Every year, when January ends, we're left with 3 difficult questions to answer:
How do we stick to our new year’s resolutions? How do we make the rest of the year meaningful? How do we spell Februrary February?
#Raisolution is here to help you with the first two questions (and we recommend autocorrect for the third)!
When you create a #Raisolution, you recommit to your personal goals in a fundraiser that provides vital programs to women, youth and children across Metro Vancouver.
While resolutions are about setting good intentions, #Raisolution is about turning these intentions into lasting social impact. It's about raising the bar, both for yourself and your community.
What does this look like in action?
Here is an example. In November 2022, Kevin created a very cool challenge (literally): to do a 3-5 minutes cold-water dip, for 60 days in a row, to fundraise for the YWCA. The dips were something he already wanted to do. But by creating a fundraiser, he made his goal bigger than himself—and it kept him accountable.
Kevin’s Cold Dip Challenge was a huge success, raising over $3000 to help provide essential supports to women and families in the community.
So, how does someone tie a personal goal to a fundraising target?
We’ve broken it down into 3 steps:
Step 1: Repeat or Complete?
Determine if you have a Repetition Goal ("I want to keep up a good habit") or a Completion Goal ("I want to accomplish a task")
| Repetition Goals might sound like: | Completion Goals might sound like: |
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Some goals can be both! Don't worry, that just gives you more options.
Step 2: A measure of success
Decide how to make your goal tangible and what will make you feel accomplished.
For Repetition Goals, create a challenge for yourself. Your promise as a fundraiser will be achieving the challenge! How many days will you commit to? How many times will you repeat? This will keep you accountable for continuing the habit and give your donors something to cheer on.
Examples of Repetition Goals:
- I will journal every day for 90 days.
- I will go for a run every day for 120 days.
- I will complete 30 works of art in 30 days.
- I will go car-free for 1 month.
- I will not purchase non-essentials for 60 days.
For Completion Goals, pick an end point or a deadline.
Examples of Completion Goals:
- I will complete a scarf by May 1st.
- I will run a half-marathon in October.
- I will read 50 books by December 31st.
- I will learn a new recipe every day for 40 days.
- I will complete a blue run on my snowboard with minimal falls (don’t forget a helmet!).
Step 3: It’s go time! Create a fundraiser on our online platform
Your Challenge or End Point is the pledge you make to your supporters. It’s your promise to your community. While you work hard to meet your goal, sharing your successes along the way, your donors will be cheering you on! (You can share any “oopsies” along the way too. Remember, it’s about intention, not perfection.)
Share your story: tell friends, family and colleagues what you're doing and why it's important to you. Our online fundraising platform will walk you through the process of setting up a page, setting a goal and spreading your message. Don't forget to tag us @ywcavan #Raisolution for a chance to be featured!
You can fundraise on your own, or get some friends on board to fundraise as a team.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to keep new year's resolutions on your own. As time goes on and motivation fades, the process may become more discouraging than inspiring. With a #Raisolution, you work toward your personal goals with supporters cheering by your side. You harness the intention of your personal goals to commit to something bigger than yourself—lasting change in your community.
Are you ready to start your #Raisolution? If yes, click here.
If you are not ready yet, but are interested in exploring fundraising options in the future, sign up to receive updates:
