April 10, 2020

The participation for the charity bib program for our upcoming virtual races has been amazing! Within the first week we had 30 people sign up to raise money for a variety of community beneficiaries from across the country. 

We have people signing up to support local food banks, research to fight COVID 19, community organizations helping vulnerable populations, and those who want to raise funds to support public lands, including communities supporting their local National Parks. 

As more communities are enforcing stricter stay at home orders, we know that our job providing a platform for people to raise money (while sharing our passion for running and wandering) to support community partners is far from done. So we have decided to extend our fundraising deadline for the “Stay Home” virtual races until May 25, 2020.

We are also hoping that community fundraisers will extend their reach by creating fundraising teams to support the community beneficiaries of their choosing. 

How creating a team can create an even bigger impact.

Currently, we are encouraging Community Fundraisers to raise $250 for their beneficiary. Now imagine, reaching out to a larger group like your child’s little league baseball team or your local running club, and engaging them to join your fundraising team to support a local business or organization. For example, your local pizza shop. Remembering that they decided to support that little league fundraiser last year. 

Now, you have ten families engaged to support your cause, and have a much bigger reach with the potential to raise $2,500 or more for YOUR community!

If that is not enough incentive to create a team, we have also added additional benefits available to teams that reach certain fundraising goals. Below are our lists of incentives for teams at 3 different fundraising levels:

Champion ($10,000+)

  • Complementary “Stay Home” Race Medals and Shirts for your fundraising team*
  • $2500 worth of race credit to ANY Vacation Races events
  • $250 worth of Vacation Races merchandise
  • An engraved plaque with donor and team name will be given to your local beneficiary 
  • Social media posts on VR and WP sites highlighting your team and the effect you were able to have within your local community
  • Marketing space on Staycation Races (SR) and Wander Project (WP) sites for up to 2 businesses that supported your fundraising campaign
    • Donors hall of fame on Staycation Races

Contender ($5,000-9,999)

  • Complementary “Stay Home” Race Medals and Shirts for your fundraising team*
  • $1000 worth of race credit to ANY Vacation Races events
  • $100 worth of Vacation Races merchandise
  • An engraved plaque with donor and team name will be given to your local beneficiary 
  • Social media posts on SR and WP sites highlighting your team and the effect you were able to have within your local community

Rookie ($1,000-4,999)

  • Complementary “Stay Home” Race Medals and Shirts for your fundraising team*
  • $50 worth of Vacation Races merchandise
  • Social media posts on VR and WP sites highlighting your team and the effect you were able to have within your local community

*Fundraising teams are consistent with a minimum of $250/athlete

Community beneficiaries can be ANY business or nonprofit organization that is being affected by the impacts of COVID 19. Along with organizations that we mentioned above (but not limited to), this can also be the pizza shop that supported your child’s little league team, and now might be at risk of closing because sales are down and rent is due. Our only requirement is that they are a registered organization (we can’t send donations to individuals).

Once the fundraising deadline has closed, we will work to distribute funds to beneficiaries around the country. 90% of what you raise will go directly to the beneficiary of your choice and 10% stays with Wander Project and our partner, Public Lands Alliance, to ensure fundraising opportunities like this one can continue to support communities in solving local issues. Our hope is to have funds disbursed within 30 days of the fundraising deadline.

While there are a lot of restrictions right now and there is a lot that we cannot do (including leaving our home town communities), we CAN remember that we are not alone. We have the opportunity right now to inspire our communities and show our solidarity in supporting the businesses and organizations that support us. Let’s come together and run as ONE…for a cause.

About the author 

Amy Ben-Horin

Amy has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 14 years. While her work has primarily been focused within the youth and education realm, she, like most people in the nonprofit sector, has worn almost every hat imaginable, including co-founder for an organization in 2014. Amy has also had the honor of presenting at TEDx Vail in 2016, sharing what she believes is the key to helping youth reach their full potential. Stepping into the role of Executive Director for another start-up organization, Amy is passionate about service to others and is extremely excited to help support the amazing mission of Wander Project.

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