Are There Too Many Thon Fundraisers?
Greetings!
It's one of the questions reporters most frequently ask me: Is our field choking traffic -- and the public's ability to give -- with 5Ks, walks and rides?
Answering that question is made more difficult by the impact the lousy economy has had on program results. I'd venture that much more of the fundraising downturn is due to consumers' diminished giving capacity than event saturation.
In any case, smarter program management is the key to succeeding in a crowded field. The Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk program, for example, was up over 20% in gross revenue in 2009 thanks to increased online and offline marketing, according to Group Vice President Rick Bell.
Some programs need to make a fundamental cultural shift to transform themselves from awareness events to fundraising events. Click here for an excellent white paper from Event 360 on making that critical change.
Some of the best minds in our field will be at our annual conference with strategies and tactics that will help you break out from the pack. Hope you'll join us!
David Hessekiel
President
Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council
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