Spin-a-thon Fundraisers: Learn to Host Charity Spinathons with DoJiggy
Spin-a-thons® are popular
fundraising
events as spinning has become a favored fitness activity in recent years. Not sure exactly what spin-a-thon fundraisers are? A spin-a-thon is a peer-to-peer fundraising event where participants ride on
stationary bicycles and raise money for a cause. Participants commit to spinning® (or riding a stationary bike in place) and ask friends and family to donate to an organization on behalf of their efforts.
A fun advantage of a spin-a-thon is that people literally stay in one place. Instead of a walk-a-thon or traditional bike-a-thon where people start at one destination and end at another, the spin-a-thon event is set up with stationary exercise bikes. This creates a communal gathering place for announcements and entertainment throughout your event. You can make your fundraiser into a community party and include live music, food and beverages, and fun games and contests. While people cycle to raise money, you are bringing members of your organization together with supporters, local businesses, media, and neighbors.
Organizing a Charity Spin-a-thon
As with
most
fundraising events, you’ll need to get a strong spin committee. These types of events take lots of planning, and several dedicated committee members are needed for a successful fundraiser. You’ll need to consider your event budget since
spinathons
typically have up-front costs to consider. The good news is that when done well, spin-a-thons can be lucrative and fun fundraising events.
Read on to find out how to successfully organize a charity spin-a-thon.
Use a Donor-Friendly Spin-a-thon Website
Extend the reach of your spin-a-thon fundraiser with a fundraising platform for peer-to-peer events, like our P2P spin-a-thon software. Utilizing a spin-a-thon website is absolutely essential to your event’s success. Participants can easily register for your event and create personal fundraising pages. Here, they upload photos and videos and provide a safe and secure way for people to make online donations. Spin-a-thon event participants and volunteers can send out an email donation request that includes a link to their personal fundraising page, making it very easy for donors to contribute to your organization. Encourage participants to post links on social media sites to extend the reach of your fundraising campaign beyond your local community. Be sure to add a prominent link or widget to your spin-a-thon fundraising website on your organization’s website as well.
Get Started with Our Free P2P Crowdfunding Software for Spin-a-thons
We offer more features and functionality for nonprofit and volunteer managers as well as an easy, clean user experience for donors and supporters.
Fundraising
Thermometers
Personal
Fundraising Pages
P2P
Leaderboards
Text to Donate
(US clients)
Live Stream
Studio
Digital Wallet
Support
Custom
Branding
Easy
Social Share
Embeddable
Widgets
Recurring
Donations
Fundraising
Landing Page
Offline
Donations
Supporter
Chatter
Custom
URLs
Event
Check-in
Automated
Receipts
Export Reports
to CSV
Per Unit
Pledges
Crowdfunding
Perks
Google Analytics
Integration
Gift Aid for
UK Organizations
Sponsor
Promotion
FAQ
Section
Canadian
Tax Receipts
Facebook Pixel
Integration
Countdown
Timer
Participant
Privacy Options
Prize
Management
Peer to Peer
Functionality
Free
Pricing
Secure a Great Location for the Spin-a-thon
Host your spin-a-thon in a fun environment. If the event takes place in the summer, host the event on the beach. Set up a stationary bike station overlooking the water and have participants sign up for time slots to pedal. Have other activities for people to participate in such as beach volleyball. If the spin-a-thon is a family event, host it at a park where there is a playground for younger children to interact while parents and siblings ride. If you host the event in the winter, host it at a large community gymnasium or YMCA. Set up stations for biking, but also other areas for community interaction.
Create a Charity Spin-a-thon Theme or Scene
Once you’ve decided where to host your spin-a-thon fundraiser, what other fun ideas can make it unique? If you promote health and wellness, it’s easy to add other supporting activities.
- Some organizations add a free yoga component (or stretching class) to their spin-a-thon. Event attendees can join a gentle yoga class after their ride or before they hop on the bike.
- Invite nutritionists or fitness experts to discuss a healthy diet and provide tips for lowering body fat.
- Provide healthy food and juice options for sale.
- Offer complimentary chair massages to help participants unwind or paid chair massages, further benefiting your cause.
- Bring the bikes outside for a summer or COVID-friendly event!
Harness the Power of Competition and Prizes
Many spin-a-thons offer a gift bag for all event participants or participants who raise a certain amount of money. Gift bags can include an event T-shirt, a water bottle for riders to use while cycling, plus samples, coupons, or other donated goodies from event sponsors and local businesses.
Offer incentives and prizes to motivate supporters to work hard and secure donations. Create incentives for the participants and teams who raise the most donations or pledges. Also, consider hosting contests on the day of the event to award participants who pedal the furthest and/or longest. Easily post Leaderboards and fundraising thermometers on your spin-a-thon website.
Event Add-Ons Can Generate More Revenue
Your
goal is to raise money for your organization or charity, so adding additional revenue-generating opportunities throughout the day is key. This is also a great time to consider reaching out to sponsors who can provide products or services that
are in line with the theme of your event. Sponsors can provide financial donations, assistance promoting the event, as well as in-kind donations and prizes for contests. Learn more about how
to get sponsors to support your fundraising event.
- Add a fundraising raffle to your charity spinathon event. Offering participants and event attendees a chance to win cool prizes is always popular. Solicit raffle prizes from local businesses such as restaurant and retail gift certificates, a free month membership or private training session at a local gym, a free stationary bike, or a free massage to work out those sore muscles after an hour of cycling.
- Host a silent auction where event attendees can bid on items. Auction items can include gift certificates, weekend getaways, art and jewelry, or celebrity memorabilia. This is another great way to raise more funds for your cause.
More Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Resources
For more useful fundraising resources for your charity spin-a-thon, visit our Athon fundraiser resources, where we have sample pledge forms, event timelines, flyers, and guidelines to help you plan and promote your peer-to-peer event, sponsor solicitation tips, and much more.
Spin-a-thon® is a registered trademark of DoJiggy LLC. Spin and Spinning® are registered trademarks owned by Mad Dogg Athletics®, Inc. DoJiggy is in no way affiliated with Mad Dogg Athletics®, Inc.
