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I was never a runner. The only time I would run was to prepare for basketball season in high school and college. My wife had registered for the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon as a charity runner to raise money for the Pittsburgh Promise, a non-profit that looks to improve educational outcomes in Pittsburgh Public Schools by providing scholarships to graduating seniors. But when my wife’s nursing school schedule kept her from running, I decided to transfer her race registration and her fundraising. As a teacher in PPS, I knew how the work of the Pittsburgh Promise was important, so I used the “I hate running, but I love my students” line to raise almost $1,000 for the Promise.

Since 2010, my friends and family have donated close to $10,000 to local charities like the Promise, Urban Impact Foundation, The Pittsburgh Project, and the American Cancer Society throughout the 11 years that I have run the UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K, the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, and the Dick’s Sporting Goods Marathon. While I will never claim to know all there is to being a charity runner, I have learned a couple things that have helped me reach my fundraising goals every year.

Things to Do

Tweet and Post!
Use your social media accounts! Whether it is through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or whatever else you are using, post pictures of your training runs with a link to your fundraising site. Also, be sure to use pictures from the charity you are raising money for so that your followers can learn more about the organization that you are supporting.

Tell a Story
Most charity runners choose to raise money for an organization they feel connected to. As you create your fundraising site, focus on what has connected you to that organization and tell that story. Your friends and family who will be reading your post will want to know why you are so committed to the charity that you would run 26.2 (or 13.1 or 3.1) miles to support them.

Set a Goal
While most organizations set a minimum fundraising amount for you, it is also important to have a goal for yourself. Just like you are training to run your race by completing smaller training runs, it is also important to consider your end goal and that every dollar gets you closer to accomplishing that goal. As you get closer and closer to meeting your goal, make sure you are thanking those who are supporting you. Last year, as I ran my virtual Pittsburgh Marathon, I asked those who donated to my fundraiser to recommend 3 songs that I could add to my playlist. Every time I heard a song that was recommended, I took a picture and posted it and tagged the person who recommended the song. It was a great way for me to thank those who donated!

Things Not to Do

Don’t Tweet and Post!
While using social media can help you tell you story and give your friends and family opportunities to donate to your charity, you also run the risk of bombarding your followers with requests to donate. Your friends and family follow you, because they want to hear about your life and hopefully, your training. Tell your story, but try to limit the amount of times you find yourself begging for donations.

Don’t Forget the Why
There is a reason you have chosen to embark on this journey; don’t forget that. The years I raised money for the Pittsburgh Promise, I kept thinking about the Pittsburgh Public Schools students who would be out on the course cheering me on. This year, I am raising money for the American Cancer Society in memory of my mom who passed away in September. As I am pushing through tough training miles, I am hopeful that the money I raise can help someone else and honor the legacy of my mom.

Don’t Focus Only on Money
While your goal is to raise money for your charity, don’t forget that you are also trying to bring awareness to your organization’s cause. Some people may be really interested in learning more about your story and the organization, but they may not have the financial means to donate right now. Learning about what your organization does and why it is an important part of the Pittsburgh community is just as important as a donation. All of my social media posts included a link to my fundraising page and a link to the organization’s page. Even if someone wasn’t going to give me money, I wanted each person to have a chance to learn about the mission of the organization.

Written by P3Runner, Derek Long