Fundraising 1, 2, 3
Here is a simple recipe to help make your fundraising for the Sunrise Rotary Ride easy and fun!
Fundraising is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
| 1. | Create or customize your fundraising page on BikeSignup. Sign in or sign up at www.SunriseRotaryRide.org. To edit your existing personal fundraising page, click on the circular icon in the upper right of the screen, log in if necessary and select Profile. Then scroll down to your 2026 Fundraiser and click on Edit Fundraiser. After setting your goal, create a unique web address for your fundraiser page (i.e., Custom Fundraiser URL). For example, RidingForTheKids. Then it's easy to remember: www.bikesignup.com/RidingForTheKids. Next, add a fun image of yourself. This makes it personal and is very important. Edit the personal message to something that reflects you, or just remove the first line and go with the default. Your choice. Finally, hit Save Fundraiser Changes at the bottom of the page. Your fundraising page is now ready to accept donations! |
| 2. | Create an email that you will send out (step 3), that directs people to your fundraising page. It should be short, sweet and definitely include a catchy photo to get the recipient's attention. Don't forget to include the link to your personal fundraising page. Here's a sample email: |
| 3. | Send this email to everyone that you know! (Seriously!) Comb through your contact list and add addresses to the bcc (blind copy) email that you created in step 2. Everyone is free game: family, friends, customers, neighbors, clients, former lovers, your kids, distant friends . . . why not? You're raising money for a great cause so be bold. Let's say that you send out 50 emails and 25 respond (I know that you will get more). And you receive an average of $50/donation (you will do better). Suddenly you've raised $1,250 and it has taken just a matter of minutes! Voila! As the donations roll in, consider sending a quick 'thank you' email to each donor. Posting the link to your fundraising page on your social media sites will extend your reach even more. |
| 4. | Jon Winston is standing by to help you get set up, either by phone, email or Zoom. The key is to get started now and give all of your contacts the chance to contribute to great local charities. Good luck and thank you!
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Sample Fundraising Letter
Use this as your starting point. Select the text below, copy it, paste into your email and make it your own!
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Hi! I have some exciting news — I've signed up to ride 200 miles on my bike with the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Ride this October, and I'd love your support. This isn't a race. It's a three-day cycling adventure from the heart of Sonoma wine country, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and down the California coast back home to Santa Cruz — all in the name of giving back to the community we love. And here's the best part: 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to charity. Every single cent. No administrative fees skimmed off the top. That's the Rotary promise. This year we're riding for: Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County — our primary beneficiary — is launching the first-ever elementary school-based food pantry in Santa Cruz County. One in four children in our county faces food insecurity. This pantry brings food directly into schools, meeting families where they are and removing the barriers that keep so many from getting the help they need. We're also supporting Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery (MOD), where kids of all backgrounds explore, create, and learn through hands-on exhibits — and Common Roots Farm, a remarkable urban farm where people with disabilities grow food, flowers, and genuine community alongside their neighbors. As always, the ride also supports the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary High School Scholarship program and Charities & Grants program, which fund college scholarships and grants to local youth athletic and arts organizations every year. I've committed to raising a minimum of $1,000 and I'm personally shooting for $1,500. Would you consider sponsoring me? You can donate online by clicking the button on my fundraising page — it takes two minutes and every dollar goes straight to these incredible organizations. To Donate by Check: Make your check payable to: Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise Foundation Mail to: Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise PO Box 7026 Santa Cruz, CA 95061 In the memo line please write: Bike Ride Sponsorship for [YOUR NAME] Your donation is fully tax deductible. The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise Foundation, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Thank you for helping me make these 200 miles mean something. I can't wait to cross that finish line knowing you helped make it possible. With gratitude, [YOUR NAME] |
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The Sunrise Rotary Ride is an annual event produced by the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise in California with 100% of the proceeds going to our non-profit beneficiaries.
