Whether the charity that you signed up for an event with have set you a sponsorship target, or you’ve got a figure in mind that you want to achieve yourself, these seven tips will help get your campaign in the best shape possible so that you can blow your fundraising target out of the water.
1. Make a plan
By now you should know what your fundraising target is, all that’s left is the small matter of getting to that figure! Remember that ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ and being clear about your objectives from the outset and outlining a strategy will only help your fundraising campaign in the long run.
Ask yourself some questions and think carefully about the approach you’ll be taking. How will you get your message out there? What will make your campaign stand out? What are the dates your campaign will be running? How will people donate? What tools will you use?
Think about the approach you’ll be taking and break down the steps you need to do to make your task more manageable. List everyone who you could contact to help you out - local businesses, sports teams, the local press etc. The more people you get in touch with, the more chance you have of raising awareness and getting the help you need.
2. Make it personal
People are much more likely to engage and connect with your story if they know why it is that you’re fundraising. Ask yourself why did you choose this charity? Is it because of something that has impacted your life or the lives of those close to you? Remember that people are moved by personal stories and therefore sharing this information on your fundraising page will encourage people to donate to try to make a difference.
Write your story down on your fundraising page, create a video that people can share, and make sure you tell your potential donors what their support would mean to you and the charity you’re raising money for. Include as much information as you can on your fundraising page and people will be more likely to donate.
3. Do your research about your charity
Remember that your donors are not really giving to you, they are giving through you - to the cause you’re representing. When you buy a product you want to know information about what you were spending your money on and the same applies to people who are donating money to your chosen cause. If you speak passionately about your chosen charity, it will show potential donors that your cause is a genuine one.
Get in touch with your chosen charity - they’ll be able to provide you with the information you should be including on your fundraising page. What does your chosen charity do? Who/what does the charity aim to help? How will the charity spend the money from donations?
4. Think like a donor
To become a better fundraiser and really get the most from your campaign, you need to think like a donor. Think about the reasons why people give their hard earned money to charity. It’s because they want to help and make a difference, because they have a connection with the cause you’re fundraising for, because they’ve been inspired by something or because your story has moved them.
Once you know why donors give money, you can make sure that these reasons are all clearly outlined on your fundraising page and through your campaign. Remember that people are choosing your particular charity so you need to tell them how and why their donations will make a difference.
5. Make use of social media
Social media channels should be utilised by every fundraiser. They are a great way to reach out to more people, share engaging content and make your fundraising campaign personal. Keep your donors updated about your training by sharing content, videos, images, blogs and events with them through your social media pages.
Your social media presence should also have a clear call to action that allows people to donate to your cause easily online. If someone has been inspired by something they have seen on social media and want to donate, you need to ensure they can do it quickly and easily - otherwise, you might have lost a potential donor.
6. Spread your message
If you don’t ask, you don’t get - it’s as simple as that. Don’t focus all of your efforts online, you need to get your campaign visible everywhere. Think carefully about how you can spread awareness of your cause in everyday life. Something as simple as putting a donation jar in your local pub or shop will soon help your donations add up.
Try contacting your local press and local businesses to see if they can help your cause. And ask your employer if there is anything they can do to help you - be it posters in the canteen or a donation from the company.
7. Thank your donors
Don’t forget your manners. Saying thank you is one of the simplest, yet powerful things you can do during your fundraising campaign. People are giving your charity their hard earned money so you should let them know how much you appreciate their support, and how it will be used to make a difference.
Your thank you could take the form of a personal email, a message, or you could go old school and write them a letter or thank them in person. However you decide to show your gratitude, this gesture will mean a lot to your donors and make you feel good too.