A fundraising hike

imported
#1

A number of hikers have used their hike to raise funds for certain causes - cancer, diabeties, depression awareness. Asthma hits close to home for me, as I had a sister die from an asthma attack.

But I am considering another type of charity - the wilderness itself.

Huh?

Basically, there’s a non-profit organization in the Moosehead Lake region called the MOOSEHEAD REGION FUTURES COMMITTEE. Funded solely with donations, the MRFC exists to be a voice for the region (one which abuts the 100 Mile Wilderness) and its future as it faces significant development proposals that offer both opportunity-and risk-for the region.

So I would like to raise funds for this organization.

But . . .

Is this a cause that has a chance to raise significant funds? It isn’t exactly “cure for asthma” or something similar - surely a worthy cause. And I guess “significant funds” would be something in the thousands of dollars. If I could raise, say, 6,000 dollars. That might not be much, but it’d be 6,000 more than they currently have, and I know they wouldn’t turn it down.

It’s just that all these other causes seem to raise SO much more - take “A Walk For Sunshine” by Jeff Alt, for example. He raised something like 80 grand or more.

Any comments?

P.S. - the web address for the MRFC is
http://www.mooseheadfutures.org/

http://www.mooseheadfutures.org/

Kineo Kid

#2

I doubt that you will raise much funds on this site. It has been tried countless times.

Most previous fund raisers however, want to raise funds to help a charity plus help themselves along the trail. That doesn’t work. I would suggest trying to raise the money from the people in your area that are more familiar with MRFC. Whatever you do, don’t tell people that some of the money will help support your hike!

bilko

#3

best way would be to go door to door in your area and start talking to people about it. like bilko said, you won’t get any donations through here or the Trail community in general because a lot of people do this every season. heck, I tried it with my church and it didn’t work.

also like bilko said, don’t take a penny for yourself. you’ll have a hard enough time convincing people they’re not paying for your vacation. it would help if all money were handled by a third person.

0101

#4

Talk to people. We collected around 20K during our hike for charity and it all started with talking about it. Good luck. All of the suggestion above are correct. Don’t touch the money. Have people send checks to the organization.

Make up a list on your web site, assuming you have one, we bought a domain name for ours, and list the people there that have contributed. News and events. Whatever you can dream up. We did a photo show, raffles, pounded the pavement. TV spots work for some folks.

Bushwhack +Bramble

#5

Good advice, Bushwhack/Bramble.

No, I won’t need to touch the money at all, and am not soliciting here nor do I plan to on the trail.

Kineo Kid

#6

think local, act global…you need to find something that supports your hometown, habitat for humanity has been a successful hiking fundraising concept for many who call VA Tech home. They have the structure in place and area sporting goods stores post the sponsor forms and print out of the blogs of current hikers.

I think, to make this work, you need the sponsorship to go to something other than conservation…sad but true…

Kitty