You’ve decided on the challenge that will enable you to raise money for your local hospitals. Next up is setting up a fundraising page! Where do you start? How do you encourage people to give generously to the cause that means a lot to you? Our fundraising team has come up with their top 10 tips for online fundraising to help you get started.
Your fundraising page should have three key messages:
1. Why you’re fundraising for your local NHS
2. What you’re planning to do
3. How much the support of your friends and family would mean to you.
It doesn’t need to be long, but sharing your passion will help to inspire friends, family, and other supporters to get behind you and donate. Being the first to make a donation will also show your commitment.
A profile picture will draw the reader’s attention, establish a connection and encourage them to find out more about your fundraising. Those who add a profile photo raise on average 118% more.
Launch your page with an achievable fundraising target but feel free to increase it as your page gains momentum. Targets give you something to aim for and could encourage your supporters to give you a little bit extra to help you get there.
Increase the fun by creating a team page and inviting your friends and family to join you in your fundraising mission.
Perhaps you’re not the only runner in your circle of friends or you share your musical talent with someone else in the family who could host performances of their own.
Reach as many people as possible by sharing your page regularly across all your social media channels, including before, the day of, and after your event or challenge. You could also add a hyperlink to your work email signature.
Don’t be afraid to make direct asks to friends, family and colleagues.
If appropriate to your fundraising, link your page to smartphone apps such as MapMyFitness (fitness tracker) or Strava (running and cycling tracker) so you can update your supporters with your training. By showing the hard-work and effort you’re putting in, you’ll raise on average 46% more than those who don’t share their fitness journey. Seeing your fitness improve over time will add to your motivation too!
Not doing a fitness challenge? You can still bring your supporters on your journey. Perhaps you’ve just received your charity t-shirt in the post or you’ve hit a personal milestone.
Regular engagement increases the chance of your supporters making a second donation and sharing your page with their peers.
Saying please and thank you comes naturally in everyday life and it’s just as important when it comes to fundraising. Thank your supporters for every donation to your page and to you directly. This small gesture will encourage them to continue sharing and supporting your cause.
Some family and friends may not have social media or internet access so be sure to include them in your approaches – face to face always works best.
Our sponsor form enables you to capture gift aid information, which boosts donations by 25% at no extra cost. Offline donations can be easily accounted for on your page so you can keep track of how much you’ve raised altogether.
You did it! Be sure to update your page and include photos to highlight your success – wear your medal with pride, showcase your best bake or pose with the whole team. Did you know that 20% of donations come in post-event?
Keep your page circulating for a few days to give it that final push.
These tips will ensure that your fundraising gets off to a great start. If you’d like any further tips or ideas to make your fundraising for your hospitals a success, please get in touch with Hannah.
