While big-name peer-to peer fundraising programs like American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life struggled in 2014, a number of large programs posted significant growth.
The Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Thirty — our annual survey of the largest peer-to-peer programs in the U.S. — saw four programs that posted year-over-year increases of more than 30 percent in 2014.
A fifth program — the head-shaving fundraisers held by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — continued its stretch of remarkable sustained growth.
Here are the five fastest-growing programs, ranked by percentage growth between 2013 and 2014:
No. 1 – Cycle for Survival — Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Cycle for Survival is one of the most impressive new entries in the peer-to-peer fundraising world.
Founded in 2007, it is now the 25th largest program in the nation after posting an astonishing growth rate of 42.86 percent in 2014. In fact, since 2012, its revenues have grown by more than 165 percent.
Another fun fact: the number of volunteers who participants who take part in Cycle for Survival nearly quadrupled from 2012 to 2014.
No. 2 – Walk to Defeat ALS – ALS Association
As the Ice Bucket Challenge captured the nation’s attention about ALS, the ALS Association mobilized volunteers at an unprecedented rate for its Walk to Defeat ALS fundraising program.
Fundraising from its 171 walks totaled more than $32-million in 2014, up a whopping 36.28 percent.
The program benefited from a huge surge in volunteers, as more than 19,500 new people took part in the Walk to Defeat ALS in 2014.
No. 3 — Out of Darkness Community Walks — American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention proved that the traditional fundraising walk model is still effective for well-organized groups.
Revenue at its Out of Darkness Community Walks grew by 32.43 percent in 2014 — to $12.5 million.
The strong performance earned the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention its first-ever place in the top 30 rankings.
No. 4 — Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart — American Heart Association
The American Heart Association’s Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart program is among the oldest peer-to-peer fundraising programs in the country — but it still has a lot of spring in its step.
The program reported more than $71.2 million in revenues in 2014 — up an impressive 31.64 percent over the previous year.
With that strong growth, Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart leaped from No. 13 to No. 7 in our rankings.
No. 5 — Head Shaving Events — St. Baldrick’s Foundation
St. Baldrick’s Foundation has only been around since 2005, but it has quickly established itself as one of the most successful peer-to-peer fundraising organizations in the country.
The organization’s head-shaving events raised more than $39 million for the children’s cancer charity in 2014, up 16.27 percent.
Download the full Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Thirty report to get more insight into the biggest trends affecting peer-to-peer fundraising.