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Fundraising Focus
Building a Pelotonia Fundraising Letter

By The Pelotonia Team|May 16, 2025

One of the most effective ways to fundraise for your Pelotonia campaign is to make personal, heartfelt asks. Reaching out to friends, family, colleagues, and your wider network with a meaningful message can make a big impact. We encourage one-on-one outreach — direct, personal connections are often the most powerful.  
Most importantly, we encourage you to share your story. Let people know why Pelotonia matters to you — whether it’s in honor of a loved one, a personal experience with cancer, or a desire to help fuel life-saving research. When you lead with authenticity, people are more likely to support your journey. 
Below, you’ll find key facts about Pelotonia and impactful highlights to help you show your donors exactly where their dollars are going — and how their support is fueling our shared mission of ending cancer. 
We’ve also outlined a few simple steps to help you craft a compelling, personal fundraising letter or email. Whether you’re writing your first message or refreshing your approach, these tools are designed to help you share your story and inspire others to donate. 
If your donor isn’t familiar with Pelotonia, it’s helpful to provide a brief overview of what sets this movement apart — especially our 100% model, which means every participant-raised dollar supports cancer research directly. 
Quick Pelotonia facts: 
Explaining where Pelotonia dollars go is a powerful way to engage your donors. Helping your donors see the impact their contribution will have can make all the difference in your fundraising campaign. 
Where the Money Goes:  
Pelotonia funds support research in seven areas: researcher development, strategic research investments, idea grants, Pelotonia Scholars Program, Pelotonia Institiute for Immuno-oncology (PIIO), Instruments of Discovery, and statewide initiatives.    
  • Researcher Development: Since 2010, the OSUCCC – James has recruited over 290 top scientists with Pelotonia support.  
  • Strategic Research Investments: Pelotonia dollars support such OSUCCC – James initiatives as the Drug Development Institute, digital pathology and the Total Cancer Care protocol.  
  • Idea Grants: Pelotonia-funded Idea Grants help teams of cancer researchers gather early data for innovative ideas so they can later apply for larger grants. Since 2010, Pelotonia funding has supported 221 grants worth $31.35 million. In 2024, 11 new Pelotonia-funded Idea Grants, totaling $1.4 million, were awarded to cancer researchers.
  • Pelotonia Scholars Program: $2 million is awarded annually to train the next generation of cancer researchers. Since 2010, the Pelotonia Scholars Program has awarded 712 scholarships to students from 53 countries and 36 U.S. States.  
  • The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) The PIIO is a research initiative focused on harnessing the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Since 2010, 254 immunotherapy clinical trials have been launched.  
  • Instruments of Discovery:  Some Pelotonia dollars are allocated for the purchase of  used to conduct cutting-edge cancer research. In 2024 alone, $488,000 was put toward the purchase of equipment for some of the cancer program’s Shared Resources, which provide specialized services to cancer researchers. 
  • Statewide Initiatives: In 2024, four statewide initiatives funded by Pelotonia have promoted early detection and better outcomes for colorectal, endometrial, lung, and breast cancer patients in Ohio. 
After sharing your story, don’t forget the ask. Here are a few examples to help you make it clear:
  • “If you’re able, I’d be so grateful if you could support my Pelotonia ride. Every dollar you give goes directly to innovative cancer research.” 
  • “Please consider joining me in this mission by making a donation to my Pelotonia campaign. Every single dollar helps bring us one step closer to ending cancer. 
  • “Will you join me in ending cancer? Pelotonia ensures that 100% of your donation goes directly to cancer research.” 
  • “Every dollar fuels cutting-edge research with one goal: to end cancer. Click here to donate to my Pelotonia campaign.” 
  • “Thank you for supporting my Pelotonia journey. Your donation — 100% of it — directly supports research that’s changing lives.” 
As you finalize your Pelotonia fundraising letter or email, focus on three essentials: share your story, highlight the impact of Pelotonia’s dollars, and invite your donors to support your ride with a meaningful contribution. 
If you’re interested in using Pelotonia branded paper and envelopes, we have them available for purchase in our shop linked here.

Want more inspiration?

GoRead a sample fundraising letter
100% of participant-raised funds go to innovative cancer research.
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