Need to Raise Money Quickly? Try These Fast Fundraising Ideas

Need help getting your fundraising project off the ground in a no time? Or are you simply looking for a few inspiring ideas to help you reach your fundraising goals or just inspire more donations?

One of the fastest ways to raise money is to appeal and inspire a sense of compassion and urgency in potential donors about your situation, through your story. These eight fast fundraising ideas below will point you in the right direction and help you take your fundraising up a notch.

Eight Quick and Easy Fundraising Ideas

1. Focus more on the ‘why’

Every fundraiser story should answer five important questions: who, where, what, when, and why. Focusing on the ‘why’ is especially imperative. If the reason for your fundraiser isn’t clear or well understood, potential donors will often assume you have other options or plans.

Try answering these questions when writing your fundraiser story:

• Why is it pertinent that you raise money fast for your cause?
• What will you achieve if you meet your fundraising goals?
• Why is it important for you to raise this money right now?

2. Consider Your Individual Expenses

Having a list of expenses tells potential donors exactly what you need and why you need it, the way that you need it—and that can help them understand more clearly the challenge you’re facing. In your fundraiser story, include an itemized list of the expenses you’re raising money for. For example, if you’re raising funds for a medical procedure, list the cost of the procedure itself along with other expenses you’ll incur, like transportation, medication, rehab, lost income, childcare, and copays.

Potential donors will quickly see exactly why you’ve chosen your fundraising goals. Another benefit of doing this is that it helps your network of supporters know how much of a difference they can make by donating.

3. Reach Out To Your Inner Circles First

In order to achieve a significant impact, try sharing your fundraiser with your close friends and family before you share it with the general public. This is because potential donors who don’t know you well are less likely to make a donation if they arrive at your fundraiser page and don’t see many donations. So, sharing your fundraiser with your family and close friends first helps you build up donations before sharing it more widely with others.

4. Add Special Dates (Deadline) Within the Fundraiser

Adding special dates to your fundraiser is just one of many quick fundraising ideas that can spark interest in others. Do any of the numbers between 1 and 31 have a symbolic connection to your fundraiser? Perhaps the age of the beneficiary? an anniversary or birthday? Mark that date on your calendar and make a special fundraising push on that day. For example, ask everyone to give N15 on the 15th of the month and explain why.

5. Post Updates Showing How You’re Using The Funds

Want to make your donors feel appreciated and even increase donor retention? Then do not underestimate the power of regular updates. Posting regular updates creates an opportunity to bring potential donors into your story as it continues to unfold. Each time you thank supporters or include them in your updates, other potential donors will see how they might be involved in your story.

Also, posting of updates shows potential donors how you’re spending donations and how they’re helping, and that may just inspire them to give again or to share your fundraiser with a friend.

6. Reach out to Different Types of Donors

Once you’ve shared your fundraiser with close friends and family members, you might be wondering how to ask for donations from potential donors you’re not familiar with. If you feel a little shy or awkward about asking for financial support, check out these blog posts which offers tips on the most effective ways to reach out to everyone from close friends to strangers:

• How to Get Donations From These Five Types of Donors
• Use These Fundraising Email Templates to Reach Your Goal Faster

7. Get Creative with How You Share Your Fundraiser

When thinking about sharing your fundraiser, Facebook is probably the first thing that comes to mind. While Facebook is a useful tool, there are many other ways and platforms to spread the word about your cause. If you still aren’t sure how to raise money by sharing your fundraiser, these are a few ideas:

• Raising funds online without social media allows you to reach out to potential donors in many creative ways. You can send your fundraiser link to potential donors via text, email, or by word-of-mouth.
• Take advantage of social media platforms like Twitter. See our blog post, How to Fundraise on Twitter to Get More Donations.
• Create a hashtag for your fundraiser so others can easily follow your story.
• Read our blog post, 25 Fundraiser Sharing Tips to Increase Donations

8. Share your fundraising project relentlessly and repeatedly

When it comes to using social media platforms or any means in sharing your campaign and project, be ruthless and relentless. Start from your family members, friends, loved ones, relatives, colleagues, and then go public. Share your campaign as often as possible using the tools we have provided to remind your potential donors and network. Often people tend to forget they had a commitment to make a donation; however, by reminding them, you are helping them take action. 

You may start the most beautiful fundraising project, with the all-inspiring story, but if you did not take your time to share and create awareness, you would not necessarily have the desired result. 

Share, share, and share.

Ready to start online fundraising?