Raise your $350 Community Contribution in no time.
14 PEOPLE X $25 = $350
MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR OWN PAGE. Other people are more likely to donate to your page when they see that someone has already contributed. Donating some of your own money also demonstrates to potential supporters that you are serious about helping the cause.
PERSONALIZE YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE. Add your own text, pictures, or video. Remember, your potential donors will be interested in the cause but they are primarily interested in you. Make sure you tell them why you are hiking Pico Duarte for clean water and sanitation.
INDIVIDUALLY EMAIL 5-10 OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS & FAMILY. Ask them for donations first. Getting your inner circle to donate to your page will help you build up some momentum. It's also easier to start with people you are comfortable with.
Think about your fundraising strategy like peeling an onion from the inside out. The best fundraisers start by asking their closest contacts first (the core) and progressively working out word to more distant contacts (the outer skin).
STEP 1 - EMAIL #1: Send to 5-10 very close contacts (family and your closest friend or two).
STEP 2 - EMAIL #2: Send to 10-15 close contacts (your entire circle of good friends).
STEP 3 - EMAIL #3: Send to as many other contacts you feel comfortable sending a message to (co-workers, friends of friends, distant relatives, your entire address book, etc.).
STEP 4 - SOCIAL MEDIA: Promote via Social Media to any one who will listen.
There is no perfect formula for writing an email asking family and friends for donations,
but here are some best practices to guide you.
WRITING A GENERAL EMAIL
Start by explaining your connection to BLUE Missions or why you were called to join us on the Pico Duarte Trek. Why is it important to you?
In a sentence or two explain the work of BLUE Missions to conquer the water and sanitation crisis. This helps potential supporters understand where their money is going and what it would be used to accomplish. Don't forget to mention that 100% of all donations go directly to the field to fund water and sanitation projects.
Be clear and make a direct ask for financial support.
Include a link to your fundraising page.
Thank them for their time and support.
Scroll down for Sample Email & Texts!
*Always remember, when you are writing to your contacts, just be yourself. If something feels forced or inauthentic, don't say it.
WRITING TO YOUR CLOSEST CONTACTS
You know your closest contacts better than anyone does. Don't feel like you have to stick to a pre-defined formula.
If a one line message is going to work, go ahead and do that. If a longer personal message will work best, do that.
Just make sure to include a direct request for support and a link to your fundraising page at the end of your message.
Start fundraising through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter after you've sent out your initial batch of emails.
GET YOUR TAG ON. Start on Facebook by tagging those who have already donated and thanking them for their donations. When you tag someone your post gets shared in your activity feed and the other person's activity feed too. This also sets the frame that people are already donating to your page (remember success breeds success).
SET INTERNAL GOALS. $50 by week one, $100 by week two, etc. Use your social media accounts to update followers on your progress towards each goal and ask for people to help you reach your weekly goal.
DON'T MAKE EVERY POST AN ASK. Share inspiring news stories or other positive anecdotes about BLUE Missions as well.
MAKE SURE TO CHANGE THE LINK IN YOUR BIO. Your fundraising page comes with it's unique link. Make sure to change the link in your bio so that when someone clicks on it, they go directly to your page.
By setting internal goals you accomplish two things. First, you create more urgency when you ask friends and family for support. And second, you give yourself a built-in reason to follow up.
USE GOALS AS A FOLLOW UP TOOL
Reach back out to non-responders when you're approaching one of your internal goals. Remember, people can easily miss or skip your initial email.
And of course, include progress updates in your follow up messages.
GIVE THEM GOOD CONTENT
Consider including any inspiring stories or personal anecdotes you have about BLUE Missions.
Or share related events, pictures, or posts from BLUE Missions social media.
SAMPLE EMAIL
Dear ________,
We are so lucky to not worry about where we will take our next drink of water from. Most of us have several faucets in our homes connecting us to clean water. 663 million people worldwide do not have this luxury and struggle to access safe drinking water on a daily basis.
I am taking action to provide clean water and sanitation for families in the Dominican Republic by fundraising for the construction of aqueducts and latrines through BLUE Missions. In November, I will be hiking 27.6 miles up the tallest peak in the Caribbean for clean water and sanitation projects. With just $25 you can provide access to clean water for one person. 100% of your donation will go directly to project costs. Please help me achieve my goal by donating whatever you can to my campaign. Let's make an impact together!
Donate to my campaign here: (INSERT CAMPAIGN URL)
Find more info about the work of BLUE Missions at www.bluemissions.org.
Thank you,
________
SAMPLE TEXT
Hi friend (:
In November/January I will be climbing 27.6 miles up Pico Duarte in the Dominican Republic to raise money for clean water and sanitation projects. 663 million people around the world do not have access to clean water or sanitation. Just a $25 donation can provide one individual access to clean water. 100% of all donations made on my fundraising page go directly to fund water and sanitation projects for BLUE Missions. Please help me reach my goal to provide 10+ individuals with access to clean water. Let's make an impact together!
Add your fundraising page URL at the bottom!
SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Facebook Posts:
We've never worried about where our next drink of clean water will come from. For 663 million people around the world, collecting drinking water is a daily struggle. I will be climbing the tallest peak in the Caribbean to raise money for clean water and sanitation projects. A $25 donation today is enough to provide one individual clean water. 100% of all donations go directly to the field. Click on the link below to donate!
(Insert your fundraising page URL here)
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PRO TIP: Tag your friends and family that you want to see your post. You can also include the link to the Pico Duarte Trek Video (see below).
Instagram Posts:
In November, I am challenging myself to climb 27.6 miles up the tallest peak in the Caribbean for the 663 million people around the world who do not have access to clean water. Help me make an impact by donating to fund water and sanitation projects in the Dominican Republic! $25 is enough to provide water or sanitation to one individual. Link in bio!