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Greetings!
What's the number reason why we conduct our signature Run Walk Ride 30 study each year? So you don't have to!
We know how challenging it can be for your team to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the thon industry and the pressure to raise more with fewer resources. Few groups have the time to do competitive benchmarking.
That's why we're once again collecting data on revenue, participation and other key metrics from programs raising at least $1 million. Please take a few minutes to contribute your national or regional-only program's information today.
The participation of every qualifying program is vital for the Run Walk Ride 30 to provide valuable information for everyone working in athletic event fundraising. It can help you understand the state of peer-to-peer fundraising, better allocate scarce resources and ultimately raise more money.
Thanks in advance for joining other industry leaders in this important study. From all of us here at Run Walk Ride, happy holidays -- we look forward to supporting you in 2013.
President
Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council
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Helping Your Participants Maximize "Return on Effort" for Independent Events
When combined with traditional fundraising efforts, participant-planned independent events can be an extremely powerful tactic for participants - and have the potential to raise a lot of money, quickly.
During Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council's December webinar, "Helping Thon Participants Host Successful Independent Fundraising Events," Eventbrite's Senior Marketing Manager, Christine Bohle provided valuable tips to help nonprofits maximize participants' independent event efforts and hit their thon fundraising goals.
You can watch a free recording of the full webinar thanks to sponsorship by Eventbrite.
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Don't miss important deadlines including:
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Industry News from Around the World
- In the UK, blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has launched Pledgeit, which it claims is "the first crowdfunding website to be built in-house by a charity." The service lets people challenge their friends to do something different and raise funds for the charity while they do so. Challenges range from simple silliness to the aspirational - completing a cross-stitch, writing a book, doing stand-up comedy, or performing at a concert.
- Sydney, Australia hosted the 'AIME Strut the Streets' an attempt to break the Guinness Record for the world's largest swimwear parade. The event was organised to raise funds and awareness for the not-for-profit charity organization, the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience.
- Earlier this month The Calera Group acquired the Competitor Group from Falconhead Capital. The Competitor Group has grown to an enormous event and sports media organization, with 83 events and seven sports media properties. Websites and print media both feed an event list that continues to both grow and draw running and endurance event enthusiasts. Read this Q&A with CEO Scott Dickey to learn more.
- Another interesting trend out of the UK is DoNation, an online environmental organization, which replaces peer-to-peer cash fundraising with environmental action pledges. High profile participants have jumped on board with this new approach - including Mike Barry, Marks & Spencer's Head of Sustainability. Barry completed a half marathon on behalf of The DoNation with supporters pledging environmental actions ranging from cycling to work to cutting out plastic packaging.
- The Echelon Grand Fondo series of rides has been acquired by San Francisco-based Project Sport. Hunter Ziesing, the series' founding race director is focusing his attention on Charity of Choice, an online fundraising service.
- Charity Dynamics received a significant equity investment from Vitesse Capital Partners. Founder Donna Wilkins remains as CEO.
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January Run Walk Ride "Insider Insights" Webinar:
 In the last four years, the American Lung Association has greatly expanded its signature stair climbing event series from 25 locations to over 60 locations. These "vertical road races" take participants beyond the average run/walk event and attract corporate teams, families, individuals, athletes, police, fire and other community organizations.
Join the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council on Wednesday, January 23 at 1:30 pm ET as ALA Assistant Vice President Andrew Feast provides a behind the scenes look at the Fight for Air Climbs and shares lessons learned during its period of rapid growth.
Price: $99 or free to Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council Members
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It's Not Too Late to Improve Year-End Appeals
The last days of the year are the biggest fundraising days of the season and believe it or not, it's not too late to make your year-end communication plan even more effective.
Based on observed email performance trends for organizations sending fundraising emais at the end of the calendar year, Blackbaud has compiled a valuable list of tips to consider including:
Define Benefits: The last days of the year are about making tax-deductible gifts. Create a separate email campaign highlighting the tax deductibility of donations and include everyone who has already made a year-end gift.
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Do you have news you'd like us to share?
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Check out industry opportunities
Run Walk Ride Job Board
Interested in free access to our webinars and recordings, online promotion of your organization, a copy of the RWR Thirty CD and much, much more?
Join the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council today!
The 2013 Run Walk Ride conference will take place March 13 & 14 at the
W Atlanta - Midtown
Early bird deadline
January 15, 2013
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