Human Services
An Opportunity to Transform Fundraising
When Jordan Walker joined Chicago Run as Senior Development and Communications Manager in 2021, he stepped into an organization already doing powerful work. They bring inclusive, movement-based programs to over 10,000 youth across Chicago every school year. But there was one area ready for transformation: fundraising. That year, Chicago Run’s charity marathon team included just 20 runners who collectively raised about $30,000. Four years later, that same program has grown to 90 runners raising nearly $150,000—and the organization credits much of that growth to a strategic shift toward peer-to-peer fundraising, made possible with Neon One tools, Neon Fundraise and Neon CRM.
Scaling Success with Neon Fundraise and Neon CRM
Chicago Run needed technology that could scale with their vision. With Neon Fundraise, they’ve been able to spin up custom-branded fundraising pages that make it easy for supporters to tell their story, track progress, and engage their networks. The platform’s clean, mobile-optimized design helps supporters feel confident sharing their pages—and donors are more likely to give when the process is intuitive and professional.
The tech didn’t just help runners—it empowered staff, too. By pairing Neon Fundraise with Neon CRM, the Chicago Run team gained visibility into donor and fundraiser activity across every campaign. They could see who was engaging, how they were connected, and when to reach out with personal messages or event invites.
“I definitely want to give a shout out to the new Neon Fundraise page; it has a super clean interface. Some of our runners even said it felt like a virtual cheering section that helped them through their training and mileage.”
– Jordan Walker, Senior Development & Communications Manager
Expanding the Movement Beyond the Marathon
This visibility allowed the team to build deeper relationships and spot opportunities to grow the movement. As a result, Chicago Run has expanded beyond the marathon—now encouraging supporters to fundraise through holiday events, volunteer programs, and even races in other cities. Neon Fundraise makes it easy to replicate campaigns and provide consistent support, while Neon CRM keeps every donor and volunteer touchpoint organized and accessible.
And yet, for Jordan, the real magic goes beyond platforms and dashboards.
As a licensed social worker, he brings a trauma-informed approach to fundraising—one that centers people, empowerment, and personal connection. In his Dream Big session, “The Magic Is in the People: What Encanto Teaches Us About the Future of Fundraising,” Jordan compared first-time fundraisers to Mirabel from the film—unsure of their place, unsure if they’re “enough. ”But with the right encouragement—and the right tools—those same people step into their power.
Building a Community of Support
The combination of human connection and smart technology has created a ripple effect. Donors become volunteers. Volunteers become fundraisers. People who discover Chicago Run through a friend’s campaign turn around and start one of their own.
Peer-to-peer fundraising is now core to Chicago Run’s model—and Neon One’s solutions make it all possible.
“When it comes to sustainable fundraising, peer-to-peer is the way to go!”
– Jordan Walker, Senior Development & Communications Manager
Take Your Fundraising to the Next Level
Ready to amplify your own impact? Explore the Neon One fundraising experience and discover how our integrated solutions can help you reach new heights. Take a tour here and see the difference for yourself.
