Fundraising Focus
Building a Pelotonia Fundraising Letter

By The Pelotonia Team|May 12, 2020

The most successful Pelotonia fundraisers have one thing in common: they ask as many people for support as possible, in very personal ways. We know that it may feel challenging to navigate fundraising, so we want to help make that easier!
We’ve seen incredible examples of generosity from donors through community members’ personal fundraisers. The key to asking for support is clearly stating how donations will be used to make a difference in people’s lives. 
We all know that the need for cancer research is as urgent today as ever before, so we’ve compiled some resources as you get ready to start crafting a fundraising letter or email for your friends and family. We are proud to have many tangible examples of how Pelotonia dollars are being used. Below are some building blocks to help you get started:

Where the Money Goes

  • The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology: Pelotonia pledged $102,265,000 in 2019 to establish this bench-to-bedside research initiative focused on harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
  • Pelotonia Scholars: The Pelotonia Scholars Program encourages promising undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students to pursue research with support from faculty mentors.
  • Idea Grants: Idea Grants provide seed money to teams of faculty researchers who are collecting data in order to apply for larger external grants. Learn about some of the Pelotonia-funded Idea Grants and their impact in the series of videos here.
  • Junior and Senior Scientists: Pelotonia funds help to attract and retain the best talent in cancer research. 
  • Statewide Initiatives: Pelotonia funds help to support crucial studies and trials among a network of more than 50 hospitals across the state of Ohio.
    • Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative (OCCPI)
      • This is a statewide initiative to screen newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients and their biological relatives for Lynch syndrome, a cancer-causing condition that occurs when a person inherits a mutation in one of four genes.
      • Read about Jay McDaniel and how this impacted his family. 
    • Ohio Prevention & Treatment of Endometrial Cancer (OPTEC)
      • This is a statewide initiative to help identify women with endometrial cancer who may be at risk for other types of cancers due to their genetic makeup, and to help match women with endometrial cancer to the best treatment options for their particular cancer.
    • Beating Lung Cancer – in Ohio (BLC-IO)
      • This statewide initiative has two aims: to evaluate the impact of advanced gene testing and expert advice on lung cancer treatment and subsequent patient survival and to improve smoking cessation rates among smokers with lung cancer and their family members.
    • Turning the PAGE on Breast Cancer in Ohio
      • The project will use a multi-level approach in 12 Ohio counties to provide breast cancer education and facilitate access to risk assessment, genetic counseling and testing, appropriate screening/surveillance, follow-up for abnormal tests, and prompt and proper treatment for African American women who are at greater risk of breast cancer mortality.

Why Someone Should Donate to Pelotonia Right Now

  • 100% of participant-raised funds go directly to innovative cancer research.
  • "Together we are pushing the boundaries of immuno-oncology research. Your partnership with the PIIO is a catalyst in our journey toward a cancer-free world." Dr. Zihai Li, Founding Director of The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology
  • "When we think about cancer research and getting closer to a cancer-free world, we have to make sure we are cultivating and keeping students in cancer research." Dr. Rosa Lapalombella, Director of the Pelotonia Scholars Program

Important Resources 

  • Discover more tips, tricks, and templates for fundraising on our Fundraising Resources page.
  • Many employers match the charitable contributions of their employees. This is a great way to supplement the money you are giving to a participant or Peloton. To begin this process, you will first need to determine if your employer accepts matching gifts. Learn more on our Matching Gifts page.
If you have additional questions or suggestions, please reach out to [email protected]

Want more inspiration?

GoRead a sample fundraising letter
100% of participant-raised funds go to innovative cancer research.

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