How do I raise funds?

Action is the key to your success. There are many different ways to fundraise, but they all require you to ask people to donate. How you choose to ask is up to you. Be as creative as you like, but you must ask. Don't spend too much time trying to decide who to ask. Just ask everyone you know. You will be surprised who responds to you and you may even develop better relationships with people because you asked. Tell people what you are doing and why you are doing it. Take advantage of the personal web page and write your story so people can read it in their own time. Do you have a personal interest or relationship with the community? Do you know someone who has ridden before? Are you a veteran cyclist or a first-time rider? It does not matter what your story is, it only matters that you share it with people and tell them why you want to do the Joy Ride. It might seem selfish that you want to ride for the personal accomplishment of completing 100 miles on a bike in a single day, or you may feel embarrassed to talk about your uncle who died from HIV nearly 30 years ago, but it is important to remember that people are supporting YOU. It is your decision to step up and do something extraordinary that will get people to support you. You will learn so much about people who have their own reasons to support you, and they will learn about you. Talk about the ride, the 165 miles, the training, the fundraising. Fundraising events have become a part of our modern culture, and people are accustomed to being asked for donations. Do not think you are alone doing something no one has ever done. Just ask. Tell them what you are doing and ask them to donate. Do not take is personally if they choose not to donate and be thankful to those who do.

If you have never raised funds before, $1,200 can seem like a scary amount. However, you'll be surprised how individuals respond to you when you tell them what you are doing and that you need their help in achieving your goal.

Below is a list of some popular things other folks have done to help them achieve their fundraising goals.

Create an Email campaign to family & friends (send it a few times for the procrastinators)
Join a team and raise funds as part of a group effort.
Use social media like Facebook and Twitter to let people know what you are doing.
See if your company has a corporate match for charity events.
Work with a local benefiting agency for opportunities to raise funds.
Partner with a local business to do a raffle or outreach event.

You just need a plan, enthusiasm, passion, and to never forget why you decided to get involved. Always keep in mind the personal physical challenge. If you have specific questions about how to raise your commitment, you can work with the local agency, reach out to us, talk to other participants or chat with your team captain or the rider representative that is assigned to you.

Fundraising Tips

The Letter Campaign

A personalized letter is the most basic tool of fundraising, and that's because it works. Regardless of whatever else you do, write a letter first! Use it to tell your story. Include the facts - that you will be participating in the Joy Ride, a 2 day, 165 mile bicycle event, and that you would like to offer them the opportunity to help you support people whose lives have been impacted and often marginalized by HIV and other chronic disease. You may decide to include some facts about our beneficiaries, or you may choose to include facts about the physical challenge. In either case, explain why this is important to you. Send your letter to everyone you have an email or mailing address for, and then look for more addresses and send even more letters. Link this to your Facebook page or a donation form and a pre-addressed return envelope or best yet, point them to your personal web page.

In your neighborhood

There are countless opportunities to raise money within a few miles of your home. Think about it: the coffee shop, gym, workplace, laundromat, car wash, supermarket, newsstand, dry cleaners, grocery store, dentist's office, bar, deli, parking lot, bike shop, and pizza place. You patronize these businesses all of the time - ask them to help you out with your fundraising effort. How?

Just ask for the donation.
Put a poster in the window, explaining what you are doing and how to help.
Ask the business to donate a portion of their proceeds on a given day.
Offer to wear their name on a t-shirt during the ride in exchange for a donation.

On the Town

Talk to people as much possible throughout your everyday life. Tell people what you are doing and take advantage of the opportunity to fundraise. Your friends and family will be more than happy to support you but also go outside your comfort zone and inner circle.

Throw a party! Ask everyone who attends to write a check when they enter the front door. (Let them know in advance why they are being invited and remind them to bring their checkbook or credit card)
Host an event - nights in a local bar, a 50/50 raffle, or get a few prizes to raffle off.
Ask your friends to ask their friends for donations.

On the Clock?

If it is allowed, work can be a good source of donations. Your company may event sponsor you...

Just ask for money.
Then, ask for more - see if your company has a matching gift program.
Send an e-mail to the entire company with a link to your donation page.
Set up a small display - hang your Joy Ride poster in a prominent place. (ask us and we can help get you one)
Approach clients, vendors, or anyone else that your company does business with (make sure it's OK with the boss!).
During lunch host a meeting and do a presentation about the Joy Ride and your commitment to the cause.

Start Today

March & April are great times to suggest a great way to use tax refunds.

Birthday coming up? Ask for donations in lieu of presents.
Throw a Sports Event Party. March Madness. NBA Payoffs. The Masters. Create a pool where half of the money goes to your fundraising.
Create a game night. Trivia. Be as creative as you want but give people a reason to come together and ask them to support your fundraising.

Use the Web

The Internet and e-mail have greatly affected the fundraising world. Use them to your advantage:

Let people know that they can make donations on your behalf at your web page. Go to the Joy Ride website and look up by entering your last name!
Add a message on your personal e-mail signature about your Joy Ride participation and a link to donate to you.

Get Creative

Use your own unique creativity, whatever it may be. Everyone has the ability to do something well; sell your own product or skill to benefit your fundraising campaign. A few ideas: cookies, lapel pins, chili, short stories, tax preparation abilities, photographs, babysitting time, car washing, raffles, tutoring, personal training, t-shirts, designated driving, dog-walking, Yoga, errand-running, pool care, cooking a meal for friends.

There's no limit to creative, effective fundraising techniques. The following is a quick list of many more ways to get reach your fundraising goals.

Garage Sale – Ask your friends to do the same. Put it in your front yard and sell, sell, sell! Put all the money raised toward your fundraising goal!

Bake Sale – Make cakes and pies and cupcakes for the holidays and sell them!

We Love Pennies – Everyone saves pennies. They throw them in boxes, in jars, have a get-together, and have everyone bring their pennies, or even better their loose change!

Office Fundraising Challenge – Speak with everyone in your office and get them to challenge each other to raise the highest amount. Give the winner a prize, like movie passes or a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

Voicemail Message – This will alert everyone who calls you that you are "out training", even if you're not! Let them know that you need their support and direct them to your pledge page.

Facebook – Regularly update your status, let people know how your training is going, tell funny stories and ask ask ask for a donation. You'd be amazed by how many people will be willing to help you.

Fundraising Dinner at your Favorite Restaurant – Ask your favorite restaurant/s to donate a portion of the evening sales back to you! Pick a slow night for the restaurant, tell all your friends, blast e-mail lit out, and put it on your Facebook or other social media page. You fill the restaurant, and the restaurant fills your pocket with 10-15% of the bill.

Happy Hour party – Invite all your friends (and their friends!) and get them to sign your cycling jersey. Charge $10.00 per signature.

Movie ticket donation – Ask your local movie theater to donate several tickets. Sell them and put the money towards your pledges.

Local theater donation – Ask a local theater to donate a couple of tickets to one of their plays or musicals and auction them off.

Delegate – Give 10 of your friends 10 donation forms and ask them to help raise money for you.

Local Artists or Photographers – Find a local artist or ask a creative friend to donate a piece of art or some jewelry to be auctioned.

House Warming Party – Anyone moving soon? If so, ask your friends to make a donation instead of purchasing a gift for the new place.

Monthly Newsletter – put pictures and tell stories, thank people who have sponsored, and do it as a self-mailer. You'll be surprised how this helps gently remind those who have "forgotten" or "meant to" but hadn't gotten around to that donation.

Business Cards – Print up some inexpensive business cards Include all of the pertinent information on the card – your name, your rider or crew number, the link to donate directly to you, and information about the Joy Ride. Hand these out to everyone you meet!

Teach a Yoga Class – You have been stretching every muscle, now ask them to stretch out their pocketbooks.

The Media – Call your favorite radio station and ask them to make an announcement on the air. They may even interview you.

Collect While You Pump – Ask your gym to place a Donation Jar at the front desk! Leave a stack of donation forms at the counter, too.

Spinning Class – Have a stack of donation forms with you and ask your spinning instructor to make an announcement in class, or just talk to everyone there!

Hair Salon – Ask your barber or hairdresser to donate $5.00 from every haircut they complete over one weekend.

Neighbors – Write to all your neighbors on your block (or in your building) telling them what you're training for and asking them to donate.

Free Rent! – Ask your landlord to donate one month's rent to the cause! It can't hurt!

Special Events – There are always places like Parrott Jungle, Disney, MGM Studios, Lion Safari, local aquariums, IMAX, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Flagler Museum... and the list goes on. Contact them see if you can get them to donate a day at their business and have them give you a percentage of your friends' entrance fees. Invite your friends to an outing; they pay the normal price, and you get to make some money and hang with your friends.

Work Communication – Does your company distribute a newsletter? Run a story on what you're doing. Take advantage of these! It's a perfect way to get the word out.

House sit – Friends going out of town for a while? Maybe they will pay you to watch their dog or their house – or both.

Neighborhood Chores – Are you a Mr. or Ms. Fix-it? A lot of your neighbors would probably rather pay you than someone else. Place signs around your neighborhood advertising your services (i.e. watering gardens, cleaning roof gutters, sweeping the driveway, fixing an easy plumbing problem, painting a room, etc.)

Karaoke Night –Spend a Friday night at a Karaoke Bar and sing your heart out! Have the announcer tell the crowd that you're singing for donations!

eBay – Remember the garage sale idea? Auction off the remaining items on eBay.

Company Vacation Days – Ask your boss or human resources director if they can swap one of your vacation days for a day's pay.

Sell Spokes – Sell each bicycle spoke on your bike for $20.00 each.

Auction off A Date – Sell yourself to someone you've been eyeing.

In memory of... – If you are riding in memory of a loved one, include a picture of them on your pledge letter, on posters, etc.

Game Night – Get out those board games and start playing! Break into teams and let the fun begin.

Bowling Nights – Plan a fun night of bowling at the local alley. Ask the owner to waive the fees and you can collect that money and apply it to your campaign.

Curse Jar – Everyone loves this one. Place a Curse Jar in your office, and whenever someone says a bad word, they have to put a dollar in the jar.

Dress Down Day – Ask your company to allow an official Joy Ride dress down day. For the privilege of dressing down, employees donate $20.00 toward the ride.

Company Grants – Find out if your company offers grants to employees who volunteer their time for charitable causes. If so, you can volunteer your time at the Joy Ride and get paid grant money for the work.

Church/Temple/Place of worship Bulletin – Place an advertisement in your church bulletin letting the congregation know what you're up to!

Red Ribbon Distribution – Create small red ribbons to bring awareness to our fight against HIV/AIDS. Sell them at a local AIDS Walk, Pride Fest, or at the office.

Do you know a techer? – Get students to help you fundraise. Kids are incredibly creative and cute, too! Have them put together those red ribbons for you! (at the same time you may be educating and raising awareness)

Music Sells – If you know any musicians, ask them to perform a benefit concert. Tell people that their admission ticket is a check made out to the Joy Ride and your participant number.