PMC Tips #4: Fundraising

[ornoth_cycling]

Number four in my weekly series of hints, tips, pointers, and advice for other Pan-Mass Challenge charity riders. These are the things I've learned during more than a decade of participating in the PMC.

The full list of posts will be compiled and permanently available online at http://www.ornoth.com/bicycling/hints.php

Whether you're a first-timer or a longtime veteran, may you find these ideas useful, and I hope you have a wonderful PMC experience!

This week's tips address the most important and challenging part of the ride: Fundraising.

• Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email lists: use every social networking opportunity both to get the word out and to gather names for your list of contacts.
• Use the ride as impetus to keep in touch with old friends and reconnect with former friends. One of the side benefits of fundraising is that it encourages you to reach out to people you care about at least once a year.
• Try to tailor your fundraising letters to each person. Don't just blast out one generic mass mailing. The more personal you make it, the more real it feels to people.
• Give your sponsors a reason to donate: whether it's the story of someone you know fighting cancer, a personal goal you've set for yourself, or a gift that they'll earn for making a donation of a certain amount.
• Track every interaction you have with your sponsors, and never let someone get away with saying they'd support you without coming through. Maintain a spreadsheet or database of your contacts.
• Some people feel guilty for not making a big donation, so they decide not to give anything at all, rather than something small. Find a way to make them feel that giving a small amount is better than giving nothing at all. Setting a goal of reaching a certain number of sponsors can help in this regard.
• After every donation, make sure you ask whether the sponsor's employer has a charitable matching gift program. That's free money!
• Once they've made a donation, personally and promptly thank your sponsors and continue to send them periodic updates about your ride to help them feel involved.
• Take opportunities to involve your sponsors in the ride by sending emails before and after the ride, around the fundraising deadline, and after the check presentation.

Next week's topic: Pre-Ride Prep!