Variety – The Children’s Charity of QLD

The Yamaha Variety Jet Trek (Sydney to Yamba) is a peer to peer fundraiser where people spend six days travelling the Australian coastline on jet skis to raise funds for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland.
The challenge: feedback from past events indicated some trekkers felt not enough event proceeds were going to help sick, special needs or disadvantaged children. They felt disconnected and less inclined to fundraise.

The Variety team believed they could improve results by better connecting trekkers to the cause. They shared more impact stories on social and in newsletters, demonstrating how trekkers’ fundraising had helped kids. They also involved participants in presenting grants of equipment, services and experiences. The multi-channel fundraising strategy included regular support calls. A new retention program recognised people who had completed several events while a new fundraising recognition program provided perks to people who went above and beyond in their fundraising.

The result? A record 113 people participated in the 2018 trek (98% satisfaction rate), and trekkers raised a $395,000 gross profit for Variety. Variety was then able to develop Sea of Smiles, a new kids’ program, hand out $20,000 in grants of equipment and have enough net profit for 64 Variety Heart Scholarships!