Charity Ride Gotcha!
10-11-11, 06:00 AM
#126
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^ same.
10-11-11, 06:01 AM
#127
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As well as the undying gratitude of your co-workers who will begin to scramble for the exits whenever you walk into a room. Charity is great but everyone has their own causes and being asked to contribute is a constant drumbeat. I only ride in charity rides where there is one upfront payment. Having to shake down friends and family for my riding habit doesn't appeal to me. I am becoming, in the words of a friend of mine, a "free rider". 
10-11-11, 06:14 AM
#128
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I did a well-known triathlon training program a few years ago which was more about fundraising than about training. They really should call it Team In Fundraising....
Anyway, there were a few folks who loved it and did it every year but rather than continuing to hit up friends and family they would just pay the whole fee themselves, take the deduction, and call it good.
Anyway, there were a few folks who loved it and did it every year but rather than continuing to hit up friends and family they would just pay the whole fee themselves, take the deduction, and call it good.
10-11-11, 09:39 AM
#131
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Exclusivity. How else are the organizers supposed to keep out the riff-raff. Anyone can pay $50 to ride but $250 or $2500 puts you in a different class. At that level you can enjoy the event with other people who "care" as much as you about the cause. $50, pffft...
OP "donated" $50, consider it a done deal and don't ride.
OP "donated" $50, consider it a done deal and don't ride.
It would require supporting 6 times as many people to get the same gross income. Considering the cost to support more people, you might need 10 times as many people paying just $50 instead of $300.
10-11-11, 09:44 AM
#132
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And.... lots of charity rides have fees of $30-50 and still manage to raise money for charity. It all depends on how it's structured. On some rides, the organizers pay for the food at the rest stops; at others, they solicit groups to "sponsor" rest stops, at no cost to the organizers. If all of the goods & services needed to organize the ride are donated, you can raise $30,000 for a charity by charging $30 per rider if you get a thousand riders.
Anyway, the original poster did not read the material supplied to him!
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-11-11 at 09:48 AM.
10-11-11, 09:47 AM
#133
Despite all my rage, I am
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10-11-11, 09:52 AM
#134
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Incorrect. I spoke with a fellow teacher who was involved with the non-profit associated with this ride and she said the donations help the organization keep their heads above water. $55 limited to 1000 riders isn't a heck of a lot, so if they can do it and still come out way over the logistical costs, so could other charities.
Anyway, different organizations have different goals for the events they run. A small, local charity might have trouble being able to run an event that had a $300 "fee" associated with it.
If a particular charity could successfully run an event with a $300 fee, they would almost certainly prefer to do that instead of running one with a $55 fee since it would be much easier to "come way way over the logistical costs"!
Organizations are free to run their events any way they like. They are (for various reasons) obligated to clearly disclose the requirements. They are not obligated to force potential participants to read. If you don't like the requirements, you are free not to participate!
It's a heck of a lot of work to run a organized ride. It has to be worth that effort.
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-11-11 at 10:09 AM.
10-11-11, 11:01 AM
#135
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no way should he cough up the 250. that's outrageous.
I've coughed up the $250 myself on a couple of occasions when I let the fundraising effort slide. It's the whole point of a charity ride.
DG
10-11-11, 11:29 AM
#136
Portland Fred
Organizations are free to run their events any way they like. They are (for various reasons) obligated to clearly disclose the requirements. They are not obligated to force potential participants to read. If you don't like the requirements, you are free not to participate!
If too many people get confused about what's going on, it's a copout to put all the blame on the people who don't know what's going on. Do you read software license agreements? Unlike most people, I actually do. A lot of the stuff that most people claim is malware clearly states it will monitor your behavior and share info. But somehow when software does what clauses buried in legalese say they'll do, people get surprised.
People who understand how things work never get confused. But newer cyclists tend to get drawn to large charity rides first because they're marketed far more actively, provide more support than other rides (which you need to be a part of the cycling community to know about), and typically have easy courses.
Enough people are confused enough to think that events having numbers are races even though races require a racing license, are conducted totally differently, and riders move at actual racing speed. It never ceases to blow my mind how many people don't ride prepared to perform simple repairs. That people would mistake a charity event that just happens to involve a bike ride for a bike ride that happens to give funds raised over expenses to charity is not a surprise.
10-11-11, 11:41 AM
#137
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I never said I did. I just know they come out ahead.
You're absolutely right. I was told that without the charity ride, they would have been a little short that year after all their regular donations and endowments. With the ride, they came out a little ahead for the year.
I never disagreed with any of this part. I was simply arguing with those who claim that you can't make income by charging ONLY $50. You most certainly can. Whether that income is worth it or if you can stand to make more was not part of my contention.
You're absolutely right. I was told that without the charity ride, they would have been a little short that year after all their regular donations and endowments. With the ride, they came out a little ahead for the year.
Anyway, different organizations have different goals for the events they run. A small, local charity might have trouble being able to run an event that had a $300 "fee" associated with it.
If a particular charity could successfully run an event with a $300 fee, they would almost certainly prefer to do that instead of running one with a $55 fee since it would be much easier to "come way way over the logistical costs"!
Organizations are free to run their events any way they like. They are (for various reasons) obligated to clearly disclose the requirements. They are not obligated to force potential participants to read. If you don't like the requirements, you are free not to participate!
If a particular charity could successfully run an event with a $300 fee, they would almost certainly prefer to do that instead of running one with a $55 fee since it would be much easier to "come way way over the logistical costs"!
Organizations are free to run their events any way they like. They are (for various reasons) obligated to clearly disclose the requirements. They are not obligated to force potential participants to read. If you don't like the requirements, you are free not to participate!
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10-11-11, 02:45 PM
#138
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The OP has a responsibility to read what is supplied. The organization has a responsibility to make the key points easy to find and understand. In the case at hand, the organization could have made the requirement clear by indicating it on the registration form itself rather than burying it in the middle of an especially busy webpage.
It's possible that not being clear (enough) is a valid criticism.
Saying that they should not require a $250 fund-raising requirement and that they should be happy with a $50 per-rider fee (as some people have done in this thread) is not a valid criticism.
===========
https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site...eg&fr_id=16949
*2.
Question - Required - FUNDRAISING & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS PART I Registration fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and does not apply toward the minimum pledge. Transportation fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and does not apply toward the minimum pledge. All riders must raise the $300 minimum pledge by November 15, 2011. Failure to pay the minimum pledge will prohibit participation now or in the future of any Lone Star event. All riders must submit a signed Waiver Form at a Packet Pick-Up to receive a Rider Packet. Riders 17 and younger must have the Waiver Form notarized prior to attending a Packet Pick-Up. A parent or adult guardian who is at least 21 years old must accompany riders 17 years old and younger at all times on the ride. The maximum ration of adult-to-child riders is 1:3. The minimum age for a rider is 12 years of age by Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Yes, I have read and agree to comply with these requirements.
Question - Required - FUNDRAISING & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS PART I Registration fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and does not apply toward the minimum pledge. Transportation fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and does not apply toward the minimum pledge. All riders must raise the $300 minimum pledge by November 15, 2011. Failure to pay the minimum pledge will prohibit participation now or in the future of any Lone Star event. All riders must submit a signed Waiver Form at a Packet Pick-Up to receive a Rider Packet. Riders 17 and younger must have the Waiver Form notarized prior to attending a Packet Pick-Up. A parent or adult guardian who is at least 21 years old must accompany riders 17 years old and younger at all times on the ride. The maximum ration of adult-to-child riders is 1:3. The minimum age for a rider is 12 years of age by Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Yes, I have read and agree to comply with these requirements.
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-11-11 at 03:23 PM.
10-11-11, 02:51 PM
#139
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Again, we don't know by how much and we still don't have any idea whether it made sense. It's possible that they were wasteful in the use of the free labor of their volunteers.
A desperate example doesn't your argument a strong one!
This, though, is the essential question.
The fact that you can "come out ahead" isn't relevant unless the income is "worth" the effort.
The fact that you can "come out ahead" isn't relevant unless the income is "worth" the effort.
10-11-11, 02:57 PM
#140
Portland Fred
We know at least one person is confused. We do not know if anyone else who signed up for that ride had the same problem.
In systems, you want to be careful about arriving at the conclusion the user is wrong when they don't behave as expected. Most people do not report problems to those who can actually do anything about them. Suggestions in this thread that the OP should ride anyway or that it's important to learn how charity rides work are an indicator that there is opportunity making the process clearer.
In systems, you want to be careful about arriving at the conclusion the user is wrong when they don't behave as expected. Most people do not report problems to those who can actually do anything about them. Suggestions in this thread that the OP should ride anyway or that it's important to learn how charity rides work are an indicator that there is opportunity making the process clearer.
10-11-11, 03:26 PM
#141
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In systems, you want to be careful about arriving at the conclusion the user is wrong when they don't behave as expected. Most people do not report problems to those who can actually do anything about them. Suggestions in this thread that the OP should ride anyway or that it's important to learn how charity rides work are an indicator that there is opportunity making the process clearer.
One might be able to argue that it wasn't clear enough.
10-11-11, 03:30 PM
#142
Descends like a rock
You have to also consider the charity and how much they need to raise for the organization. The small town Lions club does pretty well raising $20,000 on a bike ride. If you're trying to cure MS, $20,000 isnt going to make a dent.
10-11-11, 03:42 PM
#143
Portland Fred
But it never hurts to keep an eye out for simple ways to improve.
10-11-11, 09:50 PM
#144
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I am very sorry you weren't clear on the fundraising requirements before you signed up. When I signed up I thought it was very clear. I understand $250 is a lot of money to spend for a charity ride. However, you have to understand the Livestrong Challenge isn't just another charity ride. It started off as the main fundraising tool for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. There was a time when it only cost $50. The last year there was no minimum fundraising requirement, there were 9000 riders. This became totally unmanageable. There was a decision made to make it a smaller more manageable event to reward people for their fundraising efforts. At the same time they started running the event in several other locations. There will be about 3000 riders Sunday. It will be more fun for the riders, the volunteers and the citizens of Dripping Springs. If you really feel you have been treated wrongly, pm me and I will try and direct you to a person that can help.
Anyone who is interested should search for information about the Lance Armstrong Foundations financials on Google. You will find they are very good. A very low percentage of the money raised goes to administrative costs
Anyone who is interested should search for information about the Lance Armstrong Foundations financials on Google. You will find they are very good. A very low percentage of the money raised goes to administrative costs
10-11-11, 10:47 PM
#146
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Again, we don't know by how much and we still don't have any idea whether it made sense. It's possible that they were wasteful in the use of the free labor of their volunteers.
A desperate example doesn't your argument a strong one!
This, though, is the essential question.
The fact that you can "come out ahead" isn't relevant unless the income is "worth" the effort.
A desperate example doesn't your argument a strong one!
This, though, is the essential question.
The fact that you can "come out ahead" isn't relevant unless the income is "worth" the effort.
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10-12-11, 05:13 AM
#147
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Did the Troll/OP go on the ride or not?
10-23-11, 05:51 PM
#148
Age before beauty
Thread Starter
Not a troll, just the surprised OP. I used to run charity races. Ran dozens and dozens of them in my day. They were all supporting some charity. You paid and got a T-Shirt and a number and you ran. End of story.
This Charity ride (Livestrong Austin) had absolutely ZERO mention of a requirement to raise more money in ANY of the info on their website before I registered. Just that it was $50 to register.
I started biking in March of this year and this was my very first Charity ride. Heck, I ride 300 miles a month and I've never so much as ridden with ANYONE.
When I signed up to ride, I assumed it was like running races. You pay and you run. Simple as that. You folks may already know that bike charity rides don't work the same but I was totally caught off guard by this. And, not it a good way.
I did not raise any more money. I did not go to the charity ride. But I did tell my friends that I felt "scammed" by the organizers.
So, I"ve learned my lesson. I now get it with charity bike rides. End of story.
Thanks
This Charity ride (Livestrong Austin) had absolutely ZERO mention of a requirement to raise more money in ANY of the info on their website before I registered. Just that it was $50 to register.
I started biking in March of this year and this was my very first Charity ride. Heck, I ride 300 miles a month and I've never so much as ridden with ANYONE.
When I signed up to ride, I assumed it was like running races. You pay and you run. Simple as that. You folks may already know that bike charity rides don't work the same but I was totally caught off guard by this. And, not it a good way.
I did not raise any more money. I did not go to the charity ride. But I did tell my friends that I felt "scammed" by the organizers.
So, I"ve learned my lesson. I now get it with charity bike rides. End of story.
Thanks
10-23-11, 10:25 PM
#149
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Did we ever figure out how "hidden" the $250 requirement was for the OP?
Edit: OK I saw references to Livestrong Austin and looked it up. After clicking on "register", the first thing I see when the agreement pops up is "RIDERS MUST RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $250 TO PARTICIPATE" in all caps. I didn't even have to scroll down.
Edit: OK I saw references to Livestrong Austin and looked it up. After clicking on "register", the first thing I see when the agreement pops up is "RIDERS MUST RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $250 TO PARTICIPATE" in all caps. I didn't even have to scroll down.
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10-24-11, 04:54 AM
#150
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the point is that the sign-up/registration was sneaky....not that it was unnoticeable. That is exactly how scams work...they get you to do something, then burn you with the fine print (that way the institution/group is protected by the law) "because you agreed to the terms & conditions, and it was in the fine print". That is a bad practice by the charity. Period.