DoJiggy
Easy, Affordable Online Fundraising Software
Spin-a-thon
What is a spin-a-thon? A spin-a-thon is a fundraising event that works just like a walk-a-thon, however instead of walking, you are spinning (or riding a stationary bike in place) to raise money for charity. Spin-a-thons have become popular fundraising events in recent years as spinning has become a popular fitness activity. A fun advantage of a spin-a-thon is that people literally stay in one place. Instead of a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon where people start at one destination and end at another, the spin-a-thon event is set up with stationary exercise bikes. This allows for creating more of a communal gathering place. With this type of event, you can make your fundraiser into a community party and include live music, food and beverages, and other fun games and contests while people spin to raise money for a cause... bringing members of your organization in a social setting with local businesses, media and neighbors.
Spin-a-thon Ideas
Once you've decided to host a spin-a-thon for your fundraiser, what other fun spin-a-thon ideas are possible to make your fundraising event truly unique? If you are promoting health and wellness as part of your message, perhaps you'll want to add other types of supporting activities. For instance, one organization added a yogathon to their spin-a-thon! Another idea is to allow for free yoga classes in conjunction with the spin-a-thon. Event attendees can join a yoga class, or participants can join in a yoga-stretch class before they hop on the bike. Invite nutritionists to talk about eating healthy, or fitness experts to provide tips to lower body fat. You could also consider offering complimentary chair massage for participants after they finish their hour of spinning to help them unwind, or paid chair massages from event attendees (with the money earned benefiting your cause). This is also a great time to consider reaching out to sponsors who provide products or services that are in-line with the theme of your event. Sponsors can provide financial donations, assistance promoting the event, as well as prizes for contests. Learn more about how to get sponsors to support your fundraising event.
Where to Host the Spin-a-thon?
Host your spin-a-thon in a fun environment. Again, that's one of the benefits of this type of activity, you don't have to go from point A to point B. If the event takes place in the summer, host the event on the beach! Set up a stationary bike station overlooking the water and have participants sign up for specific hour time-slots to pedal. Have other activities for people to participate in such as beach volleyball or snorkeling. If the spin-a-thon is a family event, host it at a park where there is a playground for younger children to interact while parents and siblings ride. If you host the event in the winter, host it at a large community gymnasium. Set up stations for biking, but also other areas for community interaction. Perhaps set up a section for a silent auction display where event attendees can bid on items numerous items including: gift certificates, weekend get-aways, celebrity memorabilia, and more. This is another great way to bring in even more funds for your cause.
Spin-a-thon Motivators
To motivate people to participate in the event, and work hard to secure donations, offer incentives and prizes. Offer a gift bag for all participants including event T-shirts as a keep-sake to remember the event, a water-bottle for riders to use while spinning, plus numerous other donated goodies from event sponsors and local businesses.
Create incentives for the participant or group who raises the most pledges, and host contests the day of the event awarding participants who pedal the furthest (or longest). Add a fundraising raffle to your fundraising event offering participants and event attendees a chance to win cool prizes. Solicit raffle prizes from local businesses such as: restaurant and retail gift certificates, a free month membership or private training session at a local gym, free stationary bike, free massage to work out those sore muscles after an hour of spinning, etc.
Collecting Pledges
A great way to obtain pledge donations easily and quickly for your spin-a-thon is with an online fundraising software solution, like DoJiggy Pledge. Participants create personal pledge pages where they explain their mission, upload photos, and provide a safe and secure way for people make online donations. Members of your organizations, participants and volunteers can send out an email donation request that includes a link to their personal online pledge page, making it very easy for potential donors to contribute. Be sure to add a link to your fundraising website on your organization's web site, and encourage participants to post links on social networking sites to extend the reach of your fundraising campaign beyond your local community.
Walk-a-thon Resources
For more useful fundraising resources for your spin-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!