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Fundraising Gauntlet

Turn your fitness activity into charitable donations. Get pledges from supporters, then walk, run, or move to raise money for causes you care about.

How It Works​

  1. Create a fundraising challenge with your charity and activity goal
  2. Share your link with friends, family, and social networks
  3. Supporters pledge an amount per mile, step, or calorie
  4. You get active during the challenge period
  5. Pledges convert to donations automatically when the challenge ends

Creating a Fundraising Gauntlet​

Basic Setup​

  1. Tap + on the home screen
  2. Select Fundraising Gauntlet
  3. Configure your fundraiser:
SettingDescription
Name"Sarah's Marathon for Cancer Research"
CharitySelect from our partner charities
MetricMiles, Steps, or Calories
GoalYour target (e.g., 100 miles)
DurationHow long you'll be active
StoryWhy you're fundraising (supporters see this)

Choosing a Charity​

Browse our verified charity partners:

  • Health & Medical Research
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Education & Youth
  • Hunger & Poverty
  • Animal Welfare
  • Community & Local

Can't find your charity? Contact us to request additions.

Setting Your Goal​

Be realistic but ambitious:

  • 10,000 steps/day = ~70,000 steps/week
  • 3 miles/day = ~21 miles/week
  • Check your recent activity in your health app for baseline

Supporters see your goal - reaching it shows you're committed!

Getting Pledges​

After creating your fundraiser, you get a unique sharing link:

goalgauntlet.com/fundraise/sarah-marathon-2025

Share via:

  • Text message
  • Email
  • Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
  • LinkedIn (great for workplace challenges)

How Pledges Work​

Supporters choose:

  • Amount per unit: $0.10 - $10.00 per mile/step/etc.
  • Maximum cap: Limits their total donation

Example:

  • Supporter pledges $1/mile with $50 cap
  • You complete 75 miles
  • They donate $50 (capped)

Pledge Page​

Your supporters see:

  • Your story and photo
  • The charity you're supporting
  • Your goal and current progress
  • Live activity updates
  • Other supporters and their pledges

During Your Fundraiser​

Tracking Progress​

  • Activity syncs automatically from your health app
  • Supporters see your progress in real-time
  • Send updates to keep supporters engaged

Sending Updates​

Keep supporters motivated:

  1. Open your fundraiser
  2. Tap Post Update
  3. Share a photo, milestone, or message
  4. Supporters get notified

Good updates:

  • "Halfway to my goal!"
  • "Just finished a 5-mile run in the rain!"
  • "Thanks to everyone for the support - $500 raised so far!"

Leaderboard (Team Fundraisers)​

If multiple people are fundraising for the same cause:

  • See who's raised the most
  • Friendly competition drives more activity
  • Combined totals show team impact

When It Ends​

Final Calculations​

  1. Challenge ends at scheduled time
  2. Final activity is synced
  3. Pledges are calculated
  4. Supporters are charged

Donation Processing​

  • Supporters' payment methods are charged automatically
  • Failed payments are retried once
  • Successful donations go directly to the charity
  • You receive a summary of total raised

Tax Receipts​

  • Charity sends tax receipts directly to donors
  • Timing varies by charity (usually within 30 days)
  • Goal Gauntlet does not provide tax receipts

Tips for Success​

Set up early, share often

  • Give supporters time to pledge
  • Multiple shares reach more people

Make it personal

  • Share why this cause matters to you
  • Personal stories get more pledges

Update regularly

  • Supporters like seeing progress
  • Updates remind them to share with others

Thank your supporters

  • Send a thank-you message when they pledge
  • Post a final thank-you when complete

Fees & Processing​

Goal Gauntlet takes nothing from fundraising donations.

Costs:

  • Payment processing: ~3% (Stripe fees)
  • 100% of remainder goes to charity

Example: $1,000 raised → ~$970 to charity

Common Questions​

Q: Can I fundraise for any charity? A: We support verified 501(c)(3) charities. Request a charity if yours isn't listed.

Q: What if I don't reach my goal? A: Supporters are still charged based on your actual activity. No penalty for falling short.

Q: Can supporters donate a flat amount instead of per-mile? A: Yes! They can set a low per-unit amount with a cap equal to their desired donation.

Q: What if a supporter's payment fails? A: We retry once. If it fails again, that pledge isn't collected. You're notified.

Q: Can I extend my fundraiser? A: Yes, you can extend the end date while the challenge is active.

Q: Is my donation tax-deductible? A: Donations to 501(c)(3) charities are typically tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional.