By Marnie Kunz, CPT

If you’re running for charity, it’s a great way to motivate yourself to run while supporting a cause you care about. Fundraising is not always easy, however. As a charity runner myself and event planner for Runstreet, I’ve raised money for many non-profits through running. I’m compiling my top tips to help you raise money for your charity race. Also, feel free to post your fundraising page in the comments or tag @Runstreet on Instagram so we can share your post in our stories!

Related: Check out my Fundraising Page for AMA Animal Rescue and help support rescue animals needing life-saving medical care. My own dog, Kiyoshi, was from a rescue and needed life-saving cancer treatment when I got her. I hope to help more pets in need with my fundraiser.

Benefits of Running for Charity

If you’re considering running for charity, there are many benefits. Here are some of the best rewards of fund-racing for a cause:

Adds meaning to your miles. Running for charity is a great way to boost your running motivation by supporting a cause you care about. Choosing a non-profit whose mission resonates with you will give you an extra incentive as you train for your race. Whether you’re running a 5K or a marathon, running for charity makes your experience more rewarding by helping others.
Improves your fitness. Training for a charity race will improve your fitness and endurance as you prepare for your big race. Whether you want to get faster for a 5K or complete your first marathon, running for charity gives you an added incentive to prepare by training well.

Related Post: Running with Rescue Dogs

Fundraising Tips for Runners

Are you worried about fundraising for your charity race? Try these strategies to help you raise more funds and boost your support:

1. Pick a cause that you connect with.

The first step is to choose a charity that is meaningful to you. The more you care about your cause, the easier it will be to share your enthusiasm and get support for your fundraising race.

2. Break your fundraising goal up into milestones.

Looking at a big fundraising goal can be overwhelming, but breaking it up into smaller milestones will help you make steady progress. Write out your milestone goals and post them someplace visible to stay motivated. You can also post an update on your fundraising page every time you meet a milestone to keep your supporters informed and encouraged.

3. Donate to your campaign.

Get the momentum going for your charity race by making the first donation. This will encourage others to donate. If you can make a larger donation and make it anonymous, this will encourage people to donate larger amounts.

4. Personalize your fundraising page.

Don’t just use the charity template for your fundraising page. A personal story will be much more effective at getting donations and inspiring more support. Personalize your fundraising page to include your connection to the cause and some words of encouragement to your supporters.

5. Create original graphics.

Create your own graphics to make your fundraising page more personalized. You can use programs like Canva to create free graphics for your page header and update photos. Also, make social media graphics by creating different sizes and designs for each channel you plan to post on. Be creative with your photos and videos, and you’ll be more likely to attract supporters.

6. Include your fundraising page in your email signature and bio links.

Place a link to your fundraiser on all your social media platform bios and in your email signature. Most people are bombarded with hundreds of posts and electronic notifications a day, so make it easy and accessible to find and donate to your fundraiser.

7. Personally reach out to people.

Don’t just send a generic message to everyone asking for donations. Personalize your message and include why this charity means so much to you.

8. Thank every donor.

Follow-up is just as important as reaching out to potential donors. Send every person who donates a thank you message and personalize it. Also, tag your supporters on social media to thank them for their contributions.

9. Organize a fundraising event.

If you want to raise a lot of money at once, organize a fundraising event for your organization. Create a charity run or walk in your city or hold an event like a bake sale or car wash to raise funds for your cause.

10. Enlist corporate sponsors.

See if your employer will match donations to support your cause. You can also reach out to employers of friends or families and ask local businesses if they’d be willing to sponsor or put a tip jar for your cause in their store.

Raising money for a cause is an ongoing effort - just like running - so don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed immediately. Keep persisting and trying different strategies, and you will find support. The more enthusiastic and vocal you are about your cause, the more people will support you.

FAQs

What does it mean to run for a charity?

Running for a charity usually means you raise money for a non-profit organization in connection with a race. Usually, charity partners have charity bibs that allow you to run a race for free while raising a required amount of money for the charity. Choosing a cause you care about enables you to support a mission you believe in while training and running a race.

How do I start running for charity?

Sign up for a race for a cause - such as a local 5K to fight cancer, or choose a race with different charity options, such as the New York City Marathon. When you sign up for the race, you can pick the charity you want to support.

How can I raise money for charity by running?

There are a variety of ways to run for charity. One option is to sign up for a local fundraising race for a cause you support. Another option is to choose a charity partner of an existing race and sign up to raise funds for that organization. The third option is to organize your own fundraising running event by dedicating your miles to a cause and collecting donations for a particular organization or organizing a charity run and inviting others to join you.

How does running help charities?

Running is an excellent way to raise funds for non-profits. You can sign up for a charity 5K or other local running event for a cause or join a race with existing charity partners and choose the non-profit you want to support.

Are you running for charity? Comment below with tips, or share your story with us on the Runstreet Instagram to get cheered on. Need a training plan for your upcoming race? Head to the Runstreet Training Center for a personalized training plan.

Happy running to you - and happy fund-racing! 🤗

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach, dog lover, Akita mom, and writer based in Brooklyn, NY.

Running for Charity: 10 Fundraising Tips and Ideas