Celebrities and experts featured in this issue include Candace Cameron Bure (DJ Tanner from ABC’s Full House), Bob Costas (NBC Sports Commentator), Beth Kanter, Jason Dick, Lori Jacobwith, Marc Pitman, Michael Gibbons, and myself.

Whether you are wanting to better understand what philanthropy is or learn tips to improve your fundraising efforts, this issue of Personal Branding Magazine should be of interest to you.

You can download a sample issue at http://personalbrandingsample.com that contains a few of the interviews and articles available in the paid version. Get your copy now.

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Philanthropy Issue: Personal Branding Magazine

Technorati Tags: Beth Kanter, Bob Costas, Candace Cameron Bure, Celebrities, marc pitman, Michael Gibbons, Philanthropy

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1. 3 Simple Keys to Fundraising Success
2. Charity Walks Blog in Money Magazine

Establishing a charity walk planning team is a critical step to a successful event

You were quickly directed to the parking area. The site was completely set up when you arrived. The areas of registration and fundraising went smooth. All of the volunteers were calm and knew exactly what to do. The walk was fun and safe.

Planning and conducting a successful charity walk is not easy. If it appears that way, it is a good sign that a significant amount of time and energy was contributed by many people to make it appear that way. Many activities need to occur. There is no magic wand that can be waved to make it easy. Some of the activities include obtaining sponsors, providing tools for team/individual fundraising, receiving required permissions and permits, selecting and preparing the site, and a variety of additional tasks.

Because of the number and interdependency of activities that need to be planned and performed, it is important to establish a planning team. Each planning team member will be responsible for the planning and coordination of a particular area of needed activities. It doesn’t mean that person will do all of the effort in his or her assigned area. Other planning team members and volunteers should be recruited to provide additional support. The Chairs will oversee the efforts. It is common for one person to be the chair of multiple areas for smaller charity walks. If this occurs, be careful the person has adequate support to keep from being overwhelmed.

The organization of the planning team is different for each charity walk. There is no “one size fits all” template. The organization needs to be tailored to the purpose of the walk, the size of the walk, the needs of the walk, and the skills available. However, there are some basic chair positions that have proven to be valuable. Some of these are:

• Walk Chair
• Walk Co-Chair
• Sponsorship Chair
• Publicity Chair
• Logistics Chair
• Finance Chair
• Technology Chair
• Team Development Chair
• Mission Delivery Chair
• Advocacy Chair

Establishing an effective planning team well in advance of the charity walk event is a critical step towards holding a successful walk event.

Do charity walks you are involved in have the same or different planning team positions? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Future blog posts will describe the role of each of these chair positions, how to recruit capable people to fulfill these roles, and effective ways for the planning team to coordinate.

Thanks,

p.s. Do you need a comprehensive guide that shows how to organize a charity walk? Get your copy of The Walkathon Guide at http://www.TheWalkathonGuide.com.

Photo credit: Julia Freeman-Woolpert

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Organizing the Charity Walk Planning Team

Related posts:

1. Start Planning Your Charity Events with SMART Goals
2. Eliminate Charity Walks From Fundraising?

Some of my favorite charity walk t-shirts

A long-term staple of charity walks is the t-shirt. Not just any t-shirt. This is a shirt that has a graphic advertisement on the front promoting the charity walk and many smaller ads (usually logos) on the back promoting the charity walk sponsors.

As walkers wear these t-shirts during the charity walk event and in their community after the walk, the shirt becomes a mobile billboard for promoting the cause, nonprofit organization, and sponsors. For many charity walk events, this shirt is sold as a big reason for potential sponsors to provide support to the event.

Imagine an army of people gladly wearing these t-shirts at the walk and around town throughout the year. It sounds great, right? Even fellow blooger, Lee Gaverick, recently wrote about the benefits of using walkathon t-shirts in her blog post And Now, A Word about Walkathon Sponsors. So why would I suggest that the use of the charity walk t-shirt needs to be reexamined?

Problems with Charity Walk T-Shirts

I am starting to see a trend at the charity walks I attend. It is not a good trend when it comes to the use of charity walk t-shirts. Although the issues I raise are based on anecdotal evidence, it is enough that I believe the topic needs discussing.

Here are some of the problems regarding charity walk t-shirts that I have observed at charity walks:

Walkers are not wearing the t-shirts at the charity walk event

At recent charity walks I attended, less people appeared to be wearing the charity walk t-shirt during the walk. Some of them are doing this because they are wearing custom t-shirts representing their fundraising team.

This is exciting because it shows teamwork and team pride in supporting the cause.What was surprising and disturbing was how many people (who weren’t wearing a team shirt) received the charity walk t-shirt and didn’t wear it during the walk.

Maybe wearing the charity walk t-shirt is no longer considered “cool” or maybe it is not convenient to change or pull it over whatever shirt is already being worn. Regardless, this defeats one of the main reasons for proving t-shirts for the charity walk event.

Walkers are not wearing the t-shirts after the charity walk event

Several years ago, I used to see people wearing charity walk/run t-shirts out in public from time to time.  I almost never see someone wearing one of these t-shirts now. This is disappointing.

There is no sponsor promotion occurring as long as the t-shirt is folded in the bottom of a dresser drawer or being used as a cleaning rag.

T-shirts are not effective advertising for sponsors

It is hard for me to believe that anyone has done business with a sponsor because they saw the logo on the back of a charity walk t-shirt. I don’t believe I have. Have you?

I have thrown my business to companies because they supported a charity walk. However, I learned about that company and their charity walk support through other ways.

What Can You Do About the Charity Walk T-Shirt?

If your walkers are wearing the charity walk t-shirts, keep doing what you are doing. Depending on the location and demographics of your walkers, the traditional charity walk t-shirts may be just what is needed. However, if you are observing some of the issues I identified above, consider making a change:

Redesign charity walk t-shirts to eliminate the billboard on the back

There are many methods you can use to benefit sponsors. Use your imagination to come up with more effective ways to promote sponsors of your charity walk event than they are getting through a printed logo on shirts. Check out these blog posts to give your imagination a kick start:

• Use Incentives to Hook Sponsors
• Unique Sponsor Incentives

With the sponsor ads removed, the t-shirt should now sport a design that people would be proud to wear at the walk and at many other times.

Offer other fundraising incentives

Is the main reason you are offering t-shirts to encourage fundraising? What other inexpensive items would your walkers value that you could use as an incentive for raising more funds for the cause? If you want it to continue to be a piece of clothing consider something like a baseball cap that identifies your charity walk or nonprofit organization on the front (or back).

Implementing a creative way to recognize the walkers who raise a certain amount of funds may be even more effective than offering prizes.

Sell t-shirts to walkers

One way to help eliminate t-shirts going unused is to provide them to only those who want them. One way to do this, and raise some additional funds at the same time, is to sell them. You can have the walkers order the shirts online and/or have the shirts available at the charity walk ready for the participants to purchase. If you do make them available to buy at the event, limit the supply so you are confident they will sell or design the shirt so it can be sold at other times.

What do you think of my ideas regarding charity walk t-shirts? Have you seen the trends I have experienced or do you believe the charity walk t-shirt is here to stay for the long run? Please let me know in a comment below.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Charity Walk T-Shirts: Are They Needed Anymore?

Technorati Tags: Charity Event, charity events, charity walk, charity walks, Custom T Shirts, Fundraising, Nonprofit Organization, T Shirt, Team Pride, Teamwork, Walkers

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A crowd of people assembled on a Saturday morning in Fredericksburg, Virginia in support of AIDS awareness. The event was the Fredericksburg, VA 5K AIDS Awareness Walk & Run. It was held at the Cannon Ridge Golf Course on Saturday, June 26, 2010.

It was a fun event. The event appeared to go very smooth and looked easy. However, that only happens when a significant amount of planning and preparation take place. There was a large number of volunteers available to direct traffic, register runners and walkers, as well as a number of additional duties required to carry out a successful athletic charity event.

Runners and walkers paid a registration fee to sign up for the event. T-shirts were sold online in advance of the event. Proceeds raised from the charity walk/run event support Home Of Miracles and Embraces (HOME). The funds will be used to assist children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and other prevention and Intervention initiatives regarding the myths and truths of HIV/AIDS throughout our communities.

Above are some of the photos I captured at the event.

Go to http://iwannagohome.org for more information about HOME. Be sure to read “Ozzy’s Journey” while you are exploring the website. You will be touched by his story and the vision he has.

Thanks,

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Walking and Running for AIDS Awareness

Technorati Tags: Aids Awareness, Aids Prevention, Cannon Ridge, Charity Event, Fredericksburg Va, Fredericksburg Virginia, Hiv, Hiv Aids, Hiv Prevention, Home Of Miracles, Runners, Walkers

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All of the methods identified can be used to raise funds and promote charity walks. Consider how your volunteers can support your charity walk events in some or all of these ways.

Are you aware of other methods that volunteers have used the web to support a cause or nonprofit organization? Please leave me a comment below.

Thanks,

Cheering From The Sidelines: How volunteers can support nonprofits online and how nonprofits can help

View more presentations from Roger Carr.

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Cheering From The Sidelines

Technorati Tags: charity walks, nonprofit 2.0, Nonprofit Organizations, np20, nptech, unconference, Volunteers, Washington Dc

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Charity walks also come in multiple flavors to meet different needs and to include people with different interests and abilities. I have divided charity walks into five different types:

Awareness Walks

An awareness walk is a charity walk that is held for the primary purpose of rising awareness for a cause, not for raising funds.

A good example of this flavor of charity walk was the Walk for Healthcare. Dr. Ogan Gure walked from Chicago, IL to Washington, DC to raise people’s awareness of the problems in the healthcare system. He also used it as an opportunity to collect stories from people who have been personally affected and share those stories with the world.

Walkathons

A walkathon is the flavor of charity walk that is the most common. Individuals and teams meet together and walk for a set distance or time. Funds are raised for a cause through sponsorships, donations raised by the personal fundraising efforts of the walkers, and/or registration fees.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a good example of a walkathon. This walkathon is a signature fundraising event for the organization. Although fundraising is a primary purpose of the event, there are many additional benefits that come from holding the event as well.

Hybrid Walks

A hybrid walk is basically when a walkathon is combined with other events. Several charity run events are adding a charity walk component to increase participation. But runs are not the only events that are being combined with walks. There are events that include biking, dancing, duck racing, and many other creative combinations.

A good example of this flavor of charity walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk. This event started out solely as a charity run event and has expanded to include walkers as a prominent part of the event.

Virtual Walks

A virtual walk is an extension of another type of charity walk. Some people will not be able to directly participate in a charity walk because it is located too far from the walkers home or the potential participant is not able to physically walk at the event. Virtual walks allow people to participate by participating in their own community or in another way they can physically participate. Walks can be supported by methods including “walking” laps around a pool and walking on treadmills.

A great example of this flavor of charity walk is Food For The Poor’s Walk for Hunger event. They are only able to manage a single charity walk in their local area. However, they recognize that many people outside of their area will want to participate as well. So they are encouraging anyone to sign up and walk in their own community for the cause.

Virtual World Walks

If you have never joined a virtual world, this flavor of charity walk may not make much sense to you. However, every year there are many people sitting at their computers controlling a computer generated avatar that participates in a virtual world charity walk and raises funding for a cause.

An example of a virtual world walk is the National Down Syndrome Society’s Second Life Buddy Walk. Although this walk was held in a virtual world, it still included things like sponsors, auctions and live entertainment. Imagine, it wasn’t that many years ago that this was considered science fiction. Now we are holding charity events using this technology!

Are you aware of other types of charity walks I haven’t captured in these five categories? I would love to know what they are. Do you have a favorite type of charity walk that you enjoy participating in? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Photo credit: Becco Eliacik

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Charity Walks Come In 5 Flavors

Technorati Tags: American Cancer Society, arthritis foundation, Charity Event, charity events, charity walks, Duck Racing, Fundraising Event, Healthcare System, Relay For Life, Walkers

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This 3-mile walk will be held in Boca Raton, FL. However, others can join as virtual walkers from any location so no person is left out from being able to support this important cause.

Go to http://www.foodforthepoor.org/walk to learn more.

Date: October 2, 2010

Time: Registration at 8:30 a.m.
Start time 9:00 a.m.
Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Lynn University
3601 Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL

Post from: Charity Walks Blog

Food For The Poor: Walk for Hunger

Technorati Tags: Boca Raton Fl, Charity Event, charity walk, charity walks, Earthquake, Food For The Poor, Foodforthepoor, Lynn University, People Of Haiti, Port Au Prince, walk events, Walk For Hunger

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The terms charity walk, sponsored walk, and walkathon are typically used to describe the same kind of events. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a walkathon as:

“A walk covering a considerable distance organized especially to raise money for a cause.”

This definition is consistent with most of the other dictionaries I looked the term up in.

It is fun to watch how others are making their walks unique. It is great to read about how some have found creative ways to include those who could not otherwise participate. However, the creativity and purpose of some charity walks being implemented today are starting to push the envelope of the traditional definition for charity walks.

I propose a different definition for the term charity walk…

“A walk organized for the purpose of benefiting a cause.”

This definition doesn’t require the primary purpose of the walk to be fundraising. This opens the umbrella to include walks that have a different primary purpose, like raising awareness for a cause. The definition doesn’t refer to distance. This allows events like virtual walks to be included as well.

What do you think of this expanded definition for charity walks? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Thanks,

p.s. In my next blog post I will describe the 5 types of charity walks.

Sources:

Photo credit: Daniel Cubillas

walkathon. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walkathon

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What is a Charity Walk?

Technorati Tags: charity walk, charity walks, Fundraising, Raise Money, Sponsored Walk, Walkathon

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Boogie for your bum at the Annual Walk/Run for Colon Cancer Canada! On June 13, you can bring your kids, bring your parents, you can even bring your dog to tango, twist, prance or polka all the way to the finish line. This year participants have the option of a 5 km walk, with music and dancing, or a 10 km run.

All participants will be eligible to take part in a draw for fantastic incentives and prizes. Prizes will be awarded for the top fundraisers.

Over the last thirteen years, the annual Colon Cancer Canada Walk/Run has raised over $1 million to support colon cancer research across Canada. This year, more than ever is an exciting time to join in the walk/run as Colon Cancer Canada will make even a bigger difference by joining forces and merging with the Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Foundation. Together the organizations will be known as Colon Cancer Canada and will remain dedicated to saving lives through increasing public awareness, access to screening, funding research initiatives and providing support to colon cancer patients.

To register for the fundraiser, please visit http://www.coloncancercanada.ca/annual_walkrun_event_2010.php

WHAT: Annual Colon Cancer Canada Walk/Run

WHEN: Sunday June 13, 2010

Registration starts: 9:30 a.m.

Walk/Run starts: 10:15 a.m.

WHERE: Bingemans, Kitchener

COST: Online – Individuals $15 / Family $40 (2 adults and any children under 12)

Day-Of Individuals $25 / Family $50 (2 adults and any children under 12)

* Registration fee waived if you raise $150 or more.

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Get Loose For Your Caboose!

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Colon Cancer, Colon Cancer Canada, Colon Cancer Research, Colorectal Cancer Screening, Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Foundation, Fundraiser, Fundraisers, walk events

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Should nonprofits hold charity walks and other special events?

I have recently read several blog posts and newsletters from fundraising consultants who encourage nonprofits to run away from charity walks when they should be embracing special events.

Many of these consultants are friends of mine. I have a significant amount of respect for them and their abilities. So why am I concerned with this particular advice?

Get Rid of Charity Walks

There is some basis for these fundraising consultants to recommend that nonprofits stay away from special events, including charity walks. Planning, organizing and executing a successful charity walk takes a significant amount of time and effort from staff and volunteers. There are other much more efficient methods to raise money to support an important cause. There is also some level of risk being accepted when holding a special event.

Horror stories of failed attempts at raising funds have been used to reinforce the risks being taken when embarking on special events. Some of these stories were first-hand experiences of the fundraising consultant.

If the only need of the nonprofit organization is to raise money, the advice being given is right on target. Finding ways to be more effective and efficient at rising funds is why the fundraising consultant was hired, right?

The Flaw

Most nonprofit organizations don’t have a purpose and mission to raise money. Typically, an organization needs to do things like institute programs and lead advocacy efforts to fulfill their purpose. The funds raised are just one of the important tools needed to allow the organization to make a positive difference. There are other important tools that the organization needs in addition to money.

When decisions about special events are made from the limited perspective of fundraising alone, it can cause problems in the organization. I was intrigued by the blog post Fundraisers and Program Professionals: Can’t Everyone Just Get Along?. It discusses the friction that can occur between program professionals and fundraisers when each are not working together from a “corporate” perspective.

Consider Charity Walks for All They Can Provide

Charity walks can be powerful. There are many benefits this type of special event can provide to the nonprofit organization. Some of these benefits include:

• Raising money
• Recruiting and developing volunteers
• Raising awareness for the cause and the organization
• Identifying and engaging company partnerships in the community
• Supporting advocacy efforts

These are all positive things from the program professional perspective. But unless the fundraisers and program professionals start viewing their efforts from an organization perspective, there will be unhealthy conflict and the nonprofit will not be as effective as it could be.

Before eliminating charity walks, the total return on investment needs to be considered and compared to the overall needs of the organization. Only then can an informed decision be made. Who knows, maybe a bonus benefit will be the program professionals and fundraisers will start getting along.

By the way, most of the special event horror stories I read had little or no volunteer involvement. In my opinion, this is not advised and would put the event at significant risk. If you are considering a charity walk in the future, take advantage of others who have successfully put on these charity events. Get your personal  copy of The Walkathon Guide at http://www.TheWalkathonGuide.com.

Thanks,

Photo credit: Thiago Felipe Festa

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Eliminate Charity Walks From Fundraising?

Technorati Tags: Advocacy Efforts, charity fundraising, charity walk, charity walks, Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Fundraising Consultants, Nonprofit Organization, Nonprofit Organizations, Volunteers

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