In the early days of peer-to-peer fundraising events, one of the fastest ways to grow a program was to launch events in new markets. But many organizations scaled back over time, whether due to strategic shifts or limited resources. So what happens when it’s time to grow again? How do you evaluate new opportunities and ensure long-term success?
Expanding into a new market involves much more than adding a city to your event series. It requires significant lead time to build local relationships, experienced mentorship, and the right team in place with boots on the ground.
In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell speaks with Cliff Whitlock, National Director of Ride to Defeat ALS at the ALS Association. Cliff shares how his team is expanding their growing ride series into new markets, the criteria they use to assess potential locations, and what it takes to launch successfully, from staff training to local engagement.
You’ll also learn:
- Why local volunteer leadership is essential
- Strategies for building credibility in new communities
- Key lessons learned from first-year hurdles and how to overcome them
Mentioned Links
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- (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
- (01:20) - Introducing Cliff Whitlock
- (04:30) - The Rides to Defeat ALS
- (10:45) - The Power of the Assessment
- (13:26) - Motivation
- (16:06) - Building Community in a New Location
- (30:00) - Learn More at ALS.org
What is The P2P Soapbox?
As peer-to-peer fundraising professionals, we are inherently passionate people. Passionate about our missions, our fundraisers, our events, and our campaigns. We barely shy away from sharing our opinions. Whether it's the debate between back-to-basics, or searching for the next big idea, the battle of retention versus recruitment, or even our very strong feelings about T-shirts and registration fees.
Welcome to The P2P box, a brand new podcast that amplifies the voices of our peer-to-peer fundraising community and gives us a platform — a box, if you will — to discuss the hot topics facing our industry.
Join your host and P2P BFF, Marcie Maxwell, the Managing Director of the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum, as she sits down with industry peers and leaders, delving deep into their box issues, sharing best practices, and celebrating success stories.