Building a successful Walk for Hope team

The strongest Walk for Hope teams aren’t built by luck. They’re built one conversation, one invitation and one act of hope at a time.

Whether you’re starting a team from scratch or looking to grow the one you already have, a few simple strategies can help you bring more people together, build momentum and make a greater impact for cancer research.

What do top teams do differently?

They ask more people

Don’t assume someone won’t want to join. Invite your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and anyone else who might want to walk alongside you. A personal invitation can be all it takes to turn someone into a teammate.

The more people you ask, the more opportunities you create to grow your team and make a difference.

They follow up more than once

Life gets busy, and an unanswered invitation doesn’t necessarily mean “no.” Follow up with people who haven’t responded and give them another opportunity to join.

Try sharing why you’re participating, send a reminder as the Walk gets closer or let them know how your team is doing. Sometimes a second invitation is the one that gets someone involved.

They make participation fun

Building a team should be about more than fundraising. Create moments that give people a reason to look forward to being part of your team.

Plan a team happy hour, host a fundraising challenge, coordinate team shirts or simply find ways to connect and have fun together. The more enjoyable the experience, the more likely people are to stay engaged.

They celebrate every success

Every new teammate matters. Every donation matters. Every fundraising milestone matters.

Celebrate the small wins along the way and recognize the people who are helping your team move forward. A quick text, social media shoutout or team update can go a long way toward keeping everyone motivated.

They focus on people first

The most successful teams understand that fundraising follows connection.

Start by bringing people together around a shared purpose: helping advance cancer research and creating hope for people facing cancer. When people feel connected to the mission and to each other, they’re more likely to get involved, spread the word and help your team reach its goals.

Remember, signing up to walk doesn’t cost anything. Being part of a community is free. While fundraising helps advance the mission, simply showing up, walking alongside others and being part of something bigger is just as important. Every participant helps create a stronger, more hopeful Walk for Hope community.

Start building your team today

You don’t need to have the biggest team or the biggest fundraising total to make an impact. You just need to start asking.

Invite one person. Then another. Share your reason for participating. Celebrate your progress. Keep showing up.

Every person you invite has the potential to help change lives.

Ready to build your team? Register for Walk for Hope and start inviting your people today.