The fifth annual Run for FUNds took place on August 16 and raised over $2,500 for Heiltsuk Nation. Kayci and Sarah are two RAVEN Champions who have been fundraising for Indigenous justice through a community fun run every summer since 2020. Year after year, their dedication shows us that rallying our communities around what we care about has the potential to bring about real change. Over the past five years, these two runners have raised over $12,000 for the Nations RAVEN partners with.
The best part? This impact proves that when a community comes together, small actions add up to something huge. It came from everyday people, doing something they love, and inviting their friends, families, and networks to come out and support them doing it. That’s what peer-to-peer fundraising is all about!
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a great way for individuals who want to enact change to transform their already existing skills and networks into meaningful impact.
The formula is simple: take on a challenge, an event, or a creative idea + invite your community to participate or chip in = scaling up your individual impact!
Whether you are running a marathon, baking pies, hosting a benefit concert, or throwing a birthday party with donations instead of gifts, you become a bridge that connects your community to a cause you care about.
It’s grassroots power in action. It’s the very idea that RAVEN was founded on. We’ve always been a people-powered movement — and we try to make it as easy as possible to become a RAVEN peer-to-peer organizer. Have your own idea already? Go here to learn more and become an organizer.
Why Peer-to-Peer Works
Getting personal matters. People are far more likely to donate or show support for a cause when someone they know makes the ask.
It’s an invitation to weave in your already existing hobbies and interests into a bigger movement. This kind of flexible fundraising allows people to feel a sense of belonging within the larger ecosystem of social justice.
And, it is a catalyst to grow the movement and to reach communities who may not have known about the specific issues at hand or have not felt confident enough to be a part of the movement yet. Fundraising becomes a shared experience. Peer-to-peer fundraising builds community.
Feeling inspired yet? Here’s a blog post that breaks down just how easy it is to become an organizer for RAVEN.
You are the Spark
Kayci and Sarah have raised an incredible $12,000 over five years, but they didn’t start with that number in mind. They started with a simple idea, a passion for running, and a willingness to ask. Over time, their efforts have transformed community power into meaningful impact. Thank you to Kayci and Sarah for continuing to bring awareness and show up in solidarity with Indigenous justice!
Now, it’s your turn. Whatever your idea, big or small, you are already a spark that inspires others. Become a peer-to-peer organizer for RAVEN and let’s keep powering change, together.
