When you're raising money for a cause close to your heart, it’s important to clearly and quickly communicate what you’re fundraising for and why it matters to you. Think of it like an elevator pitch: you only have a few moments to capture someone’s attention and help them understand why they should support.

In the world of social crowdfunding, compelling storytelling goes hand-in-hand with eye-catching visuals. Beautiful imagery can be just as powerful as your passion when it comes to inspiring people to take action. Then, all that's left is to share widely.

Here are seven tips for making your fundraiser on GoFundMe a success.

1. Creative title

When coming up with the right title for your fundraiser, it should be attention-grabbing, informative and descriptive. Your fundraiser title is important—it’s usually the first thing people see. The title of your fundraiser should make it clear what you are fundraising for, including names when applicable.

2. Descriptive story

Telling your organization’s story can be challenging, but we’ve found that the more descriptive and heartfelt your fundraiser, the stronger the connection it creates with your community and potential donors.

Successful fundraiser stories should be compelling, with a clear ask for how donations will positively impact your organization.

Whether you’re raising funds for a new HVAC system or additional programming or outreach funding, we want to hear about it and in no fewer than 400 words. And remember, don’t bury the lead: start strong and avoid overwhelming readers with too many details upfront.

3. Select high-quality photos and videos

The images you choose should naturally support and enhance the storytelling of your campaign. Whenever possible, use clear, high-resolution photos that are authentic to your cause. Generic stock images should be avoided.

Videos can also be a powerful addition—helping to bring your story to life and adding a personal touch, especially when shared on social media.

4. Share widely with your audience

High-performing campaigns start sharing their fundraisers early and often. Typically, the most momentum builds when the campaign is shared within the first 10 hours of launching.

Reaching out directly to the people closest to you is a great way to build early trust and traction with donors. Think about the supporters of your organization who would be excited to be part of that first wave of outreach.

Is Facebook the most accessible platform for your community, or does your organization engage more through email? Whatever the case, tailoring your outreach to the most responsive audience will help your fundraiser reach more people and have a greater impact.

Pro tip: Organizers who share their GoFundMe early and often are more likely to reach their goal. A GoFundMe that is shared 6-10 times in the first 3 days is twice as likely to reach its fundraising goal than one that is shared fewer times or more than 3 days after creation.

Social sharing is now even easier with a Meta partnership that enables seamless Instagram Story sharing, complete with a “Donate Now” button that links directly to your GoFundMe page. This makes it simple for supporters to spread the word and for potential donors to take action in just a few steps.

5. Post regular updates to your fundraiser

After you’ve built an engaged base of supporters, they’ll want to hear how things are going. Have you been able to start putting any of your plans into action? This is your opportunity to share updates: what progress has been made, what impact donations have had so far, and how much further you have to go to reach your goal.

While updating on major milestones are important, the little things matter too, and can help donors see the tangible impact of their contributions, and even decide if they’d like to donate again.

Our data shows that frequent text, photo, and video updates can help you raise 3x more. Considr using all your social media platform(s), such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, etc.

6. Thank your donors

Gratitude is the currency that keeps giving, so there’s no wrong time to thank your donors. In fact, we encourage you to express thanks whenever you feel moved to—even if your fundraising goal hasn’t been met yet.

GoFundMe makes it easy to show appreciation through the thank your donors feature on your fundraiser dashboard, allowing you to individually acknowledge each contribution.

Some people appreciate being thanked publicly, and your message of gratitude could even inspire others to give. You can also show appreciation through a social media post, a thoughtful email, or even a letter—whatever would feel most meaningful to you and your community. 

7. Utilize charitable funding resources

As a charitable organization, there are many ways to secure funding for your mission. Social fundraising can offer tools that go beyond simply collecting donations. GoFundMe partners with PayPal Giving Fund, which issues tax receipts to donors giving to campaigns supporting charities, allowing your charity to focus on storytelling and social sharing to make your campaign a success. By enrolling with PayPal Giving Fund you can easily access detailed donor reports, as well as receive funds quickly. It's just one more way to help you stay connected with your supporters, even after your fundraiser ends.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you know your organization and its needs better than anyone, and that’s the understanding that should shine through when starting your campaign. While all of these tips are important for setting your fundraiser up for success, the heart of your story matters most.

Donors are looking to connect with causes they care about— it’s up to us to help make that connection, and up to you to clearly and genuinely share your “why.”

Now that you have the tips and resources, start your fundraiser today and become one step closer to reaching your goal. GoFundMe is on hand to show you how it works and answer all your fundraising questions. We also have plenty of tips and ideas to help you make your fundraiser a success.

Additional Resources:
https://www.gofundme.com/en-ca/c/fundraising-tips
https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/mistakes-successful-fundraisers-avoid

Aisha Vernon supports diverse causes and campaign organizers across Canada through her work at GoFundMe. With a passion for community and a deep belief in the power of social fundraising, she helps connect people with the support they need, when they need it most.