AACR Fundraising Goes Virtual

The social distancing requirements to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus have affected a great number of things, including the fundraising landscape. Organizations are cancelling, re-thinking, and transforming their planned fundraising events. Many, like the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), have taken their events online.

When the AACR’s Annual Meeting became virtual, the AACR Runners for Research 5K Run/Walk—which kicks off the Annual Meeting festivities every year—had to be transformed into an event that could be done from participants’ homes. So, the AACR teamed up with Charity Footprints, a fundraising and step-tracking app, to host the June AACR Virtual Fitness Challenge. Participants determined fundraising and step goals and tracked their fitness activities throughout the month of June. The Virtual Fitness Challenge was a huge success, attracting 148 participants who raised over $17,000.

The AACR also hosted its first-ever Father’s Day Virtual 10K on June 21, 2020. This virtual 10K raised more than $4,000, with 61 participants running in their neighborhoods and uploading their runs to the AACR Runners for Research Facebook page.

Additionally, the AACR saw a bump in the amount of DIY fundraisers held over the spring and summer, including a backyard Ultra Marathon, a Yeti Ultra 24-Hour Challenge, and more.

While it is disappointing to not be able to congregate for fundraising events in person, virtual events can be a successful way to keep fundraising and continue connecting with our supporters during this uncertain time.