Host a Staggered Race<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Races are kind of staggered just by their nature; as the race goes on, people spread out. But starting lines tend to be crowded, and people tend to be clumped up together at the start of a race\u2014combine that proximity with heavy breathing (especially if you\u2019re not a runner, like me), and you\u2019ve got a recipe for disaster. Or at least a recipe for COVID-19 transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mitigate risks by spacing out your runners. Divide registrants into heats, then have each runner start their run on their own. Give them a minute or so to make some headway, then let the next person start. Think of it as a wedding procession; a bridesmaid starts down the aisle, there\u2019s a long pause, and then the next one starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This kind of event takes lots of extra time and planning, so it may be best for small races. You\u2019ll need to arrange closing running routes for longer periods of times, and timing runners can be tricky (you\u2019ll probably want to use chip timing instead of having one universal timer for everyone). If you\u2019re using Qgiv\u2019s peer-to-peer platform<\/a> for registration, you can place registration limits on your classifications to keep the number of race registrations and heat sizes at a manageable level. Staggering start times for a large race is a monumental task; if you\u2019re looking at a race with hundreds or thousands of registrants, you may want to consider using another tactic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual races are a fantastic alternative to in-person races with staggered start times. Instead of organizing participants into heats and overseeing the spacing between racers, participants run their own route on their own time. They can record and share their run details using a service like MapMyRun or Strava, so you can even give awards!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is also a fun tactic if you\u2019re not running a competitive race. Lots of nonprofits are flexing their creative muscles and encouraging people to participate however they want. One nonprofit marked its 34th anniversary by asking their supporters run 3.4 miles, bike 34 miles, swim 34 laps\u2014you get the idea. Another nonprofit did something similar; they asked people to donate $29, run 2.9 miles, and invite others to get involved. One homebound participant got involved without ever leaving the house; he climbed 29 flights of stairs!<\/p>\n\n\n If you have the space, try exploring the idea of open air events. Small maker\u2019s markets, community movie nights, exercise classes, arts performances, and other activities can be held safely if you\u2019re willing to do a little extra planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re planning these events, make sure to follow healthy practices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Running a safe open-air event will take creativity and planning, but they can be a fun way for donors to support you while getting out of the house. Break out your thinking cap, roll up your sleeves, and find a way to (safely) connect with your supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the surface, golf tournaments can look pretty safe. Right? What sport is more spread out than golf? Like\u2026 ultra-marathons, maybe? But tournaments get trickier the longer you think about them. Unless you want to spring to get every individual golfer their own golf cart, participants will have to squish together to make it to the next hole even if they\u2019re spreading out on the green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can scratch the golf itch by putting together a driving range event. Participants can easily stay far away from each other without worrying about golf carts and knots of people at different holes. It\u2019s also a fun way to engage supporters who aren\u2019t golfers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide to go this route, here are some ways to keep it safe and fun:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try asking participants to raise money on your behalf through a peer-to-peer event and sell sponsorships just as you would for a traditional golf tournament. You can offer golf-related prizes (longest drive, closest to a flag, etc.) along with prizes for top fundraisers. Supplement your driving range event with raffles, silent auctions<\/a>, and other safe activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re an arts-focused nonprofit that depends on performances or gallery openings for your revenue, now is a particularly tough time. Some of your programs may lend themselves well to open air events like the ones we discussed above. But, if they don\u2019t, try exploring streaming your performances. Plays might be a little awkward, but you could stream a monologue or dialogue. There are tons of cool ways to stream musical acts\u2014if you\u2019re looking for inspiration, check out NPR\u2019s \u201cTiny Desk at Home\u201d series on YouTube! You could also do a virtual tour of a gallery or art exhibit.<\/p>\n\n\n Some arts organizations have membership programs that come with exclusive perks for supporters. You may not be able to host in-person gallery openings or lectures with artists and curators, but you can offer exclusive invitations to streaming tours or artist interviews. If you\u2019re an arts organization, try scheduling interviews with musicians, actors, dancers, and other performers that are open only to your members. That way, your members will get some value for their membership fee and are less likely to suspend their membership until the pandemic is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love a good silent auction. Give me some rows of tables piled high with ruffly gift baskets and I\u2019ll spend all night looking at them. Throw in the occasional passed tray of hors d’oeuvres and I\u2019m good for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, though, the idea of crowding around a table full of items or jostling with people as we each try to fill out our respective bid sheets gives me the willies. Silent auctions are fun, but they don\u2019t lend themselves well to social distancing precautions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to give up your silent auction. Instead, make it digital! Let donors bid on items from their homes while you stream entertainment or live auctions.<\/p>\n\n\n Sound interesting? Here are some tips for making your virtual auction as successful as possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19 doesn\u2019t mean you have to cancel your silent auction. It just means you need to adjust a little! It\u2019s totally possible to have a successful virtual auction\u2014check out this write-up<\/a> of how Qgiv client Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota converted a silent auction from an in-person event to a successful virtual event in 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supply drives are a time-honored fundraising event that are popular with all kinds of nonprofits. Whether you\u2019re gathering shelf-stable food for your food pantry or collecting school supplies for students, a good old-fashioned drive is a great way to get what you need. But COVID-19 makes running a supply drive a little tricky. Have a process for taking in-kind donations in person, set up an online \u201cstore,\u201d or let people shop your Amazon Wish List.<\/p>\n\n\n If you take in-kind donations, you\u2019ll want to have a plan for accepting those gifts safely. Have a plan for drop-off or pickup, make sure volunteers have adequate PPE, and keep cleaning supplies handy so you can keep things clean. Be sure you communicate your plan with your donors! We know donors are most likely to give if they know what to expect. Tell your donors ahead of time if you have drive-through drop-offs, home pickup, limited lobby hours, mask requirements, or other safeguards in place. They\u2019ll appreciate the transparency and will feel more comfortable donating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon wish lists are a useful way to supplement (or replace) traditional in-person supply drives. Instead of buying supplies and dropping them off at a collection point, they can hop on Amazon, choose some items from your wish list, and ship them directly to you\u2014they don\u2019t even have to leave the house, which is a huge advantage during a health crisis! There\u2019s also the advantage of familiarity\u2014if the memes that have been circulating online are any indication, your donors are already very familiar with buying things online. They\u2019re already shopping on Amazon, and supporting you only takes one or two extra clicks. There\u2019s also the advantage of being able to ask for exactly what you need, which means fewer oddball drop-offs of supplies you can\u2019t (or shouldn\u2019t) use. No more donations of expired canned food, weird home decor, or broken items. Woohoo!<\/p>\n\n\n You could also follow the example of The Sharing Center<\/a>, which set up a virtual food pantry. On their form, they helped donors visualize what each donation amount could accomplish. $20 could pay for a case of canned food, $100 could buy a cart full of groceries, etc. They made it clear to their donors that their gifts would be used to buy what they most needed, but the visualization helped donors decide how much to give.<\/p>\n\n\n Regardless of your event type, you need to take precautions that will keep staff, volunteers, and participants healthy. Here are some ways to keep everyone safe while you raise money to support your cause!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone should know what to expect from your event before they get there. If they\u2019re participating remotely, they should know how to interact with you. Communicate early and regularly so people can prepare themselves! Late or inadequate communication will discourage people from getting involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nobody likes wearing masks, but nobody likes getting COVID-19, either. Staff, volunteers, and participants should always be masked up when they\u2019re interacting with each other in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do everything you can to enforce social distancing! Staff and volunteers should be expected to keep their distance and stay safe for two reasons. One, it keeps them healthy! They\u2019re an important part of your work, so prioritize keeping them healthy. And, two, it sets a good example for participants. Telling people to stay safely separated is more effective when staff are leading by example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give people room to spread out. You can\u2019t enforce social distancing if there isn\u2019t room for people to stay safely spaced out! Make sure you have adequate room at your event venue for everyone to stay spaced out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create and implement a sanitizing schedule. Any common areas (like bathrooms, hand rails, etc.) should be regularly cleaned. Make sure staff and volunteers know who needs to do what and at what point! While printing out a sanitization schedule seems like a lot of work, it\u2019s better than having people forget to clean communal surfaces or assume that someone else will handle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could create the safest, most socially-distant event of all time and you\u2019d still have people decide not to attend. People want to stay safe and keep their friends and families healthy! No matter what style of event you choose, be sure those supporters have a way to get involved virtually. You\u2019ll engage more people and raise more money if you do. You can learn more about setting up these types if hybrid events in this guide<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the weeks and days leading up to your event, stay in touch with your volunteers and keep them up to date on what to expect at your event. Anything you can do to make sure everyone knows what to do (and when to do it!) will help your event run smoothly, keep stress to a minimum, and keep your volunteers happy and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all of your supporters will be familiar with virtual events. Be ready to help people figure out how to use MapMyRun, bid on an auction item remotely, or find your Amazon wish list. Set up a point person who can handle any questions or troubleshoot any issues that arise during your event. Your donors will appreciate your foresight and support!<\/p>\n\n\n\nRun a Virtual Race<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Try an Open Air Fundraising Event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Host a Driving Range Fundraising Event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Explore Streaming Performances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Organize a Virtual Auction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Run a Supply Drive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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In-Person Supply Drives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Amazon Wish List Supply Drives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Virtual Supply Drives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Tips for Running Safe a (but Fun!) Fundraising Event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Communicate early and thoroughly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Require masks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Enforce social distancing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Spread out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Have a sanitizing protocol in place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Offer virtual options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure volunteers are on the same page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Offer virtual support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Closing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n