Strengthen donor connections and amplify your organization\u2019s visibility with a compelling charity race series.<\/p>\n
The potential for additional revenue and heightened donor engagement is exciting, but none of that is possible without\u00a0a plan<\/a>. How will you make sure every part of the experience results in more eyes on your mission?<\/p>\n Our step-by-step guide to\u00a0running a charity race<\/a>\u00a0series covers everything you need to get started. Discover new ideas for your series, a breakdown of race planning logistics, and technology recommendations to support in-person and virtual participants.<\/p>\n Download the 2022 Event Experience Report<\/a><\/p>\n A charity race series is a sequence of individual charity races hosted at various locations throughout a set timeframe. These events encourage broader participation and tend to generate a greater return of donations to fund a specific need.<\/p>\n Race events reach new audiences who might not have discovered your cause otherwise. They\u2019re also more accessible to many supporters than a gala or auction.<\/p>\n Many nonprofits promote their charity race series with an overarching goal.\u00a0 Sub-events within the series can help garner additional revenue as well.<\/p>\n Organizations that master similar models include:<\/strong><\/p>\n A race series fosters healthy competition and connects people through activity. In the wake of the pandemic, they are also a comfortable way to participate in a fundraising event often in outdoor settings that result in a larger turnout.<\/p>\n In-person components within your race series are going to be largely preferred by attendees, but there are also benefits to bringing in a virtual component. As apps like\u00a0Future<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Fitness<\/a>,\u00a0Strava<\/a>, and\u00a0Peloton<\/a>\u00a0redefine virtual fitness norms, nonprofits can make their events even more accessible and enjoyable for everyone involved.<\/p>\n These at-home exercise solutions allow an avid cyclist to follow the real-time progress of other riders taking a class simultaneously or those who set records taking the same ride in the past. That same cyclist may find the idea of a charity race series compelling to similarly expand their competition and community in a way a local race wouldn’t.<\/p>\n The experience creates a lasting memory that a one-time donation may not. Hook people with a low cost of participation and gain lifelong supporters.<\/p>\n Every decision and detail of your race experience should revolve around your target audience and individual participant personas.<\/p>\n Start by understanding your audiences\u2019 interests and physical abilities. This data will help you create a safe, inclusive environment for anyone interested in attending. If you\u2019re not exactly sure how your supporters will prefer to participate, market your race series broadly as a \u201c5K Race and Fun Run\u201d or include the word \u201cwalk.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep your overarching fundraising goal in mind during this process. Break that number down to donation volume per race and determine how many people you\u2019ll need to engage through peer-to-peer fundraising or additional donation opportunities throughout the series to achieve that goal\u2014even if those people are not participating themselves.<\/p>\n Schedule your race series for a month or season that falls within your peak donor engagement periods. Consider a relevant timeframe to your cause that generates an organic buzz, like the\u00a0American Heart Association<\/a>\u00a0does with their February walk series to celebrate National Heart Month.<\/p>\n Ask yourself:<\/p>\n Here are a few costs you\u2019ll want to discuss ahead of time:<\/strong><\/p>\n A mobile check-in process can help reduce friction on race day for both in-person and virtual participants.\u00a0The Classy Live mobile application<\/a>\u00a0makes it simple for volunteers to organize attendee lists and check athletes using just their name, email, or a QR code.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also need to provide clear race day instructions, bibs or numbers, and a course map if you\u2019re hosting an in-person event. Plan ahead for water stations, healthy snacks, motivational messages, and medals.<\/p>\n A 2021 Boston Marathon runner shares what stands out in a race experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n Organization and attention to detail are the most important elements in creating a positive race experience. A simple check-in process, hands-on staff, and detailed day-of agenda make a world of difference. When event organizers go the extra mile, people notice and remember that when it comes time for next year\u2019s registration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n \n <\/blockquote>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n You might be wondering how to\u00a0set up your race<\/a>\u00a0series to best support your organization\u2019s goals. Here are some ideas to get you started.<\/p>\n Nonprofits have\u00a0more flexibility than ever\u00a0<\/a>to tailor their events based on donor preferences. Most race series take place in-person, but many hybrid options offer a virtual component.<\/p>\n 4 opportunities to incorporate\u00a0 a virtual component :<\/strong><\/p>\n Livestream tip:\u00a0<\/strong>Determine if you’ll livestream any portion of the race during or after the event for people supporting participants. From there, select the format you\u2019ll use to livestream. Free options include Facebook Live, Youtube Live, Zoom, and Twitch.<\/p>\n Start by determining how many races you will include in your series. It\u2019s okay to start with just a handful to gauge interest and evolve it year after year.<\/p>\n Consider your audiences\u2019 fitness levels to determine the distance of each race. The most popular are 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and marathons. Of course, you don\u2019t have to choose just one distance per race. Many organizations will consist of options for everyone, with something like a \u201cfun mile\u201d for kids or those who want to take it slow. Offer a variety of distances to choose from to satisfy all participants. This might look like a one-mile run at 7 am, 5k at 7:30 am, 10k at 8:30 am.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve determined the distance of each race, consider where you can host them. Something like cycling may require a different terrain than running. Knowing the type of participation will help you decide. Start with locations near your headquarters or local community.<\/p>\n Understand what participation means for each race. Use that to figure out how you\u2019ll include options for people with physical disabilities who want to support the series. Consider allowing participants to fundraise with a peer-to-peer element to boost success.<\/p>\n Peer-to-peer fundraising resources to get started<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve outlined your race series in detail, you\u2019re ready to bring it to life on your campaign page.<\/p>\n Many nonprofits will create a single event page for the series that links to each race. This page brings all ticket purchases and reporting into a central location to efficiently manage the series. You can also turn your race campaigns into a\u00a0campaign template\u00a0<\/a>to recreate along with the series.<\/p>\n Create a registration page that allows donors to quickly and easily register for the race of their choice or donate to show their support. Select registration questions to gather participant details and provide them multiple payment options.\u00a0A few popular options<\/a>\u00a0include PayPal, Venmo, or ACH bank transfer. Sweeten the deal with a follow-up confirmation, and a \u201csave the date\u201d calendar block.<\/p>\n Create a welcome video, image, or message that participants will receive after registering. Leading up to the event, send personalized messages and reminders. Include last-minute details, donation progress, and real-time finisher updates as participants cross the finish line.<\/p>\n Provide an opportunity to give mid-race when momentum and energy are at their peak. Prompt donations onsite or online through text-to-donate. It helps to keep a live thermometer projected onsite and online for everyone to see the impact they\u2019re making.<\/p>\n Another fundraising tactic is to sell merchandise at your race venue. You can bring that experience online if you\u2019re using a virtual venue with a smooth self-checkout process.<\/p>\nHow Does a Charity Race Series Work?<\/h2>\n
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Benefits of a Race Series<\/h3>\n
How to Plan a Charity Race Series<\/h2>\n
Define Your Charity Race Series\u2019 Goals and Objectives<\/h3>\n
Set Goals and Objectives<\/h4>\n
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Select a Target Audience<\/h4>\n
Select an Ideal Timeframe<\/h4>\n
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Get Ahead of Key Logistics and Details<\/h3>\n
Clarify Costs<\/h4>\n
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Determine Your Day-Of Resources<\/h4>\n
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Examples of How to Set up a Charity Race Series<\/h2>\n
6 Ideas to Set Up Your Charity Race Series<\/h3>\n
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Create a Strong Format to Achieve Your Goals<\/h3>\n
Determine If You Will Include Virtual or In-Person Elements<\/h4>\n
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Define Your Race Structure<\/h4>\n
Define Options to Participate and Support the Series<\/h4>\n
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Build Your Charity Race Series Campaign<\/h2>\n
Make It Simple to Register<\/h3>\n
Incorporate Meaningful Moments of Engagement<\/h3>\n
Offer Multiple Ways to Give<\/h3>\n