Charity Walks Blog

Family participating in the 2009 Richmond Jingle Bell Run/Walk

It was a beautiful day on Saturday. It was the morning of the 2009 Richmond Jingle Bell Run/Walk.

Everyone was having a fun time. There was music. There was food. There was a crowd of people. Several of the participants dressed up in holiday-themed costumes, including many dogs.

One thing that I noticed at this charity event was that there were people of all ages participating. There were many runners and walkers over the age of 60. There were several youngsters making the trek with family members via stroller.

One exciting thing about charity walks is that almost anyone can participate. It is a low-impact sports event. Walkers aren’t racing against a clock. Participants can walk and talk with family and friends throughout the event.

Make sure your charity walks appeal to all ages.

Thanks,

p.s. Go to http://CharityWalks.ning.com and take advantage of the free signup at the Charity Walks Network. Learn ways to make your next charity walk event more successful.

Technorati Tags: Charity Event, charity walks, Family And Friends, Jingle Bell Run, Low Impact, Participants, Richmond, Runners, Sports Event, Walkers

Start of the Walk

A crowd of people gathered to walk in support of a cause. A band was playing to entertain and get everyone excited about the event. Sponsors provided additional entertainment and useful information. A significant amount of money was getting turned in.

During the walk there was additional entertainment and messages about why our participation was important.

The experience above describes a charity walk I participated in.

Does this sound like the start of a great charity walk? Of course. But walks don’t end when the participants start walking.

End of the Walk

When I got to the end of the walk, there was no music or entertainment. There was no one thanking me for participating or congratulating me on completing the walk. There were no announcements being made.

What I did see was many people aimlessly walking around and eventually leaving the site when it was apparent the walk was over.

What do you think the participants were thinking about as they left the site? The great production leading up to the start of the walk? I doubt it. I suspect they were still thinking about the poor finish when the next walk was advertised several months later.

Plan from Start to Finish

Make sure when you plan your charity walks, the entire experience is covered. It will be more difficult to get returning walkers if your event doesn’t end well. They will be anxiously waiting for the announcement of your next charity walk if it does.

Thanks,

p.s. What has been your experience with walk finishes? Do you have some good ideas of things that could be done at the end of the event? Let me know by leaving a comment.

photo credit: Penny Mathews

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Crowd Of People, Music, Participants, Participation, Walkers

Charity walks can benefit tremendously from the support of businesses. They can potentially provide money, required products, and volunteer time.

Businesses all around you need new ways to promote their products and services to the community. They also need to continually find new ways to improve employee satisfaction. Supporting charity walks is one great way to do this.

Contact businesses in your area for support. Let them know the impact your nonprofit organization is making, the benefit your charity walk and organization will receive from their business donation, and what benefits they can receive through their generosity.

Make sure you are offering many of the following ways to benefit your charity walk sponsors:

• Mention sponsors on all event promotion material. Let everyone you promote your charity walk to, know who your sponsors are. This is great advertising for your sponsors. Make sure
• Print the logo of each sponsor on charity walk shirts. Participants turn into moving billboards for the charity and sponsors every time they wear the shirt.
• Provide a table for each sponsor on the day of the event. Walkers will be able to visit each sponsor’s display and be able to get their questions answered immediately by the company representatives covering the event. It also provides an opportunity for the sponsor to provide promotion material to the walk participants.
• Provide an opportunity for the sponsors to give samples of their products to the walk participants. They can do this at their sponsor tables. It can also happen by putting together a gift bag for all of your walkers or by using sponsor products as prizes.
• Present thank you plaques or certificates to all of your charity walk sponsors. Many shops and restaurants will display these at their place of business in a location where customers and employees can view them. This can improve the image of the business while also continuing to raise awareness of your organization.

Be creative in finding additional ways for companies to benefit from their sponsorship of your charity walks. The next time you discuss opportunities with a local business, you will be able to share several benefits they will receive for their contribution. It will be a win-win proposal that will help you secure more sponsorships for a more successful charity walk.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Charity Organization, charity walks, Employee Satisfaction, Generosity, Incentives, Nonprofit Organization, Nonprofit Organizations, Participants, Plaques, Prizes, Promotion Material, Sponsor Products, Sponsor Tables, sponsors, Volunteer Time, Walkers

Training session being conducted by Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter

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

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