Fundraising Info
Why We Ride
The Revolution is a great ride for all ability levels and everyone enjoys a wonderful day of cycling and celebration, with gourmet food, a pampering massage, live music, a fun auction, and good company in the gorgeous Sonoma wine country. However, the purpose of the Revolution and all of this fun is to raise funds to support athletes with disabilities and to help BORP further its mission in fostering the health, independence and social integration of people with physical disabilities through sports and recreation. The Revolution is BORP’s most important fundraising event of the year and provides the fuel for our growing programs.
Minimum Fundraising Requirement
All riders must raise a minimum of $350 in order to participate in the event. The non-refundable rider registration fee will count towards the minimum along with all donations turned in. The minimum fundraising requirement for youth ages 8-18 participating with an adult family member is $150. There is no minimum requirement for children under 8.
All riders are required to guarantee the minimum pledge amount with a check or credit card in order to participate. The credit card will not be charged unless the rider does not submit the minimum fundraising amount in donations by the deadline. After the deadline, the credit card will be charged the amount necessary to bring the rider’s total to the minimum requirement.
Fundraising and Prizes
In addition to supporting athletes with disabilities and the work of Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program, you can also win great prizes for your fundraising efforts.
| Level | Money Raised | 2010 Prize Incentives (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $350 (the minimum) | Festival Admission + 2010 Revolution tShirt + Swag Bag |
| 2 | $750 | + 2010 Revolution Jersey* |
| 3 | $2,500 | + 1 additional Festival admission |
*Please note that we cannot guarantee the Jersey you earn will be available to you the day of the ride as early order deadlines make this difficult for us. However, if you earn a jersey, you will definitely receive one!
And, the TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM will win an awesome prize!
Fundraising Totals
Every time someone sponsors your ride and makes a donation on your behalf, you will receive an email notifying you of the sponsorship. Please check your spam folder if you are not receiving these emails.
Alternatively, you can check the team and individual fundraising totals on this page.
Also, as a rider, you can have an individualized report emailed to you. You can do this by going to the rider sponsorship page (the same place you are sending your online donors), choosing your name from the drop-down list, going to the next page, and then fill in the first name with "report". DO NOT fill in any additional information on this page, go to the bottom, and click "continue sponsorship". An email report will be sent to the email you used to register.
Fundraising Tips
The best fundraising tip is simply to be optimistic and excited. People will respond to your passion and energy. Most of the time, simply sending a couple of emails and possibly a few letters is all it takes! Some fundraising letter examples are below.
With enthusiasm and a careful plan, raising $350 or more can be easy. A simple plan will make it easier to acquire pledges. Here are some steps to help you begin:
1. Raising the Money is Not as Hard as it May Seem
Take a deep breath, and realize that meeting your fundraising goal is easier than you probably imagine. In the end, the Revolution is not about the money. The Revolution is about supporting athletes with disabilities, so they can live empowered, healthy, productive, independent lives. Share THAT with people, and the vast majority of the time, they will answer your request for support with a resounding, “Yes.”
2. Start Fundraising Today
Start asking today, and you’ll raise more money. It’s that simple. Begin making contact with everyone you know as soon as you register—via letter, e-mail, telephone, and in person—whatever suits you. Some of your contacts may need to hear about your commitment to the Revolution two or three times before it sinks in that you are serious and want their support.
3. Know Some Details About BORP’s Mission and Programs
Learn about BORP’s programs, and about the population we serve. Make sure you can share the mission statement and some key facts about BORP. Your donors will likely want to know what good their donation will do. The more knowledgeable you are, the easier it will be to meet your fundraising goals.
4. Be Proud of What You’re Doing
You aren’t asking for money so that some kid can play basketball. You are making it possible for people--who too often sit at home—to get out there into the wilderness, to experience competition, and to live richer, more meaningful lives. Raising money for a great cause is something to be proud of! Your pride and excitement for BORP and The Revolution will be contagious.
5. Make a List
Make an exhaustive list of everyone you know. Include everyone: family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates, local businesses, club members, politicians, hairdressers, gardeners, neighbors, your doctors, your dentist, and so on. Make it a goal to tell everyone on the list about your ride, and ask each person, company, or organization to support you. Remember, if you don’t ask, you are saying “no” for them. Often companies can match pledges, offer days off or other perks in exchange for donations. They can help to recruit new riders for the event. Local clubs or church groups can be a huge help.
6. Follow-Up Is Important
Each of us has a favorite communication style. Some people prefer face-to-face conversations, while others prefer the phone, letters or e-mail. Start with whatever works best for you. But keep in mind that the less personal your initial contact is, the more important the follow-up becomes. Your contacts may have every intention of making a donation, but simply set the paper aside or let the email get lost in the inbox. Sending out a training update is a fantastic way of reminding those friends and family that their support is still wanted and needed.
7. Invite a BORP Representative
Are you planning any sort of group gathering as part of your fundraising? Would you like some help sharing BORP’s stories of success with your potential supporters? If so, contact us in advance, and we will do our best to find a representative of BORP who can come speak to your group.
8. Say the Magic Words: 100% Tax Deductible
BORP will provide your donors with written proof of our all contributions. For donations of $50 and more, a thank you letter that can be used for tax records, will be sent directly by BORP to the donor.
9. Ask With Confidence
Practice your “ask” before you start fundraising. You will be far more effective if you are straightforward. Never apologize about asking for money! Instead, follow a simple formula: tell people WHAT you are doing, and WHY you are doing it. Tell them your fundraising goal, and ask for a specific amount of money. Then stop, and be completely silent while you wait for their answer. Resist the urge to continue talking. Statements such as, “I understand if you can’t….” and “I know it’s a lot of money, so….” are more likely to lead to smaller donations. If someone can’t donate what you have asked for, they will tell you.
10. Say Thank You
Don’t forget to send a letter of thanks to each of your sponsors. Send everyone who makes a contribution a simple note of thanks. Think about also sending a photo of you at The Revolution, and/or a training update. The more you can include your supporters in your Revolution experience, the more they will feel a part of the BORP community, and the better they are likely to feel about their role in the organization. It’s nearly impossible to say “thank you” too many times.
Sample Text for Letter or Email
(In addition to the highlighted and red text, please change the date in the following letter template)
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Click the document to the left to view and/or download the Microsoft Word version of the sample letter. |
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Click the document to the left to view and/or download the Adobe PDF version of the sample letter. You can download the free Adobe PDF reader if you don't already have it. |
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Click the document to the left to view and/or download the Plain Text version of the sample letter. |
Donor Recognition
Our goal is to ensure that every person who donates receives appreciation and a record of their donation for tax purposes. Anyone who donates on line will receive confirmation of their donation. For donations of $50 or more, a thank you letter that can be used for tax records, will be sent directly by BORP to the donor.
Where does the money go?
Since 1975, BORP has viewed recreation as a path to greater life achievement. When compared with all disabled Americans, graduates of our youth program are five times as likely to get a college degree and four times as likely to be employed.
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Mike Webber |
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Antonia DeMichiel |
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Lamile Perry |
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Beth Jones |
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Still have questions?
Go to the FAQs, send an email to revolution@borp.org or call (510) 849-4663.