Check out this \u201cRaise the Roof\u201d Campaign snapshot:<\/p>\n
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- Amount Raised: $28,105<\/li>\n
- # of Personal Fundraisers: 15<\/li>\n
- Campaign Length: 3 months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"California](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screen-Shot-2018-01-10-at-6.57.49-PM.png\")
After achieving such stellar results, we were determined to hear more about what worked and didn\u2019t before, during, and after the campaign. Here are some helpful takeaways courtesy of the California Automobile Museum to help elevate your own peer-to-peer fundraiser<\/a>.<\/p>\n“Here are some helpful takeaways courtesy of the California Automobile Museum to help elevate your own peer-to-peer fundraiser.”<\/em> <\/i>tweet this<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Deciding On A Peer-to-Peer Campaign<\/h2>\n
Traditional fundraising<\/a> methods work, but there are limitations. One of the major hurdles is sharing messages and stories. Back in the day, nonprofits relied on phone calls and direct mail to get the point across, but that message started and ended with the donor. Today, the internet and our 24\/7\/365 connections to friends and family have helped nonprofits expand this message beyond just the known donor.<\/p>\n
California Automobile Museum realized that they had essentially \u201ctapped\u201d the monetary support from their closest supporters, but they still could help with another task: fundraising. According to Delta, \u201cPeer to peer worked out really well. We had some people who were donors that wanted to reach out to friends and family but didn\u2019t know how, and they used the CauseVox peer-to-peer fundraising pages to reach out in a way that wasn\u2019t just about asking for money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Via personal fundraising pages, the networks of California Automobile Museum supporters could read about why their loved ones cared about the campaign and why they should consider helping out.<\/p>\n
Settling on a peer-to-peer fundraiser was also good from a resource standpoint. Naturally, Delta and her team didn\u2019t have to worry about things like printed materials and an elaborate, complicated campaign setup. In no time flat, their website was up, running, and ready to share.<\/p>\n
Speaking of \u201csharing,\u201d that was one of the features California Automobile Museum personal fundraisers appreciated most. \u201cCauseVox was really easy for people to use and for them to share. This allowed us to reach out to other people. It was surprising just how quickly it took off, [to the point] where people we didn\u2019t know were making donations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounds wonderful!<\/p>\n
Takeaway For Your Cause<\/strong>: Weigh the pros and cons of a peer-to-peer fundraiser to decide if it\u2019s right for your organization. Then, start putting the campaign and website together to help appeal to current and prospective donors. For guidance, check out our Ultimate Guide to Peer-to-Peer Fundraising<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Promoting Made Perfect<\/h2>\n
Marketing is important for any fundraising campaign, even if it\u2019s online. So California Automobile Museum did everything they could to get the word out about \u201cRaise the Roof.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to preparing a video outlining the museum\u2019s contributions to the community as well as their current leaky-roof problem, they also made sure to mention the campaign whenever possible, like special events and exhibits.<\/p>\n
To maximize their reach, the museum also relied on word-of-mouth to promote the campaign. Per Delta, \u201cCauseVox gave us an additional outlet for people to share with their friends that they had given to the Museum.\u201d
![\"California](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screen-Shot-2018-01-10-at-6.58.03-PM.png\")
<\/p>\nTakeaway For Your Cause:<\/strong> Consider which marketing techniques <\/a>you plan to use, including videos, written stories and images. Then, add them to your emails and website.<\/p>\n
Community-Driven Support<\/h2>\n
It takes work to run a successful fundraiser. So, what helped the California Automobile Museum achieve such spectacular results? It all boils down to community-driven support.<\/p>\n
As we already outlined, the peer-to-peer aspect of the campaign is the factor that brought the museum within striking distance of their aggressive goal. By motivating their own supporters, most of whom had already made a sizeable donation, to use their passion for the cause and donate their time and efforts as personal fundraisers, the campaign was immediately visible to an exponentially broad audience.<\/p>\n
Delta explained, \u201cThe most important thing was the board of directors and our supporters that worked to raise the funds needed. It was through 1-1 relationships right from the get-go, and our supporters then reached out to friends on our behalf in the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n
It really doesn\u2019t take much to get the ball rolling. The minute you recruit fundraisers, people who love your cause and want to help, and they share the fuel behind that passion with their networks, the magic (that is, exposure and donations) naturally follow.
![\"California](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screen-Shot-2018-01-10-at-6.58.13-PM.png\")
<\/p>\nTakeaway For Your Cause: <\/strong>Prepare your donors to become fundraisers by offering guidance, possibly in the form of a fundraiser toolkit<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Attracting Attention<\/h2>\n
As the museum quickly noticed as they began the campaign, all it takes is one supporter (or 15, like California Automobile Museum had for \u201cRaise the Roof\u201d) to start spreading the word and attracting attention. With consistent effort and by following fundraising best practices, before long, more people know about what your organization does and what you need.<\/p>\n
Because of their online peer-to-peer fundraiser, the museum even got the attention of the press. \u201cWe immediately got attention from the press asking why they didn\u2019t know we had been fundraising. We reached our goal and got some great publicity [in the process].\u201d<\/p>\n
As you craft your own online fundraising campaign, remember to prepare for a domino-effect like the one California Automobile Museum experienced. \u201cI was surprised at how we had been \u201ctalking\u201d about this campaign for a year, and yet, when we started the CauseVox campaign, we suddenly got the attention of a whole new audience. It seemed to add a level of legitimacy to our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was this exposure that helped the city of Sacramento realize just how special the museum was to the community. After city officials noticed the large (and successful) fundraising efforts, they ultimately decided to donate the building so the museum could, for the first time, have a permanent home.<\/p>\n
Takeaway For Your Cause: <\/strong>Encourage supporters (even those who aren\u2019t personal fundraisers) to share your campaign with their own networks.<\/p>\n
Final Takeaways Courtesy of California Automobile Museum<\/h2>\n
We are thrilled with California Automobile Museum\u2019s Raise the Roof campaign. They did exactly what they needed to do: leverage the influence of their board, donors, volunteers, and members to reach their goal and continue their mission.<\/p>\n
“They did exactly what they needed to do: leverage the influence of their board, donors, volunteers, and members to reach their goal and continue their mission.”<\/em> <\/i>tweet this<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Above all, the campaign was FUN for them. \u201cIt was interesting for the peer-to-peer, because people challenged each other to see how much they could raise, so it was right in front of everyone and it was the fun part of it,\u201d Delta told us.<\/p>\n
Raising money, engaging current and prospective supporters, and having fun all at the same time? That\u2019s what we like to hear!<\/p>\n