Fundraising Tips & Tools

Set up your Event Headquarters

When you register to ride, you’ll receive a confirmation email that provides you with a link to your Event Headquarters and prompts you to follow a few easy steps to customize your personal webpage. Set it up right away and use it. This is your most powerful fundraising tool and will help ensure that your fundraising efforts are successful.

You can also access your Event Headquarters through the Rider Login fields on any page of the bike.ctchallenge.org website.

Customize your personal webpage

Add a photograph or a video and include a few sentences to explain your reasons for riding.

Promote your ride

Using all the networking tools at your disposal, including Facebook, email, letters, simple social events and word of mouth, ask people in your personal network to visit your web page to learn about your ride.

Customize your email signature

Add a direct link to your personal fundraising page to your email signature

Make a list of potential donors

By making a list, you’ll be sure to cover your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors as well as all of those other people you never thought to ask.  Download our sample checklist Who do I ask for donations.

Personal appeals

If you are planning on asking someone for a significant gift, ask them in person. Make sure the time is right. Consider treating your prospective donor to lunch. Practice what you will say a few times beforehand.

Be prepared to talk about the Connecticut Challenge, what you are doing, and how much it means to you. Look your prospective donor straight in the eyes and ask for his or her support. Ask for a specific amount of money, and aim high. It is always better to ask for more than he or she can give.

Once you have asked for a gift, STOP TALKING. Do not apologize or make excuses. Remember that you are not asking for yourself but to help provide urgently needed care for cancer survivors.  It may be hard to keep quiet, but just WAIT for a response. Your donor will be impressed that you have the courage to ask them in a direct way. People like to be perceived as successful, and they like to be asked for a significant contribution.

Write a personal letter

Don’t underestimate the power of a personal letter.  Many donors like a hard copy letter and want to hear your personal story expressed this way.  Make sure to tell your prospective donors why you are riding in the Connecticut Challenge.  Tell them how their donation will help cancer survivors. Feel free to use information about the Connecticut Challenge from our website, including information about the programs we fund.

Sample Letters

• Fundraising Letter Sample#1,
• Fundraising Letter Sample#2,
• Fundraising Letter Sample #3,
• Fundraising Letter Sample #4
• Fundraising Letter Sample #5 (from a Cancer Survivor)

Use Facebook (watch a video)

Social networking tools make fundraising exponentially easier. Use your Facebook Profile and Status to let friends know you are riding and why, and ask them to support you with a donation. Posting a link for your fundraising page to your status will allow friends to go directly to your personal fundraising page and make a donation, they can also see your goal thermometer this way.

Ask your friends to donate their status to your cause, and you will reach friends of friends! You can also create a ‘Like’ Badge to promote the Connecticut Challenge on your Facebook page and increase awareness of our efforts. Help us spread the word!

Use corporate matches and double your donations

Many companies will match their employee’s charitable donations. Ask your donors to check with their HR department. You can also check here for a list of companies who have supported CT Challenge riders in the past.

In Lieu of gifts

In lieu of gifts for a special occasion, ask people to make a donation to your CT Challenge fundraising effort.

Ask people to ride with you

Whenever you ask for a donation, you should also invite your friends to join you in riding. Riding in the Connecticut Challenge with a friend may be the motivation they need to get involved. Help spread the word!

Promote your ride with local merchants

Ask local merchants (the cleaners, local restaurant, coffee shop, hairdresser, liquor store) if you may hang up a flyer promoting your CT Challenge bike ride in a visible location in the store. Include a description of the CT Challenge, a picture of yourself, your reasons for riding, the CT Challenge website address (www.ctchallenge.org) and information on how to sponsor you. You can also leave information on your ride for the manager and ask for a donation. Offer to have the names of local merchants printed on a riding jersey or tee shirt that you will wear at the CT Challenge.

Send reminders

Monitor your fundraising results on your web page to see who has made a donation to your ride. Even people with the best intentions forget sometimes, so don’t hesitate to send follow-up notes to your list.

Thank your donors

Remember to send thank you notes to all of your donors. For an extra touch, try a handwritten note.

‘Like’ the Connecticut Challenge on Facebook

We will post udpates and information related to the ride on Facebook, including training rides and training and fundraising tips on a regular basis. This is an easy way to stay connected with the Connecticut Challenge.