Events / Event Types / Fundraisers
Fundraisers

THE RIG IS ALSO
THE FUNDRAISER

At most events the simulator draws a crowd and something else does the work. At a fundraiser it can do both, because paying to race is an easier ask than paying to attend.

Why It Works

PEOPLE WILL PAY TO RACE

The hardest part of a charity event is usually the ask. A simulator makes it easier, because entering a race is a transaction people understand and enjoy rather than a donation they feel obliged to make.

It also produces something a raffle cannot: a leaderboard that keeps updating all evening, which gives people a reason to enter more than once. Repeat entries are the mechanic most fundraising formats are built around.

Mechanics that work

  • Pay per run. A small amount per attempt, with people re-entering to beat their own time or somebody else’s.
  • Sponsored rig. A local business covers the activation cost in exchange for branding on the wrap and the leaderboard, so more of what is raised goes to the cause.
  • Challenge a guest driver. An invited driver sets a time and people pay to try to beat it.
  • Team entry. Companies enter teams for a fixed fee, which turns one donation into several attendees.
Where It Fits

THE OCCASIONS

01 / Galas
CHARITY GALAS
A rig running alongside the dinner, with entries sold through the evening.
02 / Golf
GOLF DAYS AND OUTDOOR EVENTS
Something for people waiting to tee off, under cover.
03 / Community
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS
Broad public audiences where the format has to suit everyone.
04 / Schools
SCHOOL AND CLUB FUNDRAISERS
Events where the audience is mixed-age and the entry price is low.
05 / Corporate
CORPORATE GIVING DAYS
Company charity days where teams compete and the business matches.
06 / Auctions
AUCTION AND PRIZE TIE-INS
A fastest-lap prize that ties into the wider auction.
Practical

PLANNING IT

Decide the mechanic before the format

How you are collecting money should decide the racing format, not the other way round. Pay per run wants short sessions and high throughput. Team entry wants a relay. A challenge time wants one circuit and one car all night.

Consider a sponsor for the activation

One approach is to have a local business cover the cost of the rig in exchange for branding on the wrap and the leaderboard, so that less of what you raise goes back out on costs. We do not source or guarantee sponsors, and any sponsorship is an arrangement between you and them.

Think about entry price against throughput

Each simulator handles roughly 15 to 40 drivers an hour depending on session length. Short runs at a lower price and long sessions at a higher one are both workable, and which suits you depends on your audience and how long the event runs.

Delivery, setup, calibration, staffing and teardown are typically included, and your quote sets out exactly what is covered and for how many hours. We are a commercial supplier, not a charity partner. Collecting entries, handling funds, refunds, prizes, receipts and any tax, charity registration or local rules that apply to your event are the organizer’s responsibility, not ours.

Related

ALSO WORTH READING

Elsewhere at Academy

TWO OTHER WAYS TO RACE

Questions

WHAT PLANNERS ASK

How does a simulator raise money?
Most commonly by selling entries: a set amount per run, with a live leaderboard giving people a reason to come back and try again. How you price and structure it is your call.
Can a sponsor cover the cost of the simulator?
That is a common arrangement: a local business covers the activation in exchange for branding on the rig and the leaderboard. To be clear, we do not source or guarantee sponsors, and the agreement is between you and them.
Do you handle the money?
No. We supply and run the simulators. Collecting entries, handling funds, refunds, prizes, receipts and any tax or charity compliance are for your team. We are a commercial supplier rather than a charity partner.
Do you offer a discount for charities?
Tell us about the event and the cause when you get in touch. Pricing is quoted per event and we would rather have that conversation properly than publish a policy.
What format raises the most?
Short paid runs with a live leaderboard suit events selling to individuals, and team entries suit events selling to businesses. We can run either, and we would rather talk through your audience than promise a figure.
Can the rig carry our sponsors’ branding?
Yes, through rig wraps and on-screen branding. Wraps need lead time, so raise it early.
Is it suitable for a mixed-age community event?
Usually yes. Driver aids make the cars manageable for children and first-time adults and our staff set every driver up, though suitability depends on the child fitting the rig safely and on supervision and venue rules. Tell us the age range and we will advise.

RAISING MONEY
IN FLORIDA?

Tell us the cause, the date and the format you have in mind. We will tell you what works.