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UltimateGUIDE
NEWBIESFor
The
NewbiesCongratulations, you’ve just pledged yourself to a really noble
cause. Now it’s time to �gure out how you’re going to pull it o� and do it spectacularly!
A walk-a-thon is a popular way to raise funds for charity minus the big overhead costs.
Whether you’re planning for a huge turnout or just looking for a way to develop a sense
of camaraderie within a
corporation, start your
walk-a-thon journey
down the right
path.
Walk-A-Thon Guide
The Leadership Squad You may start as an army of one but as you develop
excitement for the cause, you will meet people that have
expertise in areas that are critical to victory. Interview
volunteers to see if they have hidden talents that can
be applied in areas of tactical management.
1.
The
Start Here!
2.
3.
When picking a location for your walk-a-thon,
obtaining a special event permit and insurance may be
mandatory. The o�cial government website for your city
should provide details including how much advance notice
will be required. When choosing your route, think about
where you want the walk-a-thon to end. A public park with
established amenities is an excellent choice. Additionally, the
open space can serve as a secondary venue for raising funds with bake sale items and
mementos.
Your bake sale can be an extraordinary resource to boost the amount of funds
raised. Ask your Martha Stewarts and Betty Crockers to be adventurous in their sweet
concoctions. Nothing sells better than treats that are visually appealing so layer on the
sprinkles and confetti. Don’t forget to provide peanut and gluten free choices.
Recipe.com o�ers some great bake sale ideas here.
Permit Acquisition and
Getting Crafty with the Name The name of your walk should re�ect the cause or charity and even the location
or venue. You can also include the length of the walk. A catchy phrase and
inspirational branding can increase the prospects for a successful event. If you’re not
PERMIT
Police Department Notification
4.
5.
Investigate Pledge Management Software
Handling registrations, pledges and donations should be the least of your
worries with many options for online management. DoJiggy Pledge o�ers a web based
system speci�cally for walk-a-thon events with no
required hosting or hardware. They also o�er a slew of
additional resources here. Really simple solutions
are PayPal, Google Checkout and
Eventbrite. If you’re a registered
non-pro�t, you can enjoy reduced fees
for many services. A detailed article on
tools for event registration is located here.
The Legalese
A liability waiver releasing you from legal
recourse should anyone sustain an injury at the event is
advisable. A basic �rst-aid kit should be on site. Ask for
volunteers from your local hospitable to attend the walk-a-thon
in case of emergencies.
the creative type, crowd source it within your group of volunteers or outsource to a
copy writer for as little as $25 at www.freelancer.com.
6. It’s almost unheard of these days to promote anything
without a website. Platforms like Weebly and Wix o�er free and
low cost, easy solutions. Now is the time to envision the big
picture so you can integrate all the functionality you want for the event.
Your own circle of friends, nearby schools and business associates can spark the
�ame for your promotion. Meetup.com has groups of avid walkers already identi�ed
for you. Check out some of the established walking groups
and invite the organizer to spread the word about the
cause. Create a page on Facebook speci�cally for the
event and invite your friends to “Like” the page. Don’t
be shy to explicitly ask them to invite their
friends as well. The “word of mouth”
reach on Facebook can extend your
circle to thousands of people.
To create a “buzz” for your walk-a-thon, get
listed on local event sites. Do a Google search for “submit
events in [Your City Name].” Typically you will get results for community websites
that accept event submissions. Each will have its own criteria for submission so get
started early!
Event Hoopla, Ballyhoo & Promotion
7. Piggy Back with Other Social Eventsor Highly Frequented Outlets
Ask fellow event organizers to allow you to hand out �yers
or make an announcement at their next event. Be aware that
distributing �yers on private property is often o� limits. Ask local
merchants with a lot of foot tra�c if you may leave a stack of �yers
by the register. Think about the size of the �yer with this approach.
Merchants are more likely to accept if it doesn’t take up all the real estate by the cash
register.
Old fashioned media outreach can be fruitful too.
Contact advertising directors or PSA directors at local radio,
newspaper and television stations. Prep yourself with a
ready pitch that explains the value of your cause and why
it’s useful to the community. Brevity and clarity of purpose is
crucial.
8.Have connections at local corporations? It doesn’t hurt to
appeal for a contribution. You can pitch the idea as a great
publicity opportunity for the business and a larger media
footprint will help bring more attention to your cause.
Petition for Matching Corporate Funds
9. Sway with Swag
To build a sense of unity, walk-a-thon
organizers typically have custom t-shirts, water bottles,
totes and other swag produced. www.DesignAShirt.com
o�ers exceptionally low prices and fast shipping on all
custom t-shirt orders. Plus we give an extra special
discount on orders where the messaging and/or graphics
on the t-shirt are clearly meant to support a charitable cause.
Need a logo to galvanize the giving? www.Designcontest.com is a resource that
allows you to create unique contests where designers compete to produce custom
logos and you only pay for the winning design of your choice. Keep color complexity in
mind when de�ning instructions for the artists because full color printing is typically
more costly to reproduce.
10.Thirst Quenchers and Munchies
Without a doubt, you will need to provide some hydration
for your walkers, before, during and after the walk.
Munchies can be provided at your discretion as it may
con�ict with your post-walk bake sale. Take a crack at
acquiring supplies through donations from local grocery
stores and merchants. When soliciting donations, identifying
DesignAShirt.com
the right person beforehand will save a lot of time. If it’s a big
company, ask to speak to the Director of Corporate Social
Responsibility. At smaller businesses, involvement will be a choice
of the manager or owner. Prepare your story and tell them how their
donation can bene�t them. Be ready to include them as a sponsor on
t-shirts, banners, �yers and of course, o�er your undying loyalty to their brand.
Have someone to manage a tally of funds raised throughout the event. An
announcement of the sum total raised at the post-walk rallying point should be the
�nale to your event allowing everyone involved to celebrate the achievement of a
shared goal. Your announcer should be the most energetic and social person in your
volunteer crew. Bubble blowing kits, ribbon streamers or pinwheels can really ramp up
the party vibe at the closing celebration. Finally, remember to formally thank all of the
people that helped make your walk-a-thon a spectacular success!
The Wrap-Up 11.