10 Keys to Fundraising Success!

Did you create a fundraising page for our Drop-A-Thon Festival? First off, thank you for taking a stand to serve others who lack access to clean water and sanitation. You are awesome and are already changing the world. 

We know you want to make the greatest impact possible, so here are 10 Keys to help you along the road to fundraising success. Follow each one to not only hit your minimum goal of $100, but exceed it and win awesome prizes! 

#1: TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

Not only is fundraising with friends more fun, each additional team member can help you make double the impact. Nothing beats the drive of a group of young people working towards a common goal. Each individual brings their own unique ideas, skills and passion to the table, which adds a lot of value to your fundraising capacity. Each person on your team also has a different network of family and friends they can reach out to for donations.

#2: CREATE AN ACTION PLAN

You have high goals, and that’s amazing. Now reaching those goals is going to take a little planning. Start by setting weekly goals from now until the deadline for fundraising amounts. Then, plan out how your team will raise that amount each week. It could be by asking relatives, corporate sponsorships, or bake sales, but make sure your team has a plan for each week. 

#3: BE SPECIFIC WITH YOUR ASK

When flat out asking for donations, let the person know what you are fundraising for, how much you have raised, what you aim to raise, and how that amount relates to a real impact. For example, “I am fundraising for BLUE Missions to provide families with safe drinking water. I have raised $300 of my $500 goal. If I reach my goal I will have provided 20 people with access to clean water.”

#4: PHONE HOME

Kickstart your online fundraising page by calling a few family members and asking them to donate to your cause. Let them know how passionate you are about the issue and how they can help you make an impact. Connect donation amounts to the impact they have (for example, it only takes around $25 to give one person access to safe drinking water).  Donations are best secured by personal phone calls. Ditch texting for this one. 

#5: SHARE YOUR IMPACT AND GOAL

It's important to use social media the RIGHT way during your fundraising campaign. Share your fundraising page with a statement about the impact you have made so far and follow up with your goal amount and impact. Continue to share your success on different social media platforms and keep your followers updated on how much you are missing to hit your goal. 

#6:  TALK TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

Businesses have more giving power than individuals. Find local small business owners that you can talk to and ask them to support your fundraiser. Whether they are family friends, or just a local mom and pop bakery, invite the owner to donate!

#7:  THINK OUTSIDE THE SOCKS   

The classic bake sale and car wash are still great fundraising tools, but with your team's unique set of talents, there are a million other ways you can raises money by thinking creatively. You can put on a show and charge for tickets, host a burrito making party, give people henna tattoos, make bracelets, etc... The options are endless! 

#8:  PIGGYBACK OFF EVENTS

If your school, dance team, club, church, etc. is already hosting an event, use the opportunity to set up a table and collect donations from that audience. This is where a bake sale would be awesome. 

#9: ACCEPT FOOD DONATIONS

If a business turns you down for a cash donation, ask them if they would be willing to donate food instead! Pizza, pastelitos, bagels, cupcakes, etc. - bring it. Food donations can be turned into cash when you sell them at events. Supermarkets are always up for food donations too. 

#10: VENMO ME

So its 2017 and not everyone has cash on them all the time. Ask your friends to donate to your campaign online through your fundraising page, or just have them simply venmo they’re donation to you.  Then, transfer that donation to your online fundraising page by donating to yourself. 

If you haven't signed up for a fundraising team yet, grab some friends and start your own to make an impact! Hundreds of high school students are already making moves to make clean water a reality for more families. Raise a minimum of $100 and earn your entrance into our Drop-A-Thon Festival in March! You won't want to miss it.