DoJiggy
Easy, Affordable Online Fundraising Software
Bike-a-thon
What is a bike-a-thon? A bike-a-thon is a fundraising event that works just like a walk-a-thon, however instead of walking, you are biking for a cause (such as The MS bike-a-thon or The American Cancer Society bike-a-thon). Bike-a-thons have become popular fundraising events in recent years as people have become more conscious of the effects of global warming, and therefore look for more efficient means of to get from point A to point B, such as biking or public transport.
For a bike-a-thon fundraiser, participants agree to bike for a set amount of time (ie one hour). During that time, the goal for each participant is to bike as many miles as possible; maximum miles may be established. Another option is for bikers to complete a set course - like a 10 mile loop. Team members may collect pledges per completed mile or contributors may also choose to donate a set amount.
Bike-a-thons also work well because almost everyone knows how to ride a bike! And, there's no saying that you can't make it a family event. If the bike-a-thon is a fundraiser to support your church or your child's school, encourage the whole family to participate. Create fun contests within your own home to see who can raise the most pledges or pedal the furthest, and enjoy the fact that you're all getting exercise while raising funds for a good cause!
Bike to Work Week Fundraiser
A fun variation of a bike-a-thon is a "bike to work" week fundraising event. This especially works well for companies located in places where biking and outdoor activities are common. It's also a great way to strengthen your brand positioning if you are a company that promotes health, fitness and sustainable living. This type of event is very similar to a bike-a-thon however happens throughout the duration of a work-week rather than one day. Participants collect pledges based on the total miles they will bike to and from work each day (or donors can also choose to donate a set amount). This kind of fundraiser is not only a great way to raise money for your cause, but also reduce your carbon footprint on the environment!
Here's an example of one of our clients organizing a "Bike To Work Week" Fundraising event: http://btww.dojiggy.com
Post Bike-a-thon Fundraising Party
Bike-a-thons are great fundraisers because not only are they bringing money in to support your organization, but they also provide an opportunity for members of your group and community to interact in a fun, social environment while increasing community awareness about your cause.
Following the actual bike-a-thon, or at the close of the "bike-to-work" week, invite event, volunteers and supporters to a community picnic or BBQ. Food and drinks could be donated by local businesses. Perhaps a local band is interested in performing. Solicit other fun prizes from the community and host a fundraising raffle to bring in dollars. Raffle items could include: restaurant and retail gift certificates, a free month membership at a local gym, free bike-tuning, free massage to work out those sore muscles after all that biking, etc.
Collecting Pledges
A great way to obtain a lot of pledges easily and quickly for your bike-a-thon event is through online fundraising software like DoJiggy Pledge. Participants create personal pledge pages where they upload photos, explain their mission and have people make secure donations online. They can then send out an email donation request that includes a link to the online pledge page, making it very easy for potential donors to contribute. Be sure to add a link to your online donation page on your organization's web site, and encourage participants to post links on social networking sites. Encourage healthy competition to motivate participants to raise more pledges by providing incentives and prizes for the best performers. For example, partner with a local bike shop to see if they would donate a brand new bike for the participant who collects the most pledges.
Bike-a-thon Resources
DoJiggy offers fundraising software for your bike-a-thon event - sign up for a free trial now. For more useful fundraising resources for your bike-a-thon, visit our walk-a-thon resources where we have sample pledge forms, event timelines and flyers, as well as guidelines to help you plan and promote your "a-thon" event, sponsor solicitation tips, and much more!