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10 Ways To Make an Individual Fundraiser Raise Money

By Colin Hunter

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Are you trying to raise money all by yourself? If you are, you know it's not always easy. It might even seem really hard to get the support you need. The good news is that while fundraising can be challenging for individuals, it's definitely doable with the right approach.

In fact, individual fundraisers have some unique advantages. You can make quick decisions, personalize your appeal, and connect directly with donors. Think of yourself as streamlined. 

To help you out, we will share 10 key strategies that can help you meet and even exceed your fundraising goals. So, let's get started and find out how you can successfully raise funds on your own!

1. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way for people to raise money from a wide audience through the internet. It’s often used to kickstart new projects, support personal challenges, or help with crisis situations.

How to Start Crowdfunding?

  1. Begin by setting up your fundraising campaign on BetterWorld. It is FREE, and you can start accepting donations in just 5 minutes.
  2. Share a touching and meaningful story. For example, Emma shared her struggle with cancer and touched many hearts, prompting them to donate. Your story should connect with people on a personal level and make them feel a part of your journey.
  3. Don’t forget to spread your message wide. Effective use of social media can help your fundraising significantly. Take inspiration from the "Donate4Mike" campaign, which successfully used social media to raise a large amount of money quickly. (Source)

The average amount raised by individuals through crowdfunding is $568 (Source), but with the right approach and a mix of these strategies, you can go beyond this average and achieve your fundraising goals. 

Always remember to be clear, honest, and heartfelt in your approach, and you'll see the power of community support in action!

2. Personal Challenge Fundraiser

A personal challenge fundraiser is where you take on a tough task to raise money for a good cause. 

You could do anything from running a marathon to staying off social media for a month. It’s all about choosing a challenge that grabs attention and attracts donations.

How To Raise Money Through a Personal Challenge?

  1. Choose something that matters to you or has a strong link to the cause you're helping. Your passion will shine through and make others want to support you.
  2. Use BetterWorld to create an online fundraising page where people can learn about your challenge and donate. Make it easy and quick for them to help out.
  3. Tell everyone about your challenge. Use social media, emails, and word of mouth to get the message out. Make your story so good that people can’t help but talk about it.
  4. Regular updates keep your supporters hooked and remind them of your progress.

When you tackle a big challenge, friends, family, and even strangers can feel your dedication and are more likely to open their wallets. They see your hard work and want to be part of your success.

Matthew Kinnes, for example, ran 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours to support his children's school, which provides a space to help students manage their mental health. (Source)

His intense effort and commitment to the cause inspired many people, leading to $2,638 in donations, more than double his original goal!

3. Personal Skills Workshop

If you're good at something, why not use it to help others? 

A personal skills workshop is a fun way to teach others your skills while raising money for a good cause. These workshops can be about anything, such as cooking, photography, leadership skills, or even digital skills. 

Don’t worry if your skills are a bit niche. People love learning new and interesting things!

How Does a Personal Skills Workshop Work as a Fundraiser?

  1. Pick something you're good at or that others want to learn. It doesn’t necessarily have to connect directly to your cause, but it’s always good to weave the cause’s story in with yours so people feel connected to what their money is going to support.
  2. Decide if you want to hold the event in person, like at a community center, or virtually, which can allow more people to join. Both have their benefits, so choose what works best for your goals.
  3. People pay for classes that help them learn new skills. Setting an entry fee is an easy way to raise funds.
  4. Collaborate with local experts or businesses. They can help lead the workshop, which not only reduces your costs but can also make the event more appealing and professional.

People love learning new things, especially when it also means they are helping a good cause. 

Personal Skills Workshops offer great value because attendees learn something useful and get to meet others with similar interests. 

4. Birthday Fundraiser

Why not turn your special day into a chance to support a cause you care about?

Instead of getting gifts, you ask your friends and family to donate to your favorite charity. A birthday fundraiser is a great way to make your birthday meaningful and help others at the same time.

How to do a Birthday Fundraiser?

  1. Pick a charity or cause that means a lot to you. Make your fundraiser more heartfelt and engaging.
  2. Use online platforms to create a page where people can donate. Make sure it is easy for your friends and family to contribute.
  3. Share your fundraiser on social media, send out emails, or even host a birthday party where guests can donate. The more people who join you in celebrating, the better!
  4. Use your birthday as the deadline for donations. Encourage people to donate sooner rather than later.

Birthday fundraisers work well because they connect a personal celebration with helping others. 

These fundraisers have the potential to make a big impact. Take Erica Flament's effort, for example. She started a GoFundMe page for her friend's daughter, Maddie, who was battling leukemia. On Maddie's birthday, the fundraiser brought in over $1,250, contributing to a total of more than $10,000 raised. (Source)

5. Organize a House Party

A house party is an event hosted in a private home where the primary goal is to raise funds for a cause. 

Unlike formal galas or ticketed events, house parties are casual. You can set whatever tone you want. Invite your friends, family, and potential donors to learn about a cause, engage in discussions, and make donations. 

The relaxed atmosphere is a great way to involve people who don’t know anything about your cause. The setting encourages personal connection and direct communication about the cause's impact and needs​.

How To Raise Money Through House Party?

  1. Make a perfect plan for the party. Ensure that everything is manageable and fun!
  2. What fits your crowd? A dinner, a BBQ, or maybe a cocktail evening? Choose the vibe that suits your guests.
  3. Know how much money you aim to raise and what it will go toward.
  4. The less you spend on the party, the more you can give to the cause. Ask friends to bring dishes or drinks to help out.
  5. Make it clear it’s a fundraiser. Use both paper invites and digital ones to reach everyone you know.
  6. Have a sign-in sheet, talk about your cause, and don’t forget to ask for donations.
  7. Say thanks to your guests and let them know how their donations are helping.

House parties are great for fundraising because they’re intimate and engaging. You can really connect people with the cause’s story. Plus, the friendly setting makes guests feel comfortable, connected, and ready to give. 

6. Viral Video or Photo Challenge

A viral video or photo challenge is a digital campaign that uses engaging videos or photos to raise awareness and funds for a cause. 

These challenges typically involve a specific action, tagline, or hashtag, which makes them easy to recognize and share across social media platforms.

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Raise Money Through Viral Video or Photo Challenges

  1. Pick an activity that's fun, safe, and relevant to your cause. It could be a dance, a funny task, or an artistic expression that ties back to your mission.
  2. Choose where to post your challenge based on where your audience hangs out. TikTok is great for dance challenges, while Instagram is perfect for powerful photos and stories.
  3. Come up with a unique and catchy hashtag for your campaign. It helps track posts and increases their visibility.
  4. Lead by example! Post your video or photo first to show others how it’s done. Encourage people to nominate their friends to keep the challenge going.
  5. Make sure there's an easy way to donate that is linked to your posts. If possible, integrate donation features directly on the social media platform to simplify the process.

Viral challenges are effective because they nudge the social nature of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. They encourage fun participation and can quickly spread through networks.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a prime example of a viral challenge's power, which raised not only awareness for ALS but also $220 million of dollars in donations. (Source)

Another successful campaign was the #DanceForChange challenge on TikTok, which promoted investments in sustainable agriculture.

7. Mystery Boxes 

A mystery box fundraiser is a fun event where participants buy boxes without knowing what's inside. 

Once they open the box, they find out if they’ve scored a small treat or a big prize!

This kind of event draws interest because people love the chance to get something valuable for a small price. Prizes can range from small trinkets, gift cards to big ticket items like electronics. 

How To Raise Funds Through Mystery Boxes?

  1. Decide how much money you want to raise and understand who your audience is.
  2. Contact local businesses, family, and friends for donations to fill your boxes. You could get a range of items, but each should feel worth more than the box price.
  3. Pick boxes that look appealing and fit the theme of your event. Make sure all boxes look the same from the outside to keep the contents a surprise.
  4. Think about what your items are worth and what people would be willing to pay. You might offer different boxes at various prices to attract more buyers.
  5. Use social media, emails, and local community boards to tell everyone about your event. Highlight the fun and surprise element to attract a crowd.
  6. You can sell them at an event or online. If it’s at an event, set up a table at the entrance where people can buy the boxes right when they arrive.

Mystery box fundraisers are great for individual fundraisers because they are easy to manage even if you don’t have any volunteers. They are also fun and tap into people’s love of surprise!

8. Online Charity Auctions

An online charity auction could be the best way to raise money if you can arrange items from local businesses and communities. It is an online event where various items or experiences are auctioned off to the highest bidder via an online platform. 

Charity auctions are great for individuals because they don't require physical space. People from all over can join in and bid.

How To Raise Money Through an Online Charity Auction?

  1. Start by deciding what you want to achieve with your auction. Pick the types of items you'll offer, like art, unique experiences, or goods donated by local businesses. Plan the details of how it will run online.
  2. Ask people you know and local businesses to donate items that are attractive and valuable. Better items can bring in more bids and higher prices.
  3. Pick an online auction site that's easy to use and has features like mobile bidding, easy item listings, and automatic bid tracking to make everything run smoothly.
  4. Tell everyone about your auction through social media, email, and your personal networks. Make sure people know what's being auctioned, the cause it supports, and how they can join in.
  5. Keep people interested with regular updates. You might even want to live-stream parts of the auction or post updates to push for higher bids.
  6. After the auction ends, get in touch with the winners to arrange for them to receive their items. Also, thank everyone who participated. This can help build lasting relationships for future fundraisers.

The BetterWorld Advantage

The best part is that with BetterWorld, you can manage all aspects of your online charity auction by yourself. 

Our platform makes it simple to set up, run, and conclude your auction without needing external help. Contact us today for a free demo and see how easy it is to start your auction with BetterWorld.

9. Email Campaigns

Email campaigns for individual fundraising involve sending targeted and personalized messages to a list of potential donors to raise money for a specific cause. 

These campaigns use the power of direct communication to inform, engage, and encourage contributions from supporters.

How To Raise Money Through Email Campaigns?

Here’s how you can effectively use email campaigns for fundraising:

  1. Start with people you know, such as friends, family, and past donors. Also, consider adding anyone interested in your activities. The stronger your foundation, the more potential you have to raise funds.
  2. Your emails should tell you story, clearly explain what your fundraiser is about, the impact donations will make, and how people can help. Include photos or videos to make your message prominent.
  3. Use recipients' names and personalize messages based on their past interactions. Personalization can make your emails more effective and increase the chances of them being opened and read.
  4. Your email's subject line is the first thing people see, so make it catchy! It should spark curiosity or convey urgency to encourage people to open the email.
  5. Be clear about what you want recipients to do—donate. Make sure your emails have a direct link to your donation page to make giving as easy as possible.

Email campaigns are especially beneficial for individual fundraisers because they provide a direct line to potential donors and are an inexpensive way to reach a large audience quickly.

Surprisingly, 33% of donors in America and Canada are most inspired to give by email communication (Source). It just shows how powerful a well-planned email campaign can be in securing donations.

10. Local Business Partnership

The last strategy on our list to make an individual fundraiser raise money is a local business partnership. 

It simply means working together with businesses in your area to support your fundraising goals. This kind of fundraising can take many forms, like direct donations, hosting fundraising events, or businesses offering their products or services to help your cause. 

They might also help by telling their customers about your fundraising efforts.

How to Use Local Business Partnerships to Raise Funds?

  1. Look for businesses that connect with your cause or share your audience. For instance, if you're raising money for a community garden, you might approach local garden centers or organic food markets.
  2. Ensure the partnership offers value to the business, too. This could mean they get more customers from the publicity or improve their community reputation by helping out.
  3. Put together a detailed proposal that explains how the partnership will work. Include what you need from them and what benefits they will get. Help could be in the form of products, services, or financial contributions.
  4. Collaborate on promoting the partnership. You could use co-branded marketing materials, make joint posts on social media, or hold events at their business location.

Local business partnerships can be highly beneficial because they build on the trust and customer base that the business already has.

Partnering with an established business can expand your reach and add credibility to your cause.

It is a win-win situation as businesses benefit from being seen as active community members, and they often enjoy the positive attention that comes from supporting local causes.

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Colin Hunter
AUTHOR

About Colin Hunter

Colin Hunter is the cofounder of BetterWorld, where he leads initiatives to expand reach and impact. Previously, he cofounded and served as CEO of luxury custom menswear brand Alton Lane. Colin’s experience as a consultant with Bain & Company, working with Global 1000 companies, shaped his approach to leadership and growth. He holds a BA from the University of Virginia and studied in Oxford, England. Colin lives in Scottsville, Virginia with his wife and three daughters.

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