Fundraising tips Archives - GoFundMe (AU) Just another WordPress site Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:14:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 195691261 Funeral fundraising tips that can help cut memorial costs https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-funeral-memorial https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-funeral-memorial#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:14:00 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61466 When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’ll pay for a...

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When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’ll pay for a funeral. Crowdfunding for funeral expenses helps ease financial stress during this difficult time and allows you to focus on saying goodbye. Below, we offer funeral fundraising tips that will help you raise money to honor your loved one’s memory.

Tips for funeral and memorial fundraising success

Tell your loved one’s story

Your fundraiser story is an opportunity to write a tribute to your loved one and explain what he or she meant to you. By including images and videos of him or her at different points in life, others can reminisce about the times they shared together or learn new things about their life. Here are some other tips:

  • Create a descriptive fundraiser title. “Paying tribute to Marie,” is far more interesting than simply “Funeral expenses.”
  • If you’re not related to the deceased, be sure to clarify your relationship to him or her so there’s no confusion among donors.
  • Share a few of your favorite memories of your loved one.

If you’re having a hard time finding the right words, read our blog post Your Fundraiser Story: A Comprehensive Guide.

Share specific financial needs

The high cost of funeral services is a huge point of stress for many families who have just lost a loved one. If you have a large fundraising goal, it’s important to let your supporters know what items you’re fundraising for. This will help others understand why you’ve chosen a specific fundraising goal, and can encourage more giving.

List other ways people can help

Coping with death can affect every area of someone’s life, which means there is a lot of room for others to pitch in and help. Maybe you need someone to pick your kids up from school or walk your dog. Or perhaps you need someone to write an obituary and deliver a eulogy at the service.

List these needs under a title that says “Other ways you can help” on your fundraiser page. This will allow people to show their love and support in creative ways if they aren’t able to make a monetary funeral donation.

Share your fundraiser far and wide

Sharing your fundraiser with everyone you know is the number one way to receive donations. You can use social media to promote your fundraiser, and then ask others to share your posts with their contacts. 

If you’ve exhausted social media efforts, why not try fundraising without social media? You can reach out via email, phone, and text. It isn’t always easy to ask for donations while grieving, but our fundraising email templates can make seeking support less intimidating. You can also ask friends or close family members to help with outreach efforts. 

Keep your supporters involved

Once people donate, they’ll want to know how their donations have helped, or if you still need help reaching your goal. Posting fundraiser updates is the perfect way to keep supporters in the loop while showing them your appreciation. Here are some other ideas of what to include in updates:

Share a favorite memory of your loved one with a photo.  

Give progress updates on your fundraising goals to inspire more donations.

Write a donation thank you letter to individual supporters for large contributions, or post a general thank-you message to everyone. 

GoFundMe funeral examples of real people who found help online

Our Amazing Friend Jae Haydon

After Jae lost his life while traveling in Bali, Indonesia, his good friend Mark took action and created a GoFundMe for his family. Mark helped raised over $68,000 so Jae’s family could bring him home to Australia for a proper celebration of life.

Celebration of Life- Chase Davison

Chase was just 30 years old when he tragically lost his life in a car accident. Chase’s sister wanted to support his wife and her young children, so she started a GoFundMe that raised over $85,000. The funds were used to support Chase’s family and hold a celebration of life ceremony for him.

Laura’s Cancer Battle

Laura touched many lives as a program manager at the University of Houston. After she passed away, students and colleagues wanted to honor her memory and help Laura’s husband. They started a GoFundMe that raised close to $5,000 to pay for medical and funeral expenses.

Begin fundraising for funeral and memorial costs

If you’re having trouble finding organizations that help with funeral expenses or need funds right away, GoFundMe wants to help. Through our fundraising model, you can keep more of the money you raise and receive donations to your bank account within just a few days. Whether you’re fundraising for your family or helping a friend in need, memorial fundraising allows you to dedicate your time and energy to what matters. Sign up to create your fundraiser today.

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20 Sharing tips to increase donations https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-sharing https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-sharing#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:59 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61487 Running a fundraiser takes time, effort, and sometimes a bit of creativity, but we are here to help. Sharing your GoFundMe...

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Running a fundraiser takes time, effort, and sometimes a bit of creativity, but we are here to help. Sharing your GoFundMe link often is an important way to get noticed, but you don’t have to rely only on social media. Use this list of fundraiser sharing tips to help you reach your fundraising goal.

Drive donations with these fundraiser sharing tips:

1. Share your GoFundMe early and often

Once you publish your GoFundMe fundraiser, aim to share it within the next 10 hours to start gaining donation momentum. Start with sharing your GoFundMe link with at least three of your closest friends and family, and ask if they would consider donating to help you kickstart your fundraising efforts. Then, share your link with your broader circles.

2. Ask friends to help you spread the news

You don’t have to do the work by yourself. Think of three or more friends or family members who are active on social media or might be willing to put in extra effort to help you reach your fundraising goal. Reach out to them directly and ask them to help you spread the word about your GoFundMe by sharing your fundraising link with their networks. 

3. Use specifics when sharing your fundraiser

We’ve seen that potential donors like to know how the money they donate will be used. Share specifics about how the money you raise will be used. Knowing these extra details can help donors feel more confident to give. 

Example: “A donation of $35 helps cover one tank of gas for the drives to and from the hospital.”

4. Highlight timely moments or milestones to drive urgency

Let people know if you need to reach your fundraising goal by a certain date. This can motivate your supporters to donate right away and help you reach your goal more quickly.

Example: “We are raising money to honor my grandmother at her memorial service on March 4.”

Similarly, sharing fundraising progress is an important way to show donors the impact of their donations on your journey. When you reach a milestone, share the achievement with your supporters. This will also let them know how far away you are from reaching your goal and may prompt them to donate or share your fundraiser with their networks again.

Example: “I am halfway to reaching my fundraising goal of raising school supplies for my daughter’s classroom! Will you help me reach my goal by donating $10 or sharing?”

5. Reach out to your neighborhood

“How do I get my GoFundMe noticed?” is a question you may be asking yourself. One way to do this is by spreading the word about your fundraiser within your neighborhood. Put up flyers with your fundraiser link at local events, places of worship, alumni groups, gyms, coffee shops, or wherever you spend time in your community. Making a QR code that links to your GoFundMe is another great way to help people quickly find your fundraiser.

6. Record a video 

While photos are meaningful, potential donors may connect with your story at an even deeper level if you record a simple, heartfelt video on your phone and share it with your fundraiser link. Learn more on our video fundraising tips page.

7. Share on weekday mornings

One of the best times of day to spread the word about your fundraiser is on weekday mornings. If you can, block off a few minutes each morning to share your fundraiser. Or use the general ‘schedule’ feature for emails and social media posts to be automatically sent out at a dedicated time multiple times throughout the week.

8. Get active for your cause 

Do you like to stay active? Create your own ‘challenge’ by informing donors that you will be running, walking, swimming, climbing, or cycling a certain amount of miles to raise money for your cause. Ask them if they would consider donating $1 (or another relevant amount) per mile you plan to complete. After you cross the ‘finish line’, be sure to update your donors with photos and thank them for their support.

9. Leverage birthdays and important dates

Do you or a loved one have a birthday or other important holiday coming up? Leverage the timing of these special occasions in your ask to drive donations. 

Example: “Please consider donating $15 on May 15 to help celebrate my birthday and support my favorite cause.”

10. Create a Facebook Event for your fundraiser

Invite all of your Facebook friends. You can ask people to share photos, videos, memories, and comments on Facebook that are relevant to your fundraiser. Be sure to paste your fundraiser link in the event description. Check out our blog post on more Facebook fundraising tips.

11. Share with people who have similar interests

Post your fundraiser in a group that’s related to your cause. For example, if you are raising money to help cover the cost of your dog’s surgery, consider sharing the link and your dog’s story (be sure to include a photo!) in a dog-related Facebook group, Reddit thread, or other forum.

12. Regularly share your fundraiser link on different social networking sites

If you’re wondering where to share your GoFundMe link, your social media accounts are a great place to start. We have seen that sharing your GoFundMe link and story on different social media platforms at least three times a week will help you continue to raise money. Remember to focus your post on why your fundraiser means so much to you, and be sure to thank those who have already supported you.

For example, you can share your fundraiser on Instagram in a post or story. Other great places to share your GoFundMe are TikTok, WhatsApp, Twitch, and Nextdoor.

13. Write your fundraiser link in an unexpected place

On your car? Chalk it on the sidewalk? Post a sign on your front lawn? The more creative, the better—this is a great way to create excitement around your fundraiser in addition to social media.

14. Send a handwritten letter to friends and family

You don’t need social media to share your GoFundMe link with your friends and family. Get out a pen and paper and write a short letter telling your fundraising story and asking the recipient if they would consider donating to or sharing your GoFundMe.

15. Team up with a local business

See if a local business will offer a fundraising night for your cause in which they donate a percentage of the proceeds to your fundraiser. Or, see if a coffee or sandwich shop will temporarily name an item after your fundraiser. For example, “Daniel’s Dream Deluxe,” or “Cathy’s Battle Cappuccino.” Make sure to thank the business for their help in your fundraiser journey.

16. Step outside of your direct network

Post your fundraiser link on your city’s Facebook page or your Nextdoor community. This is a great way to reach out to local folks you may not know, but who might be willing to help your cause by sharing your fundraiser link, donating, or supporting you in other ways.

17. Set up a lemonade stand or other fundraising event

This will do two big things—first, you’ll raise money for your cause. Next, you’ll spread awareness about your fundraiser to those in your community. You can serve cups of lemonade, and instead of charging a fee, ask if people would consider donating to your fundraiser. Bodhi’s lemonade stand fundraiser supporting San Diego’s homeless youth is a great example of how online and offline fundraising can work together to make a difference for a cause. Check out our other fundraising event ideas for more inspiration.

18. Post creative shoutouts in your updates

Getting creative with fundraising updates to thank and show your appreciation for those who have donated can be an engaging way to drive donors. For example, you can post a photo of yourself holding a ‘thank you’ sign with all your donors’ names. Or, if the tone is right for your cause, share a ‘thank you’ dance video you choreographed with your pet. 

19. Use your special talents to creatively drive donations

Are you a singer, a poet, or a great photographer? Get your supporters excited to keep up with your fundraising journey by posting “10 Days of Songs” videos or “30 Days of Beautiful Photo Updates.”

20. Connect with a local event or gathering

Is a local event, county fair, or concert happening in your area? Ask if the event coordinators are interested in helping you promote your fundraiser during their event. For example, giving you the mic for a few moments to explain your cause, or allowing fundraiser signs at the entrance.

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How to get local media to cover your fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-local-media https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-local-media#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:58 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61475 Getting the attention of local media can be a challenge, but the potential payoff makes it very much worth your...

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Getting the attention of local media can be a challenge, but the potential payoff makes it very much worth your effort. When a crowdfunding fundraiser draws the attention of even one local media outlet, your cause gets valuable exposure to thousands of people.

Local media exposure can raise awareness of your cause, broaden the reach of your fundraiser significantly and boost the funds you raise dramatically. Many community members who learn about your cause may want to contribute, especially if they’re familiar with the beneficiary.

One word of caution: before considering whether you want to contact the media, understand that you and the beneficiary will be put in the spotlight. Make sure that everyone involved is comfortable with being interviewed and having the story shared publicly.

Research the local media landscape

Stories that appeal to a local audience are more likely to be picked up by newspapers, magazines, bloggers and TV stations in the area where the beneficiary or organiser lives or where an incident occurred.

  • Create a list of local media contacts at each outlet. Note which ones cover stories like yours.
  • For each, find out who reviews story pitches related to your topic and build a contact list.
  • Look for individuals, rather than bombarding dozens of journalists. Targeting the right people will get you better results than spamming organisations.

How to contact them

  • Find their email. Once your story is concise, you’ve identified a great journalist and you have beautiful photos ready to go, search the internet for the contact information of your journalist.
  • Use social media. Social media platforms — like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook — are excellent places to reach out to reporters and journalists. With a simple use of “@,” you can get the attention of someone who could be interested in your story.
  • Look for the contact form. Not finding your journalist’s contact information online? Most media organisations have an easy-to-use contact form right on their site.
  • Use your network. While you’ve probably already done a great job sharing your fundraiser link and story via social media and email, have you asked around to see if anyone in your network has local media contacts? You may be surprised at how well connected your supporters are.

Write a press release


In a press release, journalists expect to see information in a very specific structure. They’ll quickly scan each release to see if it’s something they — or their boss — might be interested in covering.


Stories with local appeal are more likely to be picked up by local outlets. Emphasise your cause’s connection to the community served by your target. 


  • Be clear and candid. Make it easy for the reporter to understand your story, verify its accuracy and see its relevance to their audience.
  • Think like a journalist. Ask yourself: what’s newsworthy about your situation? What makes your cause relevant to current news (maybe a rare health condition or a natural disaster)?
  • Talk about how important your fundraiser is to the beneficiary. Be clear about how funds will be used and the meaningful difference they will make.
  • Include a link to your GoFundMe fundraiser. Before you reach out to local media, your page should be complete, compelling and ready to be seen by thousands of people.
  • Emphasise community ties. What clubs, churches, synagogues, or local not-for-profits are you or the beneficiary connected with? People like to donate to someone with a history of giving to the community.
  • Describe how hopeful you are for a good outcome and how you’re dealing with challenges. Show that you’re working hard to overcome obstacles — you just need a little help.

Contact and follow up


Sending out your press release is an important step toward getting local media coverage, but it doesn’t end there.


  • Follow up with an email or phone call a few days later. Ask if there’s any other information you can provide.
  • If you have a favourite journalist or news segment, call and tell them how much you enjoy their articles — and that you think your story would be a good fit.
  • Strong images can inspire an outlet to run your story. If you host a fundraising event, create media-worthy visuals (artwork, costumes, games — anything people will want to photograph or video and share). Invite local media, or send the most compelling images from the event.
  • Once you get coverage, post your story and link to your fundraiser on the newspaper or TV station’s Facebook page.

Create a circle of public interest

We never know which GoFundMe fundraisers are going to capture the hearts of thousands. Could your story be next? Share news coverage using social media to create an expanding circle of interest that can drive even more success for your fundraiser. Start your fundraiser today.

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These social media tips make it easy to promote your fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-social-media https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-social-media#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:58 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61490 Social media promotion is a powerful and effective fundraising tool — and it’s vital to the success of your crowdfunding efforts. When...

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Social media promotion is a powerful and effective fundraising tool — and it’s vital to the success of your crowdfunding efforts. When you combine the power and reach of social media with a compelling fundraiser story, you’re far more likely to meet your fundraising goals.

Below, we offer our favorite social media fundraising tips and best practices to keep in mind when you’re ready to start promoting your fundraiser.

Create a Facebook account for your fundraiser

Facebook can connect you to nearly everyone you know. It’s a powerful tool that can mean the difference between success and failure when it comes to raising money for your cause. Create your social media fundraising strategy with the Facebook tips below.

To create your Facebook account:

  1. Go to facebook.com.
  2. Complete the signup form and select, “Sign Up.”
  3. Need help? See Facebook’s official tips about signing up on Facebook.

Getting started with Facebook

1. Connect to — or “friend” — the people you email

Facebook makes it easy to connect to everyone you know. The contacts in your personal email list are some of the most valuable people you can connect with on social media and those with an established Facebook presence can help spread the word about your fundraiser the fastest.

2. Search for and “friend” people in these categories:

  • Friends of your spouse
  • Friends of your children and/or their parents
  • Friends of your parents
  • Members of clubs or associations related to your cause
  • Current and former classmates
  • Current and former colleagues
  • Current and former acquaintances

3. Let Facebook do the work for you

As you build connections, Facebook will start recommending more connections. You’ll also start receiving friend requests from people you know. When promoting your fundraiser online, it’s important to connect to as many people as you can as quickly as you can.

Some friend request won’t be accepted right away. But don’t worry — not everyone checks friend requests regularly and some limit their friend lists. Just keep “friending” as many people you know.

Facebook pitfalls to avoid

If you aren’t sure how to ask for donations when sharing social media posts, our biggest tip is to give context to your posts.

  • Explain exactly why you need your friends’ help and create a sense of urgency by letting them know when you need to meet your fundraising goal.
  • Each time you share your fundraiser, tell a different part of your story or include a new update.
  • Your friends and family members want to help you, but repeat blasts of a plea to send you money won’t be effective — in fact, it could lead to people unfollowing you.

2. Sharing too often — or not often enough

People will engage with you as you share your fundraiser. But posting as often as possible isn’t always better. Posting about your fundraiser 10 times a day may lead many people to ignore or unfollow you instead. To avoid oversharing with your network, try mixing it up.

  • Share photos, stories and videos. Sharing content once a day is fine, as long as the updates are different each time.
  • Don’t wait too long between posts, either. Share something about your fundraiser at least once a week.
  • Try sharing a photo or news article that relates to your cause along with a few words about why it stood out to you and how it ties in to your fundraiser.
  • See our blog post 25 Fundraiser Sharing Tips to Increase Donations

3. Not engaging with others

Social media is all about engaging with others and building a connection that encourages people to take action. But the key to getting people to share your posts or support your fundraiser is to engage with them in a genuine way.

  • Engage with their posts as much as you do your own.
  • “Like” their photos and respond to their posts in a friendly and social way.
  • Let your contacts know that you’re on Facebook and that you care about them.


4. Not posting photos and videos

People love photos and videos — they’re some of the most popular content on Facebook. Adding an interesting image or video to posts about your fundraiser can entice people to find out more.

  • When writing social media posts, be sure to include photos of yourself, your family and the beneficiary of your fundraiser.

  • Fundraisers that feature several high-quality photos in the story typically raise more donations than those with only text.  
  • Keep each photo that you share relevant to your fundraiser.

Three social media fundraising ideas that work

Adding trending hashtags to your social media posts is an easy way to attract attention to your fundraiser. Sharing relevant and inspirational quotes for #MondayMotivation or old pictures for #ThrowbackThursday while adding your fundraiser link is great for your exposure and content strategy.

If you want to take it a step further, create a fundraiser hashtag that’s unique to your cause and encourage people to use it when posting about your fundraiser.

2. Use all of your social media accounts to spread the word

Sharing your fundraiser is important because it can potentially lead to more donations. These days, more and more people are beginning to fundraise on Twitter, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Nextdoor. People often use these social media apps to talk about ideas and causes they care about or find interesting. Platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, and Nextdoor are designed to encourage interactions between strangers, so it’s possible to reach new supporters with your social media posts.

3. Thank donors in social media posts

Public recognition is one way to show gratitude for your donors’ support and make them feel appreciated. You can do this by posting an update to your fundraiser that thanks specific people by name. Then, you can share this update on Facebook and other social media accounts. Publicly thanking your supporters can increase donor retention and encourage others to donate. Check out our blog posts on how to write a donation thank you letter and other ideas for how to say thank you to donors.

Are you ready to start fundraising using social media?

Now that you have a few fundraising ideas to help you step up your social media game, you’ll be able to develop a fundraising plan and meet your fundraising goals. GoFundMe offers a comprehensive blog full of fundraising tips and inspiration to help you raise more money. Check out how it works and start a fundraiser today.

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Why the right images for your fundraiser are the key to success https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-images https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-images#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:57 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61472 A picture is worth a thousand words, and it can make or break your fundraiser. Adding compelling fundraising images to...

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A picture is worth a thousand words, and it can make or break your fundraiser. Adding compelling fundraising images to your fundraiser page is one of the best ways to become a crowdfunding success story. Fundraising appeals with at least five photos raise more than those with just one. Photos can tell your story, elicit compassion and inspire action.

Use high-quality images

Quality matters. Online users have a short attention span, so you only have a few seconds to grab their attention and keep it. Great photos are your key to success.

  • Clear, focused and well-lit pictures help build empathy. Make sure your cover shot clearly shows your beneficiary.
  • Your featured cover image should capture the viewer’s attention and give an idea of what your story is about.
  • The recommended main image size is 600 pixels wide by 400 pixels tall.

Post plenty of pictures

Fundraisers with at least five photos raise more than those with just one. The bottom line is that donors love looking at lots of pictures!

  • Choose the best photo for your cover image and then add several more to the gallery. Don’t post duplicate images – show many different aspects of your cause.
  • Use photos to tell your story. Think of it as a slideshow about your cause and include a beginning, middle and end.
  • The more beautiful and varied your images are, the more people will want to share them on social media. This will drive more donations to your cause.

Update as often as possible

Sharing updates is a great way to inspire people to donate as your fundraiser gets noticed. Refresh your page with new images to keep your fundraiser engaging.

  • Start with a few images and add new ones with each update. Include the highest-quality photos in your gallery.
  • Take pictures during fundraising events and add pictures taken by your supporters (with their permission).
  • Continue posting images to social media and encourage others to share them too.

Some fundraiser photo don’ts

There are a few types of photos that we don’t recommend you share on your fundraiser.

  • Make sure that your photos are family-friendly. Be sure that your photos are appropriate for all ages and are compliant with our Terms & Conditions.
  • Don’t use photos that you don’t own. If you’d like to use photos, videos or music that you don’t own, you must get permission first. While it’s best to use your own photos, you can have a look at Flickr’s Creative Commons database for high-quality stock photos.

Picturing crowdfunding success

Along with photos, videos can play a key role in fundraising – they’re just as powerful, if not more so, than images. For other great fundraising tips, visit our main fundraising tips page. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding site with a 0% platform fee for organizers; if you haven’t already started, launch a fundraiser today.

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Medical fundraising tips: Financial support right when you need it https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-medical https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/blog/fundraising-tips-for-medical#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:56 +0000 https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/?p=61478 From emergency trips to hospital to long-term care, medical expenses can empty out savings accounts and leave behind debts that...

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From emergency trips to hospital to long-term care, medical expenses can empty out savings accounts and leave behind debts that last for years. Medical crowdfunding is a powerful tool that can help people avoid medical bankruptcy and focus on getting better. Countless people have found that using GoFundMe for medical expenses can help pay for prescriptions and doctors’ appointments – as well as procedures which are not typically covered by Medicare or insurance such as some IVF treatment or gender reassignment surgery.

See below for some of our best medical fundraising tips to help you raise more money.

Tips for fundraising for medical expenses

Make your title count

The title of your fundraiser is one of the first things people will read, so it’s important to make sure that it grabs their attention. GoFundMe titles for medical appeals need to be specific. For example, “Help Martha Fight Cancer” is much more direct than “Martha’s fundraiser”. For more examples and tips, read our blog post Six Smart Ways to Write a Powerful Fundraiser Title.

Use your fundraiser page to tell your story

Your fundraiser story is the place to let readers know what you or your beneficiary is going through. You may be tempted to keep your story as short as possible but people will be more willing to support your cause if they have a full understanding of the financial, physical and emotional problems that you’re facing. Your fundraiser description length can also influence donations.

When writing your fundraiser story, try to answer these questions:

  • What happened?
  • How has this affected your life or your beneficiary’s life?
  • What is the recommended treatment?
  • How will these funds help you or your beneficiary?

Medical issues can be personal, so only share the details that you feel comfortable telling others about. If you need more help writing your story, read our blog post Writing Your Fundraiser Story: A Comprehensive Guide.

Add photos and videos

Photos and videos can draw others into your story and help them connect with you. As well as adding a visual element to your fundraiser, they also make it more genuine. Most people will feel more comfortable donating to a cause when they can see photos of the person who their funds will be going to. Here are some other tips:

  • Use high-quality images
  • Use one photo that shows you or your beneficiary happy and smiling
  • If you feel comfortable doing so, include one photo that shows how medical issues or costs have affected you or your beneficiary

Share your fundraiser with friends and family

Sharing your fundraiser with everyone you know is one of the most important actions you can take to hit your fundraising target. We understand that asking for help can be difficult, but people usually respond well to vulnerability. Here are some tips to help you promote your fundraiser online:

  • Learn the best way to ask for donations before contacting anyone.
  • Use these fundraising email templates if you need to get past writer’s block.
  • Start with a few close friends or relatives so that you can get more comfortable about asking for support.
  • Create a fundraiser hashtag to make it easier for people to drum up support for your cause.

Get in touch offline

If you’ve exhausted your social media contacts, why not take your efforts offline? Fundraising without social media can open up new opportunities and help you to connect with potential donors in a more personal way.

Asking for support offline can mean anything from making phone calls to posting flyers with your fundraiser details around your local area. Fundraising events are another opportunity to ask for donations and gain support locally.

Post updates to keep your supporters involved

Once people donate, they’ll be eager to know how your appeal is going and how the funds are being used. The best way to keep people in the loop is by writing regular fundraiser updates.

  • Updates with a positive spin are great but make sure that you let your supporters know if you need additional help.
  • If you’re running a fundraiser for someone else, it can be really helpful to ask them for quotes or short progress reports which you can then post as updates.
  • Don’t forget to post a final update once you’ve decided to close your fundraiser.

Don’t forget to tell people about other needs too

Using GoFundMe for medical bills can be a powerful way to raise money. But you may need other types of help too. Do your pets need to be cared for while you’re in hospital? Would a hot meal be a real help after a day of doctor’s appointments or while you’re in hospital?

List these needs under a separate title such as “Other ways you can help”. This is a great way for people who may not be able to contribute financially to lend a hand.

Send thank-you messages to supporters

Make sure that you let your donors know how much you appreciate their support by sending thank-you messages. If you’re not sure how to tell them what a difference their donation has made, take a look at our blog post How to Write a Donation Thank-You Letter: Templates. For other ideas about how to show people how grateful you are, see our blog post 20 Affordable Ways to Say Thank You to Donors.

Medical fundraising helped these people

Save Yoel and Yael

Zohar and Gabi were over the moon when they welcomed their twins Yoel and Yael into the world. But about two and a half months after their birth, they found out that both of their children had a rare genetic disorder that causes brain degeneration. Realising they were in a fight against time, the couple turned to GoFundMe to raise money for expensive gene replacement therapy. They raised over $251,000 in just two months.

Battle for Bryce Turner

When 15-year-old Bryce went to the doctor with a strange rash, he never imagined that he would be diagnosed with leukaemia. Since the leukaemia was aggressive, Bryce ended up being hospitalised for five months to undergo tests and treatment. His friends and family rallied round him and raised over $50,000 in just 20 days to help cover the expensive medical costs.

Every Picture Tells A Story: Artist Mark Melnick

As a professional artist and muralist, Mark had spent his entire life honing his craft. But that all came to a screeching halt when he suffered a stroke at the age of 60. Suddenly, he couldn’t paint and his monthly expenses ballooned overnight: he needed extensive therapy sessions, in-home care and adjustments to his house to accommodate his new mobility restrictions. Mark’s community launched a GoFundMe that raised almost $19,000 in two months to help him recover.

Focus more on your health and less on finances

Medical fundraising can remove financial stress from the picture so that you can dedicate your time to getting the care you need. GoFundMe offers fundraising so that you get to keep more of each donation and our Customer Support agents are available to help you round the clock, every day of the week.

For more fundraising tips for medical expenses, take a look at our medical crowdfunding guide. If you’re still struggling to get help with bills, then sign up for a fundraiser today.

The post Medical fundraising tips: Financial support right when you need it appeared first on GoFundMe (AU).

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