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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
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Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Jul 15, 2015

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Page 1: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 2: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

About the presenters

Andrew UrbanHead of Sales and Business [email protected]

Debra AskanaseCommunity Engagement [email protected]

Page 3: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

About FirstGiving

Page 4: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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.

Page 5: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 6: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 7: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 8: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 9: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 10: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 11: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 12: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 13: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 14: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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+

Page 15: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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+

Page 16: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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+

Page 17: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Average number of online donations needed to meet your fundraising goal

Page 18: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 19: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 20: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

…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

Page 21: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Distribution per page: marathon top 25%

* Based on top 25% of fundraising pages

Page 22: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 23: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 24: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 25: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 26: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 27: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 28: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 29: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 30: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 31: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 32: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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”

Page 33: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Who’s running

Page 34: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 35: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 36: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Approximately 10% are qualified runners

Under $3,250

$3,250-$5,000

More than $5,000

35%

57%

8%

Source: FirstGiving post-race survey

Page 37: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

Email to runners series“I loved the emails, updates and tips, they were all very helpful!”

Page 38: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 39: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 40: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 41: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 42: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 43: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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

Page 44: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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]

Page 45: Going the Distance with Race Fundraising: Benchmarking Success

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/