Fundraising is easier and more rewarding than you might think. We hope and intend that these materials will get you excited about raising money and give you the confidence that you will be able to meet-and exceed-your fundraising goals!

First Steps | Timeline

The most powerful aspects of the Israel Ride are being in Israel and seeing the country from a new perspective, spending time with Arava students, the challenge of the Ride itself and the thrill of the finish. You could pay a registration fee to cover the Ride’s costs, and call it a day. But you don’t, because fundraising is central to the Ride’s broader impact. The act of fundraising allows you to spread the word about the work of the Arava Institute and Hazon. The proceeds from the Israel Ride work far and wide to create the kind of world we want to live in.

First Steps

It is no surprise that some Riders are intimidated by the notion of raising $3,600 or more.  Not to worry, we are here to help you become an expert fundraiser.  Visit the Arava Institute and Hazon sections of the website to get a better sense of how the money you raise helps the Arava Institute and Hazon with their peace building and environmental work.  Armed with this information,  you will be better equipped to ask friends, family members and colleagues to sponsor you.  Use the following pages to help you with the fundraising process.

Get Excited

Your commitment to doing the Ride is itself significant.  Never underestimate the magnitude of this endeavor.  People admire and respect those who challenge themselves for a worthy cause.  Be enthusiastic about the Ride and share your enthusiasm with others.  Your excitement will encourage sponsors to support you and to be generous with their donations.

Set your Target

The minimum fundraising level for each Rider is $3,600 ($3,000 for those under 35, second and third family members and those who are visiting Israel for the first time; and $2,400 for Israeli citizens living in Israel).  However, we encourage you to aim even higher.  In 2010, the average rider raised $4600, and several raised over $10,000.  The higher your fundraising target, the more generous your supporters will be.  When you are close to meeting your first target, consider setting a higher one.

Customize Your Website

When you registered, you created your own webpage with Kintera, our third-party fundraising software.  Your Kintera website is the easiest and best resource  in your fundraising toolbox. It will allow you to manage your e-mail distribution, record donations, communicate with your fellow Riders, and track the progress of teams and Riders.
When you registered there was a question to allow you to create a “shortcut link” to your personal page.  It will look something like this: “http://arava.kintera.org/2011israelride/yourname” You can find your direct link when you log-in to your site on Kintera.  This is the link that you should use for all of your fundraising letters and emails.

Familiarize yourself with how to best use Kintera to help your fundraising.

Timeline

Some folks will respond immediately, but after the initial few donations, what happens next? Your fundraising campaign is actually a series of communications: your initial letter, follow up letters and updates, and a thank you letter after the Ride. Mark these timeline goals on your calendar to help you plan your campaign from now until the Ride — and beyond!

Today
Send out your first round of emails/letters.
Make a list of 10 people you’re going to approach in person, and start with one a week.

Four weeks later
Send out another round of emails (to everyone). Tell them about your training, new things you’ve learned or are getting excited about, and thank those people by name who have sponsored you (this will encourage others to follow suit).
Check your list of individuals to approach-how’s your progress? Keep it up!

Four weeks after that
Send out another email/letter update. How far can you ride now? How close are you to reaching your goal?

Two weeks before the Ride
Send out a quick reminder email to folks who haven’t yet responded.

One week after the Ride Write a thank you note to your sponsors. Like your fundraising letter, this note should be personalized. Consider printing a color postcard with pictures from the Ride once you return to mail to donors.  Tell your donors what the Ride was like, your personal highlights, how you felt, and what you learned.. The sooner you write this after the Ride, the easier it will be-all your stories and emotions will be fresh. Include photos, if you have them

After the ride you should also do a final push to donors – include personal experiences and what you learned first hand about the Arava Institute and Hazon. Many of our riders continue to fundraising in the months following the Ride.