Whether you’re undergoing cancer treatment or you’d like to help someone who is, crowdfunding is a simple way for people to quickly raise money to pay medical bills. Online fundraising can also help you or loved ones find financial and emotional support from community members. The below cancer fundraising tips can help you find financial relief so you can focus on your health.
Creating and managing a fundraiser takes time and energy. In fact, you will receive the most support by sharing your fundraiser frequently with your community. We know it can be a challenge to focus on other tasks while in treatment—so this is when a fundraising team comes into play.
A trusted friend or family member can take point on managing your fundraiser and assembling a fundraising team that can help spread the word about your cause. To keep everyone organized, your crew of supporters can also help you create a fundraising plan.
While some financial help for cancer patients comes from the government and organizations, it’s rarely enough to cover all expenses. It can be tough to ask for help, but listing all of your expenses will give your donors an understanding of your financial situation and why you’ve chosen your fundraising goal. Don’t forget to account for any out of pocket medical expenses when setting your fundraising goal.
Your written fundraiser story is critical to fundraising success. It allows potential supporters to connect with you and get to know your history. People love it when you’re clear and honest, so try to answer these questions when crafting your story:
If you aren’t sure now to get started, read our blog post “Writing Your Fundraiser Story: A Comprehensive Guide.” If you aren’t able to work on this yourself, a friend or family member may be able to help you put your thoughts into writing.
Asking for financial support isn’t always easy, but remember that your friends and family members want to help you during this time. One of the best, low-pressure ways to reach out to your network is through a fundraising letter. You can encourage people to visit your fundraiser by sharing a small portion of your story in your email, then telling them to “click my fundraiser link to read more and find out how to help.”
Besides asking for financial support, consider asking your friends and family to help in other ways within your fundraiser description. For instance, someone may be able to help you run errands or drop off weekly meals.
If you need a hand coming up with the right words, try one of our fundraising email templates that you can personalize.
Sharing any news or progress on your fundraiser will keep supporters engaged and encourage continued support. Share the highs and lows of treatment or recovery in your fundraiser updates. Your supporters want to know what you’re going through, whether it’s good or challenging. If posting updates is too overwhelming during treatment, you can always ask a friend or family member to help you.
Andrew and Lela met in college. They fell in love, traveled the world, and five years later bought a home together. But their lives changed when Lela was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bowel cancer. The weekly $2,0000 immunotherapy treatments were not covered by their insurance plan, so Andrew turned to his friends and family through GoFundMe. He was able to raise nearly $30,000 to help Lela pay for treatments.
Richard’s world was turned upside down when he saw his doctor for a sinus infection and found out he had lymphoma. Richard and his family weren’t financially prepared for the cancer treatment costs they’d encounter at every turn, and soon realized they needed extra help. After launching a fundraiser on GoFundMe, they were able to raise over $30,000 from friends, family, and total strangers.
Remember that you’re not alone on this journey. Your network wants to help, and GoFundMe gives them the tools to rally around you and offer financial support. We provide fundraising so you can meet your fundraising goals faster, and our Customer Care team is available 24/7 to lend an extra hand.
More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people like you