This week, Lauren Knight is sharing her fundraising experience and best practices. Lauren raised $1060 within 10 days. Read more to gain some valuable insights on how to make your fundraiser more successful.
Tell us a little bit about who you are.
I am a 25 year old from Tennessee, currently working and traveling in Australia. From 2007 to 2009, I was an English teacher through the JET Programme in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
Why did you decide to fundraise for SXSWcares/SXSW4Japan?
After the earthquake and tsunami, I was devastated and seeking a way to help. As a traveler, I didn’t have much of a foundation to work with in Australia, so I looked for other options. I stumbled upon SXSW4Japan on this search. SXSW was a name I recognized and supported, as my friends Jukebox the Ghost played at the festival this year. The donation page set-up was simple and universally reachable, so I went for it!
What methods are you using to get people to come to your page?
I rely mostly on e-mail and Facebook. I e-mailed my family and friends and urged them to pass the page on. I make multiple postings of the link on Facebook, updating with the latest goal and how close we were to reaching it. I spread the word amongst those I know in Australia as well, but internet communication is my main method.
What has been the most difficult part of fundraising?
My lack of connections here in Australia has caused me the most frustration. I want to reach out and get my new community involved, but it’s difficult when I don’t have a foundation from which to spring. I’ve made some headway, but it can be hard to convey just how much the issue means to me to someone I’ve just met. That spark of understanding is not easily come by.
Any tips you’d like to share with other fundraisers?
Make it personal. You really have to feel like a part of the issue to get others to feel the passion that you do. Share your stories and what you know. The people who really stepped to the plate were those who understood my connection to Japan and exactly why I wanted so much to help. The more people I was able to share that with, the more donations came in. Show people why you care, and they will want to care as well. Good luck!
