A Mission That Goes the Extra Mile
For over 20 years, Himalayan Life has been on the ground in Nepal and India, rescuing, nurturing, and protecting marginalized children who have faced abandonment, abuse, and neglect. Their mission is to provide these children with access to food, shelter, safety, education, and a future.
To support this mission, Himalayan Life created The Extra Mile—a peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising event that invites supporters to walk or cycle in solidarity with the children they serve. Since launching in 2021, the campaign has become an annual tradition, building momentum and fundraising success year over year.
Building a Repeatable, Branded P2P Fundraising Engine
What makes The Extra Mile so powerful is its repeatable structure. Himalayan Life runs the campaign annually using the same core framework—customized each year with fresh visuals, stories, and energy. With every iteration, the event gains traction, becoming a recognizable and trusted brand within their community.
This consistency creates a snowball effect: re-engaging past participants, bringing in new donors, and increasing public visibility across regions.
Making Participation Easy, Flexible, and Inclusive
The peer-to-peer campaign design is built on flexibility:
- Participants can choose to walk or cycle, making it accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
- The event is hosted in three different locations, broadening geographic reach and local visibility.
- Supporters can still contribute by donating or sharing, even if they can’t physically join the event.
And as a fun motivator, the organization’s CEO, Daniel Burgi, commits to walking and cycling at all three locations, adding a personal and inspirational touch.
Friendly Competition and Clear Calls to Action
A key part of The Extra Mile’s success lies in how Himalayan Life motivates participants and makes it easy for supporters to get involved. The campaign features a live leaderboard that fosters friendly competition and encourages participants to stay active and accountable in their fundraising efforts. Each participant has the opportunity to personalize their page with a message, image, or video, sharing why the cause matters to them. This personal storytelling adds authenticity and emotional resonance.
To keep things simple and clear, the campaign outlines four ways supporters can contribute: by registering to walk or cycle, supporting a participant’s fundraiser, sharing the campaign with others, or making a direct donation. This clarity removes any friction from the giving process and ensures everyone knows how they can make a difference.
Leveraging FundRazr’s Full Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Set
Himalayan Life takes full advantage of FundRazr’s built-in tools to streamline their campaigns and create a more engaging experience. Custom registration forms allow participants to select their event date and location, set fundraising goals, and add personal messages—all within an intuitive flow. The campaign pages are thoroughly branded with the organization’s logo, colors, and visuals, which strengthens trust and reinforces identity.
FundRazr’s automated activity feed highlights new contributions in real time, providing a sense of momentum and encouraging others to join in. Participants often reply to these donation alerts with thank-you notes, creating personal connections that boost community spirit.
Beyond the campaign itself, Himalayan Life integrates Mailchimp to manage email communication and utilizes other available tools like Google Analytics, Zapier, and BlackBaud to streamline backend operations. These features not only reduce administrative burden but also help increase donor engagement with minimal effort.
Success by the Numbers: Year-Over-Year Growth
Himalayan Life’s consistent execution of The Extra Mile has led to strong, sustainable fundraising outcomes:
- 2025 – Goal: $50K | Raised: $51K+
- 2023 – Goal: $50K | Raised: $43K+
- 2022 – P2P Goal: $75K | Raised: $60K+
- Microprojects Goal: $70K | Raised: $70K
- 2021 – Goal: $62K | Raised: $39K+
In one of the years, the organization experimented with their fundraising strategy by launching a microprojects campaign alongside their main peer-to-peer event. This approach allowed them to break down their overall mission into smaller, more specific fundraising goals—each representing a tangible impact, like funding school supplies, covering shelter costs, or supporting vocational training. The result? The microprojects campaign raised over $70,000, making it their highest-performing initiative that year.
This success highlights a key strength of the FundRazr platform: the flexibility to run multiple project types. Whether it’s a main event, microprojects, monthly giving, or emergency relief, FundRazr gives nonprofits the freedom to tailor campaigns to different audience preferences and storytelling angles. Experimenting with new formats helps keep donors engaged and emotionally connected—especially when they can clearly see the direct impact of their contribution.
By testing and iterating, organizations like Himalayan Life are not only raising more money but also discovering new strategic approaches to fundraising that deepen donor relationships and broaden long-term support.
Key Takeaways for Nonprofits Looking to Launch a P2P Event
For nonprofits looking to replicate this kind of success, the biggest lesson is the power of consistency. Running a peer-to-peer event annually helps build brand recognition, community buy-in, and donor trust. Flexibility is also crucial—offering multiple ways to participate ensures accessibility and keeps engagement high. Personalized storytelling from participants adds emotional depth and makes campaigns feel more human.
Meanwhile, the right digital tools—like FundRazr’s peer-to-peer registration flows, automated updates, and integration options—enable organizations to launch professional, scalable campaigns without needing a large team or tech expertise. And finally, experimenting with new formats, such as microprojects, can uncover unexpected opportunities and reinvigorate donor interest year after year.
The Extra Mile is more than a campaign—it’s a community-powered tradition that continues to grow, connect, and transform lives. And with the right tools, your organization can build something just as lasting.
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