Charity Walks Blog

The Charity Walks Network launched today.  It is a free social networking site for people who are  passionate about charity walks. I am excited about the impact this network of do-gooders can have on the world of charity walks.

At the Charity Walks Network there is a forum to ask and answer questions.  There is a blog where each member can post personal thoughts and experiences.  There is even a section to promote charity walk events.

“Now walkathon leaders have a place to go to connect with each other, share ideas, and benefit from the accumulated wisdom of the crowd,” said Lee Garverick, author of www.walkathonguide.com. “This will be a wonderful asset for everyone.”

Those who are passionate about charity walks can include:

• Committee members
• Nonprofit staff
• Company sponsors
• Volunteers
• Walkers/fundraisers
• Donors
• Consultants
• Product/service providers

What are you waiting for? Go to http://CharityWalks.ning.com and get your free membership now. Start using the network to build friendships, find new ways to improve your charity walks, and help others.

Thanks,

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Themes can be a great way to bring an additional element of fun to your charity walks. It can also help bring the attention of the local media to your charity event.

Be creative when considering a theme for your walk. The theme should instill excitement in your community. The theme should support contests (like costume contests) and entertainment.

Most charity walks don’t have a theme beyond the cause they are supporting. However, there are some that do. Themes focused around holidays are popular. Here are examples of walks using a holiday theme:

• Halloween – Richmond Zombie Walk
• Winter Holidays – Jingle Bell Run/Walk
• St. Patricks Day – Shamrock Run & Walk

There are many possibilities for a theme. Have the charity walk planning committee brainstorm some ideas. Use the following list of potential themes to get you started:

Potential Charity Walk Themes
Favorite sports teams Western Rock and roll 50s/60s/70s Outer space Holiday	Hawaiian Ocean/underwater Circus/carnival Cruise Pajama Favorite school/university

Can you think of other themes that could be used for charity walks? What themes have you used for charity walks in the past that have been successful? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: charity events, charity fund raising, charity fundraising, charity walk, Walkathon

Set SMART Goals

One of the first things to do when planning charity events is to set SMART goals.

Goals will help the team be able to measure their progress along the way. They can provide a challenge and stimulate motivation.

Goals will also help the team stay focused on what is important. they will help set priorities that will be needed to make great plans and proper decisions.

Don’t create a long list of goals for your charity event. If there are too many goals, they won’t be focused and won’t be remembered as the work is carried out on a daily basis.

Limit the overall event goals to two or three. in addition to the overall event goals, individuals should also have two or three personal goals In support of the charity event as well.

Effective goals are SMART goals.

What are SMART Goals?

SMART is an acronym used by many to represent important aspects of effective goals. Make sure your goals have these attributes:

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Timely

Change Goals if Needed

Don’t feel that once goals are initially set, they can never be changed.  Imagine if you had a goal to raise $50,000.00 for a charity event and the goal was exceeded two months before the event took place. the goal is no longer providing a challenge or incentive for everyone to do their best to raise funds. However, updating the goal or creating a new goal can keep the team focused and challenged.

Have you had experience setting goals for charity events? Let me know what you learned and recommend by leaving a comment.

Thanks,

photo credit: ilco

Technorati Tags: charity events, goals setting, smart goals

Training is critical to a successful charity walk program. With proper training, each participant will be better equipped to fulfill his or her role.

There are two levels of training that need to be provided to the charity walk team. They are general training and role specific training.

General Training

General training applies to everyone involved in the walk. What should this type of training cover?

It should include:

• Description/mission of the nonprofit organization
• Overview of the charity walk
• Fundraising basics
• Advocacy basics
• Different ways to support the nonprofit organization

Role Specific Training

Role specific training gives instruction tailored to the job of the individual participants. The focus should be on making a participant’s efforts as easy and effective as possible. What should this type of training cover?

It should include:

• Step-by-step instructions
• Tools
• Tips
• Lessons learned
• Resources
• Importance of the role and how it fits into the overall effort
• How to get help when needed

Training Methods

Training can be provided in a variety of ways. People learn differently. Consider providing the training in multiple forms when possible. This allows the participants to choose the method(s) most effective and enjoyable.

Some of the training methods that can be used include:

• Classroom (face-to-face)
• Written documents
• Online interactive lessons
• Video (online or DVD)
• Audio (podcast or CD)

Make sure your organization provides great training for the participants. You will be helping your charity walks be successful.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: charity events, charity fundraising, charity walks, Nonprofit Organization, Participants