Why do so many coordinators love to organize a-thon fundraisers? There's always a theme centered around active participation.
Cook-a-thons, jump-a-thons, spell-a-thons—these kinds of fundraising ideas are nearly endless. Even though the end goal of fundraising for your community or organization is always the same, every a-thon is unique.
Today, we'll focus on the three most popular a-thon fundraisers, discussing them in detail to help determine which kind works best for you.
The walk-a-thon fundraiser is the classic a-thon.
A walk-a-thon fundraiser is a popular way to engage the community and raise money, but like any event, it comes with both advantages and challenges. Walk-a-thons can:
However, they're also:
Before anything else, define tangible and realistic goals, from your specific fundraising target to how you'll attract volunteers. Then, like walkers using a step counter, track your progress.
Next up is promotion: start with your network and branch outward from there. Connecting with online communities can bolster your participant group, and partnering with a local t-shirt maker is a perfect way to brand your event.
Lastly, prepare, prepare, prepare. Stay in constant contact with your event team and all sponsors, have the path ready to go early, and add a personal touch afterward with targeted thank-yous.
A walk-a-thon's success depends on many factors, but at the most basic level, it's crucial to prepare water stations where participants can stay hydrated.
Walk-a-thon fundraisers also aren’t limited to in-person events. You can always plan a virtual walk-a-thon fundraiser to avoid the potential for bad weather altogether.
A well-organized dance-a-thon fundraiser can be fun enough to practically run itself. Still, you'll want to know what you can do as a coordinator.
A dance-a-thon fundraiser brings the community together with energy and rhythm, raising money while navigating a mix of excitement and challenges. Generally, dance-a-thons are:
However, dance-a-thons may also:
Like a walk-a-thon, you'll want to set goals, promote, and prepare for your dance-a-thon. The difference is in the specifics.
Dance-a-thons can take various forms, such as dance parties, competitions, or classes.
Prepping the venue is also key unless you’re doing a virtual event where everyone dances from home. Decorations, catering, music choice—there’s plenty to consider. Searching for a professional event organizer as a sponsor may be ideal.
Inviting a local dance studio to participate (or even using their space as a venue) can do a lot for a dance-a-thon. Local dance celebrities or dance teams can also help promote your event on social media.
Don’t forget to curate a playlist based on the dance-a-thon's theme. Having participants add to the playlist is a simple way to increase engagement. Or, live bands are a fantastic option that can attract a large crowd.
This quiet a-thon can help foster a sense of community while raising plenty of money.
A read-a-thon fundraiser is a creative way to inspire a love of reading while raising money. But like any literary adventure, it comes with some twists and turns:
However, read-a-thons may also:
While walk-a-thons and dance-a-thons are typically one-and-done, a read-a-thon fundraiser can last days or even weeks. Determining event length can help determine everything else.
Though books can be engaging on their own, the community aspect sets read-a-thons apart. Whether in person or otherwise, prepare discussions, challenges, and reading sprints to keep participants engaged.
You can also distribute merchandise, from bookmarks to tote bags—physical reminders and souvenirs of participation in the event.
Should you stick to a theme (e.g., a specific genre or author) or curate a specific list of books to choose from? Both read-a-thon structures have their appeal, so know your audience.
Whichever you choose, maintaining the community aspect is paramount, since reading is usually a solo activity. There are numerous ways to do so, such as organizing raffles or giveaways and hosting Q&A sessions with authors.
Do you feel confident organizing your a-thon of choice? There’s one more thing you can do to run a fundraiser that participants will truly love—enroll in a free RaiseRight program.
RaiseRight is the most convenient way to fundraise and is the perfect supplement to your a-thon. Simply buy and use gift cards, shop online, or dine at local restaurants—it's that easy. RaiseRight partners with hundreds of beloved brands (think Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, The Home Depot, and more), and you’ll earn a percentage back for your organization with every purchase.
Perhaps you want to stop at Panera Bread to refuel after the dance-a-thon, buy new books from Barnes & Noble for the read-a-thon, or treat yourself to new running shoes from Nike for the walk-a-thon—RaiseRight has it all. You can even reward a-thon participants or winners with gift cards from your RaiseRight program!
Outside of the a-thon, you can turn everyday shopping into earnings (think gas, groceries, or dining out for dinner) to fundraise year-round without spending extra time or money.
Here are some next steps to get the ball rolling:
If your organization is already earning with RaiseRight, you just need your enrollment code to create an account and begin fundraising right away.