Hitting Your Fundraising Goals
Once you sign up for the Empire State Ride (ESR), you commit to raising at least $3,500 for the cause. Those $3,500 in donations go a long way when it comes to treating patients today and finding cancer cures for tomorrow. Remember, for every dollar donated through ESR, Roswell Park researchers can leverage an additional $23 in additional grant funding.
If you’re stumped on how to reach your fundraising minimum, we’re here to help!
Meet our fundraising experts Regina, Mackenzie and Sierra!
Years with ESR: 2
I’m looking most forward to … Weedsport! By Day 5, everyone on the road has created new lifelong friendships. We get to celebrate making it most of the way to Niagara Falls and we recognize our awesome fundraisers!
Out-of-the-box fundraising idea: Don’t underestimate the power of social media! Promote your fundraising page and share why you ride. Explain to your potential donors how much of an impact they really have by sharing where the funds go. Don’t forget to join the Facebook group “2025 Empire State Riders” and ask our returning riders what fundraising efforts are most successful for them!
Contact: sierra.etkin@roswellpark.org
Sierra
Mackenzie
Years with ESR: 6
Favorite part of ESR: It’s hard to pick just one! I love seeing a rider conquer a day of riding that they didn’t think they could do. I love hearing stories throughout the week of why riders decided to join ESR, I love the scenery at all of the rest stops, and the band at Weedsport was the best!
Out-of-the-box fundraising idea: I always make a public show of thanking my donors. It’s not only a great way to thank those that have given but it draws attention to your fundraiser every time you do it. You never know which Facebook friend will decide to donate.
Contact: Mackenzie.giancarlo@roswellpark.org
Years with ESR: This is my first year!
I’m looking most forward to … getting on the road this summer and experiencing the community aspect of ESR. I’ve loved getting to connect with riders over the phone and learn their “whys” to ride. I’m excited to witness and feel those “whys,” and to share my own over 7 days and across 500+ miles with this community.
Out-of-the-box fundraising idea: Encourage donors to forgo their daily/weekly coffee. Set aside that money for a set period of time and donate it instead! For example, if you forgo two $6 coffees a week for 6 weeks, that’s $72 you can donate!
Contact: regina.misercola@roswellpark.org
Regina
Get Started
For anyone new to the fundraising game, the main piece of advice we have is to utilize ESR resources. Riders have access to exclusive social media badges, print materials, informational documents and even an Empire State Ride app. Check out our full toolkit here.
Hitting your $3,500 fundraising minimum starts with taking a few simple steps once you register. We encourage all riders to personalize their fundraising pages (dashboards) with a photo and a few sentences explaining why they’re participating. In other words, why does this cause matter to you?
Lean on Social Media
Once your dashboard is updated, share it within your network! That means family members, friends, coworkers and more. You can share the link to your dashboard via email, text and, of course, social media posts. Facebook posts and Instagram Stories are great resources for getting the word out about your fundraiser.
Have professional connections who may be interested in the mission to end cancer? Try sharing the link to your dashboard in a post on LinkedIn. All these outlets can be beneficial for fundraising, and the key is consistency. Remind your friends and followers often with several posts leading up to the event.
Download the ESR MyHub app
Download the ESR MyHub app to reach your fundraising goals even faster. The app will help you secure donations, track your progress toward your goal and even offers mobile check deposit!
Donate to Your Own Page
When trying to reach your fundraising minimum, start off strong with a donation to your own fundraiser. Even a $5 or $10 self-donation shows your network that you’re serious about raising funds, and you’re invested with them!
Share the Facts
Donations to Empire State Ride benefit critical cancer research and clinical trials at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Utilize the resources from ESR to show your donors (and potential donors) the real-life impact of their gifts.
Check Your Email
The ESR team communicates with riders heavily through email. Check your email regularly to stay in-the-know, learn about your impact and read spotlights on ESR road warriors. You may also find tips and tricks, fundraising incentives and other tools to help guide your journey heading into your weeklong adventure.
If you do all the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to hitting $3,500! But don’t stop there. Set your goal higher every time you hit it, and you’ll be amazed at the difference you can make.
And don’t forget, our team is cheering you on each step of the way! Contact EmpireStateRide@RoswellPark.org or 716-845-3179 with questions or concerns as we prepare for ESR.