Charity Team Leaders Share Tips for Success

Are you considering fundraising on Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend but concerned about, you know, the raising funds part? It’s a natural concern and one that likely keeps the percentage of marathon weekend runners who race for charity at its current 3% figure.

But, as the charity team leaders we talked to for this article will share, there are some basic techniques and tips that have proven successful for the hundreds of “fund runners” who currently raise more than $1 million annually for charity on Marathon Weekend.

“If you are excited and passionate about what you are doing and why you are doing it, others will get excited also and they will support you,” Carl Gaede of the Tutapona team said. “Just sharing your excitement with others is the best way to get support. People want to support causes that people are excited about.”

Often that passion and excitement begins with causes close to the runner.

“People can feel it when your heart is in it,” Dave Thompson of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) said. “Talk openly about your personal connection to the cause, why it matters to you, and how it’s impacted your life.”

Rebecca Lange of Mile in My Shoes, concured: “Our most successful FundRacers are individuals that make personal connections to our mission and share their motivations for supporting our organization.”

Assuming you’ve identified a heartfelt cause that energizes you, there’s still that pesky asking for money thing, right? Maddie Babel of Cancer Legal Care has a great idea for getting yourself over that hump.

“Talk to your friends and family about your participation and make it personal,” she said. “Once you have your thoughts settled in your head, and you've 'practiced' by being chatty with your friends and family about it, it turns into a really easy ask.”

And it turns out, there are people just waiting to be asked.

“The number one reason why people don't donate is because they're never asked,” Nikki Margeson of the National Brain Tumor Society noted. “Don't be afraid to ask for your network's support as you take on this race and set a challenge for yourself."

Maddie Archbold of Second Harvest Heartland offered a clever idea for softening the ask: “Request that friends and family members donate to your fundraiser as a birthday or holiday gift,” she said. “This gives them the opportunity to support and celebrate you at the same time!”

Likewise, donations to your cause could also be given as a gift to others in their name.

When it comes to the basic, “Would you be interested in donating to my cause” ask, charity team leaders stress personalization, specificity, and persistence.

“Don’t overthink it,” urged David from AFSP. “The most effective way to raise money is simply to ask people directly. A personal message—whether it’s through text, email, or a social media post—goes a long way. You’ll be surprised how many people want to support you; they just need the nudge."

Meghan Foley observed that fundraisers who add personal information to their fundraising pages at her nonprofit, Compassion International, see a 15% uptick in donations.

Deb, the leader of the Brave Like Gabe Foundation’s fundraising team, urges fund raisers to be specific in their asks. “If you're raising $250, for example, it's easy to ask ten people to donate $25.”

She also stresses persistence, something distance runners should already be familiar with.

“We also remind our fundraisers that it takes seven asks before the average donor supports a cause. It can feel frustrating to constantly feel like you're asking for money, so packing your patience pants is key."

Lucia Webb of Unite to Fight Paralysis said to consider asks built on short term objectives, for example: “This week I'm trying to raise $250 because I'm going to run 25 miles over the next seven days."

And little details can also tip the balance and increase the impact.

“Another good tip is to encourage taking advantage of workplace matching,” Sara Johnson of Urban Roots noted. “Many companies will provide a matching gift to donations their employees make, which doubles (or sometimes triples) the fundraising amount!”

Teri Kandel of the SUDC Foundation urges fun and creativity.

“No strategy is too small or too silly,” she said. “Fundraising doesn’t have to be serious to be effective. The more fun and authentic you make it, the more likely people are to join in and support you. Whether it’s a photo from a training run, a glimpse of their fundraising progress, or a quick selfie with a “thank you” sign, these more visual posts can go a long way.”

Just as donors don’t donate unless they’re asked, fundraisers don’t raise funds unless they sign up. So consider this Twin Cities In Motion’s ask:

Would you please be a fundraiser at Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend this year?

Learn more about our Charity Program here ... including finding your heartfelt cause among one of our 52 charity teams. Read about TCM's new four-year initiative -- Raise the Community Pace -- seeking to transform the nonprofit impact of Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend. Save the Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. when a panel of charity running experts will share more tips and insights for successful fund running. Details coming soon!