Food For Free's Ride For Food Team

Ride For Food: Fundraising Tools for Riders

Thank you so much for joining the Food For Free team in the Ride for Food! We know committing to fundraise is no small task, so we want to support you every step of the way as you reach your goal. Below you will find tips, scripts, and downloadable images to kick your fundraising into high gear!

Getting Started

Fundraising Strategies

It works! In fact, it’s the #1 way we’ve found to fundraise for the Ride for Food.

Write a few sentences about why this cause matters to you.
-Use our sample email below to get you started, or just copy it if you like!
-Try to write more than one sentence about why this cause matters to you if you can. Studies have shown that the more you write, the more people are compelled to donate.
Choose your recipients and make your list broad
-Most riders need 20-30 people to donate in order to successfully raise $1,000.
-We suggest you ask 50-100 people in order to find 20-30 who will donate, so include friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
Send—a few times!
-Don’t be afraid to send them a reminder (or two) after a few weeks as the ride gets closer.
Send a “thank you” when you receive a donation
-Everyone likes to be appreciated! Plus, sending a quick “thank you” email is a good opportunity to let the donor know about Food For Free and ask if they can share your fundraising page with their own networks.

Sample Email Ask Script:

“Hi [name]

This year, I am riding in the Ride for Food—an annual charity bike ride that raises money to fund essential food programs across the Greater Boston area. I am specifically fundraising for Food For Free, a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, that improves access to healthy food within our community by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste, strengthening the community food system, and creating new distribution channels to reach under-served populations. Food For Free envisions a future where everyone in our community—regardless of age, income or ability—has consistent access to fresh, healthy, delicious food.

This cause is very close to my heart because [insert your reason]. This is my [insert number] year doing the Ride for Food, and I am very excited to be a part of this amazing team!

Will you help me support this cause? Your support will go far in helping to end food insecurity in our community. Thank you for your generosity!”

Sample Thank You Script

“Hi [name of donor],

Thank you so much for supporting me in the Ride for Food! Your donation means a lot to me. Thank you for helping me fight food insecurity and end hunger in my community.

If you want to learn more about Food For Free and all the great work your donation will support, check out their website at foodforfree.org.

Also, if you could, please consider sharing my fundraising page with other people in your network. I am working very hard to hit my [insert $ number] goal!

Thank you,

[your name]”

Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, whatever you use! These are super-effective tools.

Expect to post more than once
-You can expect to make multiple posts over time. We suggest somewhere between once a week and once a month.
Post pictures or video
-More people will see your post if you include visuals. Goofy bike pictures, selfies with you and your bike, a quick cell phone video: all great options!
-Grab one of our shareable images for a quick post option right now.
Make each post a little different
-It’s best to write a little something (rather than just posting your fundraising link.) For example, give an update on your progress, or thank people who have donated.
Don’t forget your tags and hashtags!
-The official hashtags for the Ride for Food are #RideForFood and #FoodInsecurity, but feel free to use any other ones you like, too!
-You can also tag Food For Free in your posts: @foodforfreeinc on Instagram and @foodforfreeorg on Facebook and Twitter.

Sample Posts:

I’m proud to #ridebikes while fighting #hunger and #foodinsecurity with @foodforfreeorg. Donate to my #RideForFood page at [link]! Thank you!

Woo! $[your current total] raised for @FoodForFreeInc so far! I’m raising funds to help fight #FoodInsecurity and would welcome your donation, whether large or small. Thanks so much to those who have helped me get this far! Learn more about why I #RideForFood and make a donation at [link to fundraising page]

Workplace

Your employer and co-workers can make your fundraising easier.

Does your employer offer matching donations?

Ask your HR department how to request a matching gift.
If they do not offer matching, see if they will sponsor your ride instead!

Let your co-workers know you’re riding!

Print out an image to keep at your desk to let people know you are riding and how they can donate.
See if they want to join the team, too! Chances are they may be interested now that someone else they know is participating.

Creative Fundraising Ideas

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Adding a fun, personal touch to you donation asks can make a big difference.

Contests: Offer a prize to the person who donates the most to your fundraiser. Competition is a great way to increase donations! It doesn’t have to be an expensive prize—just something fun that encourages people to donate. Example: the person who donates the most to your fundraiser gets to pick a costume you have to wear at the Ride for Food. (Photo evidence required, of course!)

Social Gatherings: Whatever you and your friends are into, you can add a fundraising element to it. Maybe ask for cash donations at your next book club meet-up. Are your friends really into board games? Turn game night into a tournament by asking for a small entry fee. The winner will get eternal glory, and you’ll have fundraised for a good cause.

Creative Thank You: Incentivize people to donate to your fundraiser by offering a creative “thank you” gesture to all who donate. This could be anything from a personalized haiku to a silly picture of your pet! Pro-tip: Make the “thank you” public on social media so other people will be encouraged to donate, too!

Looking for more ideas? Check out Project Bread’s Fundraising A-Z