‘Tis the season to run for your favorite cause(s)! As race season starts off with a bang, you may be helping your organization plan its annual charity 5K, or maybe your nonprofit is considering hosting its first run or walk. If you want to impress your supporters and raise more money for your organization, this week’s blog has some great tips for you. Our JVA coworking space friends and neighbors from the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) shared some of their best advice for planning a winning race with me while we stuffed bags for their upcoming run, Jodi’s Race, which will be held on June 1.

If you are considering a race…

Do your research. Look for other organizations that are already hosting runs for a similar cause, other races taking place the day or week you plan to have your race, and who is sponsoring those runs. A race isn’t for everyone, and it’s important to consider whether the market is already heavily saturated or if you’re going after the same donors and vendors as a similar race. If you find that there are competitors for space, donors, etc., consider viewing these competitors instead as partners. Look into whether or not other organizations would allow you to set up a vendor booth at the end of their race to raise awareness about the cause and the services you offer; consider a partnership and how your organizations can mutually benefit each other; and consider volunteering at a race in show of support for your shared cause (also, this will give you a chance to talk to the people you meet about how your cause complements services offered by the other organization). Keep in mind that any conversations you have about the services your competitor offers should be positive, and you should always mention that you are working toward the same end (e.g., to eradicate ovarian cancer, or to end hunger, etc.). While money may be tight, if volunteers are really passionate about a cause, they may support both organizations if  they approach a similar cause in different ways.

Unite an enthusiastic team and put their strengths to work

Some organizations find that hiring a race director provides them with a high level of race insight that can lead to incredible results. If you have the resources to hire a race director, look for one with both marketing and running experience who is reputable and reliable. The excitement and connections this person can bring to the race planning are invaluable. You can also save yourself plenty of time and stress by initiating a race committee. Assess each person’s individual and collective strengths, then assign tasks such as securing sponsors, inviting relevant companies to sample and promote their products and other fun race day giveaways. Members of your committee can be wonderful at providing introductions to donors and building relationships with vendors and volunteers.

For many events, volunteers are a necessity. Consider every task that needs to be carried out on the race day, every table that needs to be stationed, and everything that needs to be set up and torn down; based on the activities that need to be attended to, calculate the number of volunteers that are needed. Never turn down extra volunteers, because you may find on the day of the race that some race areas might need more volunteers than expected and some volunteers might cancel. This way, you will be covered in the event of anything unexpected.

Remember that you will get through the challenges

A crisis may be stressful in the moment, but remember that you have assembled a strong team and you are working for an incredible cause. This sounds like a cliché, but I know from personal experience that once you let go of the stress and learn to roll with the punches, you’ll have a lot more fun with the event. Your event should be as much fun for you as it is for participants, after all, that’s why you started the event, right?

If you’re hosting a charity 5K, or another large-scale event, please share your best tips in the comments section below. Happy running!