Share the Ride
The more genuine excitement you generate about your upcoming adventure, the more people will share in that excitement and start pledging. Tell your story to everyone. Don’t fake it - find out what makes you passionate about the ride and share that. Tell them you’re doing this with many other riders. Tell them about the money that will be raised for critical AIDS services. Tell them you don’t even own a bike, but you’re buying one and doing this anyway (if that’s true). Engage them with your story, along with the ride story. Then shut up. Let them respond. (”I can’t believe you’re really doing this!”, “Wow, I could never do that!”, or “Are you for real?” can be expected.)

Learn About the Ride Beneficiaries
Take the time to learn about what the beneficiaries do, not only so you can speak eloquently about it, but so you yourself will be inspired. People are impressed when you really know where the money is going.

The First Rule of Fundraising
Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask

You raise money when you ask for it and you don’t raise money when you don’t. The more you’re out there asking, the more you’ll raise. Get out there and ask. If you ask a lot, you’ll raise a lot. If you ask a little, you’ll raise a little. The more you ask, the better you get at it.

It may surprise you to know that Americans gave away over $240 billion to charity last year (2004)*. Do you know where most of that money came from? Think it came from corporations? No, corporations accounted for less than 5%. Think it came from foundations? No, foundations accounted for just over 11%. The answer, of course, is that most of if came from individuals-75% of the charitable dollars given away in America last year (2004) were given by individuals-like your friends, your family, your boss, and your coworkers. So go on out there and ask them. Keep pledge forms with you everywhere you go. Keep them in your car, at your office, take them to the gym, keep some at home-and make a habit of asking people to support you.

Set yourself a goal of sharing the ride with one person a day or at least five people a week.

The Second Rule of Fundraising
No one ever gave away their last dime.

Don’t be worried that you’re asking people for too much money. If they can’t pledge as much as you’ve asked for they’ll tell you. People are often flattered by being asked to contribute at high levels - it means they’re perceived as successful, important members of the community.

Ask for the Right Amount
Don’t ask someone for $100 when you know they can give $1,000. Determine when the time and situation are right and ask them for the appropriate amount. If you need tips on approaching a major donor, call us and we’ll help. If you’re asking for larger amounts, let your potential sponsor know that you’re serious. Don’t ask them without a lot of thought.

A good rule of thumb is to ask them out for lunch. Tell them you’re doing the Ride for AIDS Chicago and you’d like to take them to lunch to talk about it. Your treat. At lunch, let them know your story and why you’re doing the ride. When the moment is right, ask.

This may help you with the ask. Repeat these sentences several times-”So, that’s why this is important to me, and I’d like to ask for your help. I’d like you to make a $500 pledge in support of what I’m doing. Will you do that?” Then pause, be quiet, and allow your sponsor to respond. It takes a lot of courage to look someone in the eye and say that. It takes even more courage to be quiet after you’ve said them. It’s natural to want to follow-up with “If you can’t, don’t worry, I know that’s a lot, I hate to even ask you.” Resist that temptation. Be silent. Give them the space to say yes, because that’s probably what will happen if you look them in the eye. Move through your fear, ask and let them answer.

And Remember This…
You are making a commitment. Not everyone rides hundreds of miles and makes the kind of preparations you’re making. You’re doing something about AIDS. You’re putting your money where your mouth is. You’re making a big difference. It gives you the right to ask others to do something too. It gives you the right to ask them to make a pledge to you and the event-not an amount that’s going to break them, but one that leaves them feeling like they’re making a commitment to the fight against AIDS.

Some riders get confused. They begin to think that they’re asking for money for themselves. Not true! The money is not going to you, it’s going through you to those who desperately need it. Your sponsors are making a commitment to the lives of those affected by AIDS, just like you. Don’t lose that focus. In fact, share that focus. You’re not asking selfishly-you’re giving them the opportunity to help out in the fight against AIDS.

* Charitable giving information provided by American Association of Fundraising Counsel, www.aafrc.org.