Key Nonprofit Highlights
NuPath, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, supports individuals with disabilities through a range of services. These include day programs for transitioning to work and independent living, residential services with personalized support, autism programs tailored to unique needs, clinical services for complex behavioral challenges, and flexible transportation to promote independence. NuPath switched from Classy to Bloomerang Fundraising to improve their annual peer-to-peer event, “Walk the Walk.” Classy’s high costs and limited features hindered efficiency, requiring manual adjustments for registration fees. With Bloomerang, NuPath streamlined event management, integrated registration fees into goals, and fostered a competitive spirit among participants. The results were remarkable: individual fundraising averages increased from $90 to $510, and total event revenue grew from $18K to $106K. Bloomerang’s tools enhanced donor engagement, operational efficiency, and fundraising success, enabling NuPath to better support individuals with disabilities.
Challenge
Classy was too expensive and lacked vital features
NuPath’s annual peer-to-peer fundraising event, “Walk the Walk,” was a cornerstone in their efforts to increase awareness and resources, but they struggled to optimize revenue and participant engagement. Their old peer-to-peer fundraising platform, Classy, wasn’t cutting it. High costs, inefficient functionalities, and limited features hindered their ability to fully mobilize their fundraising community. Their Classy plan lacked the feature to include registration fees in team fundraising goals, forcing employees to manually apply fees for 300-400 participants—a highly time-consuming process. They needed a solution that would not only be cost-effective but also feature-rich, empowering participants to achieve measurable results to meet the needs of an organization of their size. When NuPath discovered they could save 5-10 times with Bloomerang Fundraising compared to what they paid for Classy, the decision was simple.
Solution
Switching to Bloomerang Fundraising to streamline event registration
With Bloomerang Fundraising, NuPath discovered a robust and accessible platform brimming with features to reimagine their approach to peer-to-peer events. By implementing Bloomerang, NuPath saw a transformational shift in how they managed their annual Walk the Walk event.
One of the most impactful changes was the ability to integrate registration fees into fundraising goals through a simple toggle option—an immediate upgrade from their previous system’s labor-intensive, manual adjustments. But perhaps the most defining factor was the culture of friendly yet fierce competition nurtured by NuPath’s leadership.
“As the event comes to a close, people are constantly refreshing the leaderboards to see where they stand, and I think that’s a cool feature,” shared Brett Reily, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Strategic efforts to ignite enthusiasm throughout the organization—whether working alongside new hires or seasoned executives—underscored the agency’s collaborative spirit. “Our CEO’s goal in peer-to-peer fundraising has always been to create a competitive, but fair, playing field for all stakeholders,” Reily shared. “But he’s also quick to identify those that may not rise up without support. He’s determined to see the organization working together for one cause.” Bloomerang’s intuitive tools complemented this approach perfectly, providing a user-friendly platform for fundraisers to spread the word, thank donors, and actively engage in the walk’s collective mission.
Results
Increasing individual peer-to-peer fundraising totals by 5X
The measurable growth NuPath experienced after migrating to Bloomerang was extraordinary. When the organization used Classy, individual Walk the Walk participants raised an average of $90 each. After switching to Bloomerang, the individual donor average skyrocketed to $510—a 5X increase! They also went from raising $18K at their final event with Classy, to $106K with Bloomerang Fundraising! This dramatic growth in donor engagement and amplified fundraising success was clear evidence of the platform’s impact.
Top fundraisers, designated as “Club 50,” also became more powerful ambassadors of NuPath’s cause. The competitive atmosphere, supported by Bloomerang’s tools, pushed these participants to new heights. “They’re raising 80% of the funds and make up only 20% of the fundraisers—call it the perfect 80/20 rule,” shared Reily. “We realize this dedicated group of stakeholders deserves continued support and added resources to not only rise to the next level, but be role models for those who want to join this elite group!” More than just numbers, Bloomerang Fundraising enabled NuPath to achieve operational efficiency, deeply connect with their donors, and ultimately fund innovative programs that enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities.
