You can’t spell fundraiser without “fun,” so an engaging theme can be crucial to success. That’s why so many coordinators organize a-thons: there’s always a theme centered around active participation.
Cook-a-thons, jump-a-thons, spell-a-thons—these kinds of fundraising ideas are nearly endless. Even though the end goal of fundraising for your community or organization is always the same, every a-thon is unique.
That being the case, we’ll focus on the most popular a-thon fundraisers, discussing them in detail to help determine which kind works best for you.
Walk-a-thon fundraisers
The walk-a-thon fundraiser is the classic a-thon. Allow us to walk you through setting one up.
How to organize a walk-a-thon fundraiser
Before anything else, define tangible and realistic goals, from your specific fundraising target to how you’ll attract volunteers. Then, like walkers using a step counter, track your progress.
Next up is promotion: Start with your network and branch outward from there. Connecting with online communities can bolster your participant group, and partnering with a local t-shirt maker is a perfect way to brand your event.
Lastly, prepare, prepare, prepare. Stay in constant contact with your event team and all sponsors; have the path ready to go early; and add a personal touch afterward with targeted thank-yous.
Pros and cons of a walk-a-thon fundraiser
A walk-a-thon fundraiser is a popular way to engage the community and raise money, but like any event, it comes with both advantages and challenges. Walk-a-thons can:
- Unite communities by bringing participants together to connect
- Raise awareness, as large groups of walkers draw attention and curiosity
- Encourage people of all ages to get active and moving.
However, they’re also:
- Weather-dependent, so a backup plan for rain is essential
- Prone to accidents, making on-site medical staff necessary
- Logistically demanding, requiring careful coordination and planning.
Other tips for success
A walk-a-thon’s success depends on many factors, but at the most basic level, it’s critical to prepare water stations where participants can hydrate.
Walk-a-thon fundraisers also aren’t limited to in-person events. You can always plan a virtual walk-a-thon fundraiser to avoid the potential for bad weather altogether.
Dance-a-thon fundraisers
A well-organized dance-a-thon fundraiser can be fun enough to practically run itself. Still, you’ll want to know what you can facilitate as a coordinator.
How to organize a dance-a-thon fundraiser
Like a walk-a-thon, you’ll want to set goals, promote, and prepare for your dance-a-thon. The difference is in the specifics.
Dance-a-thons can, for instance, take multiple forms. A dance party will do as well as a competition between individuals or dance teams. You could even spin it into a dance class.
Prepping the venue is also key unless you’re doing a virtual event where everyone dances from home. Decorations, catering, music choice—there’s plenty to consider. Searching for a professional event organizer as a sponsor may be ideal.
Pros and cons of a dance-a-thon fundraiser
A dance-a-thon fundraiser brings the community together with energy and rhythm, raising money while navigating a mix of excitement and challenges. Generally, dance-a-thons are:
- Fun for everyone. Even non-dancers can enjoy it by watching!
- A perfect way for people to meet and build confidence.
However, dance-a-thons may also:
- Feature music that doesn't appeal to everyone, limiting participation
- Create competition (whether it's healthy or unhealthy)
- Be costly, depending on venue and catering expenses.
Other tips for success
Inviting a local dance studio to participate—or even using their space as a venue—can do a lot for a dance-a-thon. Local dance celebrities or dance teams can also help promote your event on social media.
Don’t forget to curate a playlist based on the dance-a-thon’s theme. Having participants add to the list is a cinch for increasing engagement.
In the absence of a playlist, live bands are a fantastic option that can attract quite a crowd.
Read-a-thon fundraisers
Stories bring us together. Indeed, the quietest of these a-thons can help foster a sense of community while raising plenty of money.
How to organize a read-a-thon fundraiser
While walk-a-thons and dance-a-thons are typically one-and-done, a read-a-thon fundraiser can last days or even weeks. Determining event length can help determine everything else.
Though books can certainly be engaging on their own, the community aspect sets read-a-thons apart. Whether in person or otherwise, prepare discussions, challenges, and reading sprints to keep participants engaged.
You can also distribute plenty of merchandise, from bookmarks to tote bags—physical reminders and souvenirs (aside from the books themselves) of participation in the event.
Pros and cons of a read-a-thon fundraiser
A read-a-thon fundraiser is a creative way to inspire a love of reading while raising money. But like any literary adventure, it comes with some twists and turns:
- They’re perfect for school fundraising and bolstering literacy
- No volunteers are needed
- They’re extremely easy to set up virtually
However, read-a-thons may also:
- Attract a more limited participant group compared to walking or dancing events
- Cause some participants to exaggerate or lie about their reading progress.
Other tips for success
Should you stick to a theme (e.g., a specific genre or author) or curate a specific list of books to choose from? Both read-a-thon structures have their appeal, so know your audience.
Whichever you choose, maintaining the community aspect is paramount, since reading is usually a solo activity. There are myriad ways to do so, such as organizing raffles or giveaways and setting up Q&A sessions with authors.
The perfect addition to your a-thon fundraiser
Do you feel confident organizing your a-thon of choice? There’s one more thing you can do to run a fundraiser that participants will truly love—enroll in a free RaiseRight program.
RaiseRight is the most convenient way to fundraise and is the perfect supplement to your a-thon. Simply buy and use gift cards or shop online across hundreds of beloved brands (think Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, The Home Depot, and more), and you’ll earn for your organization with every purchase.
Perhaps you want to stop at Panera Bread to refuel after the dance-a-thon, buy new books from Barnes & Noble for the read-a-thon, or treat yourself to new running shoes from Nike for the walk-a-thon—RaiseRight has it all. You can even reward a-thon participants or winners with gift cards from your RaiseRight program!
Outside of the a-thon, you can turn everyday shopping into earnings (think gas, groceries, or dining out for dinner) so you can fundraise year-round without spending extra time or money.
Ready to start earning?
Here are some next steps to get the ball rolling:
- Learn more about how RaiseRight works.
- Download The RaiseRight Fundraising Playbook and share it with others in your organization.
- Start a free program by completing a short, online enrollment form.
If your organization is already earning with RaiseRight, you just need your enrollment code to create an account and begin fundraising right away.
