Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising has become one of the most popular ways to do this. By leaning on communities, supporters can help organisations reach their fundraising goals faster while connecting with local people.

In this guide, we’ll unpack peer-to-peer fundraising and help you launch your own P2P campaign with examples and ideas.

What is peer-to-peer fundraising?

Peer-to-peer fundraising is when individuals organise campaigns to collect donations from local community members on behalf of a non-profit, charity, or organisation. 

Organisations recruit volunteer fundraisers to actively participate in fundraising efforts, providing them with the necessary resources. These supporters can then raise money through different activities, such as asking for donations via an online donation page.

This helps to expand the charitable organisation’s reach while raising plenty of funds for a worthwhile cause.

Benefits of peer-to-peer fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns can benefit organisations, charities, and non-profits for the following reasons:

• Contact people outside their network: People tend to trust recommendations from friends. As supporters have direct access to friends, family members, coworkers, and other peers who may not have heard of an organisation, they can reach new audiences. This means that when supporters throw their weight behind a cause, the organisation can reach more networks.
• Increase brand awareness: When peer-to-peer supporters share information about an organisation, whether it be fundraising materials or simply telling people in the streets, they increase awareness. This is great for organisations because consumers often need to hear a message multiple times before they take action.
• Empower supporters to take an active fundraising role: Sharing what an organisation’s cause means to them with a wider audience can make their involvement much more meaningful.
• More efficient fundraising: By leveraging volunteer fundraisers, an organisation can reduce its team’s workload and improve campaign efficiencies.

To enjoy the full benefits of peer-to-peer fundraising, it’s important to have the right fundraising tools and use a reputable online fundraising platform.

Peer-to-peer fundraising ideas

The sky’s the limit!

From art galas to summer garden parties, you’ll find plenty of peer-to-peer fundraising ideas on our complete list. However, here are a few to get your creative juices flowing.

Run/walk/swim-a-thons 

Fun for people of all ages and abilities, this is a great way of encouraging friendly competition while raising money for a worthwhile cause. Not only do active peer-to-peer fundraisers promote healthy habits and make the most of the great Australian outdoors, but they also boost engagement within communities and teams – bringing everyone together. Make your event even more fun by getting creative with themes!

Bake sale

A tried-and-tested peer-to-peer fundraising idea, bake sales have been a popular choice for as long as people have been raising money. Encourage volunteers to bring their tasty baked goods along, creating a spread that Mary Berry would be proud of. You can also sell beverages and merchandise at the event to boost donations and incorporate some fun activities. 

Virtual challenges

Virtual challenges allow you to reach a huge amount of people online by promoting it via social media. Get supporters to complete a certain task or activity, such as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge or Movember. Online challenges make it easy for people to share with friends, family, and the general public, so you can widen your audience.

Best practices to get the most from peer-to-peer campaigns

Creating an effective peer-to-peer fundraising campaign starts with giving your supporters the tools, resources, and inspiration they need. Here are some best practices to follow.

Set your fundraisers up for success

Fundraisers will be eager to support your organisation, but they’ll likely need some tools and support along the way. Set them up for success with materials like:

• Pre-written copy: This can be as simple as “My name is ______, and I’m fundraising on behalf of [your organisation’s name] to support their [project or program the donations will go toward]. I’ve been involved with this organisation for [number of years] because of [personal connection to your cause]. Would you consider supporting me so I can reach my goal?”
• Images and videos: Includes multimedia from fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, or other forms of community outreach. Supporters can also add their own photos of themselves participating in your organisation’s events.
• Creating a group chat using platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, or Slack: Participants can share tips, fundraising wins, milestones, and words of encouragement. This fosters a community spirit among your fundraisers, making the experience more engaging and meaningful.

Choose the right peer-to-peer fundraising platform

When picking an online platform you should look for:

• Zero fees (for platform)
• Ease of use and website design
• Excellent customer support 
• When you get access to your funds
• Fundraiser sharing capabilities

Choosing a trusted, reliable online fundraising platform, such as GoFundMe, ensures you have all the tools you need to run a successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for your organisation.

Peer-to-peer fundraising examples

With over $30 billion raised, our global GoFundMe community has changed the lives of millions of people.

Below are a few peer-to-peer fundraising examples to help inspire you to start a fundraiser of your own.

You can also find more on our success stories page.

A Meditation Marathon, 20 Minutes on the 20th

One young boy’s 20-minute meditation goal helped raise money for the coalition for the homeless Holiday Toy Drive. His target was to raise $2,000 so that other kids could have toys at Christmas.

The campaign ended up smashing this target, eventually raising over $30,000 USD.

Rebuilding Animal Homes, Feed and Water Stations

This fund was created by animal lovers and volunteers. They wanted to rebuild animal habitats that were destroyed by devastating wildfires.

After raising over $11,900 AUD, donors were thanked and updated on where their money was going.

Peer-to-peer fundraising with GoFundMe

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a fantastic way of engaging with new donors, boosting donations, and raising awareness for your charitable cause. At GoFundMe, we’re here to help.

Starting a GoFundMe fundraiser is incredibly easy and can be hugely successful if you use our market-leading online tools. Plus, we make it incredibly simple to share your fundraiser on social media and reach out to your various communities. 

Australia’s #1 crowdfunding platform is completely free to use and each donation is protected thanks to our giving guarantee.

Kickstart your peer-to-peer fundraising journey today!

The post What is peer-to-peer fundraising? appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways Aussies can raise money for a chosen cause without breaking the bank in the process.

1. Volunteer for a good cause

Volunteering for a nonprofit organisation is a brilliant way to fundraise for them without incurring a large cost first. Volunteering means giving your time and it also helps to raise awareness of the cause you are supporting. There’s plenty of opportunity to volunteer for local good causes, such as food banks or op shops.

Alternatively, there are hundreds of Australian charities or events that offer volunteering opportunities, such as local wildlife sanctuaries and Sydney’s City2Surf fun run.

2. Declutter

Giving your house a little clean out by getting rid of extra clothes, ornaments, and books, and selling them at a garage sale or online, can also be a great way to raise money. It’s good for the planet and gives items another lease of life whilst giving you a clearer home.

If you do head online to sell your items, then Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are excellent platforms for doing so.

3. Take on a fitness challenge

A popular cheap fundraising idea is to test your sporting prowess and push your stamina to the limit with a fitness challenge. Australia’s outdoor lifestyle lends itself perfectly to an array of sporting challenges, whether you want to take on an iconic run like the Melbourne marathon, or opt for a personalised event. 

As a nation with a strong fitness culture, you won’t be short of opportunities to walk, run, swim, or cycle for your chosen charitable cause.

4. Host a community BBQ

Aussies love outdoor social events and good grub, so why not combine the two by organising a barbeque or picnic for the local community? This is a great family-friendly way of bringing people together and fundraising for a charitable cause. Plus, it’s a fantastic low-cost fundraising idea, as people can bring their own food to contribute and all you need is a bit of outdoor space.

5. Give something up for charity

A simple way to raise money is by giving up something for charity. This could involve stopping smoking for National Non-Smoking Week (which can benefit your health as well), honouring Meat Free Monday for a whole year, or losing your locks for Brave The Shave. There’s also a growing popularity of calendar monthly events like Dry July, where you don’t drink alcohol for the whole month.

6. Launch a crowdfunding campaign

Whether it’s a charity close to your heart or a personal cause, starting a crowdfunding campaign is a simple way to raise money. All you need to do is tell your story about why you want to fundraise and then share it on social media, email, with posters up at your local school, or local businesses. 

You can start your fundraiser here and take a look at our handy tips on how to use social media to promote it – ideal for those interested in cheap fundraisers for schools.

7.  Get involved in local festivals and markets

Capitalise on your fellow Aussies’ community spirit and the great outdoors by organising or helping out at a local festival or market to raise funds. Take a look at events in your local area to see if you can set up a stall, such as a car boot or bake sale. There may even be organised markets at schools, community centres, or neighbourhood streets to commemorate a particular event.

8. Organise a community clean-up

A cheap fundraising idea that benefits the community and is very easy to organise is sponsored trash picking. Choose a day and get family members and friends to join you in the local parks, playgrounds, and streets to pick up some trash. Organise a few weekends and spread the word, getting people to sponsor you for your good cause whilst you do it.

Alternatively, you can get involved in a nationwide event like Clean Up Australia Day, which takes place annually on the first Sunday of March.

9. Grow a mo for Movember

Every November, thousands of Australians grow a mo (or try to) for Movember, a global foundation that aims to address mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer among men. It’s an inexpensive fundraising idea – but shows that you are committed to the cause and gives your mates a good laugh in the process. 

Why not make an event of it by posting daily photos of your progress on social media or get people around and video the big moment you shave your moustache off?

10. Partner with local businesses

Finally, why not reach out to local businesses to see if they can help raise funds for your chosen cause in any way? Not only can this help to improve the visibility of your fundraiser, but it also boosts a company’s image and reputation locally – a win-win for all involved.

How you pitch your prospective partnership to a local business is up to you. However, co-hosting an event, organising percentage-of-sales days, getting them to sponsor you, or asking them to help out with the promotion of your fundraiser are all possible options.

So, there you have it, your definitive list of cheap fundraising ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. The diversity of options we’ve provided suits all different interests and resources, so people up and down the country can get involved and start making a difference in the lives of Aussies everywhere.

At GoFundMe, you can create a fundraising campaign in just a few clicks, ensuring you’re one step closer to implementing one of the inexpensive fundraising ideas we’ve suggested.

The post 10 cheap fundraising ideas appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

Don’t let unfamiliarity with a walkathon impact your fundraising efforts — walks don’t have to be an uphill struggle and can take your fundraiser to the next level when executed correctly.

What is a walkathon?

A walkathon is a community fundraising event where participants of all ages and abilities receive sponsorships and donations for completing a walk over a set course for their chosen charitable cause.

Walkathons are a popular idea for all types of charity fundraisers, providing participants with a fun day out while keeping costs low for organisers. There are no minimum distances, personal bests, or competitive rewards involved — instead, the focus is on fostering a sense of community through the unifying power of fundraising.

How to organise a charity walkathon

While charity walks are some of the easiest and low-cost events that fundraisers can utilise, knowing where to start with your own walking fundraiser can be tough. 

So, whether you’re getting involved with an established walkathon or planning your own event from the ground up — here’s a step-by-step guide to making sure your charity walk marches on to success.

1. Make a plan

No charity walk becomes a success without a large degree of behind-the-scenes planning, so it’s important to get your priorities in line from the outset. Firstly, you will need to choose a charity or other worthy cause to support. If you don’t already have a person or organisation in mind, take some inspiration from the GoFundMe heroes, who have made meaningful contributions across a range of societal issues.

Next, you’ll need to start planning the logistics of your walking fundraiser event. If you’re organising your own charity walk, you’ll need to settle on a route, distance, date, and location. Keep in mind that you may need to receive a permit from local authorities depending on the location of your walk, and recruit some volunteers to assist you on the day.

2. Start your fundraiser

Once you have planned out the where, when, and how of your charity walk, you’re ready to start a fundraiser. Getting started is quick, safe, and easy — just follow these simple steps:

• Tell us the basics of where you live, what you’re fundraising for, and who you would like your donations to be sent to. This can be yourself, an individual beneficiary, or your chosen charitable organisation.
• Set a fundraising goal based on how much money you would like to raise with your walkathon. It’s okay to be ambitious, but try to set a realistic target that’s in line with the size and scope of your event. Remember that you can change your fundraising goal at any time, and you don’t need to reach it in order to receive your donations.
• Add a cover photo, as fundraisers with meaningful images tend to perform better than those without. Think carefully about which picture you’d like to share and try to add a photo that captures the spirit of your fundraiser.
• Tell your story by writing 2-3 paragraphs that sum up what makes your fundraiser unique. Being as open, honest, and descriptive as possible will help donors understand and identify with your goals. Make sure to include important practical information like who you are, what you’re fundraising for, and where any donations will be sent.

If you’re still not sure about how GoFundMe works, check out our helpful guide which answers all the most common fundraising questions.

Spread the word

Once your fundraiser is set up, you’re ready to publish it and start receiving donations for your charity walk. All that’s left to do is spread the word and update donors as your fundraiser makes progress.

Start by sharing your fundraiser with friends, family, and others in your immediate network. Word of mouth can travel fast, but boost your efforts by sharing a link to your fundraising page through email and text messages. Sharing your fundraiser on social media can be a powerful way to attract donations from all across Australia and the rest of the world, so start working on some compelling posts that will grab the attention of potential donors on Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms.

Find out more about using the internet to boost your efforts with our top tips for sharing your fundraiser online.

5 creative ideas for walkathon fundraising

While charity walks are always a great crowdfunding idea, adding some creative flair will make your walking fundraiser even more impactful, meaningful, and enjoyable. It’s important to choose ideas that can easily be implemented, especially if you’re organising the event yourself or with a small fundraising team.

You don’t want to organise a walk that requires endless permits or causes logistical planning issues, so remember to choose ideas that are fairly simple to execute. Below are just a few charity walk ideas you can consider. Of course, look for other online charity resources and refer to what other similar organisations have done if you need help getting some fundraising inspiration.

1. Costume parades

Costume parades are a great way to create excitement and boost participation for your walking fundraiser. It makes the walk a lighthearted event, which is perfect for almost any cause. In some cases, you may want to avoid costumes if you are raising funds for a sensitive issue, but in general, getting people into silly costumes will always go down well.

If it feels like a suitable fit, you can always set a costume theme that ties in with the message of your charity walk. This is a great way of encouraging participants to have fun while reminding everyone of the meaningful cause that they are supporting. Just remember to keep practical issues like visibility, comfort, and weather resistance in mind.

2. Dog walks

We all know how much dogs love a walk, so why not add some extra fun to your charity walk by encouraging participants to bring their four-legged friends? This works especially well if the cause you’re fundraising for is concerned with animals, but don’t feel limited by the theme of your fundraiser. People love their pets, so incorporating them into a walkathon fundraising event is a great way to generate excitement while getting more feet — and paws — on the ground.

As some dogs may not be suited to a charity walk environment as much as others, consider sending out registration forms to participants in advance. Gathering information on breed, size, and temperament will allow you to organise walking groups based on compatibility. For a rewarding finishing touch, you could even create branded goodie bags for the dogs who make it past the finish line.

3. Charity t-shirt walks

Boost donations for your charity walk by selling specially-designed fundraiser t-shirts. Sell t-shirts before the event so people can wear them while walking. Many charities offer branded t-shirts for fundraising events, but you could go the extra mile by requesting a custom design for your fundraiser.

If you’re fundraising individually, contact local businesses that may be willing to sponsor your event or create personalised t-shirts. Custom merchandise like t-shirts serve as a free advertisement for your fundraiser and are great for encouraging donations, so try to incorporate them in whatever way works best.

Kid-friendly walks

Charity walk ideas should always be fun and light-hearted, and what better way to create this atmosphere than by making your event kid-friendly? Many of your supporters will likely have children, so including them will make sure that you attract as many participants as possible.

Clearly state that your event is kid-friendly in your fundraiser marketing, and don’t forget to encourage parents to bring strollers for longer walks. Make sure you choose an unchallenging route that’s accessible to everyone, so parents with strollers and young, newly-walking children can participate. Beaches and bushwalks could prove tricky!

It’s also worth providing treats or simple goodie bags to keep those little faces smiling.

Make it a food event

We all know how effective a motivator tasty treats can be, so why not make your charity walk a potluck event as well? Ask supporters and volunteers to bring a treat of their choice to your walk, and savour the contributions together once you have all crossed the finish line.

It’s important to prioritise food safety for this walkathon fundraiser idea, so distribute a registration form in advance. Participants can let you know what they’re bringing to ensure a nice variety, and you can also make note of any potential food allergies. You’ll need to plan accordingly to ensure there is enough food to go around, but the enthusiasm and extra support you’ll receive will be more than worth the effort.

Get inspired by successful walking fundraisers

If you’re still not sure where to start with your fundraiser, it’s always wise to take inspiration from other organisations that have run successful charity walks in the past. 

Here are some examples to get the fundraiser ideas flowing:

Coogee Public School P&C Walkathon

Coogee Public School’s P&C organised a walkathon to raise funds for much-needed additional air conditioning, heating, and ventilation in their classrooms. This was to help improve learning environments across the school and to provide a quality, sustainable, and cost-effective way to ensure students are healthy, comfortable, and ready to learn.  

Tasked with walking laps around Grant Reserve in Coogee, students were able to raise $34,492 with the help of GoFundMe.

Walk for Ben

Ben Lott, a primary school teacher at Corpus Christi Primary School in Cranebrook, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017. Having undergone costly treatment in Japan, a walkathon was set up to support Ben and encourage donors to contribute by participating in the event, sponsoring a walker, or making a donation. 

Using GoFundMe, $5,230 was raised to fund Ben’s ongoing treatment, as participants walked from Freshwater Beach to Shelly Beach and back.

Jo’s Walk

Brett Day organised a walkathon to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation, a cause that meant a lot to Brett and his late wife Jo, who sadly passed away. 

Using GoFundMe, a fundraiser was created to honour Jo’s medical legacy and support a foundation that strives to end avoidable blindness in Australia and around the rest of the world. In total, $28,537 was raised on Brett’s GoFundMe page.

Start your charity walk fundraiser with GoFundMe

After sorting through ideas and planning out your walkathon, you’re ready to hit the pavement. If your charity organisation still isn’t sure how to raise money, GoFundMe is a fantastic option.

Our platform offers fundraising tools to make it simple for you to create, share, and raise money for your charity walk.

The post How to organise a walkathon fundraiser appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

In Australia, there are dozens of half-marathons every year, offering an opportunity for keen runners to take part in an endurance challenge for a charitable cause. Training and competing in a half marathon can be hugely rewarding, both in terms of personal achievement and the money you’ll raise for a charity close to your heart.

In this article, we share our comprehensive guide to Australian half marathons in 2024-25, so you can dust off your running shoes and prepare for an event near you.

How long is a half marathon?

A half marathon is roughly 21.1km in length, offering participants a long-distance running challenge that requires slightly less training than a full marathon. The length of a half marathon will never fluctuate, but the type of terrain you’ll be running on can vary. 

This is especially true in Australia. Thanks to our stunning diverse landscapes, half marathons in Australia can incorporate coastal paths, bush trails, roads, parks and even the Outback! So, there is truly a race for everyone.

How to fundraise when running a half marathon

Raising money for your half marathon couldn’t be easier (it’s the running part that’s challenging). Follow these simple steps to ensure your fundraising gets off to the best possible start. Ready, steady, go!

1. Confirm your place: Decide which half marathon you want to participate in and apply for a place.
2. Decide who/what you want to fundraise for: Find a charitable cause that means something to you, whether that’s a local charity or raising money for a loved one who is going through a challenging time.
3. Set a target: How much money are you hoping to raise? Be ambitious, but don’t be unrealistic. 
4. Create a fundraising page: Set up a fundraising page online so people can start to sponsor you.
5. Promote your run: Whether you rely on social media, word of mouth or community groups, the more you promote your fundraiser the more money you’ll raise.

Create your own fundraiser or run for an official charity

There is no right or wrong way to raise money for your chosen charitable cause – whichever method you choose, you’ll be making a huge difference. However, two popular options are to either create your own fundraiser or run on behalf of an official charity.

If you opt for the latter, then make sure you read the full terms and conditions for that particular charity. Most charities will have some conditions attached, where you may have to raise a certain amount of money to be eligible to race for that charity or have fundraising timeframes you need to adhere to.

This is why creating your own fundraiser can be beneficial, as it gives you the flexibility to raise money on your terms.

Australian half marathon list 2024-5

Feeling inspired? Let’s take a look at some of the Australian half-marathons in 2024 and 2025, so you can take a step closer towards applying for a place. 

From Queensland to Victoria and coastal paths to bush trails, you’ll be able to find a half marathon that suits you.

April

April is a popular month for half marathons in Australia, as the country transitions from the warmer summer months to the milder temperatures of autumn. 

If you live in the capital, the prestigious Canberra Times Marathon Festival takes place in April, with five different distances to choose from – including the half marathon. For an alternative half marathon experience, the Rock N Run Festival combines running and music, as you run through different live acts and performances.

• Rock N Run Festival
• Canberra Times Marathon Festival
• Geelong Half Marathon
• Bunbury 3 Waters Running Festival
• Newcastle Half Marathon
• City of Ballarat Half Marathon

May

The Runaway Marathon Series dominates the month of May, with two half marathons taking place in Sydney and Noosa. They also run a third half marathon in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand!

Set in a picturesque valley known for its excellent wine, you can swap your wine bottles for water bottles at the Barossa Marathon Festival near Adelaide. Is there a better location to finish your half marathon than an area surrounded by vineyards?

• Runaway Sydney Half Marathon
• Toowoomba Half Marathon
• Runaway Noosa Half Marathon
• Barossa Marathon Festival 

June

For those of you who don’t like running in the heat, June offers much more comfortable temperatures for half marathons. For Queenslanders and Western Australia residents, you’ll notice more running events are being held, as temperatures start to drop.

If you’re seeking the most beautiful running experience in Australia, then the Great Whitehaven Beach Run could be the answer, with the opportunity to race on its pristine sands. 

• Brisbane Half Marathon
• McGrath Launceston Running Festival
• Wollongong Running Festival
• Ultra Perth
• Peninsula Running Festival
• Sri Chinmoy Albert Park Half Marathon
• Great Whitehaven Beach Run
• Brooks Rottnest Running Festival

July

July is historically another popular month for half marathons in Australia, and 2024 is no different. If coastal views and stunning beaches are your vibe, then the Gold Coast Half Marathon and Airlie Beach Marathon Festival are excellent options.

For city slickers, Run Melbourne’s iconic half marathon leads you past landmarks like Flinders Street Station, Marvel Stadium and The Arts Centre, finishing within the home of the historic Australian Open.

• Gold Coast Half Marathon
• Cairns Half Marathon
• Airlie Beach Marathon Festival
• Run Melbourne

August

If you live in Queensland and don’t want to travel across states, then August is the month to take your running shoes out of the wardrobe. Cooler conditions mean the Townsville Running Festival, Sunshine Coast Half Marathon and Logan Running Festival all come to town, leaving Queenslanders spoilt for choice.

Alternatively, residents of Victoria can take part in the Shepparton Running Festival, with running distances to suit all levels, including a half marathon.

• Townsville Running Festival
• Sunshine Coast Half Marathon
• Shepparton Running Festival
• Logan Running Festival

September

Arguably Australia’s premier running event, the Sydney Marathon takes place in September – which includes a half marathon race. This iconic race leads participants over Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in some of the city’s finest bays and landscapes before culminating at the Opera House. 

An equally picturesque option is the Kangaroo Island Half Marathon, which carves its way through Flinders Chase National Park.

• Sydney Half Marathon
• Kangaroo Island Half Marathon
• Sunset Coast Marathon and Run Festival

October

Another of Australia’s showcase running events is the Melbourne Marathon Festival, which offers six different race distances in total. The half marathon is one of the most popular races, winding its way around Melbourne’s city centre.

The city of Perth also takes advantage of the cooler spring weather with its annual running festival. Runners have the choice of a 4km, 10km, half marathon and marathon, offering a race distance for everyone. The 2024 half marathon will take in the natural splendour of Burswood Park and the picturesque Swan River. 

• Melbourne Marathon Festival
• Perth Running Festival 
• Harrietville Half Marathon

November

Be honest, November caught your eye when you saw the words “husky” and “vineyards” didn’t it? While the Husky Half Marathon isn’t what it seems (although it does offer one of the country’s best running locations on the shores of the spectacular Jervis Bay Marine Park), the Vineyards Running Festival does what it says on the tin. 

The Vineyards Running Festival has five different race distances in total, leading participants through the beautiful vineyards of Nagambie, Victoria. The good part? As runners cross the finish line, they will be greeted with a small glass of wine to enjoy as they collect their medals.

• Husky Half Marathon
• Vineyards Running Festival
• Fremantle Running Festival

December

To round off our list of half marathons for 2024, South Australia’s Victor Harbor Half Marathon is a flat course that takes runners on closed roads around the town, across the causeway to Granite Island and finishes on Warland Reserve.

• Victor Harbor Half Marathon

January 2025

While The Cadbury Half Marathon sadly lacks chocolate, it does reward runners with stunning views around the picturesque island of Tasmania. The scenic course brings with it some interesting challenges, before ending at the Cadbury Chocolate Factory.

• The Cadbury Half Marathon

February 2025

Two contrasting half marathons take place in the month of February, with the city-based City Run in Adelaide and the coastal Kilcunda Half Marathon on Victoria’s Bass Coast. The latter is a great choice for trail runners.

• City Run
• Kilcunda Half Marathon

March 2025

Last, but by no means least, is the Weston Creek Half Marathon. This course utilises bike paths with beautiful views of Lake Burley Griffin, located approximately 13 kilometres southwest of Canberra city centre.

• Weston Creek Half Marathon

The post Half marathon guide 2024-25 appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

Increasingly, we see a GoFundMe set up in response to a big event in the news, whether locally, nationally or internationally. When big topics are driving lots of attention, we often see viral fundraisers launched in Australia in response to the event.

Australia is one of the most generous nations and when people need help, they like to back a mate and dig deep.

So when a fundraiser becomes really successful, and a GoFundMe goes viral in Australia, our team works across timezones to ensure none of the money raised is released until we are sure it is going to the right place. 

To make this happen, GoFundMe operates a seven-day customer support and trust and safety operation. We have experts in Trust, Safety, Risk and Compliance working around the clock to make sure the millions of dollars donated on our platform get safely to the right place via our best in class processes and technology.

Whether you are a potential donor or a potential GoFundMe organiser, you can be safe in the knowledge that money is in safe hands.

Start a GoFundMe today

What you need to know about viral fundraisers

One example of what happens when a GoFundMe fundraiser goes viral is after the tragic death of much-loved Australian jockey, Dean Holland, during a fatal accident in a horse race in 2023. Victoria’s jockey community rallied around Dean’s wife, Lucy, to raise over $1.9 million AUD to support her and her four children.

The fundraiser was led by Tony Ottobre, who was inspired to set up the fundraiser to capture the the generosity of the horse racing community who were devastated in the wake of the incident. Despite at the time not being close to Lucy, Tony was able to ensure that he could move quickly and launch the GoFundMe page, collect donations whilst the incident was still being dealt with by Racing Victoria, and make sure that Lucy and her family would be financially supported through their grief that would inevitably follow.

The GoFundMe team worked with Dean to make sure that Lucy was added as the beneficiary, and her bank details were logged to send the funds straight to her Lucy’s account. Given the shock and grief, we were able to put a hold on the account to make sure that funds were held safely with GoFundMe until Lucy was ready to provide her details to our Trust and Safety team.

Is it safe to donate to viral fundraisers?

Our beneficiary product was set up because so many kind-hearted people like Dean set up fundraisers for people they aren’t directly connected to.

It means fundraisers can simply put in the email of the beneficiary, as Dean did for Lucy’s family, and the money will go into their bank account – once everything has been vetted and verified by our team.

Our donors’ safety is our top priority. GoFundMe uses the same secure and encrypted payments technology as your bank to ensure your donation is processed safely and we hold funds until their recipient is verified.

The GoFundMe Guarantee

With so many stories and so many people in need, one of GoFundMe’s top priorities is to make sure funds raised on our platform are safely delivered to the intended beneficiary of each fundraiser. 

We’re so sure of our ability to protect donors that we have a promise: if funds don’t get where they’re supposed to go, we’ll give you your money back.

GoFundMe is proud to be the only fundraising platform backed by the GoFundMe guarantee. 

Fundraiser vetting process

All GoFundMe fundraisers face some form of vetting before withdrawal. This vetting focuses both on the identity of the person and the legitimacy of the cause. 

The vast majority of potentially suspicious fundraisers are spotted by our team of Trust and Safety experts, who work across different timezones to make sure GoFundMe in Australia is a safe place to give and get help. However, anyone visiting a GoFundMe and would like our team to give it a sense check has the ability to report it to our team directly.

If you do have any concerns a fundraiser is misleading or fraudulent, you can let our team know by reporting it here.

Donate to a GoFundMe that needs your help

Often in crisis people ask ‘is there anything we can do?’ and sometimes the answer is to help financially. Whatever the reason behind a fundraiser, we’re proud of the generosity and empathy of our community.

If you would like to donate to one of our many deserving fundraisers on GoFundMe you can check out our top fundraisers.

The post What Happens When a GoFundMe Goes Viral in Australia appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

If you need to raise money for an emergency, for a charity, for family or friends, there are some tips and tricks that can help you succeed! Raising funds doesn’t have to be rocket science, everyone can raise money for free on platforms like GoFundMe, but there are tips and tricks to help increase your chance of success. 

There are plenty of approaches that you can use to raise money, from direct appeals, applying for grants to crowdfunding. 

Crowdfunding is quick and accessible, and on GoFundMe, the costs are covered by tips given voluntarily by donors. It’s worth a try even if you choose other ways to raise money too!

Here’s how to raise money on GoFundMe:

• Tell your story
  • Share enough information that people can empathise with what you’re going through. Who are the characters? Are they trying to overcome adversity? Why do they need help now? How did they get they come to set up this GoFundMe page and try to raise money? How will the funds be spent?
• Choose your heading wisely
  • Your heading will form your page’s URL or link, so make sure you choose something that is identifiable to you and your cause. 
• Choose a photo that helps people connect with your story
  • The image on your page is critical to communicating your story, images connect very directly with people and are easier to understand than words. Make sure you take your time to find something that is clear and powerful. Elements such as eye contact and including people’s faces really help. 
• Share far and wide.
  • The people closest to you are your built in “audience” and potential donors. Share with your direct networks and ask them to share too. If you’re part of a church, a sporting club, a school community – these communities are already set up to communicate with each other. Share your link. 
• Finally; don’t be afraid to ask for help!
  • Asking for financial help doesn’t come naturally to most of us! But that’s ok, every day thousands of people raise money on GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms, making a huge difference to their lives in hard times.

The post <strong>How to raise money in your time of need!</strong> appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).