Fundraising 101

Top 10 Tips to Kickstart Fundraising

One of my training buddies’ job is to work with colleges and universities towards their fundraising programs.  While fundraising for Vermont Adaptive is different from that, she offers the following top 10 tips on how to get your Vermont Adaptive fundraising started:

1. Personalize your page.  Folks will respond to your fundraising page more if you personalize it with your own story and photos, sharing the reason you are fundraising for Vermont Adaptive.

2. Become invested.  Your supporters want to see that you believe in the cause as much as you’re asking them to.  By making a donation to your fundraising page, you are showing that you also believe in the importance of Vermont Adaptive and the programs they offer.

3. Don't be afraid to ask.  Keep in mind that you are asking folks to support an amazing cause, not asking them to give you their money for your personal use.

4. Ask many, ask often.  Folks want to help out a worthy cause, but the first thing you need to do is to ask.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to folks for donations.  They will never donate if they don’t know you’re fundraising for Vermont Adaptive!

5. Make it personal.  What does Vermont Adaptive mean to you?  Has Vermont Adaptive, or programs like that, helped someone important to you?  By sharing your story in the ask, you can show why you are passionate about this cause.

6. Ask again and again.  There are two types of donors – ones that donate immediately when they see the call for support, and ones that forget initially and need a second reminder.  Reach out to folks who didn’t donate after your first round of requests to give them another opportunity to donate.

7. Don’t be discouraged if someone can’t donate.  Some folks don’t have the funds to donate, but they can help you out by passing along your fundraising link to others.  Regardless, by reaching out to folks, regardless of their ability to donate, you are increasing the awareness of Vermont Adaptive.

8. Use all communication methods.  Use social media, send out emails, ask folks in-person.  Use whatever communication methods you have, so you can reach as many folks as you can.  Emails typically work best (as they are less likely to be skipped over), so if using social media then feel free to get silly or do something to catch people’s attention.

9. Thank your donors.  Be sure to personally thank everyone who donates to you, whether though an email, facebook shout-out, or a hand written letter.  Personal touches are extremely meaningful and keep donors coming back year after year.

10. Get creative.  Find a creative way to motivate donors.  Consider raffling off a handmade scarf, or promising to run a local race in a tutu.  Either way, find a fun and creative way to inspire donations.

We’ll be offering more creative ideas for fundraising between now and the race, but these general tips should get you started.

If you have some great fundraising suggestions, or things that have worked for you, please share them!