Events

June 1, 2009, The Chicago Tribune — The 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is already sold-out, but procrastinators can still finagle their way into the October race. And no, we don't mean sneaking onto the course.

NEW YORK, May 21, 2009 — In a time when philanthropic dollars seem to be disappearing, Robin Hood, one of the city's leading poverty-fighting organizations, had a different outcome at its most recent event in New York City with the help of iml's Pledge technology.

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.

WASHINGTON, Associated Press, May 18, 2009 — The PGA Tour estimates its donations to charity will decline by as much as 14 percent this year, the result of an economic downturn that is affecting everything from sponsors to hospitality sales.

May 13, 2009, The New York Times — Grilled shrimp and chicken Milanese for 3,200. Music by the Black Eyed Peas.

Earlier this month, Convio and Event360, with support from the Run Walk Ride Council, released a research paper detailing key trends and best practices on managing a successful fundraising event. The paper highlights the strategies and performance metrics nonprofits with special-event fundraising programs can use to achieve their goals.

Since 2001, …For A Cause, and its forerunner, Ride For A Cause, has been organizing cycling and walking events to raise money for charities that focus on AIDS and breast cancer issues. But that is not their only focus; they also encourage their participants to choose an additional beneficiary. This can be any non-profit organization that is meaningful to the participant. Some past participant beneficiaries have included the National Kidney Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and the National Autism Foundation, just to name a few.

To raise enough money to participate in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a two-day charity bike trip across Massachusetts, Rachel Gabriel started an unusual fund-raising event of her own, an evening of belly dancing performances. Her "Shimmy Fund" raised nearly $4,700 last year for the Jimmy Fund and put her in the Pan-Mass Challenge.

The ASPCA recently unveiled a new online network where supporters across the country can sign up as ambassadors for the organization, and register to organize and host events in their own communities.

Americans and nonprofit organizations are currently facing increasingly tough economic times. In light of these circumstances, The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding life-saving cardiac care for individuals with no health insurance, has announced that it is changing the way it does business in 2009.