes.org/goto/kiwi
http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/kiwi

Hey, it’s worth asking :)

@Maureen, you bring up a good point, when I was fundraising for LiveSTRONG last year I verbally thanked the people I could, the others got nice fb or email thanks.

Something I tried to do was send out a monthly 1 page email newsletter about how I was training for the ride. I threw in humorous posts about my bro while he was battling cancer and also some cycling tips. Not only did I want people to help, I wanted to get people out on the road too!

]]> By: AKChick55 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582907 AKChick55 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:51:05 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582907 Not sure if anyone will see this but a huge difference between a Livestrong or MS150 ride is that YOU pay for lodging and some of your food. I've done both types (raised money to go to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to run a marathon in Hawaii). When people donate to events where you get to travel somewhere and the charity picks up the cost, your donors are paying for your hotel and airfare. I MUCH prefer the Livestrong or MS profile where I pick up my travel costs and the charity pays for a meal or two. That's my two cents worth of explanation. I'm not judging those who prefer the LLS method. I just prefer to have all donations go towards the charity and not My travel costs. Charities that do this (LLS does this very well) work very hard to keep costs low so they don't spend $$$ on that which is why the fundraising amounts are so high) Not sure if anyone will see this but a huge difference between a Livestrong or MS150 ride is that YOU pay for lodging and some of your food. I’ve done both types (raised money to go to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to run a marathon in Hawaii). When people donate to events where you get to travel somewhere and the charity picks up the cost, your donors are paying for your hotel and airfare. I MUCH prefer the Livestrong or MS profile where I pick up my travel costs and the charity pays for a meal or two. That’s my two cents worth of explanation. I’m not judging those who prefer the LLS method. I just prefer to have all donations go towards the charity and not
My travel costs. Charities that do this (LLS does this very well) work very hard to keep costs low so they don’t spend $$$ on that which is why the fundraising amounts are so high)

]]> By: Maureen http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582868 Maureen Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:20:08 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582868 One more, very important: THANK YOUR DONORS. The auto-email that gets sent from the organization doesn't count. My biggest pet peeve is when I donate to friend's causes - and they never acknowledge that I've done so. Fool me once... One more, very important: THANK YOUR DONORS. The auto-email that gets sent from the organization doesn’t count. My biggest pet peeve is when I donate to friend’s causes – and they never acknowledge that I’ve done so. Fool me once…

]]> By: Bicycle Bill http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582780 Bicycle Bill Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:26:42 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582780 One other thing — keep a list of your donors, and don't let it out of your sight if at all possible.  Many people these days are afraid of ending up on the mailing list of every non-profit organization from AARP to Zonta.  It shouldn't have to be said, but don't trade or sell your list of donors to anybody else for any reason. Secondly, don't be the guy who shows up at the bike shop or the coffee shop or hits up all his/her co-workers every other week for some cause.  Pick one, or maybe two, and let it be known to all and sundry that if they support you and donate to your chosen event <i>(in my case it was an ACS fundraiser in the Lake Geneva WI area)</i> that they won't have to worry about seeing you back in another week for the Ride for Breath, and the month after that for the XYZ 150, and again in the fall for Larry's Kids.  If you can do this, many of your same contributors will be there for you year after year.  Worked for me. <i><b>-"BB"-</b></i> One other thing — keep a list of your donors, and don’t let it out of your sight if at all possible.  Many people these days are afraid of ending up on the mailing list of every non-profit organization from AARP to Zonta.  It shouldn’t have to be said, but don’t trade or sell your list of donors to anybody else for any reason.

Secondly, don’t be the guy who shows up at the bike shop or the coffee shop or hits up all his/her co-workers every other week for some cause.  Pick one, or maybe two, and let it be known to all and sundry that if they support you and donate to your chosen event (in my case it was an ACS fundraiser in the Lake Geneva WI area) that they won’t have to worry about seeing you back in another week for the Ride for Breath, and the month after that for the XYZ 150, and again in the fall for Larry’s Kids.  If you can do this, many of your same contributors will be there for you year after year.  Worked for me.

-”BB”-

]]> By: John Klemme http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582779 John Klemme Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:30:51 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582779 Good morning, Fatty: Thank you for your advice and inspiration. I have taken the example you set and accepted a nomination for this year's Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man of the Year Campaign here in Wisconsin. Officially, it starts Feb 23rd, but I've been working on plans for a few weeks, so your post today was timely and a huge help. After my friend lost her son to Leukemia a few years ago, I've been trying to find a way to help and LLS has given me that opportunity. I would love to be able to give away some of your tshirts or jerseys as donor gifts during my campaign. If that is a way you could help me, let me know. I have introduced a lot of friends to your blog and many of them would be thrilled to have a chance to get your gear in addition to helping me and this cause. Thanks again, John http://mwoy.org/pages/wi/wi13/jklemme Good morning, Fatty:

Thank you for your advice and inspiration. I have taken the example you set and accepted a nomination for this year’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man of the Year Campaign here in Wisconsin. Officially, it starts Feb 23rd, but I’ve been working on plans for a few weeks, so your post today was timely and a huge help.

After my friend lost her son to Leukemia a few years ago, I’ve been trying to find a way to help and LLS has given me that opportunity.

I would love to be able to give away some of your tshirts or jerseys as donor gifts during my campaign. If that is a way you could help me, let me know. I have introduced a lot of friends to your blog and many of them would be thrilled to have a chance to get your gear in addition to helping me and this cause.

Thanks again,
John
http://mwoy.org/pages/wi/wi13/jklemme

]]> By: Stan Oahu http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582756 Stan Oahu Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:57:28 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582756 Fatty, I appreciate the advice. Would love to have you join us on our ride: https://www.roadid.com/Sponsorship/EventCalendarSearchResults.aspx?EventID=186501 In just 4 short years since we've started this ride for my friend who succumbed to suicide, we had NAMIBikes call me and invite us to join with them in the fight. Cool, huh? I think you would really enjoy this event. The routes are exceptionally safe and fun. Besides, it would be an honor to meet you. Mike Colledge speaks very highly of you and sent me your link. Keep up the great and cool work you do! As for me, I'm just trying to raise awareness and fight the stigma of mental illness through cycling! All the best, Stan Event Director NAMIBIkes Utah, The GLMR Fatty,
I appreciate the advice. Would love to have you join us on our ride: https://www.roadid.com/Sponsorship/EventCalendarSearchResults.aspx?EventID=186501

In just 4 short years since we’ve started this ride for my friend who succumbed to suicide, we had NAMIBikes call me and invite us to join with them in the fight. Cool, huh?

I think you would really enjoy this event. The routes are exceptionally safe and fun. Besides, it would be an honor to meet you. Mike Colledge speaks very highly of you and sent me your link.

Keep up the great and cool work you do! As for me, I’m just trying to raise awareness and fight the stigma of mental illness through cycling!

All the best,
Stan
Event Director
NAMIBIkes Utah, The GLMR

]]> By: Big E http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582754 Big E Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:16:21 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582754 Thank you for the well thought out response Elden. I appreciate it greatly. Rubber side down, Big E Thank you for the well thought out response Elden. I appreciate it greatly.

Rubber side down,

Big E

]]> By: Jeffy http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582753 Jeffy Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:00:36 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582753 Fatty, one of the best how-tos I've seen on fundraising. I'm going to share it with many...Jeffy Fatty, one of the best how-tos I’ve seen on fundraising. I’m going to share it with many…Jeffy

]]> By: Diane http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/comment-page-1/#comment-582751 Diane Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:20:14 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/02/05/what-i-know-about-fundraising/#comment-582751 Every freshman at my daughter's high school is required to complete a semester-long project called "Power of One." They each have to research a local, national or international issue and then come up with a plan to address the issue (through raising awareness, doing volunteer work, fundraising, etc). We were brainstorming ideas for her project at dinner last week and I happened to mention the work that World Bicycle Relief does (which I only learned about because of you). Well. She has read every word on their website and is ALL fired up about the cause. She has committed to raising enough money for 10 bikes for her project. She would really like to volunteer for them, but we don't live close enough to any of their offices. Now that she is in fundraising-mode, I will definitely have her read this as it contains a lot of great advice. Thank you Elden, for entertaining us, for sharing lessons learned and for being a great example of what the Power of One can do. Every freshman at my daughter’s high school is required to complete a semester-long project called “Power of One.” They each have to research a local, national or international issue and then come up with a plan to address the issue (through raising awareness, doing volunteer work, fundraising, etc). We were brainstorming ideas for her project at dinner last week and I happened to mention the work that World Bicycle Relief does (which I only learned about because of you). Well. She has read every word on their website and is ALL fired up about the cause. She has committed to raising enough money for 10 bikes for her project. She would really like to volunteer for them, but we don’t live close enough to any of their offices. Now that she is in fundraising-mode, I will definitely have her read this as it contains a lot of great advice.

Thank you Elden, for entertaining us, for sharing lessons learned and for being a great example of what the Power of One can do.

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