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To run a successful GoFundMe campaign, you need a clear goal and a solid plan. The "Helping Hands for Hannah" campaign raised $55,000 for a young girl's medical expenses by setting a specific goal and sharing regular updates.
A good campaign video is essential to capture donors' attention. The "Operation Smile" campaign's video featured a heartwarming story of a young girl's life-changing surgery, which helped raise over $20,000.
Effective storytelling can make a huge difference in fundraising. The "Helping Hands for Hannah" campaign told a personal and relatable story that resonated with donors and inspired them to give.
A well-written campaign description is also crucial. The "Operation Smile" campaign's description clearly stated the purpose of the funds and how they would be used, which helped build trust with potential donors.
Creating a Successful Fundraiser
Millions of people have successfully started a fundraiser on GoFundMe for themselves or their family amidst a financial crisis.
You can raise funds for all types of medical costs, from bills and copays to transportation and caregiving, and keep your funds even if you don’t meet your goal.
More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people like you.
Craft a compelling story on your fundraiser page that describes why you’re raising funds and how your project will directly benefit the community.
To maximize donations, it’s best to share your fundraiser gradually in stages.
Include as many details as you feel comfortable about what happened, what you need to raise money for, and how the funds will be used.
Estimating the costs of what you need will also help donors decide how much to donate.
You can fundraise for a nonprofit on GoFundMe, making it a great way to support a nonprofit and have more impact than a donation alone.
Your chosen crowdfunding platform should allow you to create beautiful and engaging donation pages with branding options, customizable donation forms, and space to share stories.
Be sure to tell your story through impactful visuals, such as videos or images, to intrigue visitors and donors.
Over $15 billion has been raised on GoFundMe, offering a high level of trust and security for donors.
Expand your knowledge: Share Split Example
Setting Up a Fundraiser
You can start a fundraiser on GoFundMe for yourself or your family in case of a financial crisis. Millions of people have done so to rebuild and recover after a natural disaster or unexpected bills.
To set up a fundraiser, you can create a title that captures people's attention and gives insight into what you're raising money for. For example, "Help Martha Fight Cancer" is a specific title that tells people more than a generic one like "Martha's fundraiser."
You can also include details about what happened, what you need to raise money for, and how the funds will be used in your fundraiser. This will help donors decide how much to donate and build confidence in your cause.
Make Your Title Count
Your fundraiser title is one of the first things people will read, so it's essential to make it count. A specific title like "Help Martha Fight Cancer" tells people more than a generic title like "Martha's fundraiser".
A good title should give insight into what you're raising money for. For example, "Help Martha Fight Cancer" tells people exactly what they're contributing to.
A compelling title can capture people's attention and encourage them to read more. GoFundMe titles for medical fundraisers should be specific, like "Help Martha Fight Cancer".
You can find more examples and specific tips on how to write a powerful fundraiser title in our blog post Six Smart Ways to Write a Powerful Fundraiser Title.
Add Photos and Videos
Adding photos and videos to your fundraiser can make a huge difference in getting people to donate. Photos can draw others into your story and help them trust your fundraiser.
High-quality images are essential, so make sure to use them. This can be challenging, but being vulnerable in this way inspires people to support you.
Create emotionally engaging videos to share your diagnosis and explain how donations will help your recovery. Videos can powerfully connect with donors, raise awareness, and increase donations.
Use GoFundMe’s “record a video” feature to start your fundraiser or add a video update to an existing fundraiser. Videos can tell your story in a way that images can’t and touch the hearts of your supporters.
Here are some ideas on how to use video for your fundraiser:
- Produce a short video introducing yourself and explaining why you are fundraising in a selfie-style format to help donors understand the cause. Share it on Instagram or TikTok.
- Create a video tribute to pay homage to the person you are raising funds for. Make sure that the video is of high quality and captures the essence of the individual’s life and achievements.
- Celebrate reaching a fundraising milestone halfway to your goal or one week away from a related event or date.
Starting a Fund
Starting a fund can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you can set up a successful fundraiser. Millions of people have started a fundraiser on GoFundMe for themselves or their family amidst a financial crisis, and you can too.
To start a fundraiser for yourself or your family, you'll need to create a compelling title that captures people's attention. Your title should give insight into what you're raising money for, so try to be specific. For example, "Help Martha Fight Cancer" tells people more than "Martha's fundraiser."
When setting up your fundraiser, consider inviting the person you're fundraising for to receive the money directly. This way, they can set up bank transfers and get the funds they need. Just make sure to ask them if they're okay with you starting a fundraiser on their behalf first.
Related reading: How to Set up a Gofundme for Medical Expenses
To make your fundraiser more engaging, include as many details as you feel comfortable sharing about what happened, what you need to raise money for, and how the funds will be used. If applicable, estimating the costs of what you need will help donors decide how much to donate.
Here are some key details to include in your emergency relief fundraiser:
- What happened
- What you need to raise money for
- How the funds will be used
- Estimated costs (if applicable)
You can also use photos and videos to draw people into your story and help them trust your fundraiser. High-quality images and emotionally engaging videos can powerfully connect with donors, raise awareness, and increase donations.
Making a Page Go Viral
Making a GoFundMe page go viral is a challenging task, but it's not impossible. It's much harder than it looks to make something go viral.
A super teeny tiny percentage of content produced online and on social media actually goes viral.
To increase your chances, you want to make people feel good about giving. This means creating a page that's not just about asking for money, but also about sharing a story that inspires people to donate.
You want to tell a story so compelling that people feel they must share it. This means being honest, authentic, and creative in your approach.
Here are the key things to focus on:
- Make people feel good about giving
- Tell a story that inspires people to donate
Managing a Fundraiser
You can start a fundraiser for yourself or your family in times of financial crisis, and millions of people have done so successfully on GoFundMe.
Post updates to keep your supporters involved, which will not only keep them informed but also encourage more giving. Regularly writing fundraiser updates is a good way to do this, or you can ask a close friend or family member to write them on your behalf.
Here are some tips for posting updates:
- Update donors on the impact of their donation to inspire more giving.
- Keep your supporters informed about upcoming fundraiser events and milestones at least weekly.
- Let your supporters know if you need additional help.
- Include quotes or updates from the person you're fundraising for to express their gratitude.
- Post a final update once you've decided to end your fundraiser.
When creating an emergency relief fundraiser, it's a good idea to include as many details as you feel comfortable sharing about what happened, what you need to raise money for, and how the funds will be used. Estimating the costs of what you need will also help donors decide how much to donate.
Keep Supporters Involved
Keeping your supporters involved is crucial to the success of your fundraiser. You can do this by regularly posting updates to let them know how their donations are making a difference.
People who donate to your fundraiser will want to know how their money is being used, so it's essential to keep them informed. You can write these updates yourself or ask a close friend or family member to help out.
To keep your supporters engaged, consider posting updates at least weekly. This can be about upcoming events or milestones, or even just a thank-you note to express your gratitude.
Here are some tips for writing effective updates:
- Update donors on the impact of their donation to inspire more giving.
- Keep your supporters informed about upcoming events and milestones.
- Let your supporters know if you need additional help.
- Consider including quotes or updates from the person you're fundraising for to express their gratitude.
- Don't forget to post a final update once you've decided to end your fundraiser.
By keeping your supporters involved, you can build a community around your fundraiser and increase the chances of reaching your goal.
Emergency Tips
You can start a fundraiser on GoFundMe for yourself or your family in times of financial crisis, like after a natural disaster or unexpected bills.
Including as many details as you feel comfortable about what happened, what you need to raise money for, and how the funds will be used can help build trust with potential donors.
Millions of people have started a fundraiser on GoFundMe for emergency relief, providing a critical support network in times of unexpected crises.
You can estimate the costs of what you need to raise money for, like a new roof after a storm, to help donors decide how much to donate and build confidence with them.
More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people in emergency situations, making it a powerful tool for your community to turn compassion into tangible assistance.
Related reading: Biblical Allusions Support
Receiving and Using Donations
The process of receiving donations can take some time, typically 3-7 business days or longer to complete, after which your first transfer will be sent.
Once your transfer is sent, it will take on average 2-5 business days for the funds to safely be deposited into the bank account on file.
Send Thank-You Messages
Sending thank-you messages to supporters is a simple yet powerful way to show appreciation for their donations. It's a big impact idea that can be easily implemented.
You can send thank-you messages through various means, such as email, phone, or mail. This will help you reach a wider audience and ensure that your supporters feel valued.
Be sure to let your donors know how much you appreciate their support by sending thank-you messages. This will help build a strong relationship with them and encourage them to continue supporting your cause.
If you're not sure how to express your gratitude, take a look at our blog post on how to write a donation thank-you letter. It provides templates and ideas to help you get started.
Sending thank-you messages is an affordable way to show gratitude, and there are many creative ways to do so. For more ideas, check out our blog post on 20 affordable ways to say thank you to donors.
Intriguing read: Thank You Note Examples
How Much Will I Keep?
Receiving and using donations can be a straightforward process, but it's essential to understand the timeline involved. The process of setting up and verifying transfers can take 3-7 business days or longer to complete.
One thing to keep in mind is that there will be a small transaction fee deducted from each donation. This fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per donation.
The good news is that once your first transfer is sent, it will take on average 2-5 business days for the funds to be deposited into the bank account on file.
Donate Kindly
Donate Kindly offers a simple donation form that you can customize with your brand colors. This form can be embedded on a crowdfunding campaign page built by your organization.
The giving fields on the form are changeable to meet your organization's giving requirements. You can also create separate forms for each of your individual campaigns.
Donate Kindly keeps its platform simple and may not offer many useful features or customization options for your crowdfunding campaign.
Additional reading: Managed Care Organization Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
How to write a good GoFundMe?
Write a clear and concise story about your need, including who you are, why you're raising money, and why it matters to you, to create a compelling GoFundMe. Keep your story authentic and to the point to inspire donors and boost your fundraising success.
What is an example of a GoFundMe letter?
A GoFundMe letter is a personal appeal for financial support, typically asking for a small donation to help achieve a specific goal or accomplish a task, with a clear explanation of how the funds will be used. It often includes a personal connection to make the request more relatable and compelling.
What to say when sharing a GoFundMe example?
When sharing a GoFundMe example, clearly state the beneficiary's situation and the urgent need for funds, e.g., "My [relationship] is facing [briefly explain the situation] and needs [amount] to cover [specific expenses]
How much does GoFundMe take from $10,000?
GoFundMe takes 2.9% + $0.30 per donation, which translates to $290 + $3.00 on a $10,000 donation. This fee helps cover payment processing costs.
How do I attract donors on GoFundMe?
To attract donors on GoFundMe, use emotional appeals and share engaging visual content that tells your story. This can significantly increase interest and donations, especially when shared on social media and other online platforms.
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