Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success 2010 Boston Marathon, 5K and 10K race benchmarking analysis Website: www.firstgiving.com Twitter: @firstgiving FirstGiving for Runners Blog: runners.firstgiving.com
Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success
2010 Boston Marathon, 5K and 10K race benchmarking analysis
Website: www.firstgiving.comTwitter: @firstgivingFirstGiving for Runners Blog: runners.firstgiving.com
About the presenters
Andrew UrbanHead of Sales and Business [email protected]
Debra AskanaseCommunity Engagement [email protected]
About FirstGiving
155 Million Donated online to FirstGiving since 2003
80 Million+ of that 155 Million donated through FirstGiving is in the last 18mos
Over 1.2 Billion Donated Online since 2001 through FirstGiving worldwide (combined US and UK offices)
• 8,000+ nonprofits have utilized FirstGiving
• 13 million+ online donors
• 10+ years in business
• 31 employees in the US
• Offices in Boston and San Francisco
• 100+ employees worldwide
82% - the average year over year increase in online donations a nonprofit sees that utilizes FirstGiving.
By the numbers: 2010 Boston Marathon fundraising
• Total raised online: $2,696,896
• Total collected offline: $73,775
• Average amount raised per fundraiser: $4053.67
• Average amount raised online: $2,973.42
• Average amount raised offline: $1080.25
• Average online donation: $75
• Fundraising pages: 907
• Approximately 815 ran with an official charity sponsor Approximately 92 ran without an official charity sponsor
• Nonprofits represented: 117
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
By the numbers: 5K and 10K FirstGiving fundraising
• Average amount raised per 5K race fundraiser: $433
• Average amount raised online: $385
• Average amount raised offline: $48
• Average amount raised per 10K race fundraiser: $521
• Average amount raised online: $439
• Average amount raised offline: $82
• Average online donation 5K: $52
• Average online donation 10K: $50
• Number of active 5K fundraising pages: 4,009
• Number of active 10K fundraising pages: 396
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
Key race findings
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
✪ The typical fundraiser employs a combination of offline and online mechanisms to reach the fundraising minimum
✪ Largest percentage of donations are ✔ $25 - $75 and ✔ $100 - $150 ranges
✪ To raise the minimum, the typical fundraiser needs ✔ 36 – 40 donations per page for a marathon✔ Expect 7 – 8 donations per page for a 5K or 10K race
Key race findings
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
✪ Most marathon donations arrive ✔ In the 4 months prior to the event but ✔ donations 7 – 5 months prior are higher amounts
✪ Your fundraisers are likely to raise money for your cause in another event
✪ The top fundraisers get higher average donation amount, and many more $100 - $150 donations
Boston Marathon official charity program:
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
• Boston Marathon = qualified runners only
• Official charities are give 15 numbers, fundraising minimum of $3250 – for unqualified runners
• 2010 marathon held April 19
• 23,176 runners participated
• 24 official charities in the program
The average FirstGiving endurance fundraiser raises $4053, 2/3 of it online
Average/Page0%
Offline27%
Online 73%
Average amount raised online per page: $2973.42Average amount raised offline per page: $1080.25
5K and 10K online/offline fundraising
Total amount raised for 5K races 2010: $1,736,138Total amount raised for 10K races 2010: $ 206,509
89%
11%
5K race average
online as % of total offline as % of total
84%
16%
10K race average
online as % of total offline as % of total
Number of donations per page - marathon
• Median donation: 36 donations per page
• Average donation: 40 donations per page
• Average donation amount per page: $75
The higher your goal, the more donations needed
Donations per page – shorter distance races
Average donation amount per 5K page: $433
– Average of 7 online donations per page
Average donation amount per 10K page: $521
– Average of 8 pnline donations per page
*FG did not record individual offline donations until Aug. 2010.Prior to Aug. 2010, offline donations were recorded by fundraisers as a lump sum
Distribution of donations per page –Boston marathon
*based on range of 36 – 40 of donations per page
12%
28%
29%
2%
19%
2%3%
3%
2%
Under $25
$25 to $49
$50 to $74
$75 to $99
$100 to $149
$150 to $199
$200 to $249
$250 to $499
$500+
Distribution of donations per page –5K races
*5 fundraisers raised >$10,000, which skewed the $500+ range higher
8%
17%
21%
2%
24%
3%
6%
7%
12%
<$25
$25-$9.99
$50-$74.99
$75-$99.99
$100-$149.99
$150-$199.99
$200-$249.99
$250-$499.99
$500+
Distribution of donations per page –10K races
8%
17%
22%
2%
26%
4%
5%
8%
8%
<$25
$25-$9.99
$50-$74.99
$75-$99.99
$100-$149.99
$150-$199.99
$200-$249.99
$250-$499.99
$500+
Takeaways: Donation distribution amounts
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
Most donations are $25 - $74. Average marathon donation = $75.Average 5K donation = $52, Average 10K = $50
The second-largest group is $100 - $149, who are critical to meeting the minimum marathon fundraising requirement
Donations under $25 account for a very small % of overall donation dollars, but are high in quantity
Fundraising tips
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
Segment donors into different groups –Ask close friends and family for higher amountsAsk other friends and family for $25 - $75
Create suggested amounts to encourage higher donations:$250, $150, $100 ,$75, $50, $25
Ask for smaller donation amounts from weaker ties such as online friends or distant friends
…and keep these benchmarks in mind
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
Marathon fundraisers need 36 to 40 donations to meet a requirement of $3300
5K and 10K fundraisers usually get 7-8 donations per page
Takeaways from the top 25%
• Donations of $100 - $149 are critical to reaching very high fundraising goals
• If you want to raise over $15,000, focus on $500+ donors
• Those raising over $7,500 must focus on $75 and above donation amounts
Most people donate in the four months prior to an event
$25 $9,083 $58,662
$123,429
$373,823 $440,413
$736,976
$908,146
$37,864 $5,210 $3,164
Total aggregate amount donated
But higher amounts come in earlier
$99 $87 $83
$72 $73 $73 $76
$134
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10
Average donation
Average donation size vs. number of donations
*represents donations per month
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$-
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
$700,000
$800,000
$900,000
$1,000,000
Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10
Total aggregate amount donated Average donation
Top 25% fundraisers receive higher donation amounts
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$180
top 25%
Average donations
* Average donation amount received per month
Most plan to continue raising money after race day
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Yes No
Source: FirstGiving post-race survey
Takeaways: donations by month
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
• Most people donate in the four months prior to the event (91%%)
• The average donation amounts are highest early in the fundraising cycle
• Most fundraisers continue fundraising after the marathon.
• Fundraisers with higher goals receive more per donor
Fundraising Tips
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
Fundraising seven months prior results in higher donation amounts. Ask for higher amounts ($100 - $250) and ask
early!
• Start fundraising 9 months before the event, but expect most donations closer to the event
• Don’t give up! Post-event fundraising returns higher donation amounts per donor
Spreading the word: share socially
*based on range of 36 – 40 donations per page
Social sharing works!
• For every one update to Facebook, you get 6 people returning to your page
• 85% of returns are from Facebook, followed by Yahoo!, Twitter, and then Linkedin
Is it ever too late to start? Test case
• Sent an email reminder to inactive page creators 1 week before the marathon event
• 10% opened email
• 10% of those activated pages
• Total raised in 1 week by activated pages = $14,690
Test case takeaways
• Last-minute emails can prompt inactives to begin fundraising
• Send a targeted activation email at least one month before the event
• Even one week prior – target email message as “it’s never too late to start fundraising – any amount makes a difference”
Fundraisers represent all types of runners“Have you run a marathon before?”
First time marathoner
At least one marathon
46%
54%
Source: FirstGiving post-race survey
Expect repeat fundraisers for your cause:“Do you plan to raise money again for the same cause in another
endurance event?”
Definitely
Probably
Maybe
Most likely not
59%
29%
7%5%
Source: FirstGiving post-race survey
Approximately 10% are qualified runners
Under $3,250
$3,250-$5,000
More than $5,000
35%
57%
8%
Source: FirstGiving post-race survey
Email to runners series“I loved the emails, updates and tips, they were all very helpful!”
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Too many Too few Just right
Email to runners series“I used a lot of the ideas that I got in your e-mails”
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Too long with too much information
Readable and helpful
Lacking relevant information or
confusing
Email series
• Fundraisers enjoyed receiving regular email with tips
• Perception that tips eased the stress of fundraising
Takeaways:• Runners want regular fundraising tips and regular
communication
• Regular prompts and reminders help runners raise money
Tips from 2010 Boston Marathon fundraisers
✪ Start early and have a plan
✪ Ask everyone! Social media bring people to your page, virally
✪ Get creative with offline events – offline events put fundraisers over their goal
✪ Send updates
Wrap-up: Key findings
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
✪ The typical fundraiser employs a combination of offline and online mechanisms to reach the fundraising minimum
✪ Largest percentage of donations are ✔ $25 - $75 and ✔ $100 - $150 ranges
✪ To raise the minimum, the typical fundraiser needs ✔ 36 – 40 donations per page for a marathon✔ Expect 7 – 8 donations per page for a 5K or 10K race
Wrap-up: Key findings
*2010 Boston Marathon was held April 19
✪ Most marathon donations arrive ✔ In the 4 months prior to the event but ✔ donations 7 – 5 months prior are higher amounts
✪ Your fundraisers are likely to raise money for your cause in another event
✪ The top fundraisers get higher average donation amount, and many more $100 - $150 donations
Resources for Runners and Nonprofits
Running Blog: FirstGiving for Runners: http://runners.firstgiving.com
Facebook Group: FirstGiving for Runners: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_108926099171285
Online Fundraising Blog:http://blog.firstgiving.com
Create a fundraising team or event:[email protected]
Thank you! Contact us:
[email protected]@firstgiving.com
Twitter: @firstgiving, @askdebra
And don’t forget FirstGiving’s online spaces for runners:FirstGiving for Runners Blog: runners.firstgiving.comFirstGiving Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/firstgivingFirstGiving for Runners Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/firstgiving#!/home.php?sk=group_108926099171285Flickr FirstGiving Event Photos: http://www.flickr.com/groups/firstgivingevents/