Charity Walks Blog

A long-term staple of charity walks is the t-shirt. Not just any t-shirt. This is a shirt that has a graphic advertisement on the front promoting the charity walk and many smaller ads (usually logos) on the back promoting the charity walk sponsors.

As walkers wear these t-shirts during the charity walk event and in their community after the walk, the shirt becomes a mobile billboard for promoting the cause, nonprofit organization, and sponsors. For many charity walk events, this shirt is sold as a big reason for potential sponsors to provide support to the event.

Imagine an army of people gladly wearing these t-shirts at the walk and around town throughout the year. It sounds great, right? Even fellow blooger, Lee Gaverick, recently wrote about the benefits of using walkathon t-shirts in her blog post And Now, A Word about Walkathon Sponsors. So why would I suggest that the use of the charity walk t-shirt needs to be reexamined?

Problems with Charity Walk T-Shirts

I am starting to see a trend at the charity walks I attend. It is not a good trend when it comes to the use of charity walk t-shirts. Although the issues I raise are based on anecdotal evidence, it is enough that I believe the topic needs discussing.

Here are some of the problems regarding charity walk t-shirts that I have observed at charity walks:

Walkers are not wearing the t-shirts at the charity walk event

At recent charity walks I attended, less people appeared to be wearing the charity walk t-shirt during the walk. Some of them are doing this because they are wearing custom t-shirts representing their fundraising team.

This is exciting because it shows teamwork and team pride in supporting the cause.What was surprising and disturbing was how many people (who weren’t wearing a team shirt) received the charity walk t-shirt and didn’t wear it during the walk.

Maybe wearing the charity walk t-shirt is no longer considered “cool” or maybe it is not convenient to change or pull it over whatever shirt is already being worn. Regardless, this defeats one of the main reasons for proving t-shirts for the charity walk event.

Walkers are not wearing the t-shirts after the charity walk event

Several years ago, I used to see people wearing charity walk/run t-shirts out in public from time to time.  I almost never see someone wearing one of these t-shirts now. This is disappointing.

There is no sponsor promotion occurring as long as the t-shirt is folded in the bottom of a dresser drawer or being used as a cleaning rag.

T-shirts are not effective advertising for sponsors

It is hard for me to believe that anyone has done business with a sponsor because they saw the logo on the back of a charity walk t-shirt. I don’t believe I have. Have you?

I have thrown my business to companies because they supported a charity walk. However, I learned about that company and their charity walk support through other ways.

What Can You Do About the Charity Walk T-Shirt?

If your walkers are wearing the charity walk t-shirts, keep doing what you are doing. Depending on the location and demographics of your walkers, the traditional charity walk t-shirts may be just what is needed. However, if you are observing some of the issues I identified above, consider making a change:

Redesign charity walk t-shirts to eliminate the billboard on the back

There are many methods you can use to benefit sponsors. Use your imagination to come up with more effective ways to promote sponsors of your charity walk event than they are getting through a printed logo on shirts. Check out these blog posts to give your imagination a kick start:

• Use Incentives to Hook Sponsors
• Unique Sponsor Incentives

With the sponsor ads removed, the t-shirt should now sport a design that people would be proud to wear at the walk and at many other times.

Offer other fundraising incentives

Is the main reason you are offering t-shirts to encourage fundraising? What other inexpensive items would your walkers value that you could use as an incentive for raising more funds for the cause? If you want it to continue to be a piece of clothing consider something like a baseball cap that identifies your charity walk or nonprofit organization on the front (or back).

Implementing a creative way to recognize the walkers who raise a certain amount of funds may be even more effective than offering prizes.

Sell t-shirts to walkers

One way to help eliminate t-shirts going unused is to provide them to only those who want them. One way to do this, and raise some additional funds at the same time, is to sell them. You can have the walkers order the shirts online and/or have the shirts available at the charity walk ready for the participants to purchase. If you do make them available to buy at the event, limit the supply so you are confident they will sell or design the shirt so it can be sold at other times.

What do you think of my ideas regarding charity walk t-shirts? Have you seen the trends I have experienced or do you believe the charity walk t-shirt is here to stay for the long run? Please let me know in a comment below.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Charity Event, charity events, charity walk, charity walks, Custom T Shirts, Fundraising, Nonprofit Organization, T Shirt, Team Pride, Teamwork, Walkers

Food For The Poor is holding its 5th Annual Walk for Hunger charity walk event to provide food for the people of Haiti. Haitians have suffered greatly because of the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in January and continue to struggle daily.

This 3-mile walk will be held in Boca Raton, FL. However, others can join as virtual walkers from any location so no person is left out from being able to support this important cause.

Go to http://www.foodforthepoor.org/walk to learn more.

Date: October 2, 2010

Time: Registration at 8:30 a.m.
Start time 9:00 a.m.
Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Lynn University
3601 Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL

Technorati Tags: Boca Raton Fl, Charity Event, charity walk, charity walks, Earthquake, Food For The Poor, Foodforthepoor, Lynn University, People Of Haiti, Port Au Prince, walk events, Walk For Hunger

Charity walks come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. What makes an event a charity walk?

The terms charity walk, sponsored walk, and walkathon are typically used to describe the same kind of events. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a walkathon as:

“A walk covering a considerable distance organized especially to raise money for a cause.”

This definition is consistent with most of the other dictionaries I looked the term up in.

It is fun to watch how others are making their walks unique. It is great to read about how some have found creative ways to include those who could not otherwise participate. However, the creativity and purpose of some charity walks being implemented today are starting to push the envelope of the traditional definition for charity walks.

I propose a different definition for the term charity walk…

“A walk organized for the purpose of benefiting a cause.”

This definition doesn’t require the primary purpose of the walk to be fundraising. This opens the umbrella to include walks that have a different primary purpose, like raising awareness for a cause. The definition doesn’t refer to distance. This allows events like virtual walks to be included as well.

What do you think of this expanded definition for charity walks? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Thanks,

p.s. In my next blog post I will describe the 5 types of charity walks.

Sources:

Photo credit: Daniel Cubillas

walkathon. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walkathon

Technorati Tags: charity walk, charity walks, Fundraising, Raise Money, Sponsored Walk, Walkathon

I have recently read several blog posts and newsletters from fundraising consultants who encourage nonprofits to run away from charity walks when they should be embracing special events.

Many of these consultants are friends of mine. I have a significant amount of respect for them and their abilities. So why am I concerned with this particular advice?

Get Rid of Charity Walks

There is some basis for these fundraising consultants to recommend that nonprofits stay away from special events, including charity walks. Planning, organizing and executing a successful charity walk takes a significant amount of time and effort from staff and volunteers. There are other much more efficient methods to raise money to support an important cause. There is also some level of risk being accepted when holding a special event.

Horror stories of failed attempts at raising funds have been used to reinforce the risks being taken when embarking on special events. Some of these stories were first-hand experiences of the fundraising consultant.

If the only need of the nonprofit organization is to raise money, the advice being given is right on target. Finding ways to be more effective and efficient at rising funds is why the fundraising consultant was hired, right?

The Flaw

Most nonprofit organizations don’t have a purpose and mission to raise money. Typically, an organization needs to do things like institute programs and lead advocacy efforts to fulfill their purpose. The funds raised are just one of the important tools needed to allow the organization to make a positive difference. There are other important tools that the organization needs in addition to money.

When decisions about special events are made from the limited perspective of fundraising alone, it can cause problems in the organization. I was intrigued by the blog post Fundraisers and Program Professionals: Can’t Everyone Just Get Along?. It discusses the friction that can occur between program professionals and fundraisers when each are not working together from a “corporate” perspective.

Consider Charity Walks for All They Can Provide

Charity walks can be powerful. There are many benefits this type of special event can provide to the nonprofit organization. Some of these benefits include:

• Raising money
• Recruiting and developing volunteers
• Raising awareness for the cause and the organization
• Identifying and engaging company partnerships in the community
• Supporting advocacy efforts

These are all positive things from the program professional perspective. But unless the fundraisers and program professionals start viewing their efforts from an organization perspective, there will be unhealthy conflict and the nonprofit will not be as effective as it could be.

Before eliminating charity walks, the total return on investment needs to be considered and compared to the overall needs of the organization. Only then can an informed decision be made. Who knows, maybe a bonus benefit will be the program professionals and fundraisers will start getting along.

By the way, most of the special event horror stories I read had little or no volunteer involvement. In my opinion, this is not advised and would put the event at significant risk. If you are considering a charity walk in the future, take advantage of others who have successfully put on these charity events. Get your personal  copy of The Walkathon Guide at http://www.TheWalkathonGuide.com.

Thanks,

Photo credit: Thiago Felipe Festa

Technorati Tags: Advocacy Efforts, charity fundraising, charity walk, charity walks, Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Fundraising Consultants, Nonprofit Organization, Nonprofit Organizations, Volunteers

Blue skies greeted walkers as they parked their cars and exited the subway station onto the National Mall in Washington, DC. Finding the walk location was easy. Head to the tallest structure in the District of Columbia, the Washington Monument. It was the morning of May 15, 2010. The day of the 2010 DC Arthritis Walk.

The charity walk started at the National Sylvan Theater, right next to the Washington Monument. I can’t imagine a better setting for charity walks.

My son and I arrived while volunteers were in the middle of setting up for the event. There were multiple tents set up for volunteers, registration and refreshments. There were fun activities including a basketball game and pitching game. Face painting was also a hit. The location was spacious enough that some even played catch with a frisbee.

The stage at the National Sylvan Theater allowed everyone in attendance to see and hear the opening ceremonies. Two MCs kept the opening portion running smoothly. Of special interest was a proclamation from the Mayor of Washington, DC in support of the event that was read to the participants and the attendance of both the reining Mrs. Virginia and Mrs. Maryland (they helped lead exercises before the walk).

The charity walk route took walkers around the Washington Monument and past the National World War II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. People travel from all over the world to visit these sites!

The DC Arthritis Walk raises money and awareness to support the Arthritis Foundation in the fight against arthritis. A disease that affects 46 million people and 300,000 children in the U.S. This year, the DC Arthritis Walk has already raised more than $105,000 for this important purpose.

To learn more about how you can get involved in an Arthritis Walk in your area, go to http://www.LetsMoveTogether.org.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: arthritis foundation, arthritis walk, charity walk, charity walks, District Of Columbia, Lincoln Memorial, Mayor Of Washington Dc, National Mall, National World War Ii Memorial, Sylvan Theater, walk events, Washington Monument