How Social Media Can Benefit Your Fundraising

Fundraising for a cause close to your heart can be very fulfilling but it can also be hard. There are so many amazing causes out there to give to that people are overwhelmed with choice. How do you make your cause stand out so you can do your part? The way people fundraise continues to change so it is important to stay up-to-date with these changes. One platform that is overlooked when it comes to fundraising is social media. 

Social media plays a larger role in fundraising than you may think. As social media continues to grow and you find yourself browsing endlessly through it, chances are you have seen and interacted with a charity on the platform. This can be liking or commenting on a post or liking their page.  Chances are you also have a friend/family member fundraise on social media – or maybe you are that member asking for donations on social media. 

Whether you are fundraising for your chosen charity for Tour de Office or another charity event, here are some things you should know about social media fundraising:

93% of donations that come through social media are from Facebook

Facebook is a wonderful platform to be asking for donations and sharing your fundraising journey. If you are fundraising as a business, it’s beneficial to use your reach on social media to maximise profits while still interacting through other channels. You’re able to tell your story as a business, and build rapport with your community. 

If you’re fundraising as an individual it’s a great way to connect with family and friends you may not reach out to by other means. Tell them your story, let them know what this charity means to you and how your funds can help.

92% of non-profits are on Facebook

Make sure you find who you are fundraising for and tag them in your post. Many are willing to add support to your post and here at Tour de Office, we love to share our followers content.

Since 2012 there has been an 81% increase of donations coming from sharing a donation link on social media.

Make sure you’re sharing your donation link to receive donations. Most charities make it super easy for you with social media icons you can click on to share your donation link instantly. 

Social media allows you to use visuals that can help capture the eye of your future donors. Visuals are a great way to make sure your post is being seen. You can share pictures of the event if you have done it before or, if not, share pictures of the charity you are helping to raise awareness.

Also, remember that social media is fast and free. Now go get fundraising!

/0 Comments/by

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!

/0 Comments/by

Happiness = Riding To Work

,

If you want to get some pep in your step then it’s time to change up your work routine, leave the car at home, skip the bus and bike to work. A study has investigated the self-rating quality of life within commuting. The study showed that those who cycled to work had the greatest quality of life and high satisfaction with their health. Cyclist proved to be twice as happy as any other commuters, including those who walk! 

This higher quality of life can be deduced from cyclists receiving more benefits from their choice of transport. Cycling to work benefits both physical and mental health, which is made greater by the activity being completed outdoors. Beyond mental and physical health benefits, cycling to work has practical benefits. This includes having a larger control of their environment as they don’t have to wait on (the always late) public transport, they are able to slip past the banked up cars and don’t have to worry about not being able to get a park. And while all this is happening they’re saving money and the environment. 

It is no wonder that cyclists are the happiest commuters. Though we know that it’s not always easy to cycle to work, sometimes you live a bit too far away or where you live is not very cycle-friendly. But if you still want to add some pep to your step, try skipping short car trips when they could easily be cycled or cycle outside of peak times so it’s safer on the road. There is always a way to stay active and quit the sit. 

/0 Comments/by

Why You And Your Grandma Need A Bike Trainer

Tour de Office is proud to announce that we have partnered Wahoo and FE Sports, enhancing your in-office cycling experience with the all-powerful KICKR CORE.

If you’re not a cycling enthusiast, you may not know what a bike trainer is. Maybe you only jump on the bike once a year for the best biking event there is (hint: we are talking about Tour de Office) or just like to bike around with your kids up and down the street. So let me tell you what a bike trainer is and then let you know why everyone (even your grandma) needs one.

A bike trainer is a piece of equipment you can whack on your bike so that you’re able to cycle stationary. This could be in your garage, outside on the lawn or maybe in front of the television for some guilt-free TV time. The best part is, while you’re thinking ‘I should really clean the garage’ or ‘I need to mow the lawn’, the bike trainer will be measuring your speed, distance and power. And if you’re as lucky as Tour de Office and get to use a Wahoo trainer, you’ll find they’re extremely accurate and very quiet so you won’t have to bother turning the subtitles on.

Bike trainers can be used to help you work on your technique or for a warm up before a race when there is limited space. It can help you fit in a quick session when you’re short on time but can’t skip today’s workout (because you may have already skipped yesterdays…) 

But just so we are all on the same page, bike trainers are not just for professional athletes or avid cyclists. They’re for anyone who has or wants a bike. If you like riding either as a sport, a form of exercise or just to relax, bike trainers will allow you to ride your bike every day. If it’s too hot, ride inside! If it’s too cold, slap on that trainer! If you just can’t be stuffed to leave the house, then jump on that bike and get pedalling.

/0 Comments/by

McDonalds Queensland Riding for Sick Kids and their Families

Long term “Tourists”, McDonalds Queensland are hosting their exciting 2019 event during a custom ride week in June.

Raising over $104,000 for Ronald McDonald House in the last four years, riders for McDonalds Queensland are once again focussed on gaining much-needed funds for the charity that provides accommodation for the families of seriously ill or injured children.

Excitingly, this year, rugby league champs, the Brisbane Broncos, will be adding their pedal power to the mix, riding at their clubhouse on the Tuesday of McDonalds’ Tour De Office week.

In this video from a previous McDonalds ride week, it’s clear to see that the TDO fun is contagious!

/0 Comments/by

An Interview with Tour de Office Volunteers

Tour de Office relies on around 40 wonderful volunteers every year to help our charity event to run smoothly. We were lucky enough to interview two of our amazing volunteers to discuss why they volunteer and their experience volunteering with Tour de Office.

One of our volunteers, Krishna, has volunteered for Tour de Office for the past few years and has been an amazing help every time. Last year he assisted the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney with their Tour de Office event week. Our other volunteer, Ibra, who had only volunteered for his first time last year had managed to create a lasting impression with our team with his positive attitude and enthusiasm. Ibra helped Tour de Office out in Melbourne last year working with Origin.

Why do you volunteer?

Krishna: It is my passion. I volunteer so that I can do something for the community and in turn keep myself busy. I’m retired so volunteering enables me to get out, stay active and meet new people.

Ibra: To get out and socialise and make connections.

What made you want to volunteer for Tour de Office?

Krishna: It was a great opportunity and Tour de Office had a great objective. It is really good to see companies look out for the health of their staff. Also, it was enjoyable to see office morale increase. You could see the office getting more active and as their activity and enthusiasm increased, so did their productivity.

Ibra: I volunteered for Tour de Office as I had some free time and wanted to use it in a good and productive way. Tour de Office was a really good cause and I worked alongside Beacon Foundation as well which works towards a really great cause too.

Do you volunteer for other charities?

Krishna: I do. I have volunteered for many charities. I’ve volunteered with the Starlight Foundation, for tennis tournaments and just last year I was a volunteer for the Invictus Games.

Ibra: Not yet as I don’t have the time but I would like to.

What is your favourite part of volunteering?

Krishna: I enjoy the customer service side. Meeting people and interacting with them. But at the end of the day, it’s nice knowing I have helped somebody with my time.

Ibra: Definitely the social aspect. It’s great talking to people and you never get bored.

Do you plan to volunteer again with Tour de Office?

Krishna: Yes! Very happily, I like the Tour de Office event.

Ibra: If I can find the time, most definitely!

 

 

/0 Comments/by

Volunteering in Every Form

Do you want to volunteer? Do you maybe not have a lot of time though? Are you unsure that you have the skill set to volunteer? We are here to let you know we can help you! There are numerous ways to volunteer that don’t require too much time or an extensive skill set or ones that require a lot of time and extensive skill set if that’s your thing. Below is a brief outline of the various forms of volunteering on offer.

1. Regular/Ongoing Volunteering

This volunteering tends to be a committed time weekly or monthly at places like Lifeline, Meals on Wheels and school tuck-shops. This is a great option for anyone who is able to commit to the same time weekly and wishes to participate in an easy task and possibly make friends along the way.

2. Project or Event-Based Volunteering

This form of volunteering is great for anyone who can only make a short commitment yearly to a charity. At Tour de Office we have volunteers who help just for our two events in the year. This is a great opportunity to engage in interesting and varying activities that are not regularly available for volunteers.

3. Corporate Volunteering

Corporate volunteering is a great way to involve large companies in volunteering, especially for the individual employees who may not have the time otherwise. Organisations like Solar Buddy engage businesses in assembling solar lights as a team to send onto places suffering from energy poverty.

4. Overseas Volunteering

This is a very time-consuming form of volunteering but provides numerous opportunities in the form of a rewarding holiday overseas. Organisations like Habitat for Humanity and Go Overseas offer various programs that require various skill levels so all can participate.

Now knowing some of the types of volunteering it’s time to choose. We have two tips for choosing to help make this process even easier:

  1. Choose a form of volunteering that suits your schedule. This will help you maximise the opportunity but also create a smooth process between you and the charity – you don’t want your good intentions doing more harm than good if you cannot commit.
  1. Choose what you love! Make sure you are passionate about what you are doing, this not only makes the experience better and easier for you but for the people around you. Your passion could also help to raise awareness for your charity and reel in new volunteers.

Now get volunteering!

 

If you want to learn more about volunteering with TourdeOffice you can check out these links:

Volunteer 2019 Recruitment: Watch this space and social media to find out more

Volunteer Board Position 

/0 Comments/by

Benefits From Volunteering That Isn’t Free Cookies

,

Why do people volunteer? There are many different reasons, I choose to volunteer to donate blood because they have some of the best cookies ever. But some places (sadly) don’t have cookies so there must be other benefits. I took it upon myself to research the various reasons why people volunteer if it wasn’t for the free food and here is what I found:

You can make friends!

You might not make friends with salad, but you will make them when you volunteer. Not only are you doing good for other people or the environment, but you’re also benefiting yourself. Hanging out with like-minded people, doing an activity that helps others is the best way to connect.

It helps your mental health!

Volunteering can help your mental health, making you feel more grateful for what you have in your own life. It also helps build your self-confidence as you feel a sense of pride in helping your community.

Your bank account can grow!

Yes, volunteering, giving up your time for FREE can expand your bank account. Volunteering can teach you valuable skills that can be applied in the workforce and give you a great platform to network with industry professionals. Gaining experience in different fields can help further your career as you add new skills to your resume (and the fact that you volunteer).

It makes you fitter!

Volunteers tend to be more active, specifically older volunteers who walk much more than they would have before volunteering. Most volunteer positions have you standing up and moving about.

You will be happier!

Volunteering will make you happier, if not for all the reasons just listed then because your brain releases happy endorphins when you give back to others. Scientists have shown the more you give, the happier you are.

 

 

/0 Comments/by

Solved: Riding to Work

,

Problem: Riding to work

Whether you already ride to work or want to ride to work there are daily stresses to this process. Riding to work is not as easy as it seems, and not just because you realise how unfit you are when you hit any sort of gradient. There are many challenges faced by riding a bike to work, especially in Australia where it gets hotter than a shirtless Hemsworth. You need to shower after your ride, you need a fresh change of clothes, maybe these need to be ironed. You also have to carry all of this in a bag on your back while you’re riding up a hill that you swore wasn’t there yesterday. And then after all this, where do you put your bike?

Maybe these are struggles you face now or the obstacles that stop you from riding to work. But no more I say. Here are some handy solutions to make your commute to work easier.

Travel lighter

Particularly if you’re working in cities, many offices have showering facilities for their workers. If you have a workstation you’re able to leave some clothes or toiletries at, do so.

Shop smart

No matter what you do, your clothes are bound to get wrinkled in your bag through their transportation. It’s also not a great idea to bring an iron with you to work or leave one in the workplace. Luckily there are so many business clothes that are wrinkle-free and will never have to bear the heat of an iron.

Google

Maybe your work doesn’t offer any sort of facility for use but there are ways to get around this. There are places like Cycle2City that offer all of these facilities in the heart of Brisbane to make riders lives easier (you can check them out here: http://cycle2city.com.au/ or check your city for similar services). It does cost a small amount but it’s less than what you would spend on public transport, and most definitely cheaper than a car.

So if you’re still um-ing and ah-ing, you can stop. Instead, you can get on your bike and start riding.

Status: SOLVED

/0 Comments/by

The Results Are In!

If you haven’t yet ridden with Tour de Office but are thinking of giving it a go, we have some valuable statistics here for you.

We asked all of our riders last year to complete a short survey and we are happy to say that we have come back with positive results!

98% felt engaged during the event

97% said they would ride again

94% enjoyed raising money for charity

68% indicated that participating in the event motivated them to exercise during the working day

Why did they feel this way? These were the 4 most popular responses we received.

The Competition.

This response continued to pop up over and over again. Beating their colleagues either through their fundraising or distance rode or both seemed to be enough motivation to keep them going. Sometimes there really is nothing better than some good ole friendly competition.

Self-accomplishment

Many riders enjoyed the feeling of self-accomplishment as they reached or surpassed the tough goals they had set for themselves.

Fun

They had fun! This was not just due to individuals enjoying the event but many responses spoke about the positive atmosphere. With so many employees having fun through the event week, it created an enjoyable work environment. One response stated that: ‘it’s a great week to be in the office’.

Being active

“Motivating people to exercise during the work day.”  

“Doing something other than sitting at a desk.”

“Getting some exercise during work hours.”

These are all responses from our riders.

/0 Comments/by