If you use the following information and put in the effort, you can be well on your way to achieving your fundraising goal. Remember you do not have to stop at the required fee: the sky's the limit. And there are great fundraising incentives!

The SPONSOR SHEET is one of your best fundraising tools. Post it, share it, pass it around! ALWAYS CARRY A SPONSOR SHEET WITH YOU and/or keep one in your car. You never know when or where you’ll meet someone who wants to sponsor you! Be prepared to offer pledge suggestions. People will want to know how much is expected. They will either look on your sheet or ask you how much they should give. Think about putting your own name on the sheet or having a good friend or spouse be the first sponsor with a moderate pledge ($15?, $25?, or whatever you think best!).

Bike4Sight sponsor sheet in PDF format

ESTABLISH A GOAL (don't just try to raise the minimum) and let your potential sponsors know what your goal is. If you seem energetic about reaching a particular amount of money they will want to help you get there! MAKE A LIST of people you can ask to support your ride. Think about friends, family, neighbors, work associates, local businesses and social groups.

TALK UP THE EVENT at social gatherings where people will get excited by your enthusiasm for the sport and the event!

Try to GET THE DONATION WHEN YOU GET THE COMMITMENT! This will work out best for both of you. It will save you going back to every sponsor. Tell them you will let them know how your ride went and how much you raised after the ride. Send your pledges in either when you get them or perhaps on a weekly basis. That is a courtesy to those who are writing you checks and it will keep you better organised. If you are given cash, convert it to check before sending it in. Send all pledges to:

Bike4Sight
c/o CBVI
100 West Fifteenth Street
Chester, PA 19013

Make sure all checks are written to CBVI and that each check says "Bike4Sight" in the memo section, along with the riders name.

OFFICE FUNDRAISING Ask your company to support you. Talk to your manager or human resource director. Once you get the manager on board your co-workers will follow. Ask your company for a corporate contribution, or to match what you raise. Will they sponsor a fundraising event? Will they publicize your ride in the company newsletter? If there are four other riders from work will they sponsor the team?

BE VISIBLE Put up a chart of your training and fundraising progress. Put up a map of the route and auction off miles. Make a poster with a picture of you on your bike, attach sponsor sheets to it and post it on your door. Be creative. Spread the word. Use e-mail or inter-office memos (get permission). Ask if you can make a presentation during a staff meeting.

MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS You will leverage your fundraising significantly in this way. Every company has a different matching gift policy. Go to the human resources department and ask for a matching gift form. Fill out the required information and enclose it with the contribution. Then just forward it along to us when you periodically send in your contributions. We'll fill out the rest of the form and return it to the company. They will mail a matching gift in directly to CBVI.

HOUSE PARTIES A house party is an effective (and fun) way to fundraise for your ride. People are more likely to sponsor you once they have a better understanding of what the Bike4Site is all about. Your contributor will find out what a huge commitment you are making. Have fun with the "cycling" theme by displaying your bike in the house, make a poster and have a sign-up sheet hanging from it. Put out a fish bowl for people to drop their checks or money into, serve cycling theme food (cake with picture of bike), raffle off water bottles, or other small cycling-related prizes...

LETTER WRITING Some people prefer to write to friends rather than ask them in person. Customise our letter below or just use it as is. Mail it to friends, relatives, work associates, etc. Hand deliver them to your neighbors mailboxes. Include a sponsor form and a self addressed, stamped, return envelope. A handwritten note adds a personal touch. You can also send letters through email and personalize each one.

Fundraising Letter in Microsoft Word format

Write a personal note of thanks to all of your sponsors. If you do this after the Bike4Sight ride, include stories about your ride, the people you met along the way and how much money the event raised. This will go a long way, especially when you approach them next year. Keep a record of your sponsors to compare year to year.

Each check received by CBVI will be acknowledged with a letter of thanks. Your sponsors will not be solicited directly by the agency during the year. We want to encourage their support of you and we hope that you, the rider, will join us each year to bring back all the support of your sponsors.