What we've learned: Through our experience, we've learned that donors contribute because:

• They know and want to support you.
• Your nonprofit resonates with them.
• They’re impressed by your fundraising efforts or the event you’re tackling.
• They can see the direct impact their donation makes.

With this research, we've found there are steps you can follow that contribute to successful fundraising.

The essentials for successful fundraising  

Tell your story: Not sure how to start? Try answering these questions in the Story section of your fundraising page:

• Why are you fundraising?
• Why is this cause important to you?
• What impact will each donation make (for example, $10 feeds a child for a week)?

Set a fundraising goal: Donors want to see their friend succeed. In fact, some will donate again if they know their friend is close to their goal.

1. Set a fundraising target when editing your fundraising page.
2. Give updates on the status of your fundraising efforts.
3. Raise your goal once you reach it. Then, notify your donors again.

Add a picture: Add an image that speaks to your donors, such as a photo of you in your event, or who or what the donations are helping.  

Tell your contacts: Share your fundraising page with family, friends, colleagues, parishioners, or anyone in your community. FirstGiving provides email templates you can use in your account.  

Thank your donors: FirstGiving automatically emails a thank you message to your donors. When editing your fundraising page, personalize your thank you message. Tell donors what it means to you or how their donation is helping your nonprofit.

Keep sharing: Send updates on your fundraising, life, or training. Sharing your stories about challenges and milestones makes donors feel they're a part of your fundraising efforts. FirstGiving provides an email template for updates that you can use in your account. Who knows--you may inspire some donors to join or advocate for your efforts. You can also try some of these other fundraising ideas.  

Link to or add your page to your social media sites:

• On Facebook, share your fundraising page and then become a fan of FirstGiving. If you are a runner, join our FirstGiving for Runners group too.
• On Twitter, tweet about your fundraising efforts and link to your fundraising page, then follow us.
• On other social networking sites, talk about your fundraising efforts and link to your fundraising page.

Talk about your fundraising efforts on your blog: A blog, or an online journal, is a great place to update donors on your progress and a subtle way to tell blog visitors that you are accepting donations for a great cause. Be sure to add a widget or link to your fundraising page.

Celebrate your birthday: Ask friends to make a donation to your fundraising page in lieu of presents.  

Offer your services: In exchange for a donation to your fundraising page, you could:

• Babysit
• Drive a friend to the airport
• Rake leaves, shovel snow, or cut the grass

Throw a party: Get your family and friends in on it and divvy up the tasks.

• Set a date.
• Ask your favorite restaurant, bar, or coffee shop to donate some space.
• Have guests RSVP via making a donation to your FirstGiving page; this way, you don’t have to collect donations at the door and you will have an attendance list.

Learn more by visiting our blog, the FG YouTube Channel, and following us on Twitter. If you are a runner, check out our FirstGiving for Runners blog too.

Happy Fundraising!

Do you have a fundraising tip that has helped you? Please share it by emailing us , Tweeting it to us or sharing it in our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.