The mission of Mind is to make mental health an everyday priority. The charity stands up to the injustices that make life harder for those with mental health problems. It also provides critical services and brings together the people and communities who want to make a difference.
One way Mind is making a difference is by raising funds through its annual 100 Miles in March campaign. One of the charity’s biggest and boldest challenges, the campaign raises money to do bigger and better things for mental health care. Not only does the 100 Miles challenge provide a way for people to take action and champion mental health, it also offers up several lessons that other charities can replicate and implement!
In this post, we share three key lessons that you can adapt for your own upcoming fundraising campaigns.
Lesson 1: Load on the perks!
A fundraising campaign is only successful if people participate in it! Offering special perks or merchandise is a great way to encourage your supporters to get involved with your next challenge. Mind’s 100 Miles in March is full of great merchandise. Participants receive a free Mind t-shirt, a free fitness tracker to monitor progress toward the 100 miles, and a challenge medal at the finish line for participants who raise £150 or more. Participants also have a chance to win additional prizes throughout the month. And, of course, the activity itself is a chance for people to physically challenge themselves as they champion mental health.
For your own charity, consider how you might engage supporters and maximise participation in your next fundraising campaign. How can you make your participants feel valued, appreciated, and part of a larger community? Think about limited-edition branded merchandise you can create, including badges, clothing and accessories, finisher medals, and other giveaways. And be sure to clearly convey the impact of their participation and how it helps your charity achieve your goals. The feeling of making a difference is often the greatest motivator of all!
Lesson 2: Make it easy to take part
Another lesson is to reduce the barriers to participation. In other words, make it easy for people to get involved with your next challenge. This includes how participants sign up, how they stay informed and connected, how they raise money, and how they share their involvement with their own networks and community. Registration is a breeze with Mind’s 100 Miles in March. Interested supporters simply join a Facebook group, fill out a registration form, and set up a fundraising page via Facebook or JustGiving.
For your next fundraising campaign, consider simplifying the registration process. Give people multiple channels to get involved, perhaps via social media, your charity’s website, and in-person at the event itself. You should also provide multiple ways to raise money (e.g., Facebook and an alternative site like JustGiving for those who aren’t on Facebook). And, of course, make it easy for your participants to succeed with ongoing encouragement, tips, and community connections.
Lesson 3: Give supporters what they need to fundraise
Mind’s 100 Miles in March offers a wide range of resources to help participants start—and finish—strong. The charity has a landing page on its website with everything one could need to get active and fundraise. This includes access to a digital welcome pack, mileage tracker, fundraising tips, social media graphics, training plans, digital milestone medals, certificates, and even a resource to help make asking for donations easier. That’s a lot of resources!
For your next challenge, set your own participants up for success. Consider adding a landing page to your website and offer similar content in a PDF and printed version to reach people wherever they are. Be sure to include resources that help people maximise their fundraising and spread the word. After all, the more people tell others, the more participants you’ll have—and the more money you can raise for your mission. You can use these resources to encourage people before, during, and after the campaign, and keep them coming back for more.
In closing, be like Mind! We hope these lessons help you optimise your next fundraising campaign. What do you have planned? Is it a new challenge, or something your charity does year after year? No matter the size or modality of your next campaign, Rocket Charities is here to help. We’d love to hear more and help you design and manufacture the perfect branded merchandise for a memorable and successful experience for your participants. Please get in touch with us today!