Team Firstgiving » Fundraising Plan

Week 11: How to get donations from people you don’t know

Beth — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:34 +0000

Do you feel you’ve tapped into your network of family and friends and you’re still shy of your goal? Ask people you don’t know for a donation.

Don’t worry, it’s much easier and takes less time than standing outside a grocery store with a jar asking for change (although, I’ve done that before - man, that’s tough work).

So, how do you ask people you don’t know?

Ask your supporters to spread the word - When you ask your family and friends, ask them to support you by telling their communities.
Add your fundraising page link to a website - this can be your own or a friend’s website or blog, your company’s website, or your nonprofit’s website
Email signatures - include your fundraising page link in your email signatures.
This is what my work and personal email signature looks like:

Post a message in a forum - specifically a forum you frequent, or one that’s related to your cause or event.
Utilize other social media services - Do you use Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or other social media services? If so, add your fundraising page link to your comment or profile. Read our tip on Facebook and fundraising
Get it in the media - Send your story and fundraising page to newspapers, magazines, radio, and tv stations by writing a press release.

Keep in mind
You never know when a cause is going to resonate with a donor. Perhaps they love the nonprofit you’re raising money for or someone they are close to has had an experience that your nonprofit addresses. It could just be that the donor is amazed by what you are doing or find your fundraising efforts creative.

Tools to help you spread the word
On your fundraising page, in the upper right corner, supporters can click Share this page. They can choose from emailing their community, adding a widget or badge to their website or blog, and adding the your page to their Facebook profile.

Tell us what’s worked for you

Week 10: Facebook Fundraising, FTW

GrantH — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:35:29 +0000

Facebook is a huge deal to us here at Firstgiving. It provides about 10% of all our incoming traffic, and thousands of people are using it to fundraise every day. And it’s getting bigger.

It’s a good time to share our knowledge of the platform as it is, and how you can use it to tell your fundraising story

1. Status Updates

Status updates are so easy. It’s the bread and butter of Facebook - telling your network what you’re up to.

Maybe you’ve had a big donation, or gone training, it could be anything. Tell us. We wanna know.

Update. Be rigorous and organized about it. Three times a week is acceptable. After all, you’ve got something to promote that can be a discussion point. It’s a surefire way to be omnipresent on your friend’s newsfeeds so there’s no possible way they won’t know what you’re up to. Maybe enlist a couple of your closest friends to share your page URL on their status too.

The golden rule is don’t just post the URL all on its own. Link-baiting alone is kind of annoying and we’ve all seen it (and they’re normally linking to ‘hilarious’ YouTube videos).

2. Post Photos

The Facebook photo app is pretty cool. The one thing that really elevates it over other photo apps is the ability to tag people. Make sure you try and capture as much of your story on camera and regularly upload photos, tagging yourself and anyone else in them as necessary. Also, make sure your profile pic is related to what you’re up to.

3. Do Video.

There’s almost no excuse to not make a video of what you’re doing. Cameras do video. My phone does video. I’m pretty sure the toaster will do video soon enough. You’ve got a few options with Facebook video:

use the Facebook video app. This is great for short videos, especially if your friends are in it. It has the same tagging functionality as the Photos app, so can spread through newsfeeds effectively.
use a dedicated video site like YouTube or Vimeo. Both YouTube and Vimeo have pretty awesome Facebook integration. If you’re already using them then make sure you share the videos in your newsfeed or you can use the dedicated applications.

4. Events

If you’re actually doing an official event, like a marathon for example, then search for it and see if it’s listed on Facebook. If it is, add yourself to it.

If you’re doing your own thing and you want others to take part, then you can build your own event on Facebook and send it to your friends.

5. Groups

You should definitely build a group. Invite everyone to it. Those who actually join are the ones who you can lean on a bit harder. Get some forum discussions going, don’t let it stagnate. The other good thing about Groups is they act as the bridge to other Facebookers who you might not be friends with.

Just do a search for ‘firstgiving’ on facebook and have a look through some of the groups. There are some great examples in there.

6. Facebook Mail

The internal messaging system in Facebook is really, really powerful. It’s really good. It’s a lot more effective than standard email because it threads messages properly and integrates well with your registered email address too.

So this tip is an easy one. Use it.

Nine times out of ten it works better than your normal email. It works great for group, too!

Don’t underestimate the power of writing to people individually. It will yield much better results than sending the same message to everyone.

Plus you get to track it all from the comfort of your Facebook account.

7. Don’t forget to say thanks

Say thanks.

Wall-post a thank you note when somebody sponsors you. It acts as a thanks and a reminder to others in the newsfeed that they need to sponsor you because other people are.

When your activity is over don’t forget to thank people collectively and individually. Let them know in as much detail as you can how much of a difference everyone has made together through your activity. It’s the end of the story. Make sure it gets told.

Do you have a tip to share?
Leave a comment below.

Week 9: Start a training blog

Beth — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:27:53 +0000

Back when I was training for Ironman Canada, I started a blog (or online diary) of all my adventures leading up to the race. It was a great way to keep in touch with family and friends who lived in another state or outside the country. It also kept me honest with my training, after all, if I blogged about my next killer workout, I better do it.

Blogging is also a great forum to communicate your fundraising goals, challenges, and milestones. Similar to tip #7, it’s a way to connect people with your fundraising and training.

How to get started
Get a free blog. For example check out:

For a about $10 a year, you can get your own domain. For example check out: Go Daddy or Network Solutions.

Tell visitors about your fundraising
Add a link to your fundraising page in your header and a widget or badge in the side column. For example, check out Libarian on the run

Write about anything. For example:
• Thoughts you have on a training run
• Funny or interesting things you observe when you’re out
• How you’re feeling after a race or big training day
• Your fears or joys
• What your charity means to you and why you’re fundraising

Tell us your story or share your blog with us

Week 8: Raise your goal… again!

Beth — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:40:22 +0000

Here at Firstgiving we regularly perform usability tests - as the better our site is, the more money you raise. One thing we regularly see during these tests is that donors want to help fundraisers reach their goals.

In fact, during a recent usability test where the total raised on the fundraising page was $40 away from the goal. The donor said, “I want to help the fundraiser reach his goal, so I will donate $40. Typically, I would have just given $25.”

Attention Fundraisers, log into your account and add a goal (if you haven’t done so already).

Next, inform your supporters what your goal is and when you need to reach it by.

Following Week #7 tip, send regular updates on:
a) how close you are to your goal
b) how much time you have left to reach your goal

If you reach your goal, increase it. Then continue to update your supporters. You will be amazed how much you can raise.

My colleague, David raised money for his birthday this summer. He was amazed how quickly he reached his initial goal of $1000. So he increased it, increased it again, and again… now, 3 months later, he has exceeded his goal by more than 150%.

Good luck with your fundraising and feel free to drop us a line - we love to hear from you.

Week 7: Send updates, updates and more updates

Beth — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:51:31 +0000

Training for a big race takes up a lot of time and can take you away from many loved ones who aren’t putting in the miles with you.

Joni’s Iron tale
As a way to connect with her family and friends who are not training for Ironman Wisconsin, my friend Joni sends a weekly email called Iron tale. The updates describe her accomplishments, funny stories, obstacles, and photos, while training for her big race. She also calls out key people who she dedicates her workouts to or who affect her training (eg a friend battling an illness or a training buddy who puts a smile on her face after a tough bike ride).

Fundraisers - this is a great way to help your family and friends connect with and invest in your training, and “gently remind” them that you are collecting funds for your favorite charity, without being too aggressive.

How to write an update
1. Answer these basic questions:

What did I accomplish this week?
What did I learn?
Who helped me reach my goals?

2. “Gently remind” folks about your fundraising efforts (see suggestions below)

Add a footer
eg “I’m raising money for [insert charity name]. Please support me” and link to your fundraising page.
Work your fundraising efforts or status into your training updates
eg “In addition to hitting the half-way mark in my training, I’ve also reached 70% of my fundraising goal…” or “Digging deep on my 18-mile training run can’t compare to people enduring weeks without food. A $25 donation helps feed a family of four for one month…”
If you are dedicating your race or a training week to someone associated with your charity, tell people about it in your updates
eg “This week, I dedicated my long run to Grandma, as she underwent treatment on Thursday…”

If once-a-week email updates seem too much for you, try every 2 weeks or even once a month.

You don’t have to send email updates, but it’s one of the most direct and cost-efficient ways to get your family and friend’s attention. Also, as Joni can attest to - they LOVE to hear from you, especially since you are so busy training.

In addition to sending emails, try:

Blogging – post updates as often as you like; add movies, photos, and links.
Facebook – create a group, invite your supporters, and post updates there.

Good luck with your fundraising and feel free to drop us a line - we love to hear from you.

Week 6: Who’s on Your Team?

Beth — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:31:00 +0000

It’s no secret. Running with other people make your long runs easier and more pleasurable. Chatting with a running partner definitely makes the time go faster, so your run won’t be as mentally challenging.

The same goes for your fundraising efforts. You are fundraising as part of a team, so be sure to use them as a resource. Think about who is on your fundraising team…

Your donors - think of your donors as part of your team. In your thank you letters and training updates (you do send them, don’t you?) be sure to use ‘we’ as in ‘We have raised’ and ‘We finished’ so they know you think of them as part of the team. Don’t be afraid to ask donors to pass the message on to people in their network that might want to join your effort.
Your training buddies - at your next run, ask your marathon training team what has worked and what hasn’t. They may have firsthand tips to put you over the top.
Team Firstgiving - our fundraisers have raised almost $70 million dollars for over ten thousand charities. We’ve learned a thing or two in the process, and want to share with you.

If you’re running and fundraising by yourself, you’re missing out on lots of benefits of group training, from improved motivation to expanded social circle. Not sure how to go about finding people to run with?

Here’s How:

Most local road running clubs offer group runs during the week and on weekends. Check out Road Runners Club of America to find the club closest to you.
Head to a running specialty store in your area. Many of them offer group training runs that start and finish at the store. Even if they don’t host runs, the employees are part of the running community and can probably suggest local running groups to you.
If you’re a mom, check out seeMOMMYrun.com, a free walking/running group for moms of all ages and stages (and their kids), to find out about

Week 5: Optimize the Matching Gift

Beth — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:38:56 +0000

The early miles of the Bermuda Marathon 2002

Matching gifts will help you reach your fundraising goal faster than you thought possible.

A matching gift is a benefit that many companies provide, where they match all or part of their employees’ charitable donations.

The first marathon I ever participated in (The Bermuda Marathon 2002), I did so with Team in Training and raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Massachusetts.

My fundraising goal was $3200 - this scared me! How was I going to raise this? I had never raised that much money before.

After expressing my concerns to a friend, she told me that her company had a matching gifts program. She explained that she would make a donation of $50, fill out and submit the proper paperwork (which she got from HR), and her company would send $50 on my behalf to my nonprofit.

This prompted me to change my approach to the way I asked for donations. In the end, I raised more than $4000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Massachusetts.

Below are some tips to help you optimize the matching gift:

Don’t be afraid to ask - When you ask donors to make a contribution, ask them if their company provides a matching gift program.
If they donate through Firstgiving, we ask them for you
Stay on top of your fundraising - If a donor tells you they have a matching gift program, follow-up with them to see if they need any information about the organization, such as:
* Tax ID number (also known as EIN)
* Nonprofit name
* Nonprofit address
* Nonprofit contact and contact information
If a nonprofit provides this information to Firstgiving, we pass it along to the donor. Also, feel free to contact us if you need your orgranization’s information.
Tell the nonprofit - Help your nonprofit by keeping them in the loop about your matching gift. Pass along the donor’s and company’s name so that they can be on the look out.
If your donor makes a donation via Firstgiving, we pass this information along to your nonprofit.
Share the good word - Be sure to highlight any donors when you give your fundraising updates, but don’t forget to include companies who provide matching gifts - they’re donors, too. This serves a few purposes, such as:
* Promote the company who gave back to your community
* Remind other donors about their companies’ matching gift programs
* Encourage other companies to match gifts
On your Firstgiving fundraising page, you can highlight your donors in Your personal message text area.

If you have tips on how you have optimized matching gifts, or want to share other fundraising tips with us, please add a comment!

Week 4: Stay flexible, Stretch your Imagination with Creative Fundraising Ideas

GrantH — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:32:20 +0000

It’s time to stretch your imagination and get creative with your marathon fundraising. Here are a few creative tips Firstgiving has seen that are sure to put you over the top.

Go metric. Many of our fundraisers ask for a dollar per mile, and have no trouble getting the $26.20 from friends. Why not step it up ask for a dollar per kilometer? That’s $42.20 per donation!
Let your donors sponsor a mile. Decide what your marathon is worth per mile, and let your donors buy a mile. Keep your page up-to-date as to how many miles you have left to sell so they can make sure they get in before they’re all spoken for. 26 miles x $100 = $2600!
Sell a body part. Tell potential donors that they can buy an arm or leg, then write their name or message on it come race day. Not only is it a great way to encourage donors, but it makes your sponsors feel like they are crossing the finish line with you.
Use your social network. Put a link to your fundraising page in the footer of any forums you are active in. It’s a great way to get the word out about your cause and pick up a few donations. If you’re not, you’re missing out on a great way to talk to the community about running, fundraising, and everything else. Join in:
- Fastloop.com is the gathering place for runners to meet, great, share and compare. If the founder of Facebook had gone to the University of Oregon instead of Harvard, this is the site he would have created. There’s now a section in the forums just for fundraising, so help kick it off by sharing (or asking for) fundraising help.
- Cool Running
- Runner’s World

If you have any tips to share, or are looking for ideas, leave a comment below or on Fastloop.com. Happy running!

Inspiration for Fundraisers: Will Weidman

Week 3: Cross-training for Fundraising Success

GrantH — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:31:33 +0000

Don’t just rely on emailing out the link to your page. It’s an easy way to ask your immediate family and friends, but won’t help you reach out to (and grow!) your network of supporters. Here are a few ways to turn people in your network into donors:

Add your fundraising page to you Facebook profile. Rally your Facebook community for support by installing our Facebook app. Go to http://apps.facebook.com/firstgiving, click “Add Application” and enter the address of your Fundraising Page. Now everyone can see what you are doing for charity. You can even ask your friends to add your page to their profile.

Change your email signature at work. After your name and title etc, add a line at the bottom including the address of your Firstgiving Fundraising Page and why you’re raising money. This is an easy way to raise awareness of your event and ensure every email you send has the potential to prompt a donation. It’s also a great way to ’softly’ ask for donations from co-workers you may not feel comfortable approaching otherwise.

Blog about it. If you already have a blog, great, you’re ahead of the curve. Update it regularly with your training milestones and keep communicating why you’re running the marathon. It will help people keep up with what’s going on, and keep you on track.
If you haven’t entered the blogosphere, it’s easy to get started. Any of the big blog sites will do, such as blogger. For a more marathon focused blog, you can get started easily at realbuzz.com. If you’re more the 140 character type, Tweet your success. Be sure to include links to your Fundraising Page in each post!

Some cool marathon training blogs:

http://got2trotlibrarian.blogspot.com

http://eastcoastrunner.blogspot.com

http://www.getyourserenity.com/blog

Next week: Stay Flexible. In the mean time, check out some other marathon fundraising pages.

Week 2: Build Your Base

GrantH — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:31:05 +0000

Do the speedwork first, build endurance later

Start with your close friends and family. They’re your core group of supporters, after all. Be sure to communicate why you’re doing this. Maybe you’re particularly passionate about the cause you’re running for, going for a specific time, or trying to qualify for Boston.

Whatever your reason, tell people! Put your story on your fundraising page and email the link to your friends and family. Even if they don’t make a donation, having their support will make reaching your marathon goals that much easier. At the least, you’ve now made your goals public, which is the best way to make sure you reach them.

Hopefully this group will also be some of the most generous donors you’ll have. It’s always intimidating to see zero donations, so make sure that before reaching further out in your network, your close friends and family have made some good donations to your page.

Before you know it, you should be well on your way to your goal.

Check out some runners off to a great start:

http://www.firstgiving.com/tinakearney
http://www.firstgiving.com/traceyschumacher2
http://www.firstgiving.com/rolfedelman

Week 1: Set your goal

GrantH — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:53:29 +0000

Whether you are training to win or to finish, it takes a lot more than good old determination and willpower to get you through the big day. Having a plan helps you train smart and safe.

The fundraising side of your marathon training takes the same commitment and planning as the physical aspect. The days of just “gutting it out” are long gone. Firstgiving is here to help you raise more money for charity. Without further ado, may we present the 12 Week Firstgiving Marathon ~~Training~~ Fundraising Plan.

Week 1: Set your goal

Just as you set the goal for your marathon finish, put some thought into your fundraising goal. Decide on a goal you would be proud to achieve, but remember you don’t want to come short at the finish line.

If you’re running for an official marathon charity in exchange for a number, you probably have a fundraising minimum. But you’re a runner and you know that ‘minimum’ and ‘goal’ are not synonymous. Your marathon might also have a cut-off time of 6:00, but you would never set that as your goal. You aren’t afraid to go above and beyond, so set your goal above the minimum.
Running with friends or coworkers? How about some friendly competition? Ask around as to their fundraising goal, and then set yours a little higher. Maybe you can’t cross the finish before them, but you can certainly raise more money.
Looking to set a PR? Great! Why not try and top last year’s fundraising total? Add $500 to what you raised last year. With a $50 average donation, that’s only ten more people you need to reach out to. Challenge yourself.

What are you waiting for? Get Started!

Team Firstgiving » Fundraising Plan

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