Charity Walks Blog

The Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team supported the Arthritis Foundation at a recent game. It was held on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia. The baseball game was between the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Portland Sea Dogs.

In addition to having fun with my family watching the game, I also took note of the methods they used to raise funds. The following are five tips for findraiding I took away from the baseball game.

Get In Front of Your Potential Donors

Starting from when I was approaching the entrance to the ballpark
until I started looking for my seat, there were many promotions of fundraisers and community businesses. If you were going to watch the
ballgame, you were going to pass by each of the displays/promoters to get there. They didn’t get hidden in a poorly trafficed path or in an “out of the way” corner.

You need to get the attention of potential sponsors to be successful. You won’t raise needed funds if the potential finders don’t know the opportunity exists.

Communicate In Multiple Ways

Messages about arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation, and the ongoing charity auction to benefit the Arthritis Foundation were shared with attendees in multiple ways. Involvement of people with arthritis in pre-game activities, announcements by the game announcer, and displaying photos and messages on the scoreboard were some of the methods used.

Consider using multiple forms of communication as well. These forms of communication can include using text, audio, photos, and video.

Make Request Multiple Times

The impact of arthritis and the current fundraising opportunty (charity auction) was communicated many times thoughout the game. If someone was out buying a hotdog during the first message, he or she will hear the message the next time it is communicated.

Marketers have proven that it requires communicating a message multiple times before the typical person takes action. It is no different when attempting to convert a person to be a donor to your organization.

Ask When Potential Donors Are Not Distracted

Messages about the Arthritis Foundation and and fundraiser opportunities were typically made between innings. There was no action on the baseball field at those times to distract the potential donors.

Consider the timing and environment when approaching a potential donor. Try to make your approach at a time that will minimize the possible distractions.

Make the Experience Fun

Attending baseball games is fun. Adding fundraising to the game is a great match.

It obviously benefits the charity. It also benefits the baseball team by increasing the community’s perception and support to the team.

People are more receptive when they are having fun. Regardless of how serious the cause, find a way for potential donors to have fun before you ask for their support, so they will be more open to your message.

Consider these tips when implementing your next fundraising event or campaign.

Thanks,

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Technorati Tags: arthritis foundation, Ballgame, Baseball Game, Charity Auction, Flying Squirrels, Fundraisers, Minor League Baseball, Portland Sea Dogs, Richmond Virginia

It rained on the morning of the Richmond Arthritis Walk, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the many who turned out to support the fight against arthritis.

The charity walk event was held on April 24, 2010 at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center at Stony Point in Richmond, Virginia. The Arthritis Walk is the signature fundraising event for the Arthritis Foundation.

The area was filled with music, food and fun. Just seeing the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile put a smile on my face as I arrived at the charity event. The participants were led in a Tai Chi warm up exercise routine just before walking the three-mile or optional one-mile course.

One thing I found very interesting and exciting is that the Arthritis Foundation is now accepting donations via text messaging. This event was the first one to offer the service to participants. I wrote about the importance of this donation technology a couple of years ago at http://www.everydaygivingblog.com/2008/05/mobile-giving.html.

I enjoyed being a part of the Richmond Arthritis Walk. If you were not able to be there, watch the slide show below to view some of the pictures I captured at the event. Consider getting involved in an Arthritis Walk near you.

The Arthritis Foundation is addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. To learn more about how to get involved in an Arthritis Walk in your area, go to http://LetsMoveTogether.org.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Arthritis, arthritis foundation, arthritis walk, Charity Event, charity walks, Fundraising Event, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, Stony Point, Tai Chi, Text Messaging, Virginia Commonwealth University

The charity walk was scheduled to  start in about an hour and a half.  I was in my car and about five minutes away from the event. That’s when it hit my windshield…RAIN!

I was attending the Richmond Arthritis Walk in Richmond, Virginia.  It was my first time participating in this event so I didn’t know what to expect.  I did know the event was taking place rain or shine.

When I arrived, I was directed to park my car on the second level of the parking deck. The staff and volunteers were already moving tables out of the rain to the first level of the parking deck. That was the location most of the morning activities took place.

I was surprised by how many people arrived with their raincoats and umbrellas to take part in the charity walk.  The rainy weather wasn’t going to stop them from supporting a cause that was important to them. Fortunately, most of the rain subsided during the walk portion of the event. But on that morning, the participants were already prepared to walk in the rain.

We can’t control the weather.  The Richmond Arthritis Walk could have been a disaster because of the rain.  Instead, it was a tremendous success despite the bad weather. The success didn’t happen by accident. Here are some tips that should be considered for all charity walks, because this could happen at any outdoor event:

• Decide very early in the planning process whether you are going to hold the charity walk event “rain or shine” or have an alternate date scheduled in case of bad weather.
• Communicate your intentions to all participants so they are not wondering on the day of the event whether or not to attend.
• If you decide to hold your event if it rains, make sure the needed details are covered in all of your planning and preparation right up to the date of the charity walk.
• Maintain safety as a #1 priority throughout the event.

None of us want bad weather on the day of our charity walks.  However, when it does happen you’ll be glad that you prepared for it ahead of time.

Thanks,

p.s. You can view some of the photos I took at the Richmond Arthritis Walk at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogercarr/sets/72157623803852501/.

Photo credit: John Evans

Technorati Tags: Arthritis, arthritis walk, Bad Weather, Charity Event, charity walk, charity walks, Rain Or Shine, Rainy Weather, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, Umbrellas, virginia, Volunteers

Enjoy these photos I captured at the 2009 Richmond Jingle Bell Run/Walk held on Saturday, November 21 at the Stony Pointe Fashion Park in Richmond, Virginia. Funds raised from this walk event benefited the Arthritis Foundation. To learn more about the Jingle Bell Run/Walk, go to http://www.arthritis.org/jingle-bell-run.php.

Technorati Tags: arthritis foundation, Jingle Bell Run, Richmond, Richmond Virginia, walk events