We are thrilled to announce that the Sunshine Coast Marathon 2024 campaign raised an impressive $175,000, far surpassing its original goal of $100,000. On August 10, 2024, more than 2,100 runners participated in the EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival in Queensland. This year, event organiser Atlas Events partnered with us to streamline the fundraising process, engage participants more effectively, and significantly enhance their overall impact. 

Campaign Highlights:

1. Stretching the Goal

Originally, the fundraising goal was set at $100,000, but it was reached a full week before the marathon! A key factor in this rapid success was dollar matching, which played a significant role in boosting donations and driving fundraisers to maximise their efforts. Inspired by the incredible support from participants and the community, Sunshine Coast Marathon decided to stretch the goal to $150,000 and then further to $165,000, aiming to raise even more for their vital charity partners. This ambitious move paid off, contributing significantly to the final total of over $175,000. 

2. Dollar Match Frenzy

One of the campaign’s most exciting days was the Dollar Match Frenzy. To double the impact of donations and support local charities, donations were matched dollar for dollar for 48 hours two weeks ahead of the event. Gold partner charities Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland, Indigenous Marathon Foundation, LIVIN, and The Rise 2 Foundation benefited from this initiative, which was spearheaded by Atlas Events and generously supported by corporate sponsors McDonald’s Sunshine Coast, Cricks Sunshine Coast, Zinc Properties Noosa, and Atlas Events itself. Sponsors also gained extra visibility by having their logos displayed against all matched donations, highlighting their commitment to the cause. As an added incentive, for every $20 donated, participants were entered into a draw to win a Garmin Forerunner 55. 

3. Charity Reimbursement Scheme

To motivate participants and enhance the fundraising experience, Sunshine Coast Marathon introduced the Charity Reimbursement Scheme. Partner charities had the option to opt into this scheme and leverage it as an incentive for fundraisers to raise $700 and have their entry fee reimbursed This initiative encouraged participants to go the extra mile, both literally and figuratively, by supporting causes close to their hearts while also achieving their personal fitness goals. 

4.  Communications and Gamification

To boost participant motivation and engagement, we implemented a gamified approach to fundraising page badges that reflected the fundraising incentives. These badges also triggered segmented comms to the fundraiser to let them know they’d hit a milestone and motivating them to reach the next level!  This strategic approach not only recognised their efforts but also spurred them on to reach higher goals, creating a sense of accomplishment and fostering continued participation. 

To further support fundraising efforts, fundraisers could download unique posters with QR codes. These posters, available on each fundraiser’s page, could be printed and shared offline, making it easy for supporters to spread the word and direct donations to their personal fundraising pages. By simply scanning the QR code, supporters could easily donate, increasing the reach and effectiveness of the fundraising campaign. 

Empowering Participants and Charities Through GoFundraise: 

Seamless Fundraising Integration: Our integration with Active Network, the event’s registration platform, enabled Sunshine Coast Marathon participants to easily create personalised fundraising pages at the time of registration to support their favourite charity. 

Donation Marquee: To showcase real-time fundraising progress and motivate donors, a dynamic donation feed was prominently displayed on both the home page and individual fundraising pages, allowing everyone to see the immediate impact of their contributions and the collective progress towards their loved ones personal goal and overall fundraising goals. 

“I wanted to say thank you to you and your team at GoFundraise for your exceptional support with the fundraising platform for the EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival. Your hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on our efforts. Honestly, you guys were great and were outstanding this year.” – Jason Crowther, Managing Director of Atlas Events 

The Sunshine Coast Marathon not only showcased the power of community and charity but also highlighted what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and creative fundraising initiatives. This year’s event raised over $175,000, far exceeding the original goal of $100,000. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of all participants, sponsors, and charity partners involved.