9 Event-a-Thon Variations To Shake Up Your Next Event

What if fundraising could be as fun as it is impactful?

Event-a-thons can add a twist to your fundraising calendar by combining excitement with purpose. They’re easy to promote, require active participation from supporters, and unite your community in pursuit of supporting a shared cause.

Whether it’s walking, dancing, or volunteering, these events get supporters involved in your mission. They’re common school fundraisers for sports teams and organizations but can be customized to suit any nonprofit.

To help you launch an unmissable event, we’ll dive into the basics of event-a-thons and some of the variations you can use to keep yours fresh and exciting year after year. Let’s get started!

What is an event-a-thon?

An event-a-thon is a pledge-based fundraiser in which participants collect donations based on an activity they perform, such as walking, dancing, or volunteering. Participants create individual fundraising pages and invite their friends and family members to give. Donors can either pledge per unit of activity (e.g., $5 for each lap participants swim) or give a flat amount.

For example, in a walk-a-thon, a donor might pledge to donate $5 for every lap a specific participant walks. In a dance-a-thon, a participant might receive a pledge of $40 for every 30 minutes they dance during the event. Once your event wraps up, you’ll use your pledge software to collect the proceeds based on each participant’s performance.

To further boost your event’s success, you can also incorporate event sponsorships. Partnering with businesses can help increase your event’s budget, as sponsors often provide both financial support and in-kind gifts like venue space in exchange for brand visibility during the event.

Event-a-thon variations to try

Part of what makes event-a-thons such great fundraisers is that they can be changed to fit your nonprofit’s cause. Here are a few examples of event-a-thon variations you can use:

1. Walk-a-thon or jog-a-thon

As the quintessential event-a-thon, walk-a-thons and jog-a-thons are an extremely versatile type of event-a-thon that any nonprofit can use. 99Pledges’ guide to walk-a-thon fundraisers explains that participants gather donations by encouraging family and friends to pledge a fixed amount for each unit of distance (e.g., lap, mile, kilometer, etc.) they walk.

This event-a-thon variation is best suited for organizations looking to engage a wide audience, since walking and jogging are accessible for all ages. Whether your nonprofit focuses on education, health, or community outreach, a walk-a-thon or jog-a-thon allows supporters to actively contribute to your cause while enjoying a communal, outdoor experience.

For school groups in particular, these events teach students leadership skills and dedication to a cause. Plus, it gets them outside and moving with friends!

2. Hit-a-thon

As a popular baseball team fundraiser, a hit-a-thon allows players to showcase their skills while raising money for their team or cause. Donors can pledge donations based on:

• The number of home runs a participant hits
• Every ball they hit
• Every foot their balls travel during the game

This event is especially exciting for sports fans since it creates an engaging atmosphere. To make it more fun, incorporate challenges like pitching speed contests or offer prizes for participants who hit the most home runs. Hit-a-thons can also attract local sponsors, such as sporting goods stores, who can provide equipment or promotional support.

3. Swim-a-thon

A swim-a-thon is an ideal fundraiser for swim teams or organizations in warm climates. Participants collect pledges based on the number of laps they swim or the specific strokes they use. This event allows swimmers to showcase their skills while encouraging friendly competition, making it a great community event and a successful fundraiser for any nonprofit or after-school swim program.

4. Kick-a-thon

A kick-a-thon is an excellent soccer fundraising idea that allows participants of all ages to engage with the sport. To add an exciting challenge, you can encourage participants to aim for the crossbar instead of just the net or have an experienced goalie block their shots. This twist adds a competitive edge while creating a dynamic event that brings the community together and raises support for your cause.

5. Dance-a-thon

A dance-a-thon is an energetic way to fundraise, appealing to people who love to move, whether solo or with a partner. Make the most of people’s enthusiasm by allowing donors to pledge based on different dance styles or the length of time participants stay on the floor. This event is a lively, crowd-pleasing option for any nonprofit.

6. Volunteer-a-thon

A volunteer-a-thon enables participants to support your cause by giving their time to meaningful community projects. Donors can pledge gifts based on the number of volunteer hours completed. This event not only raises funds but also teaches participants—especially students—the value of nonprofit work. Plus, it strengthens the connection between your organization and its local community.

7. Clean-a-thon

While cleaning is typically a chore, a clean-a-thon turns it into a rewarding and impactful fundraiser. Participants can gather pledges for tasks like tidying up facilities or picking up litter in public spaces. By transforming a necessary task into a community-driven event, a clean-a-thon fosters teamwork and a sense of accomplishment while supporting your cause.

8. Hunt-a-thon

A hunt-a-thon is an exciting way to engage participants through a scavenger hunt, where donors pledge based on the number of items found. This type of event not only raises funds but also encourages participants to explore their community and learn more about local landmarks, making it a unique and interactive way to connect with your neighborhood.

9. Read-a-thon

A read-a-thon is a fantastic fundraising option that encourages participants to dive into books while raising money for a good cause. Participants collect pledges based on the number of pages or books they read or the minutes they spend reading, making it an engaging and educational event for all ages. Adapt it for younger readers by tracking the time their families spend reading books to them.

Read-a-thons are particularly popular among schools and literacy-focused nonprofits, as they promote a love for reading while rallying support from donors.

Other tips to make your next event-a-thon engaging

Because event-a-thons are so popular, setting yours apart can be challenging. Here are a few ideas to consider during the event planning process to make participating more appealing:

• Incorporate fun themes. Themes draw participants in. For example, a dance-a-thon can have a swing-dancing theme with matching music and decorations. Or host a scavenger hunt-a-thon with an Easter theme where you hide eggs for participants.
• Invite the community. Expand your event by involving the whole community. Whether it’s a school fundraiser or a neighborhood clean-up, inviting parents, students, and locals will boost participation. Nonprofit marketing research found that 39% of people are extremely likely to respond when they see promotion across multiple channels, so use a mix of channels to reach your community.
• Add side activities. Side activities, like carnival-style games or food stands, can keep spectators entertained, encouraging them to come out and support your cause.
• Partner with businesses. Corporate sponsors can dramatically increase your event’s budget. 360MatchPro’s corporate sponsorships guide encourages fundraisers to create sponsorship tiers that businesses can choose from to tailor their support based on financial capacity and interest. In turn, you should offer benefits to those philanthropic businesses, such as including their logo on your marketing materials and thanking them in your end-of-event speech.

To power your event-a-thon, choose robust fundraising software for collecting pledges. The platform you choose should have a streamlined pledge page creation process and social media integrations to make it easy for participants to share their pages online. Gamification features like leaderboards showcasing top fundraisers can incite friendly competition, too!

When your event concludes, show appreciation to participants, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. They’re the reason your event is even possible! You might show your gratitude by sending personalized thank-you letters or posting about the great results they made possible on social media.

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With so many ways to customize and enhance your event-a-thon, you can create a memorable experience that resonates with supporters. Remember to choose reliable fundraising software to streamline the pledge process and ensure your donors feel secure when pledging their support. After all, a smooth experience with this campaign sets the stage for future giving!