Fundraising
Fundraising is not only part of the challenge – it’s also a rewarding and impactful piece of getting involved with the Climate Ride cause. Challenging as it may seem, we’ve had thousands of people fundraise for Climate Ride events over the years and many have expressed that it is easier than they thought it would be.
Top 10 Tips
For Fundraising Success
The tried and true methods outlined below have proven to be effective. Throughout the process, remind yourself that you’re not asking for money for yourself, but for a cause and organizations that you are passionate about. Also remember that you are giving your network an opportunity to do something positive, just as you have done by committing to this event. Thank you!
2. Customize Your Fundraising Page, Set a Fundraising Goal, and Download the App
Set up and then personalize your fundraising page, which includes setting your fundraising goal. Then get the fundraising App on your phone!
3. Develop a List of Prospects
Make a list of everyone you know and their email address. The longer this list is, the easier reaching your fundraising goal will be.
1. Start Early
The sooner you start asking, the more opportunities you will have to raise money for the Climate Ride cause. So once you’ve registered to become a fundraiser take some time right away to get organized and then start asking. Set aside 15 minutes each day to work through the steps below.
A great way to get some money in your fundraising coffers before you even do anything else is to self-pledge. It doesn’t need to be a large sum of money, but it lets your donors know upfront that you believe in what you’re doing and you put your money where your mouth is!
2. Customize Your Fundraising Page, Set a Fundraising Goal, download the app
Past participants who customized their fundraising pages raised over $1,100 more on average than those who did not!
Once you log into your fundraising dashboard (from the top of our website) you’ll be able to personalize your fundraising page, which includes setting your fundraising goal. Set your goal higher than the required minimum to something that is a stretch, but feels doable. Once you get close to your goal raise it so people continue to contribute. You want to avoid prospective donors deciding not to donate because you have already reached your goal. Remember, the sky is the limit in terms of how much money you can raise for the Climate Ride cause!
Now that you’ve set your goal, take a few moments to think about why you are participating in Climate Ride and develop your “ask.” The fundraising “ask” is the most vital part of your fundraising strategy. It forms the foundation for every conversation you’ll have about why you’re taking part in a Climate Ride event.
It’s critical to take some time to reflect on these questions:
- What’s inspiring you? What is your motivation?
- Which beneficiary did you select? Why?
- What specific action you’d like the viewer to make?
The answers to these questions are a key component of your ask. When you’re reaching out to potential donors, you’ll want to be able to concisely explain your motivation and why you’re raising funds for this cause. Having a well thought out and confident response will show your donors how important this is to you and will motivate them to support you.
Once you have developed your story, write it out on your fundraising page. The most compelling fundraising pages include a personal story about why you are participating and fundraising, and include a good photo of yourself.
Bonus tip: Now that your fundraising page is all set, download the Mobile App to fundraise directly from your phone. The fundraising dashboard from your computer’s browser is great but the mobile app makes it easy to share your fundraising page link on all the channels you communicate through including Whatsapp, your Slack Channel, your group texts and all the other cool places inside your phone!
3. Develop an Exhaustive List of Prospects
Make a list of everyone you know and their email address or best contact information. The longer this list is, the easier reaching your fundraising goal will be. Include people you don’t think will donate, people you do think will donate and folks you haven’t connected with for years. Not only are you giving them an opportunity to do something positive, it is a chance to reconnect with your network and spread awareness for a cause you believe in. You’ll be surprised who gives!
The list should go beyond close friends and family to include:
- Members of clubs and organizations you belong to
- Coworkers and bosses (both past and present)
- Classmates from your school or university
- Family and extended family
- Family members of friends
- Neighbors
- Local businesses
If you don’t have an email address for them, you can give them a copy of the donate by mail form.
4. Start Sending Emails
Now that you’ve developed your ask on your fundraising page and made a list of everyone you know, it’s time to put the two together and get the word out. The basic template is this:
- Start with a personalized greeting based on the person, or group, that you are emailing.
- Repurpose the ask you’ve already developed for your fundraising page into a cohesive email.
- Ensure you’ve made a specific ask for a donation (i.e. “Will you support me with a donation of $50?”). The donation amount you ask for can and should change based on the person or group you are emailing.
- Add in a link (or many!) to your fundraising page, so they know where they can go to make a donation.
- Add photos, if you wish, to make it more engaging and fun.
We suggest you start with your closest circle first – people you know will want to support your efforts. Their donations will bring momentum to your efforts. Then, start to work through the entire list of potential donors you made.
5. Follow Up With More Emails
Once you’ve sent your initial email blast wait two weeks and then send a reminder email. Rather than send the same email as before, try sending a progress update. Talk about your training and what you’re doing to prepare for the physical challenge. Talk about anything related to how hard you’re working to get ready for your challenge and don’t forget to mention your fundraising progress. You can send this email to everyone including people who have already donated.
Drop in this line or something like it: I want to thank all of my wonderful friends and family who have already supported me. If you’d like to help too, you still can! Then include a link to your fundraising page. Send a progress update every two weeks.
6. Mix in Social Media
If you’re already using social media, it’s a great place to drum up additional fundraising support and to tell folks about your passion for what you’re doing. People will love to hear about your courage and the new adventure and many will be inspired to donate. Use whichever platform you’re already set up on (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) to stay in front of your networks with your message about Climate Ride. Here are a few tips and tricks:
- Past participants who created Facebook fundraisers linked to their fundraising pages raised 90% more on average than those who didn’t!
- Creating a Facebook fundraiser? Make sure it is integrated with your fundraising page by following this quick guide!
- Provide updates on your fundraising and training efforts. Did you hit a new fundraising benchmark? Tell us about it and tag the generous supporters who got you there. Did you start your training? Tell a story about the experience! Getting close to the departure date? Let us know how we can follow along during your challenge.
- Add photos or videos so your posts are more engaging and more likely to be shown to your networks.
- Always include a link to your fundraising page so people know where to go to make that donation.
- Recognize and thank your donors publicly, and tag them! The more gratitude you share with your current donors, the more others will follow suit and donate as well.
- Make a specific ask for your friends to share your post with their networks. This is a great way to get in front of people you don’t even know with your ask!
- Add urgency by asking for help to overcome a specific fundraising benchmark “today”.
- Talk up the beneficiaries you’ve selected. You can share what they’re working on or how they’re impacting the world, then ask for contributions in support of those efforts. Be sure to tag the organization!
- Start a conversation by asking for recommendations on gear you may need to acquire, or training and travel tips. People love to share their knowledge!
- Use #climateride and tag Climate Ride to help us build the buzz online.
Facebook offers a way to set up a fundraiser for Climate Ride right on its platform. You are welcome to set this up for yourself as a tool to help reach your fundraising goals, but there are a few considerations:
- You cannot count on the Facebook donations to hit your official Climate Ride fundraising account for about 1-2 months, which could be tricky if you are trying to make one of our fundraising deadlines using these funds. We are unable to account for funds which have not physically reached our office.
- Climate Ride will not be able to issue your donors a receipt, though they should receive a receipt for tax purposes from Facebook.
- For the most part, donations that are acquired on Facebook are sent to Climate Ride with a report on the donor’s name and the ‘fundraiser’ (your name). This makes it easy to attribute the funds directly to your fundraising efforts. To be sure, when you fundraise with Facebook just send over a list of your donors’ names when the campaign is complete so we can ensure the donations all reach your fundraising page, as we do occasionally receive a donation with no ‘fundraiser’ specified.
Want a photo to go with your social media push? Feel free to use one of these!
7. Get Creative
Many Climate Riders have used their creative ingenuity to hit and exceed their fundraising goals. Once you’ve tried the standards of emails and social media, here are a few ideas to take you the rest of the way:
- Past participants who used donor incentives raised over $800 more on average than those who didn’t! So create some donor incentives and milestones on your fundraising page. For example, maybe when you hit the half way mark, you can go clean up trash at nearby body of water. Or send your donors a postcard from your event if they donate $50! Milestones make great topics for updates, and when you hit them, be sure to email everyone to celebrate!
- Wear some Climate Ride gear, like a hat or t-shirt, anytime you train or go somewhere around new people. Maria Ristow, a top fundraiser in 2018, gave us this tip: “For the past couple of months, I have cycled almost exclusively in [Climate Ride] gear. Then I talk to everyone I run into in the grocery store, down the street, and at social events about my upcoming ride and the beneficiaries. I later send them a personal email or handwritten letter asking for support.”
- Visit a local bike shop or business you frequent and see if they’ll sponsor you in exchange for you wearing a shirt with their logo while you train and on the event.
- Call on your unique skills to bring you over the next hurdle. Can you offer lessons in exchange for contributions? Would you be willing to bake up a storm for a bake sale? Could you hole up in your gym lobby and bike for a few hours on a stationary bike with a basket and a sign about why you’re riding? The gym will like the publicity and you’ll be surprised how many of your fellow gym-goers drop money in your basket. Maybe you can host a pancake breakfast where people put cash donations in a fishbowl to help nudge you toward this next goal. You have many talents, use one to get some donations and you’ll be wowed by the response!
- Add the link to your fundraising page to your email signature so everyone you email with will see.
- Give out “piggy banks” and ask people to collect their change for a month.
- Create business cards or handbills to give out during face-to-face interactions. Even better, raise your goal to $10k and we’ll send you personalized business cards for free! Just fill out this form.
- Hold an event with a raffle or auction. If you let us know a few weeks ahead of time, we will send you some Climate Ride merch to raffle off!
- Take a look at the calendar and note any special days coming up. Plan a group ride for Earth Day, or ask for donations in lieu of birthday presents.
8. Thank your donors
Personally thank everyone who has donated. Tell them how much you appreciate their generous support. Then ask if their company has a matching gift program, as this is an easy way to double the amount of the donation.
Thank anyone who has donated publicly as well! You can do this in your progress update emails or on social media. By thanking donors publicly, your friends may experience positive peer pressure to get involved.
Want a photo to go with your social media push? Feel free to use one of these!
9. Create Media Buzz
Contact your local radio station, newspaper, or other publication to see if they’ll share a story about your efforts. Sending a news release to local news outlets will raise awareness about your challenge and can attract donors who aren’t already in your network. This is an especially helpful tool for people with small or “financially challenged” networks.
We’ve already done some of the work for you by creating this quick online form that gives you a press release in as little as 5 minutes. If you prefer, there’s also a Word template available. To create your news release all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Fill out this form with your personal information.
- Make a list of local news outlets to send it to. Try to find specific names of an editor or journalist to whom you can send it. If you can’t find a specific contact, just send it to the editor or assignment desk.
- Follow up with a quick phone call.
- If you get an interview, be sure to have a shortened url for your fundraising page and emphasize the importance of the article including the fundraising page link.
- Share the news story with your network in social media posts, emails, and send it to us so we can share it as well! This gives you another opportunity to ask for donations and remind people who might have forgotten that they want to donate.
10. Reach out
If you’ve worked through the above list and you’re still feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to your Climate Ride support staff. We are honored to be able to work helping people help the planet. We want you to succeed and we’ll do what we can to help. We have many more tips than we can fit into this list, so one of them is bound to help you raise money for the Climate Ride cause. Reach out so we can:
- Help you make an individualized plan for fundraising with specific goals and timelines.
- Help you develop your ask and/or give feedback on what you’ve created.
- Help you come up with ideas on how to widen your network of donors.
- Help you brainstorm FUNdraising events.
- And so much more!
We are incredibly grateful for all the work you’re doing.
We know we all have to pitch in together to ensure a future for our planet. So please know that if you find yourself needing a hand to reach a fundraising goal, we are here with an arm outstretched. Please don’t hesitate to call or email – we’re more than happy to help.
Fundraising FAQ
I’m nervous about fundraising. Can I do it?
YES! This is one of our participants’ biggest concerns before they sign up. We want you to know that it’s easier than you think, and we’re here to help you! We provide tools and individualized support to make sure your fundraising is successful. You’re here because you care about the cause and want to do something huge to support the organizations that are important to you. Your friends, colleagues, family, and community will want to support you! Please reach out to us if you want to chat about an individualized strategy. We also have fundraising tips on our website to get you started!
What happens if I don’t raise the required fundraising minimum by the deadline?
First off, if you’re worried about your fundraising, please email your participant manager. We’re here to help you be successful!
Climate Ride creates events that are not just an opportunity for participants to enjoy a unique and fulfilling experience, but also a crucial fundraiser for underfunded organizations that are working towards preserving our planet. It’s important to remember that the fundraising aspect of the event is just as important as the event itself.
As a participant, it’s mandatory to reach the fundraising minimum in order to join the event. We’re here to support you in any way we can. If you’re worried about meeting the fundraising minimum, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you with fundraising strategies that have been successful for past participants.
Additionally, we want to remind you that you always have the option to self-pledge. Self-pledging allows you to contribute your own funds towards your fundraising minimum, especially if you’re nearing the final fundraising deadline. This gives you the flexibility and assurance that you’ll be able to participate in the event, even if you haven’t been able to reach the fundraising minimum through other means. If you self pledge, you can continue fundraise until November 1st of the year of the event and receive a refund for self-pledged funds in the amount that you raised above the minimum.
We believe that with our support, you’ll be able to successfully meet the fundraising minimum and be a part of our meaningful events. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns — we’re here to help!
Are donations to Climate Ride tax-deductible?
Yes. Climate Ride events are produced by Climate Ride (Tax ID # 27-1777457), a nonprofit, public benefit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). Donations to Climate Ride are deductible for income tax purposes to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Please consult a tax professional with any questions regarding your unique situation.
How does the online fundraising software work?
When you sign up, you’ll receive access to our top-of-the-line fundraising software, DonorDrive. You’ll be given a personal fundraising page, which you can customize and then share with your friends and family. This is where they can make an online donation. When you log into the fundraising dashboard (through our website – click ‘Login’ at the top!), you will have options to send out emails, post to social media, and you can even track and thank your donors. If you are having trouble with the fundraising software, please email your participant manager.
Can I make a donation by cash or check? What about donor-advised funds?
Yes, yes, and yes! To donate through any of these means, please download the Donation by Mail form here and send it in with your check, payable to “Climate Ride.” You can find more info about donating through your DAFs here.
If I cancel my registration, will my funds be disbursed to my Beneficiaries?
Please review our Cancellation and Transfer Policies. Participants must reach the event’s fundraising minimum in order for their fundraising to be disbursed to their Beneficiaries through the Climate Ride Grants Program.
Are matching gifts from my donors’ company credited to my fundraising page?
Yes! Matching donations are often processed quarterly — and sometimes annually — by companies, so it may take some time before you see the match on your fundraising page. If you’re hoping to take advantage of your company’s matching program, be sure to get on it ASAP so you can get those funds before the fundraising deadline. Please let us know if you are expecting a match so we can keep an eye out for it.
What happens if matching funds come in after fundraising has closed for my event?
We will attempt to reach you via email for any matching donations that come in after the fundraising for your event has closed. You’ll have three options:
- Use those funds for your own participation on an upcoming event;
- Designate those funds to a participant on an existing event;
- Donate those funds to our Annual Fund to support our Community Leader Scholarship spots, grant acceleration, and other programs.
If we do not hear back from you before December 1st of the year we reach out, these funds will go into our Annual Fund to support our Community Leader Award Program and Environmental Justice Action Grants.
The organization I want to raise money for is not listed as a Beneficiary. Can I still fundraise for them?
A Beneficiary must be approved by Climate Ride before you can fundraise for them. If you are interested in fundraising for an organization that is not currently a Climate Ride Beneficiary, but meets our Beneficiary criteria, please have them contact us and we can help them through the online application process. In order to keep our list of organizations relevant and manageable, we can only add one Beneficiary per participant per year.
Can I fundraise for any Climate Ride Beneficiary on any event?
Most Climate Ride events support our full collection of Beneficiaries, however, there are a few that support a single Beneficiary. The Glacier Ride is a singe-Beneficiary fundraising event for Glacier National Park Conservancy. Also, our international events are special Climate Ride Funders Trips. Proceeds from these events directly support Climate Ride’s Community Leader Award scholarships and our programs focused on education, building community, connecting generations, and funding sustainability work.
