Chances are, there’s a cause you’re enthusiastic about. Yet, giving a donation just doesn’t seem like enough sometimes. Sure, you can volunteer and advocate for causes that you feel connected with, but you may still feel like you can do more.
Thankfully, there is actually another way (a great way) for you to help a charity you love —you can fundraise for them!
And you don’t have to be a seasoned fundraiser to raise money for charity. In fact, all it takes is the same passion that got you interested in the cause in the first place.
Here are 5 ideas to help get you started raising money for charity.
(Afterwards, check out our comprehensive post of over 200 fundraising ideas for nonprofits of all kinds.)
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1. Check Out Their “Involvement” Options To Become A Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser
Peer-to-peer-fundraising is a technique that thousands of nonprofits and charities use to get current supporters to fundraise on behalf of the organization, and it’s a great, easy way for you to help raise money for charity.
Oftentimes, charities promote their own peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns on their website. So before you start fundraising on your own, check their website for opportunities to become a fundraiser.
For example, Canine Cancer Alliance (CCA) raised nearly $30,000 using CauseVox to power their peer-to-peer fundraising campaign – Wag Love.
Canine Cancer Alliance included a clear call to action at the top of their page to register or donate in support of their mission to support canine cancer research. By registering, each participant creates a customizable fundraising page which they can share with friends and family, maximizing their fundraising impact.
In addition, CCA took the registration URL and linked it to their website’s event page. Now when individuals are on CCA’s website, fundraisers can signup directly and donors can quickly make a donation.
If your favorite charity already has an option for you to become a personal fundraiser, then you’re in luck. Follow the steps on their website to set up your own page and begin raising money for charity.
2. Set Up Your Own Fundraiser
If your favorite charity doesn’t have an established peer-to-peer fundraiser ready to go, don’t worry. You can set up a crowdfunding campaign yourself—and it’s easy!
To begin (and to maximize the power of your gift), contact the charity directly to see what they need.
Most nonprofits and charities will give you information with regard to donation amount and impact, which can help you set a goal. For example, you can learn how much money you need to raise to sponsor a client, fund a meal, conserve an acre, etc.
From there, create a goal and a timeframe for your campaign, making sure that both are specific, attainable, reasonable, and relevant. Keep in mind that most online fundraisers run about a month, but even day-long campaigns are helpful for a charity.
Then, create a crowdfunding site for your campaign and get to work sharing it with your networks.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of setting up your own page. It’s a quick process and when you use CauseVox, you’re given the same support as any large charity.
If it’s your first time writing your own campaign appeal as an individual or organization, check out our Fundraising Appeal Throwdown!
This webinar will teach you all the essential elements of a winning fundraising appeal, including how to use compelling language to draw readers in and craft effective calls to action to convert more donors.
3. Fundraise On Special Days
You can create your crowdfunding site and raise money for charity any time of the year. But, capitalizing on special days such as holidays and birthdays can add an extra oomph that amplifies your fundraiser.
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Not only are timely holiday and birthday fundraisers effective (especially if people give you gifts anyway), but they also prove how committed you are to the cause, which should motivate even more family and friends to give.
A number of nonprofits and charities encourage their supporters to “donate” their birthdays and provide fundraisers with the support to carry out their own campaigns. One example is Innovation: Africa‘s ongoing iCampaign.
Innovation: Africa makes it easier than ever for fundraisers to sign up and get started. Check out their website landing page. It includes three easy steps and the CauseVox account creation link to Start a Campaign!
However, it’s not necessary to work with an ongoing campaign. To donate your birthday or holiday, simply create an individual fundraising page on your own using crowdfunding software.
4. Perform A Personal Challenge
A popular way to raise money for charity is through a personal challenge. You may have heard about people shaving heads, running marathons, or dyeing their hair once they’ve met a specific fundraising goal. At CauseVox, we think this is a phenomenal, fun, and effective way to raise money for charity.
For many, their challenge is symbolic, such as the David Lichman Mustache Challenge. In this campaign, 2 veterans pledged to shave their 25+year old mustaches once they hit a goal of $25,000, which went to support charities helping other veterans.
Is there a symbolic or inventive challenge that you can participate in for your fundraiser? Brainstorm different ways that you can mobilize donors through a personal challenge and then tie that into your crowdfunding campaign.
5. Use Your Story The Right Way
Whether you’re a personal fundraiser for an ongoing charity-run peer-to-peer fundraiser, or you’re doing it all on your own, you’ll be encouraged to share your story. After all, there has to be a reason why you feel strongly about the charity you’re supporting.
Maybe it’s because you were once a recipient of their services or you knew someone who was. Or, you could just have an affinity for the cause. No matter the reason, it’s important that you share that connection with your prospective donors so they’re inspired to give.
Most personal fundraisers use the written word, but you can also create a video or even share an image of something that connects you with the cause. When you use CauseVox, you’re given ample space to give your audience the information they need as to why and how they should give.
There are many storytelling best practices that charities use, some of which you can incorporate into your own personal fundraising story.
Focus on the following:
- Set up the problem. Explain what the charity does to help others.
- Include an emotional component. Let your audience know why you were moved to get involved and why they should too!
- Tell your donors how they are part of the solution. Let them know how far $20, $50, $100 can go in improving the world.
Don’t forget to add some facts about the charity itself such as who/what they serve and their mission.
There are a number of ways that you can help a charity that you love, including raising money for it. And remember, if the charity doesn’t already provide you with an opportunity to fundraise, don’t hesitate to create your own campaign using CauseVox.
Also, check out our guide, How To Tell Stories That Connect, Move, & Inspire, which provides more information on creating a powerful story.
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Get started on CauseVox
Ready to raise more for your organization or favorite charity? CauseVox makes it easy for you to make a big impact with less effort
We’ll give you donation-optimized forms to convert more donors on any type of campaign including peer-to-peer, crowdfunding, birthday fundraisers, challenges, special events + more!
Book a demo to learn how to maximize your fundraising on CauseVox.
This post has been updated in December 2021 for relevance and accuracy.
