Finance

Raise More Money With These Simple Fundraising Tips

Do you remember the Ice Bucket Challenge?

It became one of the most viral campaigns on social media in the past decade. It was also a way of raising awareness — and funds — to support treatment for people with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It earned a total of $115 million over its campaign run.

You, too, can make a difference with your fundraising efforts. That said, asking for donations isn’t going to be an easy endeavor. The good news is we’ve got a few fundraising tips below to help set you on the right track and master how to raise money for a cause:

Take Advantage of Social Media

Like the aforementioned Ice Bucket Challenge, your first major step to a successful fundraising campaign is to utilize social media. Take advantage of the platforms available to you. 

Keep in mind that every platform caters to a different crowd. Facebook is the most popular choice for older people. If you want to cater to the younger crowd, it’s better to rely on TikTok or Instagram. 

At the same, remember that each platform utilizes different forms of media. Instagram, for example, is the better option to raise awareness via images. If you want to make viral short videos, however, TikTok is the better option.

Influencers Make a Difference

Yes, social media influencers can make a big impact on your fundraising efforts. One influencer can have hundreds of thousands of followers. One post from them can reach all those people in an instant.

They can be a bit expensive. However, you’ll garner a mountain of attention and donations from that exposure. If you’re raising funds for a notable cause, other celebrities or influencers might chime in too because of the positive PR.

Conduct a little research before picking an influencer, however. You don’t want to end up paying an influencer with a history that goes against your campaign’s mission and vision. It’s also better to pick an influencer who targets the same demographics you do.

Pick the Right Platform

When you don’t how to start a fundraiser, it’s always a good idea to start with a good platform. There are a bunch of crowdfunding platforms out there, from Kickstarter to Go Fund Me. You can also rely on a powerful social fundraising platform like GiveCampus.

Remember that each platform caters to different kinds of causes. GiveCampus is the ideal choice for college fundraising. Kickstarter is there for video game developers, while Go Fund Me is the best choice for those who need medical aid. 

Make a Viral Campaign

The aforementioned Ice Bucket Challenge is a great example of a fundraising campaign going viral. Everyone got involved, from celebrities to talkshow hosts. It exploded all over Facebook, and as a result, a lot of people donated.

However, planning for something to go viral isn’t easy. 

Start by coming up with a catchy gimmick. It has to be something people will want to share all over social media. At the same time, you don’t want people to gloss over the purpose of the viral campaign.

Going back to the aforementioned Ice Bucket Challenge, start with something like a 10-second video. This makes it easy and quick for people to watch. At the same time, make sure to use the right hashtags and naming conventions for it to pop.

Launch a Fundraising Event

When you’re not sure how to raise money for charity, you can always organize an event. There will be more people and a higher chance of gathering donations.

Concerts are among the most popular events for raising money. You’ll automatically raise a lot through ticket sales. You can raise even more by selling merchandise and food.

There are also other types of events you can organize, from gaming tournaments to fashion shows. You can also launch online events like watch parties. This is a good option given the current state of the world, enforcing social distancing.

Multiple Fundraising Avenues

One of the most crucial tips for fundraising is to take advantage of multiple fundraising avenues. Don’t keep your eggs all in one basket. One fundraising event might not garner as much as you need, so host several at the same time.

For example, you could host a concert and raise funds through ticket sales. At the same time, sell some of the merchandise via Facebook or an official website. You can also manage a crowdfunding page that you can advertise on that website and during the concert.

Fundraising Gamification

Gamification is the process of turning a mundane process into something fun. Raise funds for a cause through traditional methods when you can incorporate gaming mechanics.

You can launch a social media contest, for example.

Announce that the winner will gain something like a free hotel stay or a gadget. However, to join, they have to share a 10-second video on TikTok. That video has to use hashtags specifically for the contest to raise awareness about your cause.

For them to qualify (and to make the campaign viral), each participant has to invite three other people to join. This will make it spread, and more people will get involved.

Stories Sell

Don’t forget that a good story always sells. Since you’re raising funds for a good cause, let people know there are human beings affected. Make videos that focus on the personal stories of the people who will receive those donations and what kind of impact the money can make.

Sure, you can keep it anonymous and say you’re raising money for cancer patients. People might still donate. However, if you show people a real person who needs that money, there’s a higher chance they’ll be able to sympathize and take positive action.

Follow These Fundraising Tips Today

Raising money for a cause can feel like an uphill struggle at times. However, you now have a better chance of making a bigger impact, thanks to these fundraising tips. Use social media, host special events, and always tell a good story that people can relate to.

But why stop with these fundraising tips? If you want great guides for event hosting, business, technology, and more, we’ve got your back. Feel free to read our other posts and lists for all the latest tips and tricks!