Fundraising
Become a fundraising champion! Fundraising, like walking, running and cycling, takes practice and dedication.
The basics
When fundraising, the first step (besides registering) is to personalize your fundraising page and explain your “why.” Then you can choose how you want to reach out based on your level of comfort. Remember to always follow up and thank your supporters! Getting Started
1. Register
Click on the “Register Now” pop up (button) when visiting navybikeride.ca. Then follow the Race Roster prompts to create an account OR sign into your existing account if you’ve participated in the past and already have an account. Once registered, you can check if you’ve done so correctly by going to the “Confirm registration” section (left hand menu) on the Navy Bike Ride event page and entering your first name, last name, or email address in the search bar. If your name appears, you’re registered. If it does not appear, please try registering again following the same steps.
2. Personalize Your Fundraising Page
To the right of your fundraising page, under your name and social media icons, click “Edit fundraising page.” Feel free to upload an image and customize the text on your page. For example, write a few sentences on why you’re participating in Navy Bike Ride (Share Your “Why”). All it takes is a few sentences for a supporter to understand why this cause is important to you and motivate them to donate. Set yourself up for success!
3. Set a Fundraising Goal
Choose a fundraising goal to encourage your supporters to donate to your fundraising campaign and reach your goal. You can use the Impact Milestones (see below) to help you with this. For example, if you are looking to set a goal, you can either set a personal goal or tie it to a specific impact.
Fundraising Impact Milestones
– $200 –
You’re helping offset the medical expenses of a military family travelling for a specialist appointment.
– $750 –
You’re helping a Soldier On member purchase a piece of sporting equipment as part of their rehabilitation and recovery through sport.
– $1,000 –
You’re helping fund services, programs, and projects that support a serving member, a dependent child or grandchild of a current member, or veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy.
– $1,500 –
You’re helping a Soldier On participant gain access to coping mechanisms that allow them to thrive in their rehabilitation and recovery journey.
– $5,000 –
You’re helping offset the cost of assistive equipment that require modifications for an injured Canadian Armed Forces member.
4. Create a team (optional)
Select “Create a Team” (right hand menu) on your fundraising page. Create a team name, set a team fundraising goal, appoint yourself team captain, and recruit your family, friends, and/or colleagues to register and join your team. 5. Ask for donations
Get ready to engage your networks. Reach out to your contacts and share that you’re registered and fundraising for this year’s Navy Bike Ride. Be sure to include a link to your fundraising page for them to use to donate (see “How To Share Fundraising Page on Social Media” below). Why not lead the charge? Be the first to donate to your own campaign and gain momentum toward that fundraising goal.
Email Your Close Contacts and Extended Network
Email your closest friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, friends, distant relatives, etc. and ask them to support you by donating to your page. Explain your connection to the Canadian Armed Forces and/or why you’re participating in Navy Bike Ride. They’ll help your fundraising build some momentum. Remember to ask them for their financial support, include a link to your fundraising page, and thank them for their time and support.
Social Media Share
After you’ve emailed your contacts, it’s time to get social! We save your social media for later steps in your fundraising journey because people like to support causes that already have momentum.
How To Share Fundraising Page on Social Media
– Go to the Navy Bike Ride event page.
– On the left, click “Donate to Participant”
– Search for your fundraising page by entering your first name OR last name OR email address in the search bar provided and hit the search icon.
– Once you’ve found your name, click the “Donate” button on the right.
– You will be directed to your fundraising page. On the right you will see three social media icons. Clicking one will allow you to share your fundraising page on that platform.
6. Share Your Milestones & Have Fun
Be sure to update your supporters on social as you inch closer to your fundraising goal. You’ll also receive emails about the impact that you and your supporters have made along the way. Feel free to share these as it’s important for you and your supporters to know the difference you’re making. Whether it be sending a kid to camp, making a youth’s academic dreams come true, or empowering an ill/injured member start their road to recovery and rehabilitation. You and your supporters are making a difference!
Together we will ride and run, together we will make waves. From all of us at Navy Bike Ride, thank you for joining us as a rider and fundraiser!
Giving back
Funds raised through Navy Bike Ride directly support the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Canadian Armed Forces members with physical and mental health illnesses or injury. Navy Bike Ride is proud to support our three charitable causes – The Navalis Foundation, Support Our Troops, and Soldier On.
The Navalis Foundation
The Navalis Foundation (formerly the Royal Canadian Benevolent Fund) was founded in 1942 with a mandate to provide distress relief for sailors and their families. Over time, the scope of this mandate has expanded to include all those who have served with and for Canada’s Maritime Forces. This support is available to our military and merchant navy veterans, currently serving members and their families. They are partnered with Veterans Affairs Canada, Support Our Troops, Soldier On, and the Legion in their efforts to promote the well –being of the naval community.
Support our troops
Founded in 2007, “Support Our Troops” responds to the specific needs of members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are facing difficulties as a result of their military service. Support our troops, whose operations are managed by the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services,
offers financial support to encourage resilience within families, and supports serving military personnel and ill or injured veterans through a variety of grants and programs.
Soldier On
Soldier On is a CAF program that contributes to the recovery of ill and injured military personnel and veterans by providing opportunities and resources through sports, recreational and creative activities. Since its inception in 2007, the Soldier On program has helped more than 11,500 CAF members by providing a safe environment where they can challenge and inspire themselves in ways they never thought possible, adding to and enhancing their well-being. This reintegration into an active lifestyle enables people to acquire new skills, boost their self-confidence and meet other people facing similar difficulties.