Tips for Online Fundraising

Personalize your fundraising page as much as possible.  Use a heartfelt description and a photo to tell your story. Explain to your donors what you are raising money for and why it is so important to you.  If your friends and family see that you are passionate about your fundraising efforts, they are more likely to give and give generously.

Promote Promote Promote! The more you promote your fundraising page the better it will do. Here are the best ways to promote

Send email or Facebook updates to your friends and family. One most important tips to online fundraising is to be persistent.  While some people will donate the first time you ask them, the reality is that it will take at least 2-3 friendly reminders. 

Fundraise strategically. While we definitely recommend telling everyone you know about your fundraising page, before you send out that mass email to everyone in your contact book, first send out an email to your absolute closest friends and family.

Start with a modest fundraising goal and adjust upward as needed.  One of the keys to online fundraising is building momentum.  Your friends and family will be more inclined to give if they think their contribution will help you reach your goal.

Offer your donors a chance to win a prize! A great way to get people to donate is by offering them an incentive. For instance, when you email your contacts you might include in the email that you will be raffling off a $10 gift card to Starbucks [or whatever gift card you choose] to the first 25 people to donate.

Thank your donors! Displaying your good manners and thanking the people who have supported your fundraiser. Send a personal card, email, or a social media shout-out.  Thanking each donor individually is an especially good idea if you plan to fundraise again in the future and hope to ask the same people.

Have Fun! Last but not least, always remember to have fun.  Fundraising shouldn’t be a chore.  It should be a fun activity.  If you’re having fun with it, your positive energy becomes contagious and will make friends and family want to donate.