Lessons from a Virtual Fundraiser

Deaf Organizations Fund (DOF) relies on community support to help make our annual Impact Grant for Deaf Organizations possible. Because our grant program and nonprofit resources are offered nationwide by a team working remotely, we do not have a geographic-specific donor base.  

This means we’ve had to get creative with our fundraising efforts! One strategy we experimented with was hosting a virtual race called the Dash for Deaf Organizations. Between 2023 and 2025, supporters of all ages and abilities walked, wheeled, or ran their way through this annual Dash. Their registration fees and additional donations helped support the work of deaf organizations across the United States.

Over the course of three Dash events, we had 335 Dashers that brought in a collective total of $37,700+ in support of deaf organizations.

What worked?

We used a virtual race platform called RunSignup.com. Since none of us at DOF are particularly athletic (darn!) or experienced in hosting races, we experimented with different approaches!  

From varied distances and pricing tiers – 5K, 10K, and half-marathons – to options for forming race teams and creating fundraising pages, there was something for everyone to try. We even set up charity partnerships with several of our grantees to not only raise money for DOF, but to also encourage donations to our charity partners.  

We had the assistance of deaf athletes from MANOS3Nation as event ambassadors, deaf content creators, and charity partners in marketing the Dash events, as well as the financial backing of generous sponsoring companies. 

What was challenging?   

The idea of a virtual race is a tough sell. People struggled initially to understand how the distance options could be completed, and though we encouraged supporters to recruit friends, family, and co-workers to participate and complete the Dash together, it seemed as though the in-person, collective race aspect was desired by many.  

Final thoughts

Some of our charity partners held Dash meet-ups in various locations statewide, or even nationwide. While there are liability and permit considerations if your organization sets up a formal race course, these informal meet-ups to encourage participants to complete the Dash together seemed to generate considerable interest and success for the hosting organizations. If your organization is thinking about a virtual race, this could be a good hybrid strategy to consider! 

We are profoundly grateful to all who participated in and supported our Dash events.