Fitness for Fundraising

Fitness for Fundraising

While people always make New Year's resolutions to get in shape, it rarely happens that way. That's because they don't have the support of a community behind them. Your organization can people pick up the slack from the winter months and start to get in shape for spring and summer. Having the encouragement of a big group will help everyone attain their goals.

Step 1: Have People Set Goals

It's tough to get in shape if you don't have concrete goals to reach. Of course, everyone is going to have different goals. Some people want to get stronger, some people want to get faster and run further, and some people want to lose weight. Holding an initial event will allow people to break off into groups with people who have similar goals.

Planning together not only opens up more ideas, but it holds people more accountable. If you have a goal and don't meet it, that's one thing. But if you're in it with someone else, there's further incentive. You not only have to be accountable to yourself, but to others in your group. That means a greater chance of success for everyone.

Step 2: Set Up A Website To Track Goals

This will require a little technical savvy, but once you find someone it should be easy enough. You can even use something as simple as Google Documents to create spreadsheets where people can enter in information about their workouts. Tracking data is one way to keep people motivated in completing their goals. Having that information available to the group further adds to the sense of accountability.

If you do use Google Documents, you can create a link from your home page to many different spreadsheets. Have people record the time and distance of their runs -- many smartphones these days have applications that will tell you your path, your distance, your speed, and your time. They can record weight and repetition information from their anaerobic exercises, too.

Step 3: Finish It With A Field Day

This might not come in March, but it's the perfect end to your fundraising event. When everyone has reached the end of the period, hold a big Field Day event where people can put their fitness on display. This can involved a Fun Run, a 5K, games such as Tug of War, and games for kids. Having this day will also motivate people to stick with their programs, since there is a fun payoff at the end.

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