The Complete Guide to Planning a Birthday Fundraiser

Person blowing out candles on a birthday cake
| 7 min read Fundraiser Promotion

A birthday fundraiser is an easy way to raise funds for a cause you care about instead of asking for usual gifts. It works by choosing an issue or nonprofit organization you’d like to raise money for, then asking friends and family members to forgo birthday gifts and donate to your fundraiser for charity instead. If you’d like to shake things up this year, this guide provides birthday fundraiser ideas and explains how to donate your birthday to charity so everyone can celebrate.

Start a birthday fundraiser

Best practices for starting a birthday day fundraiser

  1. Select a crowdfunding platform – To create a successful birthday fundraiser, start by using an online crowdfunding platform like GoFundMe, which allows for easy donation collection, customization, and sharing. 
  2. Choose a charity – The next step is to choose a charity close to your heart and research their work to share with potential donors. 
  3. Set a goal and deadline – Setting a clear and realistic fundraising goal is crucial, as it provides direction, motivates donors, and helps measure the success of your birthday fundraiser. Set your birthday as the fundraising deadline to motivate quick donations and begin the fundraiser a few weeks in advance. 

How to pick a platform and what to look for

When choosing a crowdfunding platform for a birthday fundraiser there are a couple of things to consider.

  1. Consider factors such as how easy the platform is to use – Look for platforms that offer user-friendly interfaces and straightforward setup processes, such as GoFundMe
  2. Compare platform fees – Ensure the platform has a transparent fee structure, including any processing fees deducted from donations. On GoFundMe it is completely free to create a fundraiser but we charge a processing fee of 1.9% 20 cent from donations.
  3. Evaluate how easy it is to deliver your funds to your charity – Some platforms may ask you to withdraw your funds yourself and it will be up to you to get the funds to your chosen charity. On GoFundMe we take care of that part for you. All the funds you raise on your fundraiser will be delivered directly to the charity without ever hitting your bank account.
  4. Evaluate the platform’s reach – Think about how well known the platform is and the sharing capabilities on social media to maximize visibility. 
  5. Consider how the platform can help elevate your fundraiser – Does the platform include options to include multimedia content, and tools for donor communication and updates? These factors can enhance your fundraiser’s success.

6 tips on how to make your birthday fundraiser a success

1. Draw others into your story

A birthday or other special date creates a natural storytelling opportunity, and telling your fundraiser story is a crucial part of crowdfunding. Your story should answer basic questions any reader would have: who, what, where, when, why, and how. You’ll also want to give your fundraiser a catchy fundraiser title to grab readers’ attention. If you have decided to raise money for a specific charity or nonprofit, explain to potential donors why the organization you’ve chosen is so important to you. Consider this an opportunity to educate your readers about the charity or cause you are fundraising for.

Also, make sure to answer these questions in your fundraiser story:

  • What will the funds be used for?
  • How are you connected to the cause?
  • Why is the charity or cause special to you?
  • When it comes to fundraising, the why is particularly important—why does the recipient or organization need this donation?

Don’t forget, adding fundraiser images and videos can also help readers engage with your story and want to learn more.

2. Use social media to spread your message

To get the most from your birthday fundraiser, take advantage of all the tools that social media offers. If you’re consistent about sharing your fundraiser, you’ll be able to achieve successful social media fundraising.

Timing is everything

When it comes to posting your birthday fundraiser on social media, it is important to get the timing right. While it is important to post your fundraiser on the day of your birthday, it is also a good idea to post it ahead of time to give people time to contribute. Generally, posting it a week before your birthday allows enough time for people to see the fundraiser and contribute, creating a sense of anticipation and giving people ample time to participate. In terms of specific times, research suggests that weekdays, especially Tuesdays through Thursdays, tend to have higher engagement rates. Posting in the morning between 9 AM and 11 AM, or in the early evening around 7 PM to 9 PM, can maximize visibility, as these are peak times when people are most likely to check their social media feeds. 

For specific social media fundraising ideas, see these blog posts:

3. How to ask for donations

When asking people for donations, it is really important to be clear about why you are fundraising and where the funds are going. Start by clearly articulating the cause and the impact their contribution will have.

Ask for donations instead of gifts

Be sure to make it clear that you would prefer for people to donate to your fundraiser instead of buying you a gift. This is a great way to encourage donations as people who were already thinking about getting your something will be likely to donate instead.

Personal touch

Go the extra mile and personalize your message asking for a donation. Messaging someone on Whatsapp? Use their name when addressing them and show genuine appreciation for their potential support.

Be specific

People are often more likely to donate if you ask for a specific donation amount. Why not ask everyone to give up their daily latte for your birthday and instead donate $5 to your cause? This type of very specific request enables people to donate a reasonable amount without having to overthink the process.

Make it easy

Make it easy for people to donate by providing clear instructions and multiple convenient methods for giving. 

Say ‘thank you’

Finally, make sure you remember to say thank you to your donors and emphasize the difference their donation makes to your fundraising efforts.

4. Plan a birthday party that doubles as a fundraising event

Who doesn’t love a birthday party? And when it’s also for a good cause or nonprofit organization, there’s more reason to celebrate. A birthday party fundraiser event serves a few purposes—they help you raise money for your cause, bring communities together for a common purpose, and spread awareness of your cause in unique ways. Meeting with your friends and family face-to-face in a casual environment also gives you an opportunity to ask for support in a low-pressure way.

For ideas and inspiration, see our blog post on fundraising event ideas.

5. Don’t forget to share offline

To raise as much as possible, you’ll want to take your sharing strategy beyond Facebook messages and posts. Fundraising without social media can mean writing personal emails to your contacts, sending text messages, or talking to people face-to-face about your cause.

6. Take advantage of fundraising resources

If these tips aren’t enough and you need some extra support as you plan your birthday fundraiser, we’ve got top fundraising tips to help:

Multiply your impact by starting a birthday fundraiser

Creating a birthday fundraiser is a special opportunity to bring people together for the purpose of reaching a common goal. What better way to unite people than with a birthday or other special date? GoFundMe makes it easy to reach your goals faster with our easy fundraising platform and we offer ideas to help make your fundraiser a success. Our Customer Care team is always ready to help you every step of the way and answer any questions you may have. Start a fundraiser now and get the party started.

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Written by GoFundMe