Organizing a Charity / Fundraising /
Bike-A-Thon Bicycle Event
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There are as many ways to organize a charity/fundraising event as there are events. No two seem to have been done exactly the same. The following outline should cover about ninety percent of the major tasks. Small events won't need this much structure and large events may need more. You will need to cut, paste, edit, extend, collapse and amend to fit your local needs. Unless you know that you have access to a substantial number of appropriately skilled volunteers, it may be prudent to start with a small success event that can grow than to set your sights on too large an event that collapses.
Prepare a timeline/task matrix.
This should show tasks, when the will start and be finished and who will be
responsible for the task. Some can be handled by a single person and some will
be more successful with a working group/committee. Major and sub-headings might
be:
Overall Event Planning
Event Directors, Organizing Committee, Treasure
Define goals and objectives
Budget
Insurance
Documentation/record keeping
Concept development
Before the day of the event
Publicity (see below) -- hugely important! It can make or break an event.
Route Planning and Marking (see below)
Check-in, Start / Finish Area Planning (see below)
Participant Recruitment / Registration
Morning of the day of the event
Check-in
Maps and cue sheets
Goodie bags (T-shirts, pins and patches, etc.)
Refreshments
Entertainment
Volunteer support
Event/Course
Plan the course(s) [this may take special skills]
(if participants are young
kids a
"closed course" is recommended (not using streets open to cars).
This can be accomplished by getting the cooperation of the local
authority to close streets or to close a park with a loop in it, or to set
the course around a school or some other campus.)
Permits, and permission
Communications
Emergency Service, first aid, rider assistances
Check-points / rest stops
Finish line
Post-event program
Entertainment
Prizes/awards
Fundraising
Pledges
(Generally participants given instructions and forms to collect pledges
in advance,
either a flat rate or a pledge-per-kilometer or mile. Sometimes
pledges are
collected in advance (the easiest) and sometimes participants go
back to the pledgers after the event
to collect the money. Sometimes there
is an
additional entrance fee and sometimes there is a minimum amount that
participants are suppose to collect
in pledges.)
Incentives
(tiered price structure to encourage more fundraising.)
Fulfillment
Follow-up
Reports and accountability
Sponsorship
Coordinator
Develop sponsorship package
Recruit major sponsors
Recruit lesser sponsors
Solicit in-kind donations
Publicity
Coordinator
Develop news releases, articles and advertising
Media partners
Print media
Major
Neighborhood
Organizational newsletters
Broadcast media
Electronic media (Internet)
Printed materials
Distribution
Direct mail
Past participants
New prospects
Organizational partners (clubs, civic, service, youth, etc.)
Other events and venues for getting the word out
Participant Recruitment
Coordinator
Developing forms and instructions
Online
Printing
Distribution
Registration
Pledge forms / liability release
Pledge raising manual
Participant Services
Coordinator
Communications / First Aid / Medical Support
Information booth
Check-in
Equipment (tables, chairs, power, computers, canopies, P.A. system, etc.)
Supplies (forms, pens, cash box, tape, staples, scissors, etc.)
Goodie bag
Food, water and toilets
Along the route
Van support
Each Check-point/rest stop
Equipment (tables, chairs, canopies,
etc.)
Food, water and toilets
Mechanic/repair station
Finish line
Entertainment
Food, water and toilets
Volunteer Recruitment/Training
Coordinator
Planning and preparation tasks/committees
Liability release
Signing/painting route
Day of the event
Set-up
Communications/First Aid/Medical Support
Information table
Check-in
Along the route
Route marshals
Support vehicles
Rest stop volunteers
Finish line
Take down
Training, training, training
Site directors
Middle managers
Route marshals
Tip #1: Organizers usually under staff and under fund publicity in the early years.
Tip #2: A smooth and efficient check-in goes a long way in creating an overall
positive feeling about the event.
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