Event-a-Thon Quick Start - Read before your first event!

We're excited for your event! Fundraisers like yours not only raise funds and awareness, they also bring the community together in a special way. Please refer to our Zendesk documentation product guide for detailed instructions. This provides a general overview of the process.

Event Setup

We offer a free online training for Event-a-Thon so you can get a running start. Contact [e-mail] to schedule. Overview of the process is:

1. Create the event in "Add Event" tab under "PFP/Event-a-Thon" 
2. Our system will generate an event site with a template you can customize with our editor. At this time you need to send us a new photo. You cannot update the background image yourself.  However, if you have a web developer or designer and want to change this section, use the update wrapper option. This must be done before continuing setup.
3. Update "Default Team Page" with text and photos. You will find the link under "Find/Edit Events" and selecting your event.
4. If charging a registration fee or collecting t-shirt information, use the "PFP/Event-a-Thon" - "Add ticket" link. 
5. Update emails (there are 4 - Donation, Start a Team, Join a Team and Individual signup). If charging a fee or collecting t-shirt info you can update the receipt as well.
6. Test the platform and when ready hide the Default Team from the team list. DO NOT DELETE. If you delete, it will remove functionality. We suggest creating a new team if you want a catch all team for the event. Think of the Default as a template.

Event Management

1. You can view transaction data in the "Reports" tab. Be sure to select type (registration or donation).
2. To move participants between teams go to "Teams" and click "Edit" next to the individual you want to move.
3. Once your event is up and running you might get some checks or cash donations. You can enter these in the "Offline Donations" tab.

A Few Fundraising Tips

Over one third of all online donations come from social fundraising so a successful fundraiser will utilize social media for signups and encourage participants to share, share, share! 

1. Message to participants the importance of personalizing their fundraising page with their own message and even images. This will help them raise more as people feel more connected. 
2. Encourage participants to share on social media! We can't stress enough how effective and essential this is for your event's success. Provide them with text suggestions for posts and appeals.
3. Check in regularly with participants via email or phone (weekly or bi-weekly). Developing a relationship with team captains is especially important for ongoing success.