How To Raise Funds

Seven Successful Charity Fundraising Strategies

Looking for the best way to raise money for charity? The crowdfunding has become an essential tool to raise funds, especially for individuals and small groups. It’s a simple and efficient way to accept donations from anyone, even outsiders sensitive to your cause anywhere in the world.

1. Communicate with the nonprofit for which you are raising funds.

While it is possible to raise money for an organization without contacting it, it is always worth doing. If the charity is aware of your campaign, ask if they have any events or promotions planned to participate in. For example, if they organize a cross-country race, you can use the event to give visibility to the campaign together with your supporters.

Even if the nonprofit has no upcoming events in your area, they may offer you tips or gadgets (keychains, stickers, logo pens) to send to supporters after your donation. Ask about campaigns they’ve run in the past and reuse the best ideas.

2. Organize your own fundraising event

If the charity has no upcoming events in your area, or if you are the one in charge, organize a charity on your own. An event is a very complex undertaking for one person: involve anyone who cares about your cause and delegate the various tasks to each one.

Starting fundraising event requires an initial investment, but you can cut costs by asking local businesses to donate food or other necessary items. You can also ask a restaurant or venue to host the event, it could be convenient for both parties. Many pubs or pizzerias that have already hosted charity events already have a number of options available for this type of occasion. You don’t have to start from scratch.

Before the event (and during if necessary), ask guests to donate to your campaign as an admission price, or to purchase items and activities during the event. If donors contribute online rather than in cash, they will have the opportunity to receive updates on your campaign and learn about its developments.

The event must be in tune with the cause. It can be a buffet or formal dinner, or an occasion inspired by one of the many ideas for charity events. Facebook’s events feature is a handy tool for sending out invitations. On social media or in person, ask friends to invite more people to increase the number of attendees.

3. Launch a social media contest

On average, every time you share your campaign on Facebook, you earn euros for your cause. If you want to do more than just share, run a social media contest.

A social media contest can include sending photos or videos with certain characteristics, inventing the best hashtag or slogan for your cause, or sharing an experience (ask what impact the charity has had on life of each and choose the best story). Prizes are optional, social recognition is already sufficient.

It’s a good idea to create at least one custom logo or graphic for your contest. Also use a specific hashtag. You can also reach out to a celebrity with a good following on social media and ask to advertise your contest. If possible, contact local media.

Obviously there is no contest without a deadline, or a series of intermediate milestones if you foresee various stages with an increase in the stakes. Choose an end date that gives your supporters a sense of urgency.

4. Convert voluntary work into funds

When raising funds for charity, one often comes across supporters willing to help beyond the single donation. Ask to offer volunteer work, which can then be converted into funds.

What are volunteers experienced in? If a volunteer is an excellent pastry chef, ask them to make cakes and pastries for sale, perhaps during a lunch or dinner organized for the gathering (depending on the case, you can offer the main ingredients or rent a professional kitchen). If the volunteer is an artist, he can donate works to sell during an exhibition. If you raise money for a sports team or club, the players and the manager can offer open workouts to supporters. There are many ways to convert voluntary work into funds.

5. Give others the tools to share

You have friends and family who want to help raise money for your cause, and each of them has a contact list. Write a standard message to share with their contacts (e.g. an email with the campaign name in the subject). You can also add a custom image or graphic. With the right tools, your supporters can share the campaign more effectively.

An alternative method: write the best possible post about your campaign on Facebook, tag your team and ask everyone (via SMS, email or Facebook Messenger) to share it in their diary. If you published the original post on the charity’s page, pay to increase its visibility.

6. Gather your community, online and offline

Major charity fundraisers often use a combination of live events and online crowdfunding, which can involve people from all over the world.

Fundraising events can be a lot of fun and are a great opportunity to meet new people. The more enthusiasm the volunteers and supporters are able to convey, the more successful the event will be and the online campaign will be shared. A virtuous circle will be created between offline and online activities.