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With your support you will not only raise an incredible amount of money for cancer research, but also be completely ready to cycle the most meaningful journey of your life. In just two years, The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised over $16 million - becoming British Columbia’s most successful fundraising event, and one of the largest cycling fundraisers in Canada. What an accomplishment!
Cyclists are required to raise a minimum of $2,500 in donations. We know that sounds challenging, but most of you are going to be surprised at how quickly the donations add up once you put your heart, creativity and commitment into the effort. The key is getting started if you haven’t already. More funds raised means the BC Cancer Foundation can fund more critical research at the BC Cancer Agency.
Donation Deadline - Make sure your mailed donations are postmarked by May 28, 2011 in order to be credited to your total fundraising amount before the event. But you can keep fundraising online until June 17, 2011! You will also be able to hand in last minute donations on Day One, before the Opening Ceremonies. Don’t forget that each donation must have a completed donation form. Visit the Resources section of our Website to download a donation form.
Set Your Goals High - The minimum fundraising requirement is $2,500. This does not have to be the ceiling for your personal goal as the average participant raises much more than that. Think of fundraising as a personal challenge but also as a part of the adventure. What will your fundraising goal be? Double the minimum? Triple? The good news is that there are many different ways to fundraise. And remember, you are not asking people to fund a new car or an exotic vacation. You are asking for money to help provide critical cancer research.
Create Your List of Potential Donors - Write down the names of all of the people in your life. Family, friends, neighbours, co-workers. Include your doctor, auto mechanic, relatives, everyone you talk to... Don’t leave anyone out. Next to each name on your list, write the method by which you will contact this person for a donation (face-to-face meeting, email from your Personal Page, a fundraising letter, or a fundraising party).
Email from Your Personal Page - Sending an email from your Personal Page is the easiest and most effective way to fundraise. Send a fundraising letter as an email to the people who are comfortable with computers. This is a great way to network because you can ask your donors to forward your email donation request to everyone they know.
Expanding Your Giving Circle - Word of mouth is a great way to increase your fundraising. Give your friends and family extra donation forms to pass out and ask them to talk to people about the event and your participation in it. You’ll reach people you never even knew before.
Cash Donations - Have you been given a cash donation? You can process this 2 ways. Either fill out a printed donation form and attach a personal cheque with the donation amount, or make a donation online using your credit card equal to the cash donation you received. The donor will receive a tax receipt via email or mail, according to whatever information you give in the form.
Your Personal Page - After you register, create your own Personal Page online on this website. On your Personal Page you can tell your story, post a photo, and request donations. When donors go to your page, they can read your donation request and donate right there online. Please encourage all of your donors to use the online system. It saves time and money, and your donations will be credited to your account immediately, instead of three weeks of processing time that paper donation forms require. Your Personal Page also automatically tracks your fundraising balance, so you and your donors can watch your progress. You can also view donation reports from your Personal Page or send out thank you emails. Research show that Riders who customize their Personal Pages with an inspiring story and photo and send emails through their Participant Centre raise an average of 22% more than those who don’t.
Send an email from your Participant Centre -Sending an email from your Participant Centre is the easiest and most effective way to fundraise. Upload your contacts from your address book and send an email to all your friends and family encouraging them to donate to you. You will find customizable pre-written letters in your Participant Centre, or you can write your own message.
Email Signature -
Fundraising just got easier simply by signing your name electronically that is. Add the brand new Ride to Conquer Cancer email badge and extend your fundraising efforts to all your contacts you email every day! Personalized just for you, the email badge will show your contacts your fundraising goal and progress, and link directly to your personal page. The email badge is compatible with all email programs and can be placed on multiple accounts.
Facebook application Download the 2011 Ride to Conquer Cancer Facebook Application and start fundraising with your Facebook profile today! Face-to-Face Meeting (aka “The Big ASK”) - For potential major contributors ($3,000, $4,000 or more), you will want to set up a face-to-face meeting. Don't be scared to ask for $3,000. If the donor cannot give that much, they are still likely to give a large denomination of $3,000.
Asking Previous Donors to Donate Again -
You may be a bit reluctant to ask the same people for another donation. So here are a few tips for getting over that hump and making big strides in the conquest of cancer.
When you ask someone for a donation toward a cause like the conquest of cancer, you’re giving them a great opportunity to be a part of the solution to a problem that’s been around far too long. You’d be surprised at how many people want to make a difference. Don’t limit your donor’s ability to be a part of this epic journey—ask them for a donation now, and let them know you’ll be back next year and the year after that, until the fight is won.
Many donors give to the same charity year after year. Talk to your donors about why they should give to The Ride every year. In most cases they’ll be more than willing to help raise funds for this terrible disease. Let them know that not only will their money be going toward breakthrough research and treatments.
If you don’t ask, you won’t get! And if you do ask, the worst that can happen, is someone will say no but that’s OK! You need to ask in order for someone to say yes.
Remember: cancer is not a one-year cause. Thanks to people like you, we’re making major headway in finding treatments! Make sure your donors know that every dollar they give gets us so much closer to the goal of having a future free of this terrible disease.
If you haven’t received a response from someone you’ve asked for a donation, be sure to follow up. Make a phone call or send a quick note to make sure that they haven’t forgotten your request. A good way to keep people involved in your adventure is to send an update newsletter or email. Keep your donors and potential donors informed of your fundraising and training progress. After the event, you may want to send out a newsletter or email with some photos, and an additional thank you for your donors’ support.
There are sample thank you letters in your Participant Centre.
Remind your sponsors to check with their Human Resources Department at work to see if their company has a matching gifts program. This is a great way to double your sponsor's contribution while helping their company gain visibility as a result of their charitable efforts.
Ask your company to support you. Talk to your boss or human resources director. Once you get the boss on board your co-workers will follow. Ask your company for a large corporate contribution or to match everything you raise. Will they sponsor a fundraising event? Will they publicize your Ride in the company newsletter? If there are four other Riders from work will they sponsor a corporate team?
Put up a chart of your training and fundraising progress. Put up a map of the route and auction off kilometres. Make a poster with a picture of you on your bike and attach pledge forms to it and post it on your door. Be creative.
Use email or inter-office memos (get permission). Ask if you can make a presentation during a staff meeting.
Sharing your story with the media is a great way to bolster your fundraising campaign and raise awareness about the cause in your community. By participating in The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, you’re making a bold statement that your community will want to know about.
Our Program:
Click the "Hometown Press Release 1" or the "Hometown Press Release 2" document above to see two press release templates that describe your motivation for participating and your dedication to conquering cancer. Personalize the release and send it to your local newspaper.
Be sure to include your name and participant ID in the article. This allows people you don’t know to donate to you via your Personal Page. The "Instructions" document explains how to fill out the Hometown Press Release. The "Sample Success Story" shows you an example of how one of your fellow participants used the Hometown Press Release with great success!
Fundraising Advisory:
Do you want to invite your community to attend your own fundraising event for The Ride to Conquer Cancer? Click the "Fundraising Advisory" document above, to open a media advisory template that will alert those in your area about your fundraiser. Personalize the advisory and send it to your local newspaper’s community calendar section. If the newspaper does not have a community calendar section, send the advisory to the general news or news tips email address.
Be sure to include your name and participant ID, so those who are unable to attend can still donate to you via your Personal Page. The "Instructions" document explains how to fill out the Fundraising Advisory. The "Sample Success Story" shows you an example of how one of your fellow participants used the Fundraising Advisory with great success!
Good luck with your Hometown Press campaign, and please let know if your story makes the news!
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