People fundraising empowers your supporters to be your advocates, allowing you to get around the constant noise on a limited budget. Some of the most compelling include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- New donors giving to campaigns<\/li>\n
- Existing supporters becoming more involved in fundraising<\/li>\n
- Successful fundraising campaigns that meet or exceed their goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Whatever you call it, social fundraising holds great opportunities for organizations of all sizes and at all stages of growth.<\/p>\n
“Social fundraising holds great opportunities for organizations of all sizes and at all stages of growth.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>tweet this<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Obligatory Mention Of The \u201cIce Bucket Challenge\u201d<\/h2>\n
If you were on the Internet in the summer of 2014, you probably encountered the \u201cIce Bucket Challenge.\u201d If you\u2019ve been in the fundraising sphere since then, you\u2019ve definitely encountered at least one article<\/a> about how the social fundraiser for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease) research and awareness really shook up the crowdfunding<\/a> game. If not, a brief catch-up:<\/p>\n
The Ice Bucket Challenge works by one person challenging another to post a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their head to call attention to ALS. The Challenge grew virally, quickly becoming a social media phenomenon. Within a month of its start, The ALS Association received nearly $3M more in donations than it had during the same period in the previous year. Soon, donations reached more than $100M.<\/p>\n
![\"ALS](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ice-bucket-instructions-604x1024.gif\")
By the end of the 2014 challenge, more than 17 million people uploaded challenge videos to Facebook. The money raised during the challenge directly impacted research, and has become an annual event.<\/p>\nSocial Fundraising Takeaways<\/h2>\n
In addition to activating peer networks to spread the word, the Ice Bucket Challenge did several things right. The top three takeaways can be applied to any social campaign, ice water or no.<\/p>\n
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- Grabs Attention<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/strong>Dumping a bucket of ice water on your head is pretty much the definition of \u201ceye-catching.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n- \n
- Potential For Fun<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Dumping a bucket of water on your head is a silly thing to do, if you\u2019re not doing it for a reason. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of fun<\/a> in your campaigns–it makes people excited to participate and share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n- \n
- Social<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>For a fundraising campaign to be social, you\u2019re going to need other people to dump ice water on their heads, too. It may sound obvious, but a social campaign needs to operate socially, with people working together. Challenging someone to join you is what creates community and spreads the word.Social fundraising also needs to effectively use social media. The challenge used several features of social media very effectively. It relied on tagging, video streaming, and sharing–things that only work on social media platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nGetting Started: Planning Your Campaign<\/h2>\n
To start your social fundraising campaign, you will need:<\/p>\n
- \n
- An online platform to be your virtual campaign headquarters<\/strong>
\nIt should be easy-to-use, customizable to your needs, have peer-to-peer<\/a> capability, and able to securely process payments. Ideally, you\u2019d also have access to great customer service, from people who really care about the good you do, and want you to succeed. (CauseVox<\/a>. I\u2019m clearly talking about CauseVox.)<\/li>\n- A clear and compelling story to tell.<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>Storytelling is fundraising fuel<\/a>–it\u2019s what moves people to action.<\/li>\n- A social component<\/strong>
\nSomething for your community of supporters to do or connect to.<\/li>\n- A goal<\/strong>
\nHow much money will you try to raise? What are your program needs?<\/li>\n- A strategy<\/strong>
\nHow long will your campaign last? How will you promote it? Who is in charge of this thing, anyway?<\/li>\n- Some supporters<\/strong>
\nYou don\u2019t need to have a million supporters to get your social fundraising campaign off the ground, but you do need a few people who are willing to share your campaign with their networks. Start where you are.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMore Social Fundraising Success Stories<\/h2>\n
Ready to get inspired? Take a look at these absolutely rocking social fundraising CauseVox campaigns.<\/p>\n
“Ready to get inspired? Take a look at these absolutely rocking social fundraising CauseVox campaigns.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/i>tweet this<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Junior League of Atlanta: The Little Black Dress Initiative<\/h3>\n
What It Is:<\/strong> Participants fundraise and raise awareness of generational poverty by wearing the same outfit five days in a row, along with a pin that says, \u201cAsk Me About My Dress\u201d to prompt discussion.<\/p>\n
Attention Grabbing?<\/strong> Even if you didn\u2019t happen to notice a coworker or friend wearing the same dress five days in a row, the pin inviting questions attracts attention.<\/p>\n
Potential For Fun? <\/strong>Generational poverty is not a lighthearted topic, but the campaign provides an easy introduction. By demonstrating how women born into generations of poverty lack access to things like a professional wardrobe, The Little Black Dress Initiative gives a good jumping off point for discussion.<\/p>\n
Social? <\/strong>This initiative provides both online content (\u201cHere I am, still wearing this dress!\u201d) as well as real-life conversations.<\/p>\n
Results? <\/strong>The Junior League of Atlanta raised $77,787 in one week with their CauseVox campaign.<\/p>\n
![\"Little](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/lbdjl-1024x488.png\")
<\/p>\nWOD for Water: Fitness Fundraising<\/h3>\n
What It Is:<\/strong> NeverThirst<\/a> works for clean water access around the world. WOD (Workout of the Day) for Water is a Crossfit challenge, done in partnership with Iron Tribe Fitness. Participants raise funds and come together for workout events.<\/p>\n
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315lbs by @allincrossfit<\/a> athletes at WOD for Water Troy. pic.twitter.com\/TClKpxTbaI<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 WOD for WATER (@WOD4Water) October 8, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- A clear and compelling story to tell.<\/strong>
- An online platform to be your virtual campaign headquarters<\/strong>
- Social<\/strong>
- Potential For Fun<\/strong>
- Grabs Attention<\/strong>