Friends For Life Bike Rally - A Benefit for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation

Your Goal

Each rider must raise at least $2,200 by June 30th, 2008 to participate in the ride. However, we encourage you to shoot for the sky and set your own personal fundraising goal. The average amount raised per rider is about $2,600. Many riders last year raised over $5,000 and a few raised over $10,000.

• Sample fundraising letters
• Ideas to raise money

Steps to Fundraising Success

Many have already put these into use with great success.

1. Make a list - and check it twice
2. Plan of attack
3. Start with YOU
4. Prepare your materials
5. Make your asks
6. Thank you, thank you, thank you...
7. BONUS STEP: The re-ask

1. Make a list - and check it twice

Family: don't leave anyone out. They should be behind you 100%. Asks should be personal – that's face-to-face (or by phone) first. Follow-up if necessary.

Friends: Same deal. Those closest to you don't want to read about your ride in an e-mail – they want you to ask them. Follow-up with an email or letter. Remember everyone you have sponsored/pledged, bought products from in the past – it's pay-back time!

Coworkers: Hype it up and get a challenge going. Recruit a close colleague at work to help you raise funds in other departments.

Club/Associations/Congregation members: This could be a great source of leads!

Employer: Two words: Matching Gift. Ask your employer if there is a matching gift program at your work. If not, ask if they would consider matching what you raise with the employees of your company – if you don't ask, you'll never know.

Neighbours: go door-to-door, stop and chat on the street, even drop off a hand-written note.

Strangers: map out an area where you live, where people might recognize you.

Back to top.

2. Plan of attack

Aim for $3000.00 in pledges. It will make $2200.00 come in that much easier. Break down your goal into manageable chunks.

Scenario 1:18 Donors

1 x $500

2 x $250

5 x $200

10 x $100

Scenario 2: 110 Donors

10 x $100

10 x $50

40 x $25

50 x $10

Scenario 3: 30 Donors

10 x $25

20 x $50

Now list people beside the amount you feel they should be asked. Remember that if you ask for $10 when they could give $100, you will get $10 and have to work that much harder for your goal.

Back to top.

3. Start with YOU

Go ahead –ask yourself for a gift – you'll be happy with the response. If you can afford to sponsor a lead gift ( $150 - $250 - $500 - $1000 ), it will lead the way for others to follow. Those close to you, if asked effectively, will come through.

4. Prepare your materials

Have your  2008 Pledge Form(s), ride information, Toronto People With AIDS Foundation information on hand at all times. Write a standard letter and email (or use the downloadable sample letter. Write a thank you letter.

5. Make your asks

Don't procrastinate – go for early wins. Be prepared for some No's and don't get discouraged.

6. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Check your online pledge page and call people who have supported you to thank them right away – don't wait until you get back.

BONUS STEP: The re-ask

When you are getting close to your goal, whether it be $2200 or $10,000, send a message to everyone who has sponsored you. Thank them again and tell them how close you are to succeeding. Ask whether they know anyone who could help you reach your goal. They may refer you to a new contact or they may even pledge you again.

Back to top.

Sample letters

A personalized letter sent to friends, family and acquaintances is a good first step to take in your pledge campaign. Include information such as; how far you'll be cycling, and the projected thousand of dollars it will raise for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation. Let your sponsor know your fundraising goal.

Your letter should be sent out as soon as possible. People may not immediately respond to your letter so follow up with a phone call.

•  Sample letter for new Riders
•  Sample letter for returning Riders
•  Sample letter for Crew

Ideas to raise money

• Raffle: 50/50 or get prizes from local businesses/office.
• Sport Challenge: Organize a tournament and charge an entrance fee covering your costs + $25 pledge.
• Party: Throw a party and charge an entrance fee.
• Car wash: Wash cars for a donation. $10-20.
• Garage sale: Have people donate items for you to sell.
• Bake sale: This works well at work or any community gathering.
• Fashion show: Have friends model and auction off Bike clothing. You can get bike shops to donate clothes.
• Mailer/newsletter: Create a newsletter you can send and update your mailing list with how you're doing. Reminders are essential.
• Corporate Gift: Match Have your company match your pledges.
• Change Boxes: Create a container to hand out to friends, family, the local store…, to collect spare change.
• Answering Machine: Let everyone know what you doing, by leaving on your answering machine
• Birthday Gift Pledge: A simple way to raise money and save family and friends shopping time
• Spinning Class: Bring a stack of pledge forms to class and have the instructor make an announcement
• Mow-a-thon: Mow the neighbors lawns for pledges
• Baby/Pet/House Sit: Offer your services for pledge money
• Sell Spokes: Offer to attach sponsor’s name to each spoke on your wheels, for $10-20
• Dress Down Day: Ask your company to allow a Friends For Life dress down day for a fee. $2 - 5/person
• Tax refunds: Use March or April to target tax refunds
• Bar Nights: Contact your favorite bar and ask them to help coordinate an awareness night, where you can collect pledges, sell raffle tickets... and show your commitment.

Since these events can be a lot of work, you may wish to team up with other riders and split the money generated with them.

Need extra posters to promote your event? You can print them yourself with these files:

•  2008 Bike Rally Poster (PDF)
•  2008 Bike Rally Poster (JPG)

Please note that, due to liability issues, the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation cannot promote riders' fundraising nights as official Friends For Life events.

Back to top.