Firstgiving How-To
Now that you’ve registered with Lead The Way Fund and are beginning to train for your event, it’s time to start focusing on fundraising. With help from our friends at Crowdrise.com, and some tips and tools from a variety of other resources, you’ll be on your way in no time.
THE BASICS
People will want to be a part of your efforts. Talk to people; tell them what you’re doing. People will want to be a part of your effort and they will want to support you! Give them the opportunity. Let them be a part of your efforts.
If you don’t ask for a donation you won’t get a donation. Ask everyone you know; ask everyone you don’t know. The more people you ask, the more times you ask, the more money you will raise.
Have a plan. The hardest part of fundraising is getting started. Devising a fundraising plan will make this much easier and will also help you set achievable and measurable goals.
Your reason for running (or riding or swimming or whatever). People join Lead The Way Fund for many different reasons. Take a moment to think about why you’ve decided to join the team. Keep it in mind. Share this reason with other people, and let them feel a connection.
Send thank you notes. They are a great way to show your appreciation and make it easier to secure repeat donors.
Crowdrise
Crowdrise’s online fundraising pages make raising money and donating easy; they’ve helped transform the way people fundraise. Most Lead The Way Fund participants use Crowdrise for all of their online fundraising, often taking advantage of the site’s tools that help you integrate your page with social media sites (like Facebook) and also track offline donations from your own fundraising events.
To create your online fundraising page on Crowdrise:
1. Go to crowdrise.com
2. Click on “Get Started”
3. Follow the instructions on how to set up your custom page
4. Send out an email which includes a link to your page, and link to it from Facebook and other social media sites
Family, friends and colleagues who donate via Crowdrise use a credit or debit card to make a payment in an easy, secure online transaction. Crowdrise sends donations directly to The Lead The Way Fund, minus a small transaction fee.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook, Twitter, blogging – sure, you may dabble in social media, but use them as a tool? Yep. It’s actually extremely easy and beneficial to use these social media outlets to spread the word about your fundraising campaign. Having your Crowdrise page linked on these outlets is an open invitation to all potential donors, such as friends of friends or people you may have been too timid to ask for donations.
Facebook is a great way to catch up with old friends, let them know what you are up to, and tell them you are supporting Lead The Way Fund and the Army Rangers. It’s easy to post information about your fundraising efforts in your status or to add the Crowdrise application to your Facebook page. And don’t forget to tell people about Lead The Way Fund’s own Facebook page.
Blogging is a very easy way to update your friends and family on your training and fundraising goals. Blogs are faster and easier to create and update than web sites, and they can keep your donors aware of where their money is going.
OTHER RESOURCES
There is a wealth of information available to help you fundraise efficiently and effectively. Here are a few online resources offering tips and tools that can help you reach your fundraising goal.