Q:  We do all kinds of "thon" events—jog-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, and climb-a-thons. Is there any way to blend these into this model?

Blake in New Jersey

A:  We recommend either eliminating these events or turning them into Point of Entry^® Conversion Events. You've got to find a way to give those joggers—or even a subset of them—enough of a taste of your mission that they will want to come to a real Point of Entry. What could you convert to a Point of Entry? A jogger recruitment event? A jogger kickoff event? An after-party? Remember, the guests must be sitting down and get the facts and Emotional Hook^™, and you must have a way to capture the names with their permission.

Or you can do an awards event after the jog-a-thon for people who exceed their fundraising goals and invite them to become part of a special alumni group of joggers called the "Team for Life," who then become Table Captains and host Point of Entry Events and Free Feel-Good Cultivation Events^™. This can also be a great strategy for launching a "younger donors" program. These people may eventually become Table Captains at your Ask Event^™ or host other Point of Entry Events for the people in their own Treasure Maps^®.

Terry