The work of a champion online fundraiser is never over, not even when the race ends.  So as soon as your ice packs come off, it’s time to get back on the fundraising trail for your cause!  Here’s what you should do as soon as you’re able:

• Thank everybody. Everybody who helped you, not just your donors. Thank your coach, your training buddies, the volunteers, the academy, everybody. You can thank them privately or publicly. And mention your fundraising when you do, which leads us to…
• Report your results. That means your race results as well as your fundraising results. Tell everybody (see above) how it went for you, your time, funny or not so funny stories of your adventures along the way, how it felt, how you feel now, the works.  You can even share pictures of your blisters.  And then tell them how your fundraising went and how much you raised, how much that will help your chosen cause, and how much more still needs to be done…
• If you met your goal, raise it. Just because you finished the race doesn’t mean your cause is finished too.  Especially this year, worthy nonprofit causes need help.  If you haven’t met your goal yet, that’s all the more reason to ask everybody again.

So congratulations again to all those Boston Marathon runners and everybody who helped them along the way.  We salute you, and we encourage you to keep doing great things for the cause!

Ria at the finish line

What a day! We caught a few of our marathon fundraisers, Ria, Beth and Anne, for a quick photo at the very blustery finish line. Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2009 Boston Marathon! You accomplished quite a feat in running those 26.2 miles, and many of you raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for all sorts of good causes. The impact of your online fundraising (and offline fundraising) on behalf of dozens of charity organizations will be felt in Boston and all over the country. Now go and relax those muscles!

Marathon fundraisers Beth and Anne-ecstatic!

The big day is HERE!.  You’ve covered hundreds of miles in training runs in wind, snow, sun and rain.  You’ve raised money online and offline–thousands of dollars–for almost 100 nonprofit organizations.  You may have worn out a pair of shoes or two.  Your family and friends are supporting you.  And on Monday morning, you’ll step across the starting line in Hopkinton and arrive several hours later at the finish line in Copley Square.

To all our 2009 Boston Marathon fundraisers, we salute you!  You have worked so hard, and we are inspired by your online fundraising success.

We’re athletes and fundraisers like you.  Team Firstgiving’s own Beth L. and Mark are running, and Beth P. will be at the finish line.  If you see us, please stop and say “hi!”

Terrie and her training buddy

Here at Team Firstgiving, we are continuously inspired by marathon fundraisers like Terrie, who not only accomplish the amazing feat of training for and running a marathon, but also take on the challenge of fundraising several thousand dollars for charities like Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary.  Originally from Boston, Terrie has been living abroad this year and training for the marathon on an island we’ve heard is only 7 miles long by 3 miles wide! She was kind enough to take a break from training to share some insights with us on both her running and fundraising:

Why are you running the Boston Marathon?

It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I found the qualifying times quite daunting, however when I discovered the possiblity of running on behalf of a charity it seemed the perfect solution-I get to fulfill a lifelong goal AND run as part of a team working to help others-it’s a win-win!

Why are you fundraising for Team Eye and Ear?

I have a personal connection with Team Eye and Ear, as I have family members who have been fortunate enough to receive superiour service under the care of physicians at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary.

What is your best training tip?

As this is my first marathon (I ran a half in February in Coamo, Puerto Rico), I found a plan and stuck to it! Having a plan all laid out (on paper) helped me to stay focused, move forward and note progress.

What is your best fundraising tip?

Sending out regular email updates (with photos/links/etc.) helped keep my goal at the forefront of people’s minds.

How has Firstgiving helped you fundraise?

Use Firsgiving! Honestly, I have found it easy to use and update.  Allowing people to donate online with a link that I could provide made things easy.

Is there anything Firstgiving could do better?

Some folks who donated offline wished they could have appeared online with a comment. 

Thanks for the feedback, Terrie.  We’ve heard this from other fundraisers as well, and we’re always listening and thinking about how we can make our site better.  In the absence of this functionality at present, some fundraisers have added comments from offline fundraisers in the personal text section of their fundraising pages.  

Anything else you’d like to share about your training or fundraising experience?

It has been an amazing few months. I’ve run further than I EVER thought possible and have been humbled by the generosity of those giving in support of my run. It’s been a great experience, and I hope to do it again!

Kudos, Terrie!  Thanks for sharing your story with us, and congratulations on having met (and exceeded) your fundraising goal.  See you in Boston!

Here at Team Firstgiving, we are continuously inspired by marathon fundraisers like Mike, who not only accomplish the amazing feat of training for and running a marathon, but also take on the challenge of fundraising several thousand dollars for charities like Doctors Without Borders.  Mike was kind enough to take a break from training to share some insights with us on both his running and fundraising:

Why are you running the Boston Marathon?

I have been inspired by marathon runners ever since my mom decided to train for one when I was in elementary school.  In junior high, I got into track and started running on my own for fun.  I found it was a great way to take in the world, to reflect and relax, and to get in shape for football.

I was on the crew team in college but kept running with friends once in a while.  Then I heard about two members of the women’s crew team that were training for Boston while doing crew.  I thought they were crazy, but it made me start thinking about training.  Eventually I decided to do it because I knew it would be a great challenge and experience.

Why are you fundraising for Doctors Without Borders?

I studied international relations in college and am particularly fascinated by economic development and globalization.  Through my study and travel experiences, I caught glimpses of how widespread the lack of basic necessities is in our world and how fortunate I am to have been born where I was.

Most importantly, I am fundraising because I admire Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and I want to raise awareness and inspire others to contribute to an amazing organization.  MSF operates in some of the most forgotten and dire global conflict zones by delivering emergency medical care to our brothers and sisters who are often without basic needs for survival or a voice.  The courage and determination of MSF’s volunteers and staff is a constant source of inspiration to me.  They assist in over 70 countries, dealing with some of the world’s most acute crises, while adhering to humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality.

What is your best training tip?

Don’t stretch before you run; it’s a waste.  Do some calisthenics or push ups to get you going.  Eat lots of green vegetables and drop most of your fat intake a month before the race.

What is your best fundraising tip?

Don’t be afraid to ask for donations, and use your network.  It’s a great way to get in touch with old friends, and a great reason to have a party!

It is a great reason to have a party!  How has Firstgiving helped you fundraise?

Using Firstgiving has been much easier than what I did before: a mail campaign and a spreadsheet.  Having a page for people to donate online makes it a lot easier to ask for donations by email, Facebook messages, and word of mouth.

Is there anything Firstgiving could do better?

Have a matching gift program or incentives to reach higher fundraising goals.

Spoken like a true competitive athlete, Mike.  Since we work with so many non-profits and fundraisers on so many different types of initiatives and campaigns, this isn’t something we do on our end.  However, many non-profits provide incentives for their fundraisers, and many of the companies your donors work for have matching gift programs. You should definitely go after these, and if you need help, we have information on how to get matching gifts here.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

This fundraising campaign has been a blast and I’m psyched to have raised so much for Doctors Without Borders in a short time.

Thanks Mike, we are thrilled for your success! We’ve made a donation to your page in support of your efforts.  See you on April 20th!

The 2009 Boston Marathon is only 2 weeks away, and we’ll be featuring a few more stories about marathon fundraisers here at Team Firstgiving.  Do you have a story you’d like us to highlight or know a runner we should know about?  Post a comment below.

If our office wasn’t in the basement, we’d be shouting this from the rooftops!

Our friends at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary announced this week that their Boston Marathon Team has reached its $100,000 fundraising goal.  With the marathon a month away, this leaves them with plenty of time to finish their training runs and raise even more money than they thought possible.

Congratulations, Team Eye and Ear, for all your hard work training and fundraising.  We are thrilled for your success.  See you at the marathon!