Charity Walks Blog

Charity walks, also known as walkathons, can boost a nonprofit organization’s financial position and bring it positive exposure to the community. The opposite can occur if the walk is not planned and executed properly.

What is one of the key areas to consider when planning for a successful charity walk? It is location.

In real estate, location is critical. It is no different for a walkathon. A properly selected location can make planning and setting up for a walk easier. It can also improve the participants’ experience, encouraging them to volunteer more support and return to your event every year.

The following are a few questions to ask when evaluating a charity walk location:

• Is the walk path level? Steep hills on the walk can make the event difficult for participants to complete. They may not say anything to you when they complete the walk, but they will think twice before joining next year.
• Is the location convenient? The location should be centrally located to your perspective walkers. It should also be a known location that is easy to find.
• Is there available parking? If parking is not close to the event area or not large enough to accommodate all of the walkers, they will drive away on the day of the event without stopping.
• Is there adequate space to support the activities and expected number of people? Make sure you have plenty of space for all of the activities planned on-site.
• Are restrooms available? If they are available for use at the walk, it can save both time and money that would be required to arrange for portable units to be brought in.
• Are tables and chairs available at the site? Just like the restrooms, if there are tables and chairs available on-site, it will be one less thing to make arrangements for and potentially have to pay for.
• Is the area safe? Safety should be the #1 concern regarding the walk. Assess the local area and route to be walked. Ensure that all aspects of the event can be done in a safe manner.
• Is the area clean and well maintained? The area needs to be clean. The grass and landscaping needs to be maintained. The walk path needs to be free from obstacles.
• Is there an indoor facility available? An indoor facility will be extremely useful if it rains and there is no plan for a makeup date. Indoor activities can encourage participants to show up on a rainy day.

Select a terrific location for your charity walks and put them on a path to success.

Thanks,

photo credit: jasonippolito

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Nonprofit Organization, Participants, Steep Hills, Tables And Chairs, Time And Money, Volunteer, Walkathon, Walkers

I found the below article today. It provides a great reminder that we can participate in charity walks without being super-athletes. One of the great things about charity walks is that almost anyone can participate.

It’s good to walk: doing your bit to support a worthy cause

by Isla Campell

More and more people are choosing to go on ‘meaningful’ holidays abroad, as they seek to fulfill altruistic ambitions and do their bit to help save the world. Whether it’s an expedition to Mount Everest, a trek along the Great Wall of China or a hands-on mission to build homes for underprivileged families in Vietnam or elsewhere in the world, there is a definite heightened sense of urgency in terms of people actively seeking new ways to help others.

But as noble and selfless as this may be, it’s simply not possible for many people to get involved in such activities, as they generally require a lot of time and money to help achieve them. However, the good news is there are many other ways, a lot closer to home, that can help those who are in a less fortunate position than us.

Perhaps one of the more common means of raising money for charity, is to run a marathon. Nobody will begrudge making a donation when someone is putting themselves through months of arduous training to run over 26 miles without so much as a ten-minute breather. And there is no doubt that every penny raised will be well and truly earned.

Of course, not everybody can partake in such physically demanding exploits or dedicate the amount of time required to train for such a feat. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way; everyone can do their bit for charity and it doesn’t need to be painful.

A sponsored walk is the perfect answer for those who are looking to raise money for charity but don’t have the time to commit to more demanding activities. Not only that, the participant can usually choose between various walking-distances, to suit their physical ability.

A 3-mile walk for one person may be more than enough, whilst for someone else it might not be quite the challenge they were looking for and so may opt for anything up to 10 miles. In fact, it’s becoming more and more common for even longer charity walks to be organized, up to and including a marathon, for those looking to push themselves that little bit further for their chosen cause.

Besides the obvious incentive of raising much needed money for a very worthy cause, the feel-good factor extends well beyond that. Registering for a charity walk has prompted many people into improving their fitness, losing weight or even act as a mechanism for a longer term goal such as quitting smoking. Ultimately, however, the feeling of satisfaction after completing a charity walk is enough of an encouragement for most people.

So, with people going further afield to quench their desire to help others, it can perhaps be easy to forget that charity begins at home. Taking part in a sponsored walk is a fun way of achieving many goals at the same time and giving just a little bit can reap far greater rewards in return.

About the Author:

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

photo credit: Fredo in (((Stereo)))

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Physical Ability, Raising Money, Sponsored Walk, Underprivileged Families, Worthy Cause

Recognizing volunteers who support your charity walks is critical. Appropriate volunteer recognition will help keep your volunteers motivated and interested in supporting your organization for many years to come.

Are you ready to kick up your volunteer recognition program a notch? Try some of the following unique ways to thank your volunteers:

1. Write a thank you note to the volunteer’s spouse or parents. A volunteer sacrifices his or her time in support of your nonprofit organization. The volunteer is typically not the only one making a sacrifice. A spouse may have to pick up extra duties. A parent may have to drive the child to and from each meeting and event. Think about others who are inconvenienced by providing support to a volunteer “behind the scenes” and send them a thank you note.
2. Write a letter of recognition to the volunteer’s supervisor or school. Businesses and schools consider community service important. Volunteering can aid a person in pursuing a career. Volunteering can also help a student when being considered for certain classes and also when it comes time to apply for college or a job. Make sure you notify the volunteers’ supervisors and schools regarding the great support you’re receiving and the impact that it is making.
3. Track the volunteer’s hours of service and submit for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. It doesn’t take as many volunteer hours as you might think to qualify for the award. Go to PresidentialServiceAwards.gov to learn more about the award.
4. Create a volunteer photo wall. Find a space to display photos of your volunteers. They can be studio shots or captured in action. Volunteers will be scrambling to find their photo on the wall every time they visit.
5. Invite volunteers to observe or participate in organization meetings and training events. Volunteers should be considered an extension of the nonprofit organization staff. By allowing them to participate in some of the organization’s other activities, they create a stronger bond with the organization and learn more about the impact the organization is making. This in turn results in a more dedicated (and appreciative) volunteer.
6. Send handwritten thank you notes from individuals who have been directly helped by the organization. My most prized thank you came in the form of a handwritten note from a young girl who was helped by the organization I supported. This is a powerful way to show appreciation to volunteers.
7. Nominate volunteers for community service awards. Search for community service awards in your area and nominate deserving volunteers who support your efforts. United Way is one organization that has such awards. You should also consider creating your own volunteer awards that can be presented annually to your most capable and dedicated volunteers.

Your charity walks would not be successful without motivated volunteers. Regularly find ways to let your volunteers know that you are grateful for the time and energy they contribute to your cause.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Hours Of Service, Letter Of Recognition, Non-profit organization, Nonprofit Organization, Philanthropy, Photo Wall, Recognizing Volunteers, Volunteer, Volunteer Program, Volunteer Recognition Program, Volunteer Service Award