Kickstart Your Fundraising With Tips From A TDO All-Star

Matt Berger, an Executive Manager at Commonwealth Bank, will be riding in Tour de Office for the 5th time this August and has already reached over 80% of his fundraising goal. To help others who may be struggling to gain the motivation and momentum Matt has achieved we asked him about his engagement in Tour de Office and his fundraising strategies. 

How many years have you participated in Tour de Office?  

4 years.

What is it about Tour de Office that you like?  

It is a really fun week and then at the end of it all, you have something to show for it which is usually a contribution to a great cause. This year my team is supporting Beyond Blue.

Do you cycle outside of Tour de Office?

Yes, and at the moment it is just riding in and out of work each day.  I live in Ashfield in Sydney so I have about 11km each way on my route.  I did get particularly keen on cycling in 2016 when I rode from Nice to Geneva!

What inspires you to fundraise?

The chance to make a difference to the community by raising funds for a great cause and also simply increasing awareness about important causes such as mental wellbeing.

Do you participate in any other fundraising events in the year?  

Yes, I’m currently organising a fundraising breakfast in November for Foodbank who are a great charity that receives pallets of unused food and other products from the likes of Coles and Woolies and then delivers it to people in need right across Australia.

What is your fundraising strategy?

Asking family and friends to support me. And there are so many ways to do it. For example, I simply used my Tour de Office profile page last week to put up a post on Facebook and that had immediate results. My family and friends have been so generous towards me and my cause it’s been really flattering.

What’s your best tip for fundraisers who are struggling to hit their target?  

Believe in your cause firstly. If you do, then simply take the positive step of asking for support whether that’s by email, social media or the old fashioned way of talking. You’ll be surprised at the results!