Sharing your GoFundMe with members of your community is a wonderful opportunity to activate the compassion in those around you. After you’ve reached out to your friends and family, it’s important to reach out to your community and even local media, if that’s an option.
The more people you share with, the more community-advocates you will find that can help build your fundraising team and take your campaign to the next level. Whether its a charity walk, or a birthday fundraiser - someone in your community could be the key to helping you reach your goal.
When reaching out to people you might not know personally, focus on letting them know how supporting your GoFundMe will not just benefit you, but also make a positive impact on their community. Consider how motivated donors can be on special days, like Giving Tuesday. People like to support causes when they receive an emotional reward from doing so. Figuring out how to offer that positive experience is key to receiving support from the community. A great place to start is to create community projects that will bring people together and unite them over a shared vision!
Find the "feel good factor"
Successful "feel good" businesses all offer one thing: positive social change. Toms, Warby Parker, and Pura Vida Bracelets (to name a few) all offer their customers the "feel good factor" when purchasing their product. Toms donates a pair of shoes, Warby Parker donates a pair of eyeglasses, and Pura Vida sells bracelets made straight from the source in Costa Rica.
To apply this idea to your GoFundMe, start thinking about creative ways that reaching your goal will benefit your donors. For example:
- Are you raising money for a new car? Offer free rides on every Friday for the next month to any of your donors.
- Looking to make ends meet for the month? Offer to pay it forward by spending the next Saturday volunteering at an organization selected by your donors.
- Looking to pay for your upcoming vacation? Offer your donors a "first person view" of your vacation by live streaming for 30 minutes each day, or promise to support local businesses by dining at local restaurants only.
Though this can take some creativity, it will be well worth your time if you can reach your goal.
Pro Tip: Have you considered reaching out to your local media or thought about hosting a social media contest?
Capitalize on community events
Whether you live in an apartment, house, dorm, farm, or RV, chances are you live in some type of community. Most of these communities offer events, which you should attend to share your GoFundMe!
Reach out to the event organizer to see if you can volunteer your time to help, and in exchange, the event can promote your GoFundMe. Promotion can be anything from having your GoFundMe flyers on the welcome table, hanging a banner in the room, adding your GoFundMe link to the promotional materials, or even speaking publicly about your GoFundMe. This can be especially beneficial if the event corresponds with your overall goal.
If you’d like to find more ways to make your fundraiser a success, our GoFundMe blog is a great place to start.