JOI N T E A M STUDENT FUNDRAISING HANDBOOK
AS A TEAM STUDENT RIDER, YOU ARE NOT ONLY A SUPERHERO, BUT A FEARLESS FUNDRAISER! This tool kit is designed to empower you as a rider or virtual rider to be confident fundraisers, and to help you achieve and surpass your Pelotonia fundraising goal! If you follow these 7 simple steps, we are confident you will achieve your goal! Customize your fundraising page to tell your story. Ask! Ask! Ask! Create a plan. Host a fundraising event. Ask donors through a variety of channels. Share the impact! Always remember to say thank you! CUSTOMIZE YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE TO TELL YOUR STORY Your Pelotonia profile page is a tool to tell the story of why you ride. Everyone has a story of why they are involved in Pelotonia, so it is important to share yours. Don t forget to include pictures of yourself to make your story more personal. The more you share, the more others will be inspired by your efforts to make an impact in the fight against cancer. CHECK THESE 3 RIDER PROFILES FOR INSPIRATION! www.mypelotonia.org/riders_profile.jsp?memberid=239041 www.mypelotonia.org/riders_profile.jsp?memberid=365067 www.mypelotonia.org/riders_profile.jsp?memberid=237179 JOIN TEAM
ASK! ASK! ASK! If you ask once and do not receive a donation, ask again, and again! The number one reason people don t donate to a charitable organization is they were never asked. Persistence pays off and with the amount of emails people get, it never hurts to keep asking! CREATE A PLAN: Create a timeline of goals from the time you sign up, until the fundraising deadline of October 7. Set goals of where you want to be each week, events you want to have and letters you want to send. Breaking down your fundraising commitment can make a daunting goal seem very attainable. For example: If you sign up by April 5 for Pelotonia to ride 25 or 50 miles, you have to raise approximately $30 a week to hit your goal. HOST A FUNDRAISING EVENT: Events are a great way to engage your family members and friends in your Pelotonia journey. Reach out to local restaurants and bars that will give a percentage of proceeds to your ride. Managers of restaurants/bars especially on High Street get asked by various student organizations to host events so stop in and meet the owner in person instead of sending an email. Talk with them about Team Buckeye and Pelotonia and the research that is happening at the OSUCCC James. Show them your passion for why you ride. Make a Facebook page for your fundraiser and invite everyone! Social media is a great way to promote your events and demonstrates the support of the restaurant/bar hosting your event. The following businesses are just a few that have been supportive of Team Buckeye events: Buffalo Wild Wings, Raising Cane s, High Bar and Ethyl & Tank. We also encourage you to go back to your hometowns and ask local businesses there for support. Please do not host a fundraiser at a bar unless you are 21 years of age.
ASK DONORS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS Reach out to potential donors through a variety of channels including; emails, letters, and social media. Share your customizable link to your Pelotonia profile page. Ask people to donate to your ride in-lieu of birthday or graduation gifts. Challenge your friends and family to donate $5 to your ride instead of going out to lunch one day. Get creative and share pictures of your journey to inspire others with your passion to end cancer. SHARE THE IMPACT! Pelotonia funding is changing the world of cancer research and because of Pelotonia we can say to patients diagnosed with cancer, that we have treatment that will cure their cancer. Pelotonia dollars have funded a statewide initiative aimed at identifying those with high risk for colorectal, ovarian and uterine cancer so they can seek prevention care. Pelotonia dollars have supported the groundbreaking clinical trials of Ibtutinib which is now an FDA approved treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma. Make sure to check out the Pelotonia website to learn more about the lifesaving research that is happening right here at Ohio State by visiting www.pelotonia.org/impact. JOIN TEAM
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU! Whether you received $5 or $50 send your donor a thank you note to express your gratitude for their support. We recommend sending a thank you email within 5 days (if not immediately) of receiving the donation to be followed up with a hand-written note after Pelotonia. Social media thank you shout-outs are also a fun way to thank donors Example: Shout out to Aunt Jen for supporting my 100 mile ride! Thank you for your support and passion for One Goal to End Cancer! A sample thank you note is below: Dear Aunt Jen, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to support cancer research at the OSUCCC James through my Pelotonia ride. This year I rode in honor of my friend who is battling cancer and your donation brings us one step closer to a cancer-free world. We are making a real impact in the way cancer is prevented, detected and treated. Together we will end this disease. Thank you for your support, Brutus Buckeye WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! Keep in touch with us throughout the Spring Semester until the ride! There are several opportunities to train, fundraise and engage in the Team Buckeye community. Make sure to check out the Team Buckeye E-News each month. Once you have registered to ride and join Team Buckeye, you will automatically receive these emails. If you do not receive them, please make sure to check your SPAM folder. QUESTIONS? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or email TBSR@gmail.com or TeamBuckeye@osumc.edu.