Hill Country Ride for AIDS Cycles to Record Levels Using Charity Dynamics' Boundless Fundraising
AUSTIN, Texas, May 19, 2009 — Despite an unfavorable giving environment due to the current economic downturn, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS exceeded all expectations and smashed its 2009 fundraising goal, raising a record amount of more than $690,000. The organization - which did not reach its fundraising goal the previous year - utilized Charity Dynamics' Boundless Fundraising social networking application, empowering participants with the market's most effective online tools to significantly strengthen their individual fundraising efforts. As part of their participation in the event, riders are required to raise at least $500.
Charity Dynamics is a provider of comprehensive online solutions for nonprofit organizations, offering services, software and support to best meet their objectives and maximize results. The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is an annual event in Central Texas that raises money to support and provide services for people living with HIV and AIDS. This year marked the Ride's 10th anniversary.
"We feared that the tough economic climate would negatively impact fundraising and participation for this year's event, but Charity Dynamics enabled us to achieve results far beyond what we expected," said David Smith, executive director of Hill Country Ride for AIDS. "The best thing that any event like ours can do in order to be successful is make it as easy as possible for participants to ask for money, and make it as simple as possible for people to give. Boundless Fundraising delivers above and beyond in both of these areas."
Boundless Fundraising is an innovative fundraising application that enables nonprofits and event participants to mobilize social networking communities in support of their causes. The customized application allows organizations to extend their branding, marketing, fundraising and outreach initiatives directly into participants' Facebook networks.
With Boundless Fundraising, the 2009 Hill Country Ride for AIDS managed to increase participation by nearly 30 percent (613 riders) compared to the previous year. This also was the highest year-over-year increase for the Ride in the past eight years. Additionally, riders who used Boundless Fundraising raised an average of 30 percent more than their peers, and garnered 57 percent more donors than individuals not using the application.
Nonprofits using Boundless Fundraising have sourced more than $1.5 million through the application since the beginning of 2009. Other organizations utilizing Charity Dynamics to drive stronger results for their events include American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, CauseForce, Komen Austin Race for the Cure and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
"We're enabling groups like the Hill Country Ride for AIDS to tap into the power of social networking like never before," said Donna Wilkins, president of Charity Dynamics. "Boundless Fundraising boosts participation and fundraising for organizations of all sizes, and it also builds an incredible amount of momentum for future events. Now, nonprofits and their constituents have the social networking tools they need to drive successful events and more effectively support the causes they care about most."
About Hill Country Ride for AIDS
The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is an annual cycling event in Central Texas that raises money to support people throughout the state living with AIDS. In its ten year history, the Ride has raised more than $3.5 million to provide life saving care for thousands of individuals. For more information, visit them on the Web at www.hillcountryride.org or call (512) 371-RIDE.
About Charity Dynamics
Charity Dynamics provides comprehensive online solutions for nonprofit organizations. From strategy to implementation and beyond, Charity Dynamics partners with clients of all sizes to deliver the services, software, and support they need to meet their objectives. Clients include The ALS Association, American Cancer Society, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Operation Blessing. For more information, please visit www.charitydynamics.com.
