Even before a crowdfunding campaign goes live, there is plenty you can do to ensure that the campaign goes well. Below are three tactics that schools have used to hit their crowdfunding goal on Boost My School.
Studies have shown that matching donations increase both the number of donors and total amount raised by around 20%. Donors feel more satisfied when their gift is matched as it is making more of an impact.
One way to find a matching donation is to ask a donor who has already made a significant gift to use that gift as a match. A matching donation also doesn’t have to come from just one person. It could be from a group or class (e.g. Class of 1997 is matching the next $5,000).
Make sure to choose a crowdfunding platform like Boost My School that displays progress towards a matching challenge, so that donors know when their gift is being matched!
No one wants to be the first donor. People like contributing when they see that others have contributed as well. Thus, it is worth it to get a few donations before the campaign is sent out to the public.
One tactic is to use direct appeals (in person, email, phone call) until a few donations have been made, after which an email can be sent to a larger group. For Boost My School campaigns, schools can add donations made offline to the crowdfunding campaign, so that the campaign will already have donations before it is sent to anyone.
Even before the campaign goes live, you can start letting your donor base know that a fundraising campaign is coming up. Use Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to spread the word digitally, but also tell students and teachers in person so that they tell parents and friends.
Repeated contact with donors increases the chance of a donation, and it’s helpful when the first contact is not an ask. Get your donors excited about contributing to a worthwhile cause!
Happy fundraising! Want more tips? Email [email protected] to schedule a free 15 minute fundraising consulting appointment.
Holman is the founder and CEO of Boost My School. He actively helps his former high school with their fundraising and alumni outreach, which is how the idea for Boost My School came about. He is a strong believer in the power of education to change the world and volunteers with programs that support underrepresented students in math and science.