Short term goals can motivate you through the fundraising process. A good starting point is to focus on raising your first three donations. Here’s some tactics that can help:
Choose 2-3 people to reach out to first
Think about the people in your life who you’re closest to and give them a heads up about your fundraiser before launching to the wider public. The best people to start with are usually family members, best friends, or someone you work closely with.
Choose the best sharing method
Where do you normally talk to this person? Do you spend most of your time communicating through email, text message, social media, the phone, or face to face? Try to reach out to them in a way that’s typical for your relationship.
Include a personal message with your fundraiser link
It’s a good idea to pair your fundraiser link with a message that encourages them to check out your fundraiser. Below we’ve included some strategies that you can try:
- Ask for feedback: Involve your friends by asking them to help you finalize your story. By participating in the creation of your campaign, they’ll feel more connected to the success of your fundraiser. Don’t forget to ask them to contribute after you’ve finished it. The first donations are usually the most important because they help build momentum on your campaign.
- Get specific: It helps to show how much a donation will positively improve your life. For example, if you’re fundraising for bills, you might say something like, a $60 donation will help us pay for half of our electric bill. Breaking down what you’re fundraising for into smaller bite size pieces can help donors feel like they’re making an impact.
- Give Options: Everybody’s financial situation is different. Let your friends know that sharing your fundraiser with their network can also make a big difference. If your friends have a small network, you can also request resources, tips, or connections. For example, if you need home repairs, maybe someone knows a contractor who does reasonably priced work.
- Show gratitude: Part of why people give back is because it feels good. When asking for money, it’s important to let them know how much their support means to you in your message.
We’d love to hear from you. What message did you send to your closest relationships when promoting your fundraiser? Do you have any wording that you can share with the community?
(P.S. Please stay on topic with comments. Off-topic comments will be removed.)
