Topic: FUNdraising Tips

After 5 weeks of FUNdraising tips, we hope you’ve been raking in the donations! Immediately after someone has donated to your Ride, send them a quick email or call them to thank them. Then, after the Ride, we recommend sending handwritten thank you cards. Going the extra mile will make your donors really feel appreciated and they’ll want to donate again next year!

Feel free to copy and paste some of the language below on social media and in your fundraising emails. WHERE THE MONEY GOES: Hazon Seal of Sustainability: Option 1: Through the Hazon Seal of Sustainability, Hazon works with Jewish communities and institutions across the US to help them embrace sustainability efforts that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, increase renewable energy, and improve health. Many of these initiatives can help save thousands of energy dollars per year, and most importantly, can help significantly reduce the collective carbon footprint of the Jewish community. Option 2: Through the Hazon Seal of Sustainability, Hazon is helping to green over 60 Jewish institutions across the US, including synagogues, schools, camps, and JCCs. Many have started or significantly expanded composting programs and other efforts to raise awareness around food waste, diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds from the landfill each year. Several have installed energy efficiency upgrades that are already saving thousands of dollars per institution per year, including most recently Isabella Freedman! Most significantly, thousands of people who visit these institutions are learning about their greening efforts, and Hazon’s educational resources are permeating into communities around the country. Adamah: Adamah is a residential farming fellowship providing a crucial bridge for […]

 Watch this short video from 2017 NY Ride honoree Ruth Messinger for some fundraising encouragement!   Although fundraising may seem intimidating at first, you probably know more people than you realize. To start your fundraising, you need to first make a list of who you will ask. And remember, people don’t give to support causes as much as they give to support people: your friends, family, and colleagues will donate to your ride because YOU are riding. Start by sending some emails and posting on social media and follow up in a couple of weeks.  

This is an easy one and only takes 5 minutes: personalize your fundraising page with a photo and text about why you’re riding. Putting in a little bit of effort shows your donors that you’re serious about what you’re fundraising for and they will be more likely to support you. Log into your participant center here to update your page and create a custom URL. We recommend bookmarking this page.

Every Rider has a fundraising minimum, but we encourage you to aim higher. The higher your fundraising target, the more generous your supporters will be. When you are close to meeting your target, consider setting a higher one. Need some extra incentives? Take a look at what you can earn if you fundraise above your required minimum!