Blog

Crowdfunding or any type of fundraising can be a bit daunting. Asking friends and family, acquaintances and strangers to donate, no matter how good and noble the cause can feel somewhat uncomfortable. 

One secret we can share that we see from most successful campaigns is how the campaign owner/recipient responds to donations. They say Thank You.  They let their givers know they appreciate the sacrifice and love behind the gift. 

There is a story in the Bible where Jesus gives a gift of healing 10 men that were outcast, suffering from their skin decaying on their body, 10 lepers.  They called out to Jesus as he was passing by and Jesus stopped and spoke the word, and healed ALL TEN!  Talk about life changing, From one minute to the next  the walking dead, to the restored. 

But what happens after? 

Of the ten lepers Jesus healed, however, only one came back, and of all the lepers, he wouldn't be anybody who could be expected to do it: I had heard this story many times but never notices the one who came back was a Samaritan. Not a Jew but the enemy of the Jews.  Yet in Luke it says: 
"And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned with a loud voice glorifying God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:14-16)

When you are truly thankful, and your life's action reflects that gratitude, it moves the very heart of God. It also moves the hearts of donors. 

To help we put together a list of ways to say Thank You to your donors: 

1. Use the  Audio message feature on your campaign to record a verbal, personal thank you each time someone gives. ( you can find this on your campaign dashboard on a computer (not mobile device) ) 

2. Send a Handwritten Note
This is one of the coolest things you can receive in our digital media age.  

3. Send a public shout out on social media 
Show your gratitude on Facebook, Twitter, or the platform your donors use most. A simple shout out on Facebook is a great way to shine a spotlight on your supporters and say thank you to donors. Learn how to write for different social media platforms to perfect your message.


4.  Send a private message or personal email.   In it, remember The donor is the hero. You are thanking them for their awesomeness. Make sure your thank you note is all about them. Not you and what you are doing. 

5. Share updates letting everyone know if it wasn't for your donors ( you can name them specifically) you wouldn't be doing what you are doing. 

6. Pay it forward. When your donor community has a cause they’re fundraising for, reciprocate by offering your help. 

7. Make sure you go through the recent donation section of your campaign page and "like" or 'love" each donation

8. Say thank you by phone call or in person. People love personal.  When you see the person make sure you let them know how much you appreciate their gift. If you know you wont see then soon give a quick call.  

How ever you say thank you, just make sure it comes from the bottom of your heart with sincerity. Remember each donation given was a sacrifice made by someone. 

 

Making sure you are thanking your Givers is a crucial part to keeping your crowdfunding crowd engaged in what you are doing and often will  be the key in prompting Givers to give repeat donations.  Here is a few ideas on creative ways to send a meaningful thank you:


1. Send a public shout out on social media 
Show your gratitude on Facebook, Twitter, or the platform your donors use most. A simple shoutout on Facebook is a great way to shine a spotlight on your supporters and say thank you to donors. Learn how to write for different social media platforms to perfect your message.

2. Make a Facebook Live shout out to each donor.

3  Make a custom GIF
https://giphy.com/create/gifmaker
A GIF brings pictures to life, and it can have a surprisingly large emotional impact. Create an animated, personalized GIF for your donors. Share it on social media with a simple thank-you message. You can create free custom GIFs at Giphy.

4. Change your Audio message on your campaign to a verbal, personal thank you each time someone gives. 

5. Write a cute or funny poem that expresses your thankfulness. 

6. Pay it forward
When your donor community has a cause they’re fundraising for, reciprocate by offering your help. Even if you can’t donate to their cause, you can still offer to volunteer, to help with their campaign, or to share their fundraiser with your social network.

7. Take a picture of yourself and how you felt when you saw the donation. Email it to your Giver.


 

Pray for your Mission:  Ask others to as well. God planted a seed in you to see a change take place. Ask Him to bless it. Money is no issue for God. Don’t make your campaign simply about how much money you can raise. Use your campaign to deepen your trust in God’s provision and to invite others into the life-changing work He’s doing! 

Share a Story, Not a Campaign: The more people connect to your story, the more likely they’ll give. Don’t just give the who, what and where. Make sure you invite people into the WHY. What difference can they make if they donate to your campaign? People are looking for a way to change the world. Invite them to be a part of something big. Write your story to engage those who don’t already know you. Use pictures and details that will compel others to want to be a part of your mission. 

Who is Your Crowd? Most of your crowd will be family and friends, co-workers, etc. Before you even launch your campaign, make a list of potential Givers. Include their email, Facebook, Twitter, phone numbers and any other contact points. Then when you go live, use this list often to share what’s happening with your campaign. Use all different forms of contact and reach out to people individually. Personally Invite 10-20 First-Day Givers. Crowds are more likely to follow what they see other people doing. If they see that you have early, excited Givers, they will be more likely to give to you too. 

Keep Your Target Goal Attainable: Yes, it’s easy to set a high goal. In reality, your Givers will be less likely to donate to a mission that is not likely to hit your goal. Here's the reality: On average, only 10-30% of your crowd will actually contribute to your project. They’ll give an average of $50. And you will need to contact them directly multiple times just to see that 10-30%. If you send out ONLY Facebook blasts, that number shrinks to between 1-5%. So, set your funding target based on how much you can realistically raise rather than simply choosing the amount you desire.

Share, Share, Share! Believe it or not, most people aren’t refusing to give because they don’t believe in you. Many people procrastinate. That's why we encourage you to share seven or more "asks". People want to help but they just need to be reminded. 
It’s important to promote your project as soon as it’s enabled. Then keep it up. Send encouraging messages to your crowd every few days and you will see results. Use email and direct Facebook messages to ask for donations. Use the Update tab to inform your followers on where you’re at and what’s happening with your mission. Ask them to continue spreading the word. 
________________________________________