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Recently, almost three billion animals were killed or displaced by the country’s devastating 2019-20 bushfires. Environmental crises, coupled with the rising number of homeless pets (3% of Australia’s dogs and cats), have seen a surge in animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts that have pushed charities to their limits. 

Here, we share the best animal charities in Australia who rely on public support to continue their life-saving work. We’ll also explain how GoFundMe can help you fundraise for an Australian animal charity close to your heart.

Challenges faced by Australian animal charities 

Animal charity organisations need the support of generous Aussies more than ever before. This is because the list of challenges facing wildlife and the respective charities who work hard to support them is growing. 

Even the best wildlife charities in Australia are struggling under increasing pressure to meet the needs of the nation’s animals. Let’s take a look at some of the issues they face.

• Funding gaps: Animal charity organisations rely heavily on donations and grants to cover operational costs. Due to the rising costs of veterinary care, food, shelter and rehabilitation services, it’s harder to make the money they receive stretch. This has been exacerbated by the number of animals in need.
• Increased demand for services: Demand for animal rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming services has skyrocketed. Many shelters are at capacity because of an increase in stray animals – made worse by a surge in pet abandonment as the costs of living rise. This includes the increase in animals impacted by environmental disasters.
• Specialised care for domestic and native wildlife: Australia’s unique biodiversity makes it even more challenging for animal charities. Care for native wildlife can often be very costly and resource-intensive, adding to the high workload needed to help domestic animals.
• Wildlife conservation during bushfire seasons: Bushfire seasons are growing longer and more intense, which puts a huge strain on wildlife charities. Organisations must ramp up their efforts to save and rehabilitate native species like koalas, kangaroos and wombats, whose habitats are destroyed by fires.
• Rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals: Native species often require highly trained staff and dedicated facilities to ensure their recovery and safe release back into the wild. Domestic animals, too, require medical attention for injuries and neglect. In fact, the RSPCA received 87,465 animals for the 2022-2023 financial year.

How to find the right animal charity for you

When researching which Australian animal charity to fundraise for, there are some key points to consider. Here are our top tips to ensure you make the right choice.

1. Identify an area of interest: Decide what causes matter most to you. Are you passionate about protecting Australia’s wildlife or do you want to help stray dogs find loving homes? This will help narrow down your options and ensure you’re passionate about the cause you support.
2. Transparency and accountability: You should only consider charities that provide clear information on how funds are used, including annual reports and impact statements. It’s important you understand how your donation will be spent.
3. Track record: Does the charity have a proven track record of making an impact and have numerous success stories? The best animal charities in Australia will all have measurable achievements and real stories of animals saved, rehabilitated or rehomed.
4. Community engagement: Aussies pride themselves on caring for the community, so make sure your charity actively involves volunteers, donors and the wider general public. They should be able to demonstrate the broader impact of public support.
5. Diverse causes: Ensure the charities represent a range of animal welfare issues, from domestic pets and farm animals to endangered wildlife.

If you can find a charity that resonates with your values and is transparent about its impact, then you’re more likely to make a significant difference with your fundraiser.

What are the best animal charities in Australia to fundraise for?

Need help to narrow down your search? Here are some of the leading animal charity organisations in Australia to help you make a decision. 

1. RSPCA Australia 

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across Australia. The national office influences animal welfare policy, practice and legislation, while the state member societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates.

The care they provide includes rehoming unwanted and neglected animals through their shelters, educating the public about responsible pet ownership and supporting injured wildlife. Donations go directly to supporting the work of your local RSPCA in helping rescue, treat and rehabilitate animals.

Learn more

2. WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service) 

WIRES’ mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife by rescuing and caring for sick, injured and native orphaned animals. Operating for over 35 years, it assists wildlife and the community across Australia 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing rescue advice and assistance for over 130,000 animals annually.

The funds you raise will support hundreds of projects assisting wildlife rescue and rehabilitation across the country, as well as national efforts with strategic partners to support the long-term recovery of wildlife habitat and the preservation of native species.

Learn more

3. The Lost Dogs’ Home

Caring for lost dogs, cats and other companion animals, The Lost Dogs’ Home reunites lost pets with their families, finds new homes for others and seeks the best possible outcomes for all animals they care for. From 2022 to 2023, they had 18,032 abandoned and lost animals in their care and managed to reunite and rehome 4,462.

The impact of donations ranges from providing food for animals in their care to assisting with the costs of vital surgeries. Whatever the cause, donations will give lost and abandoned animals a second chance in a loving home.

Learn more

4. Edgar’s Mission

Edgar’s Mission began in 2003 and has since rescued thousands of farmed animals to give them another chance at life. The sanctuary is home to between 350 and 450 formerly farmed animals at any given time. They hope to encourage people to expand their circle of compassion to include all animals through education, outreach, advocacy, community enrichment and tours.

Funds raised for Edgar’s Mission will provide shelter and direct care for homeless, abused, injured or abandoned animals. In doing so, you’ll support finding permanent homes for mistreated and abandoned animals.

Learn more

5. PetRescue

For more than 20 years, PetRescue has strived to create true social change by bringing pet adoption into the mainstream. They’ve made a difference to the Australian rescue community and thousands of pets needing rescue and rehabilitation, making it their mission to help save 100,000 healthy pets each year.

So far, 901,255 pets have been adopted and $13.8 million in food and products have been donated by PetRescue. Donations go towards programs such as Crisis Care Support, Food Donations to rescue organisation members and longer-term programs and initiatives.

Learn more

6. Australian Marine Conservation Society

The Australian Marine Conservation Society is the nation’s leading charity dedicated solely to protecting ocean wildlife. They are an independent charity, staffed by a committed group of scientists, educators and passionate advocates who work to protect Australia’s coasts and oceans.

Some of their work includes protecting critical ocean ecosystems with marine reserves around the country, leading the movement to ban whaling, stopping supertrawlers and protecting threatened and endangered species. All funds help ensure Australia’s coasts and oceans remain healthy and free for tomorrow’s generations.

Learn more

7. Australian Wildlife Conservancy 

A global leader in conservation with the mission to effectively conserve all Australian native animal species and the habitats in which they live. They have a network of over 30 large-scale wildlife sanctuaries in regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York and central Australia, protecting some of the nation’s most iconic and endangered wildlife. This includes 76% of native mammal species and 88% of native bird species.

Donations help to fund urgent intervention so that fewer species will be pushed towards extinction by the impacts of a changing climate and interacting threats.

Learn more

8. Save the Bilby Fund

With a vision to save the bilby from extinction, this organisation wants to help build an insurance population of 10,000 bilbies in Australia by 2030. Launched in 1999 to stop the steady decline of bilby numbers, they breed and release captive bilbies to a sanctuary surrounded by a predator exclusion fence in Currawinya National Park.

All donations are spent directly on helping to monitor the predator exclusion fence at Currawinya National Park, building the population of bilbies behind the fence to around 400, breeding genetically diverse bilbies for release and funding research.

Learn more

9. Australian Koala Foundation

The Australian Koala Foundation is a non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the effective management and conservation of the Koala and its habitat. They aim to update the Koala Habitat Atlas mapping of all wild Koalas and get the Koala Protection Act enacted.

Funds are raised through sponsorship, Save the Koala Month, Save the Koala tree planting tours, promotions, merchandising and private and public donations. Any donations this Australian animal charity receives help to finance their ongoing conservation work.

Learn more

10. Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife

The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife relies on support from the Australian public to fund critical conservation projects. They partner with community groups, rangers and scientists, indigenous groups, individuals and government agencies to directly impact growing and protecting natural habitats in the country.

All donations help safeguard Australia’s ecosystems, wilderness, and flora and fauna now and for future generations.

Learn more

How to start a GoFundMe campaign for animal charities

Now you’re aware of the best animal charities in Australia, it’s time to kick-start your fundraiser and make a difference. Wildlife charities desperately need the support of Aussies to continue their good work and the best way of playing a powerful role in this endeavour is with GoFundMe.

Setting up a fundraiser with GoFundMe is simple and only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve created your fundraising page, you can share it with your networks and manage donations with our easy-to-use platform.

As the #1 online fundraising expert, thousands of Australians use GoFundMe to raise funds for a cause close to their heart. Start receiving donations to support your chosen Australian animal charity today.

The post 10 Animal Charities in Australia to Fundraise for appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

Fortunately, nonprofits and other organisations across the country are taking action to help address these issues and assist marginalised groups – including rural and Indigenous communities who face heightened difficulties.

In this article, we explore the various women’s charities in Australia that are fighting for gender equality, including helpful information on how you can support them.

Why women’s charities matter and why you should help

Women’s charities and nonprofit organisations operate vital support services and fight for equality, reproductive rights, education and support for marginalised groups. Unfortunately, women in Australia face ongoing challenges in their pursuit of equality and empowerment.

Some statistics from the Australian Government’s Status of Women Report Card 2024 include:

• Based on full-time average weekly earnings, the national gender pay gap is 12% ($238 per week).
• Women in Australia would need to work an additional 44 days a year to earn the same as men.
• 9% of CEOs in the ASX300 are women.

This is why it’s so important that charities get the support they need to truly make a difference, so they can positively impact the lives of women living in Australia and worldwide.

How you can help women’s charities in Australia

There are several ways to get involved in national and local women’s charities and advocate for women and girls.

Volunteer with women’s charities

Give the gift of your time and use your skills to benefit a women’s charity. Many organisations don’t have the resources or budget to fulfil their purpose without the generosity of volunteers. 

Not only is volunteering hugely beneficial to charities and those in need, but it also rewards volunteers with a sense of purpose and achievement.

Here are a few charitable organisations in Australia that welcome volunteers:

• Women of Colour: Make a tangible impact on the inclusion and representation of women of colour in Australia. 
• Share the Dignity: Assist in collecting, sorting, logging and delivering period product donations to charity partners.
• Women’s Community Shelters: Help with the day-to-day running of one of their shelters and support fundraising events.
• Support the Girls: Support the distribution of supportive bras and essential hygiene products to women and girls who are less privileged. 

Fundraise for charities

Raise money and get the word out about your favourite women’s charity. In just minutes, you can start a GoFundMe for a certified charity or a women’s cause close to your heart. 

Here are six women’s charities in Australia you can consider supporting:

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance: Advocates and empowers the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia. Aims to secure economic, political, social, educational, cultural and environmental futures for those communities.
• Open Haven: One of the leading domestic violence charities in Australia that provides a safe and confidential place for women who are survivors of domestic abuse to gain emotional and practical support. Offers an array of professional services to help women understand and navigate the associated challenges.
• Breast Cancer Trials: Finds new and better treatments and prevention strategies for every person affected by breast cancer. One of the world’s leading breast cancer research organisations, formed by a group of doctors and researchers based in Australia and New Zealand.
• Women’s Legal Service Queensland: Provides legal advice and support with domestic and family violence, family separation or divorce, parenting and child safety. Includes arrangements for property settlements, child support, protecting counselling notes in sexual assault matters and more.
• SisterWorks: Offers employment and entrepreneurship support for migrant, refugee and asylum seeker women in gaining confidence and economic independence. Provides hands-on learning opportunities and programmes delivered in a safe and supportive environment.
• Dress for Success: Helps unemployed and underemployed women in Australia achieve economic independence. Provides no-fee programmes, development tools and professional attire to thrive in work and life – overcoming bias and discrimination in the workplace.

Participate in International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is an annual global event that takes place on March 8th. It’s an inclusive event that encourages all people to come together to celebrate and advocate for women’s rights.

The event is usually themed in some way – for example, International Women’s Day 2024 was focused on the theme Inspire Inclusion: “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”

Regardless of the theme, the day provides an opportunity to advocate for women’s rights, whether that’s supporting gender equality in the workplace or domestic violence charities in Australia.

Support women’s rights today with GoFundMe

Feeling inspired and wanting to have a positive impact on the lives of over 13 million women and girls in Australia? Ready to action a fundraising idea you have in mind?

You can fundraise for a charity of your choice and help raise awareness against bias and inequality using GoFundMe. Thousands of people use our market-leading platform every day to make a difference in someone’s life, supporting vulnerable individuals and communities. 

If you want to start supporting women’s charities today, then we’ve got you covered.

The post How to support women’s charities in Australia appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

Whether you want to make a school fun run more colourful or organise an active charitable event in the local community, it’s an excellent way to bring people together in a relaxed, enjoyable fundraising environment. 

In this article, we explore what a colour fun run is, how to organise one, and how GoFundMe can help to make your event a roaring success.

What is a colour run?

Suitable for all ages and abilities, a colour run puts more of an emphasis on fun over speed, as participants run or walk the required distance while getting doused in colourful powder by volunteers. 

Not only does this make it a spectacle visually, but it also means that everyone has an enjoyable time and can raise money for a charitable cause in a unique and memorable way.

Inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, this colourful fundraising idea has not only become popular in Australia, but is now carried out all across the world. Plus, the coloured powder that’s used is made of food-grade cornstarch, which means it’s safe for participants and the environment, and is animal cruelty-free.

How to organise your own colour fun run

Organising a colour fun run may sound like harder work than a standard fun run, but the reality is that it’s actually very simple. This is especially true if you start planning in advance and surround yourself with a team of reliable, committed volunteers.

By following our step-by-step guide, you’ll be covering participants in colour before you know it and maximising the number of donations you receive. 

1. Plan the event in advance

The planning stage of a colour fun run is integral, so creating a foolproof fundraising plan is important. Before you get started, here are some of the main aspects of the fun run you’ll need to consider:

• Setting a time and date for the event.
• Deciding on a location.
• Obtaining the necessary permits and permissions.
• Calculating how many volunteers you’ll need.
• Understanding your budget.
• Working out what equipment is required.
• Considering how participants will be able to register.
• Creating a platform to receive donations.

While planning the event, you may decide that you could do with some additional help to ensure your colour run is a resounding success. If so, consider using an online event planner to help guide you through the process with up-to-date resources and information.

2. Start fundraising early

The earlier you start your fundraiser, the more donations you’re likely to receive. As soon as you’ve finalised the details of the event, it’s important to start sharing this information on all of your invites and promotional materials. It also means you can start receiving donations using a reputable, trustworthy fundraising platform such as GoFundMe. 

Some of the key details you need to share to begin fundraising include:

• Why you’re holding the event.
• Information about the cause you’re fundraising for.
• How the money that’s raised will be used.
• Information about the event (start time, date, location).
• Whether there is an entrance fee.
• How people can get involved – participating, volunteering, donating.

If you do choose GoFundMe to start your fundraising journey, then make sure you check out our ultimate fundraising tips to create a compelling description and reach your donation goal.

3. Promote the event

The next step in the process is to promote the event and fundraiser. There are many ways you can do this, but the most popular methods include:

• Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn).
• Emails and messaging groups.
• In-person and networking events.
• Flyers and other marketing materials.
• Reach out to local businesses and community groups.

Every time you share the fundraiser in a new way it can lead to a 2.5x increase in the visibility of the fundraiser and the event. 

Failure to invest a healthy amount of time in promoting your colour fun run means you’re missing out on a lot of potential participants and donors, so make sure you do your best to spread the word.

Note: Doing a colour fun run for a school? Like with any school fundraiser, make sure you engage with the P&C Association and benefit from the support of its members.

4. Arrange the logistics

First of all, you need to make sure that participants know exactly what they’ll need on the day. For example, for a colour fun run, they’ll need to wear white clothing, bring spare clothes, have a towel and wet wipes handy, sun protection (cream and hats), appropriate footwear, water to keep hydrated, and ziplock bags to protect their personal belongings. 

In terms of the event itself, you’ll need to consider the following:

• Water stations.
• Whether food/snacks will be made available.
• Start and finish lines.
• How much powder you need.
• Where volunteers will be placed.
• Spectator areas.
• Entertainment zones.
• Photographers and photo stations.
• Winners’ medals, certificates, and merchandise.
• Ways to donate.

Before the event, it’s also a nice touch to provide participants, volunteers, and spectators with an information pack, so they have complete visibility of the event and can prepare for the day’s activities.

5. Run the show on the day

Organising and hosting a colour fun run does come with its own set of challenges, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible to guarantee the event is a success.

Here are some of our top tips to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day:

• Recruit a team of volunteers – Reach out to reliable individuals who will work well together as a group. You’ll want to engage with people who are organised, patient, respectful, and trustworthy. In doing so, you’ll feel supported throughout the day.
• Plan, plan, plan – Make sure you’ve planned everything in as much detail as possible, so things are less likely to go wrong on the big day. Everybody should know their role and participants, volunteers, and spectators should be fully briefed.
• Be prepared for things to go wrong – You can do all the planning and preparation in the world but, unfortunately, some difficulties can arise no matter how prepared you are. Make sure you have contingencies in place where possible.
• Arrange first aid and safety precautions – To ensure the safety of participants and volunteers, you need to make arrangements for first aid services and implement safety measures. Come equipped with basic medical supplies and consider having a trained medical professional on-site in case of emergencies.
• Consider post-race activities – The race might be over, but it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Plus, post-race activities are a great way of raising additional funds. You may want to organise zones with music, food, drinks, or perhaps arrange designated areas for face painting or carnival games.

Follow up after the event

Last, but by no means least, all great fundraising events should have a carefully crafted follow-up process in place. Following up with participants, volunteers, spectators, donors, and event organisers is a great way of expressing your gratitude and sharing memorable moments from the event.

Your follow-up plan should include:

• A big thank you message to all of those who got involved, such as participants, volunteers, spectators, donors, event organisers, and any other community members.
• Sending out the fundraising link again for any late donations. You don’t want to be too pushy, so make sure you politely mention that it’s not too late to donate and help make a difference.
• Share how much was raised and any other relevant information about the day, such as how the money made from donations has been spent.
• Any photos and videos that were taken during the colour fun run.

Tips for colour run organisers

Here are some final tips to ensure you’re fully up-to-speed as the organiser of the event:

• Type of colour powder – Make sure you use powder that’s made of cornstarch and is safe for participants, animals, and the environment. In terms of colour, the more colours you have the better!
• Course distance – A lot of colour runs aim for the 5k mark. However, this completely depends on the participants and the location. For example, if you’re organising a colour fun run for schools, you may want the distance to be shorter.
• Number of participants – Again, this is entirely up to you. You’ll want the number of participants to be manageable, while weighing up the fact that more runners means more money raised.
• Food and drink – Providing drinking water is essential. However, offering other refreshments and snacks, such as bananas or oranges, is your choice.
• Merchandise – Charging a small fee for t-shirts, hats, or wristbands is another great way of raising more money and making participants feel proud of their achievements.
• Certificates and medals – While this is meant to be a fun run, you could hand out certificates to those who complete the course and medals for those who are the quickest or get covered in the least amount of powder.

Start your colour run fundraiser

Now you know everything there is to know about a colour fun run, it’s time to start organising the big event and spread the word.

Remember, it’s never too early to create your fundraising page, and GoFundMe is on hand to help you raise as much money as possible for your worthy cause. As Australia’s leading online fundraising platform, we know what it takes to maxismise donations and make your colour fun run a huge success.

The post How to organise a colour fun run to raise money for good causes appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

However, organising a school fun run does come with its own set of unique challenges, and motivating students to participate can be tricky. Here, we share a step-by-step guide to kick-start your fun run, with ideas and advice on how to make it a roaring success.

On your marks, get set, go!

1. Planning and preparation

As a school fun run organiser, it’s your responsibility to ensure the when, where, and how of the fundraiser is planned in advance and everybody involved is fully prepared.

Here are some things that need to be thought about during the planning process:

• Pick a suitable date and time
• Choose a location
• Obtain any necessary permits or permissions
• Get a team of volunteers together to help organise the event and support on the day
• Think about the “fun” element of the run and how to get students engaged
• Promote and advertise the event
• Start a fundraising page

2. Promoting the fun run

Once all the key details of your school fun run have been confirmed and your fundraising page is live, it’s time to promote the event. The best way of doing this is to utilise social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X), so you can spread the word across your various networks and share your fundraising link to a wider audience.

Try to come up with fun and quirky ways of promoting the fun run online, using videos and other multimedia where appropriate. This will help to get your fundraiser recognised and boost engagement. It’s also important that all the details you share online are accurate and all the relevant fun run information is available to your audience. 

For a tried and tested, old-school method for event promotion, why not engage with the school community through newsletters and emails? It’s useful to remember that not everybody is active on social media. Posters and adverts in local newspapers can also help to spread awareness.

3. Fundraising strategies

School fun runs are an excellent opportunity to fundraise, but it’s important for you to understand how to maximise the amount of money you can raise and implement some key strategies.

Here are some of our top suggestions on how to use the event to fundraise effectively:

• Set a registration fee for participants
• Approach local businesses for sponsorships
• Organise additional fundraising activities during the event
• Use GoFundMe to receive online donations
• Collect in-person donations on the day
• Match donations

Remember, your fundraising goal on GoFundMe is flexible, and if you meet the goal early you can increase it. This means there is no cap on the amount of money you can raise for your chosen cause!

4. Event logistics

There is plenty you need to think about when organising and hosting a school fun run. While it can seem daunting at first, you shouldn’t let this deter you from getting involved.

To make your life easier, here is a list of some of the logistical requirements you need to consider:

• Choose a safe and accessible location
• Plan a route that is appropriate for different abilities
• Use signs, cones, tape, and barriers to guide participants along the course
• Make sure volunteers are briefed and fully prepared
• Ensure you have first aiders available and water stations set up
• Make sure spectators know where to go to watch the run (including the finish line)
• Prepare race packs with event information

This may seem like a lot, but if you have an excellent team of helpful volunteers around you then it makes managing the event a lot easier.

5. Fun run activities

Making a school fun run more interesting involves adding elements that enhance the overall experience for participants, volunteers, and spectators. 

Here are several fun run ideas to make the event more engaging and enjoyable:

• Choose a fun theme, such as superheroes, colour run, or animals
• Hold a costume contest with a prize for the best-dressed student
• Incorporate safe obstacles along the course, such as inflatable hurdles or crawling tunnels
• Set up stations where volunteers throw coloured powder at students
• Play music or hire a DJ
• Offer medals, trophies, or certificates for those who finish the run
• Set up photo booths with themed props
• Offer food trucks, snack stands, or a picnic area

6. Post-event

After a school fun run, several tasks need to be completed to wrap up the event successfully. Most importantly, you need to ensure you send out thanks to participants, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and spectators. Especially if you want to turn the fun run into an annual event and rely on their generosity again.

It’s also a good idea to share the results and impact of your fundraising efforts with the whole school community, so you can demonstrate the massive impact you’ve had on your cause of choice.

Share event highlights, photos, and videos on the school’s website, social media channels, and newsletters to celebrate the event and recognise the students’ efforts.

See how others are using fun runs to fundraise on GoFundMe

Eager to organise your school fun run and get started? Before you do, take a look at how people have used GoFundMe to fundraise for fun runs in the past. 

This should give you all the inspiration you need to make your event a success.

OLN Colour Fun Run

The OLN School Council held a colour fun run in 2022, where children were sprayed with colour powder as they ran laps and did obstacles on the school oval.

Using GoFundMe, the money they raised went towards school events, classroom resources, and improvements to the school playground. In total, they raised $8,184.

St Michael’s Daceyville – COLOUR RUN FUN!

St Michael’s Catholic Primary School in Daceyville started a fundraiser to raise money for their new playground, which was part of the school’s wider renovation work.

Most of their initial budget went on new buildings, furniture, and renovating existing classrooms, so all of the money they raised using GoFundMe ($6,705) went towards the installation of a new playground.

TMSS Playground Development

Tamborine Mountain State School P&C organised a school fun run to raise funds and seek support for their playground development. This included new equipment, markings, and learning opportunities to create a more fun playing environment for their students.

They managed to raise $3,441 using GoFundMe, which all went towards the new playground improvements.

Start fundraising today

Now you’re equipped with a whole host of fun run ideas, it’s time to get your school fun run plans off the ground. The best way to race towards the finishing line is to create a fundraiser using GoFundMe.

As Australia’s leading crowdfunding platform, our team of trusted experts are on hand to help you every step of the way. Raise money for your school fun run with peace of mind and maximise the amount of donations you receive today.

The post How to organise a school fun run appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

If, like thousands of other Aussies, you want to raise money and make a big difference in the lives of people in need, then the Stroke Foundation’s annual Stride4Stroke challenge is the perfect place to start.

In this article, we explain what Stride4Stroke is, how you can register, and how GoFundMe can help you on your fundraising journey. 

What is Stride4Stroke?

Stride4Stroke takes place every November when people across Australia come together to raise funds to prevent stroke, save lives, and enhance recovery. The time you choose to spend being active for the challenge is measured in ‘moving minutes’, which accommodates the different lifestyles and abilities of participants. 

Across November, you can choose to set a goal of 600, 900, or 1,200 moving minutes, or personalise your moving minute goal to something entirely different that’s more suitable for you. 

The Stroke Foundation emphasises that Stride4Stroke doesn’t need to be an individual challenge and encourages family, friends, and colleagues to come together to make a bigger impact. Whether you choose to stride out solo or be part of a team is completely up to you.

About the Stroke Foundation

Stride4Stroke is just a small part of the amazing work and initiatives carried out by the Stroke Foundation. The foundation partners with the Australian community to raise awareness, facilitate research, and support stroke survivors. 

It offers life-saving information to stroke survivors, carers, and health professionals, to ensure that people impacted by stroke are supported and never feel alone.  

Whether it’s fundraising through an event, such as Stride4Stroke, giving a one-off donation, volunteering, or undertaking community advocacy, any contributions that are made to the Stroke Foundation make a huge difference in the fight against stroke in Australia.

Why participate in Stride4Stroke?

In Australia, stroke is one of the biggest killers, with one stroke occurring every 19 minutes. Concerningly, stroke doesn’t discriminate, affecting anyone at any time. This includes unborn babies and kids, with approximately 600 Australian children experiencing a stroke in the last year.

However, 80% of strokes can be prevented, which makes the invaluable work of the Stroke Foundation so important. This gives the foundation and other stroke charities hope that we can one day live in a world free from disability and suffering caused by stroke.

By participating in Stride4Stroke, every dollar you raise and every moving minute you record will go towards preventing stroke, saving lives, and enhancing recovery for Australians across the country.

How to register

If you want to make moves that matter and get involved, then registering for the challenge couldn’t be easier. To start raising money for this year’s event in November, simply follow this simple three-step process:

1. Sign up and register: You can sign up as an individual or as part of a team, or you can join a team that’s already been created. You’ll then be asked to set your fundraising and moving minutes goals.
2. Start fundraising: Reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and the general public to donate to your Stride4Stroke challenge. Here are some great fundraising ideas to reach your goal.
3. Dust off your walking shoes: Get active in November and reach your fundraising and moving minutes goals.

Remember, there are no strict deadlines, times, or goals you need to stick to. Simply hit your pre-set goals in whichever way suits you, whether that’s sticking to a certain amount of steps every day throughout the month or completing blocks of minutes at a time that’s convenient for you.

Setting up your fundraising page

The easiest and most secure way of setting up a fundraising page for Stride4Stroke is by using GoFundMe. As the world’s #1 crowdfunding platform, we offer everything you need to help your fundraiser succeed and raise as much money as possible for the Stroke Foundation.

Here are some quick fundraising tips to get started:

• Start your fundraiser early: By starting your fundraiser early, you can maximise the amount of donations you receive.
• Create an engaging fundraiser description: The more details you’re able to provide, the more it will help potential donors feel ready to donate.
• Provide training and challenge updates: Keep donors and potential donors in the loop with updates before and during the challenge. You could use photos and videos to do this.
• Share your fundraiser on social media: Share your fundraiser far and wide across your social media platforms to boost your reach.
• Ask friends and family to share your page: Ask others to share your fundraiser with their networks to encourage more potential donors.
• Set realistic fundraising goals: Don’t be overly ambitious, make sure you set an achievable fundraising goal to avoid disappointment.

Stroke Foundation fundraisers

Don’t just take our word for it, countless Aussies have relied on GoFundMe to start a fundraiser for those impacted by stroke. Here are just a few Stroke Foundation fundraisers to help inspire you.

Mitch’s Cause

Jordan created a fundraiser using GoFundMe on behalf of his friend Mitch, who wanted to donate to the Stroke Foundation. Despite being a fit and healthy young man, Mitch suffered a bilateral stroke at the age of 25 and woke up from a coma four days later.

Family and friends rallied around Mitch, who continued to support him in his recovery. He wanted to start a fundraiser so he could help the Stroke Foundation in their goals to prevent stroke, raise awareness, and support survivors. In total, he managed to raise $15,603.

On the wagon for the Stroke Foundation

Madison, a 32-year-old nurse who dedicated 10 years to studying and working in the Neurosciences field, went sober for three months to raise money for the Stroke Foundation in honour of her mum. The charity is close to her heart because in 2017 her mum passed away suddenly at the age of 59 to a stroke.

She smashed her original $3,500 goal by raising $4,225 using GoFundMe, all of which went straight to the Stroke Foundation.

Archie & Felix raising money 4 Stroke Foundation

In December 2023, Felix and Archie ran 3km per day to raise money for the Stroke Foundation, after their uncle Hamish suffered a stroke. Although their uncle received excellent care in the hospital and with his recovery, Felix and Archie wanted to raise money to help those who experienced something similar.

The money they raised for their daily runs reached $5,426, impressively surpassing the $3,000 goal they originally set. 

Start your fundraising journey

Starting a fundraiser can be daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be with the support and guidance of GoFundMe. 

We are on hand to help you effortlessly raise money for the Stroke Foundation, ensuring you move one step closer to hitting your moving minutes’ target for Stride4Stroke.

As a trusted leader in online fundraising, we’ve got you covered. Start your journey in helping those impacted by stroke and other medical conditions today.

The post Stride4Stroke: how to raise money for the Stroke Foundation appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).