How to Set Up a Donation Page for Fundraising Success in 8 Steps (2024)

| 8 min read Fundraising Strategy

If you’ve decided to start crowdfunding, you might be wondering how to set up a donation page that inspires others to give. Whatever your cause, it’s important to set up a donation page that tells your unique story. With this guide, you’ll learn how to:

  • Create an interesting fundraiser title
  • Write a meaningful fundraiser story
  • Choose the best types of photos and videos for your fundraiser
  • Pick the right fundraising goal
  • Share your fundraiser to get more donations
  • Thank your supporters
  • Post updates that can help you meet your goal

Start a GoFundMe

What crowdfunding platform is best for your donation page?

With the rising popularity of crowdfunding, there are dozens of fundraising websites to choose from. So how do you know which platform is right for you and your cause?

  • Top crowdfunding sites will not only offer a simple setup process, but they’ll also offer other bells and whistles.
  • Also look for a user-friendly mobile app, dedicated customer support, and a blog packed with fundraising tips.

If you’re still unsure about how to choose a platform for your personal donation website, take a look at our Why GoFundMe page to find out what else sets us apart from the rest.

Crowdfunding for nonprofits

In addition to fundraising for yourself, a loved one, or a friend, you can also set up a donation page for charities using GoFundMe. With charity fundraising on GoFundMe, you can easily raise money for a charity on their behalf. If you’re a nonprofit organization looking to raise funds for your cause, GoFundMe’s fundraising tools can help you build a community of supporters and increase donor retention.

Check out our blog on how to raise money for charity and our charity fundraising tips to help you get started.

How to set up a GoFundMe page in 8 easy steps

1. Set the stage with an interesting fundraiser title

The first step in knowing how to set up a GoFundMe for someone else, for yourself, or for a charity is choosing a title that clearly explains why you’re fundraising.

  • Your fundraiser title should capture the attention of potential supporters on social media channels, in emails, and in text messages.
  • A memorable title that immediately conveys what you’re raising funds for will encourage people to click your link and read your story.
  • For more ideas about how to choose the best title for your page, see our blog post on fundraiser title tips.

2. Write a story that inspires people to give

It’s important to write a fundraiser story that is both detailed and will encourage people to support your cause. It’s natural to want to get your donation page up and running as quickly as possible. But if you’re able, remember to take some time to write a meaningful description.

Your fundraiser description length should be no fewer than 400 words, and it should cover the who, what, when, why, and how of your situation. Whether you’re wondering how to set up a donation page for an individual or for yourself, here are the most important questions your story should answer:

  • Who is benefiting from your fundraiser? Describe the recipient as honestly and completely as you can. Explain why this person, family, or organization is so deserving of financial help. If the fundraiser is for you, don’t be afraid to open up and explain why support from others would make a big difference in your life.
  • What is the main obstacle? Tell potential donors what problems you or the recipient are facing.
  • When do you need the funds? It’s important to tell your supporters when the funds are needed by so they understand the urgency.
  • Why do you or the recipient need help? Tell people why their contributions are critical. Take a cue from public radio stations, which do a great job of answering the “why” in their fundraising drives.
  • How can donors help? List specific expenses that you or the recipient need help paying. These details help people understand exactly what impact their donations will have.

3. Add photos and videos to brighten your donation page

Visual content can help tell your story in a powerful way. Adding images and videos will spruce up your donation page and make people want to find out more about your cause.

  • You’ll want to ensure your main photo is high quality, since pixelated images may cause your fundraiser to look suspicious.
  • Be sure to choose photos and videos that really convey your personality or your beneficiary’s personality.

4. Choose a fundraising goal that makes sense

When deciding what your fundraising goal should be, it’s best to start small and increase it as necessary. Why is starting small a better strategy? Reasonable fundraising goals may encourage people to give, while large goals might make people feel like their donation won’t count for much.

  • Remember that you can increase your fundraising goal at any time.
  • You can also keep all of the donations you receive, even if you don’t meet your fundraising goal.

5. Share with your close friends and family first

The first few days of a fundraiser can greatly influence its success in the long run. Before you widely promote your fundraiser, it’s best to share it with a few close friends and ask for their feedback. Since people are more likely to give if other people have already donated, a rollout strategy will ensure you have a few solid donations before you share your fundraiser with everyone over social media.

  • Start your fundraiser by sending personal fundraising letters to your closest friends and family members. This will help bring in a few initial donations even before you share your fundraiser link on social media.
  • For more ideas about how to ask for donations, check out these other resources:
  • How to Ask for Donations: An 8-Step Guide
  • 4 Fundraising Email Templates to Help You Reach Your Goal

6. Fine-tune your sharing plan

Sharing is one of the most important aspects of running a fundraiser. Sharing your donation page far and wide helps raise awareness for your cause and encourages your network of friends and family to support you.

  • Using social media to promote your fundraiser is one of the easiest and most effective methods to get the word out about your needs. You can use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Nextdoor, and even WhatsApp to spread awareness in a low-pressure way.
  • Another way to encourage people to share your cause is to create a fundraiser hashtag. A hashtag makes it easy for people to find your social media posts and interact with them.

Of course, you can also share your fundraiser via email, text message, and phone calls. For more fundraiser sharing tips, take a look at these blog posts:

  • Tips for Promoting Your Fundraiser Online
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Viral Fundraising
  • How to Achieve Online Fundraising Without Social Media: 10 Ways

7. Show gratitude to your supporters

When you’re busy setting up and running a donation page, it’s sometimes easy to forget to thank your donors. But showing gratitude is important. After all, without the generosity of donors, your fundraiser wouldn’t be possible.

  • Thanking your donors is also key to building a passionate community that remains engaged and dedicated to your cause. Sometimes it can even inspire repeat donations and help with donor retention.
  • Write a donation thank you letter to each donor, or try sending handwritten notes or individual emails if you have time. Human kindness is a beautiful thing, especially when it’s repaid with more human kindness. Try one of these several ways to say thank you to donors.

8. Don’t forget to post fundraiser updates

Updates are a simple way to keep your donors in the loop while also letting them know you may still need their continued support. And if your fundraiser stalls, updates can help it gain momentum again.

  • An update can be as simple as a photograph with a line of text, or a few paragraphs explaining any recent developments with your fundraiser or financial goals.
  • You can also use updates to shower special donors with recognition and thanks. Once you’ve mastered how to write a fundraising update, you can aim to post one about once a week.

Ready to reach your fundraising goals? Create a donation page today

Now that you have the tools for fundraising success at your fingertips and you know how to set up a GoFundMe page, all that’s left to do is create your donation page. To hear more about the steps mentioned in this blog, watch the video below. Start your fundraiser today and begin raising money for whatever is most important to you.

Start a fundraiser

How to Set Up a Donation Page for Fundraising Success in 8 Steps (2024)

FAQs

How to Set Up a Donation Page for Fundraising Success in 8 Steps? ›

A donation page is an online form on a nonprofit's website that supporters can use to contribute funds to the organization's mission. Donation pages provide a convenient way to contribute that does not require travel, envelopes, or stamps.

How to set up a donation page? ›

Donation Form Best Practices
  1. Donor details. Basic information such as a donor's name, contact information, and payment details are expected parts of the donation process. ...
  2. Use a PCI-compliant payment processor. ...
  3. Add suggested giving amounts. ...
  4. Make recurring giving easy. ...
  5. Encourage matching gifts.
Jun 14, 2024

How do I set up a fundraising page? ›

Set up a fundraising page
  1. Include a summary. Grab people's attention by adding your reasons for taking part in the event to the top of your page. ...
  2. Share why you're taking part. ...
  3. Upload a photo. ...
  4. Set a fundraising goal. ...
  5. Include your offline total. ...
  6. Keep everyone updated. ...
  7. Share your page. ...
  8. Collaborate with your workplace.

How do you create a successful fundraising campaign? ›

Tips for a Successful Fundraising Campaign
  1. Set a Goal. The most important thing you can do before you launch a fundraising campaign is to make sure that you have a clear goal or goals in mind from the start. ...
  2. Engage With Your Donor Base. ...
  3. Employ Effective Storytelling. ...
  4. Tap Into Social Media. ...
  5. Leverage Corporate Partnerships.
Jan 23, 2024

What is the best donation platform? ›

Read on to discover which platform is best for you.
  1. Donorbox. Donorbox is a powerful all-in-one fundraising platform with a quick setup process and plenty of easy-to-use features. ...
  2. GoFundMe. ...
  3. OneCause. ...
  4. Handbid. ...
  5. Bonfire. ...
  6. Fundly. ...
  7. Soapbox Engage. ...
  8. 99Pledges.

How do donation pages work? ›

A donation page is an online form on a nonprofit's website that supporters can use to contribute funds to the organization's mission. Donation pages provide a convenient way to contribute that does not require travel, envelopes, or stamps.

What is the best fundraising page to use? ›

Best fundraising platforms
  • GoFundme.
  • Golden Giving.
  • Givey.
  • Wonderful.
  • JustGiving.
  • Virgin Money Giving.
  • Everydayhero.
  • Everyclick.

How to start a go fund page? ›

  1. Step 1: Let's start with the basics. Where do you live? ...
  2. Step 2: Set your fundraising goal. ...
  3. Step 3: Create your GoFundMe account. ...
  4. Step 4: Add a cover photo or video. ...
  5. Step 5: Tell your story. ...
  6. Step 6: Complete your fundraiser. ...
  7. Step 7: Your fundraiser is ready. ...
  8. Step 8: Invite team members.
Aug 12, 2024

Can anyone set up a JustGiving page? ›

Create a page

It's simple – choose your charity, select whether you're taking part in an organised event, then start building your page. This is your time to shine. Share your story, add a photo and set a fundraising target. For a more detailed step-by-step guide, click here.

What makes a good fundraising website? ›

Creating and sharing engaging content is a powerful way to connect with donors and keep the momentum going throughout your campaign. It's all about using the content you produce—like blog posts, photos, and testimonials—to attract attention, educate your audience, and encourage donations.

How do I set up a donation event? ›

Key steps to plan a fundraising event
  1. Define your cause. ...
  2. Create a budget. ...
  3. Identify your target audience. ...
  4. Select an accessible venue. ...
  5. Improve how you collect out-of pocket expenses. ...
  6. Establish an engaging theme. ...
  7. Recruit aligned sponsors. ...
  8. Promote strategically.
Jan 4, 2024

How do I host a small fundraiser? ›

How to plan a fundraiser
  1. Choose a goal. Before you plan a fundraiser, choose a goal for your event by deciding how you plan to use the donations you receive. ...
  2. Consult with others. ...
  3. Set a goal and budget. ...
  4. Know your audience. ...
  5. Find a location. ...
  6. Set a schedule. ...
  7. Market your fundraiser. ...
  8. Partner with corporate sponsors.
Jul 2, 2024

What are the 4 P's of fundraising? ›

A GiveGab blog provided four P's of being a great fundraiser. Their P's are passion, persistence, philanthropy and people-focused. If you have passion, people will listen and believe. You must have enthusiasm and a desire for success plus passion for the causes you represent.

What is the 3 to 1 rule for fundraising? ›

When planning the year's activities, PTAs should use the 3-to-1 Rule: There should be at least three non-fundraising programs aimed at helping parents or children or advocating for school improvements, for every one fundraiser. Fundraising should involve as many members as possible and be fun.

What are the five strategies for fundraising success? ›

His five fundamental fundraising strategies are Growth, Involvement, Visibility, Efficiency, and Stability (GIVES), all of which link directly to specific and appropriate fundraising goals.

Do you pay taxes on GoFundMe? ›

“Donations made to personal GoFundMe fundraisers are generally considered to be 'personal gifts' which, for the most part, are not taxed as income in the United States,” GoFundMe explained. That said, according to the IRS, gifts of up to $18,000 from one individual to another can be made tax-free.

How to set up a donation account for someone? ›

Go to the bank where you want to open the donations account. Speak to a bank representative about opening an account to accept donations for charity. The representative will go over the options available, such as the different ways people can donate money to the account.

Top Articles
API Gravity Calculator
Freight Broker Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Freight Brokers In The US
7 C's of Communication | The Effective Communication Checklist
Tyson Employee Paperless
Winston Salem Nc Craigslist
Mopaga Game
Big Spring Skip The Games
EY – все про компанію - Happy Monday
Katie Boyle Dancer Biography
Scentsy Dashboard Log In
Large storage units
How Quickly Do I Lose My Bike Fitness?
Best Pawn Shops Near Me
Wordle auf Deutsch - Wordle mit Deutschen Wörtern Spielen
Housework 2 Jab
Truck Toppers For Sale Craigslist
Walmart Windshield Wiper Blades
Letter F Logos - 178+ Best Letter F Logo Ideas. Free Letter F Logo Maker. | 99designs
Bend Pets Craigslist
Simplify: r^4+r^3-7r^2-r+6=0 Tiger Algebra Solver
Violent Night Showtimes Near Amc Fashion Valley 18
Drift Boss 911
Pokemon Unbound Shiny Stone Location
Munis Self Service Brockton
Vernon Dursley To Harry Potter Nyt Crossword
Living Shard Calamity
How To Tighten Lug Nuts Properly (Torque Specs) | TireGrades
Kirk Franklin Mother Debra Jones Age
Bidrl.com Visalia
208000 Yen To Usd
Stephanie Bowe Downey Ca
Ringcentral Background
Top Songs On Octane 2022
Sam's Club Near Wisconsin Dells
Stafford Rotoworld
Why I’m Joining Flipboard
Keir Starmer looks to Italy on how to stop migrant boats
303-615-0055
Join MileSplit to get access to the latest news, films, and events!
Letter of Credit: What It Is, Examples, and How One Is Used
Great Clips Virginia Center Commons
Craigslist Farm And Garden Reading Pa
Craigslist Central Il
Luciane Buchanan Bio, Wiki, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Actress
Citroen | Skąd pobrać program do lexia diagbox?
Truck Works Dothan Alabama
Ucla Basketball Bruinzone
Beds From Rent-A-Center
Theater X Orange Heights Florida
Pronósticos Gulfstream Park Nicoletti
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6138

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.