Organizing A Successful Charity 5K
Organizing a race is a great fundraiser idea because it can raise awareness of an issue, earn a lot of money, or show a lot of moral support for a cause. Races, especially shorter distances like a 5K, are popular events right now. No matter what physical shape someone is in, they can walk, run, or ride it in a reasonable amount of time. Holding a successful 5K doesn't have to be very complicated either, just consider the following points:
Make it Worth While
The first thing to consider is how you will make it feel worthwhile to the public. Most races include some sort of a packet with coupons, prizes, and even a t-shirt. Even if you only offer a t-shirt, people find this as a great enticement to run or walk in your race. Consider asking local businesses to give coupons for the packets or offer gift cards as prizes to the winners. Not only does this reward the racers, it also provides little to no-cost advertising for the companies that participate.
Advertising
There are a lot of great advertising options that won't cost you a lot of money. Contact related charities and organizations if you can place an advertisement on their website or in their monthly newsletters. Talk to a screen printing company about printing a handful of shirts printed before your main order to wear around, spreading awareness.
Don't forget to place ads in local newspapers or hang signs in grocery stores, gas stations, and other frequented areas. One of the best places to spread the word is on social media accounts. Create an event to invite your friends or just spread the word in a post or tweet.
Costs
The most expensive costs associated with a 5K are the timing chips and sound systems. To help alleviate some of the costs, look to local businesses who may be interested in screen printing advertisements on your shirts or placing banners along the race route. You can also choose to forego the timing system altogether, but make that clear from the beginning to limit frustration.
Some companies will gladly donate supplies such as food or water bottles to give to your racers at the end with a wrap sporting their logo. This helps cut your costs as well while still providing a quality experience to the racers.
If you are looking to raise even more money, try adding a raffle at the end of the race. You can even have a separate area where racers and spectators can buy breakfast with options that are less expensive, like pancakes, eggs, and potatoes.
Raise Awareness
Involving the community as much as possible gives people a great reason to get involved. Make sure that you advertise the event as much as possible and get people aware of the cause. Most people are happy to help raise money for a good cause if they only are told how to help. To learn more, contact a company like The Edge Screen Studio with any questions or concerns you have.