Countless nonprofits rally athletes all over the world to run, bike, swim, row, or do any other sport in the name of philanthropy. Running, walking, and cycling fundraisers are some of the most popular athletic charity events.
Though COVID-19 forced many development professionals to move many events online, we’re noticing that some virtual fundraisers are even more even successful than the in-person version! Bicycling events just might be one of those events.
We put together a quick guide to help you plan a virtual bike fundraiser for your nonprofit. Cyclists have a long history of pedaling for great causes, so it’s definitely worth the effort to mobilize the cyclists in your community to support your cause.
How To Plan A Virtual Bike Fundraiser
- Decide what kind of virtual bike fundraiser you want to host
- Choose the "swag" you’ll offer
- Set up the right registration and fundraising platform
- Provide fundraising materials and training
- Celebrate the athletes
- Thank everyone for their support
How Does A Virtual Bike Fundraiser Work?
When was the last time you completed a century bike ride (100 miles in one day)? Many of us wouldn’t dream of driving 100 miles without a break, let alone cycling that distance! Yet, many cyclists love pedaling dozens or hundreds of miles to relax, exercise, take in the beautiful scenery--and to support their favorite charities.
A virtual bike event lets people use the miles they cycle to raise money for your nonprofit. There are lots of different ways to structure this type of virtual fundraising event.
Charge an entry fee: The simplest way to organize a virtual bike fundraiser is to charge an entry fee. So, if it costs you $10 per participant, the organization might charge $50, so they can put on a great event and raise money for a worthy cause.
The "Bike The West" cycling event is labeled "America’s most beautiful bike ride." A portion of the entry fees supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s "National Team In Training." Of course, their Team In Training athletes are peer-to-peer fundraisers, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for the cause.
The FLAG2GC is a mountain biking event through the most scenic parts of Northern Arizona. All the proceeds benefit great organizations like Toys for Tots and the Wounded Marine Program.
Both of these charity rides are now hosting virtual options because of the pandemic. Riders are paying entry fees to complete the prescribed distance and receive finishers’ swag. They’re also requesting additional donations to benefit the charities.
Fundraise by logging miles or time: Some nonprofits create virtual bike fundraisers similar to walk-a-thons or other peer-to-peer fundraising events. They gather supporters who pledge to donate a certain amount of money per mile athletes log. If a donor pledges $1 per mile and the athlete rides 100 miles, your organization receives $100.
This style of virtual bike fundraiser is gaining popularity, especially now that many cyclists have indoor "smart trainers" and other gadgets to accurately track mileage, time, and other statistics.
The Sufferfest bike training app has a daunting challenge called Knight of Sufferlandria. Fearless cyclists try to complete 10 Sufferfest workout videos in a row. Sufferfest strongly encourages athletes to use this as a virtual peer-to-peer fundraiser for their favorite charity.
Set fundraising goals for each participant: This is probably one of the most popular fundraising strategies for in-person bicycling charity events. Each participant pays an entry fee, then agrees to raise a minimum amount of money for the charity (or they must pay the balance out of pocket).
Tour de Cure is one of the most recognizable examples of this style of cycling fundraiser. Cyclists pay a small entry fee then commit to raising several hundred dollars (minimum) for the American Diabetes Association. Tour de Cure has shifted to a virtual bike fundraiser, encouraging participants to fundraise as usual and complete the ride on their own.
How To Plan A Virtual Bike Fundraiser
Almost any nonprofit can organize a successful virtual bike fundraiser. It requires very little overhead, and you won’t need to manage nearly as many details as an in-person cycling fundraiser.
Decide what kind of virtual bike fundraiser you want to host
As we said earlier, there are lots of ways to structure a virtual bike fundraiser. Decide whether you want to have people do a peer-to-peer fundraiser, charge an entry fee, have people raise a set amount or even a hybrid!
No matter how you structure your fundraiser, it’s essential to choose one fundraising model and commit to it. It will help you communicate clearly with all the participants and help everyone succeed.
Choose the "swag" you’ll offer
There are loads of creative ways to incorporate custom apparel and other swag as part of your fundraising efforts.
Some nonprofits use custom swag (cycling jerseys, t-shirts, finisher medals, etc.) to attract avid cyclists or encourage people to raise money. Other organizations give athletes "swag" or finisher packages to everyone who registers.
If you decide to offer athletes any perks or apparel, you’ll need to factor in the costs of shipping things to everyone since you won’t be able to hand it out at athlete check-in.
Set up the right registration and fundraising platform
A custom event registration page helps athletes learn all the essential details about your virtual bike fundraiser and invite their friends to join the fun. You’ll also need a reliable registration platform that lets you process online payments and collect information from each participant.
If you decide to use your virtual bike event as a peer-to-peer fundraiser, you’ll need an online donation page that lets athletes create their own, unique donation pages. Peer-to-peer fundraisers tend to be more successful when athletes can customize their personal donation page and share their own stories about why your cause is important to them.
Provide fundraising materials and training
If you plan to set fundraising goals for athletes, you should consider offering fundraising materials, training, and support. Most development professionals and fundraisers wouldn’t think twice about raising a few thousand dollars. Most people haven’t ever had the opportunity (or training) to fundraise. A little training and a few useful resources will empower people and help them succeed.
Create a few basic guidelines about how to fundraise on social media platforms and ask for donations via emails and direct messages. Provide a few templates for donation request emails and social media posts. Offer Q&A sessions to answer their fundraising questions along the way.
These strategies build trust with your supporters and help them reach their fundraising goals. When people experience success in their fundraising efforts and have a positive experience, they’re more likely to participate in future crowdfunding campaigns.
Celebrate the athletes
Celebrate athletes’ success all along the way! Post fundraising progress reports on social media and praise individual supporters’ hard work. If you’re hosting a long virtual bike event that happens over several days or weeks, interview participating athletes and share about their progress on all your platforms.
Encourage athletes to document their cycling, then use their photos, videos, and messages to "brag" about them in your updates. People like to feel appreciated. This is just one way to show gratitude for their hard work and increase the visibility of your virtual fundraising event.
Thank everyone for their support
Showing gratitude is an essential part of a successful virtual event. With "live" events, you can shake hands, greet people in-person, and make an effort to help everyone feel seen and appreciated. It’s a little harder to make everyone feel important and valued in virtual events. That’s why nonprofits should go the extra mile to thank people who participate in virtual fundraising events.
After your virtual bike fundraiser, thank the athletes for training, completing the event, and fundraising. Thank each donor for their generosity and commitment to your cause. You might write thank you cards, call people to thank them personally, send email updates with final fundraising tallies, or give small gifts of appreciation to your most significant donors. Don’t be afraid to be creative!
Now that you’re ready to launch a successful virtual bike fundraiser, here are three more resources to help you host other successful virtual fundraisers.
- Accept Donations Online: 8 Effective Tools for Nonprofits: No matter what kind of fundraiser you’re planning, accepting donations online is absolutely essential. But, the easiest online donation tools aren’t always the best or most valuable in the long-run. This blog will help you choose the right online donation tool.
- 5 Ways To Make Your Peer-To-Peer Fundraising Campaign More Successful: Peer-to-peer fundraisers are some of the best and easiest ways to get your supporters more involved in your organization. Plus, it’s one of the most effective fundraising methods available to nonprofits. Here are five tips to help you get the most out of your P2P fundraising campaigns.
- 8 Tips For Hosting A Virtual Fundraising Event: Most of the world’s nonprofits are relying heavily on virtual fundraisers these days. We gathered some tips and tricks from top businesses and nonprofits to help you confidently take your next fundraising event online.
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