Five Last Minute Fundraising Tips
The last month or so before the marathon is crunch time for those who haven’t yet reached their fundraising minimum, or who may be working on earning some incentive prizes. We’re here to help.
If you are stressing about getting those final donations in, here are a few more ideas that may be helpful. I have spent more than 25 years of my career as a professional fundraiser and have also personally raised more than $100,000 for a variety of organizations as a charity runner. I thought it might be helpful to anyone still stressing about this part of marathon preparations to share some techniques that worked for me and got me – easily – to my goal.
Seek the support of others in soliciting their contacts. Ask friends to write something nice about you and their connection to you (or to Mercy Home) and share it on their social media accounts along with the link to your fundraising page.
Post an emotionally moving message on Facebook with the link to your personal fundraising page that also includes an “honor roll of donors” (people who have already given). And be sure to tag those donors so that friends of friends and mutual friends will be alerted. A little peer pressure is a good thing here.
Use all your social media accounts! In addition to Facebook posts, publish an article on LinkedIn with your story and a case for giving with the link. Also post an action picture of yourself in training on Instagram (the timer in burst mode on your phone is a great way to capture an action selfie). Include your “Why I’m running for Mercy Home” text, tag us, include a few popular and appropriate hashtags, and add the link to your fundraising page in your bio.
Use MailChimp (it’s free for up to 2000 contacts), or similar service, to broadcast an appeal to a large audience provided you have their emails in a format that can be uploaded (like excel). It’s intuitive and simple to use.
And finally – get more personal! Get off social media, send your last email and pick up the phone! Speak directly with people who you know have the means to give and ask them for something specific (an amount that’s a little more than what you want or think they can give). I know it’s difficult to ask people for money….BUT you are not doing it for yourself—you are asking on behalf of the children of Mercy Home who will benefit from the money you raise and you are supporting the work of this wonderful organization you are so passionate about!!
