In terms of fundraising, I'm utterly lacking in charm but I've got the distinct advantage of being a persistant and greedy bastard.
Anyway, I've been trying to recruit a few local businesses as team sponsors and it occurred to me that if I had my team do the ride in reverse (Falls to Toronto) or do the Toronto-Hamilton turnaround, then a local vendor would receive the added publicity of having his corporate logo cross the finish line in Toronto rather than down at the Falls.
It may mean nothing to me, but it might be enough to convince a business owner that there's customers to be found on a sunny, Sunday afternoon down by the waterfront.
Personally, I love finishing at the Falls, but I'm just throwing that possibility out there since my priority is fundraising... not destination selection.
Honestly, I can't imagine that would make the slightest bit of difference to sponsors. They know -- or should -- that sponsorship of a good cause isn't advertising. No one will go to a bank or yoga studio because they see the name on the back of a jersey.
Actually sponsorship IS advertising, and yes, some people DO commit to support businesses who participate in charitable endeavours.
There are literally thousands of causes out there that need support, so if you're going to try to crowbar thousands of dollars away from a business for THIS cause then you need to provide more than "it's the right thing to do". Fundraising takes a lot more than just guilt.
