7 Ways to Get Back on Track When Your Fundraiser Stalls
When a crowdfunding fundraiser is launched, generally there’s an immediate interest, which can lead to a flurry of donations. But sometimes after a few weeks or even days, these donations may stop and the fundraiser may suddenly come to a halt. The longer your fundraiser stalls, the harder it may be to create momentum again. To keep this from happening, it’s important to find ways to maintain the momentum during your fundraiser and keep people engaged. This way, not only do you have a strong start to your fundraiser, but you’ll have a strong finish and a better chance of reaching your goal.
7 great tips to keep the fundraiser momentum going
1. Add new photos and videos
Adding photos and videos to your fundraiser is a vital way to visually connect with your supporters. Adding new high-quality photos and videos keeps your fundraiser up to date and will help to prevent it from stalling and losing momentum. This even includes updating your main fundraiser image if it needs a refresh. For further tips on the importance of incorporating great visuals into your fundraiser, read our image fundraising tips and video fundraising tips. Additionally, check out GoFundMe’s YouTube video on using videos for your fundraiser.
2. Share your fundraiser frequently
A large part of your fundraiser’s success will come from the number of times that it’s shared on social media channels. Using networks such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Nextdoor, and WhatsApp will help your fundraiser stay relevant and gain the maximum amount of exposure. Don’t just share your fundraiser once and then expect that to be enough—continue to share it multiple times per week and encourage your friends and family members to share it within their networks, too.
If you’re worried about spamming your community by posting about your fundraiser daily or every other day, don’t fret. Posting this often is a big key to keeping momentum going since social media algorithms don’t show posts to everyone in your feed and donors might need a friendly reminder about your fundraiser if they saw a post at a time when they weren’t able to donate.
3. Take advantage of group forums or similar interest groups
Aside from sharing your fundraiser with your immediate circle, seek out group forums or similar interest groups to help keep your fundraiser going. Try to think about the communities you belong to. There may be online communities that are specifically related to your cause that might be interested in supporting you. Some examples of these groups include cancer support communities, organizations that celebrate specific dog breeds, and organizations for families with special needs.
4. Update your fundraiser often
Posting fundraiser updates to your fundraiser will help it stay relevant, grab attention from newcomers, and compel people to feel compassionate about your cause. Adding updates also helps to communicate the progress of your fundraiser when you reach certain milestones, and you can use the opportunity to ask for donations so that people can still help your fundraiser reach its goal. And remember, even if your GoFundMe fundraiser doesn’t reach its goal, you will still keep each and every donation you receive.
Furthermore, make sure that every time you post an update to your fundraiser, you’re also posting an update on your social media channels so your network can see the latest news as well. Including photos or videos in your fundraiser updates also gives your supporters visuals of your progress so far.
5. Stay active offline
Don’t forget to promote your fundraiser offline, too. Make cards or flyers to pass out to friends and family or when you’re out and about, and keep a collection box in your office and other local businesses that will allow it. Hosting offline fundraising events is another great way to rally support and donations for your cause. During events, contributions can easily be made to your online fundraiser via QR code flyers that link to your fundraiser when scanned. Our fundraising ideas page offers a wealth of great offline initiatives to complement your online fundraiser.
6. Look at other fundraisers for inspiration
Research similar fundraisers and get a feel for what actions they took when their fundraiser stalled or was in a slump. You can also look at examples of successful fundraisers to see what techniques they used to maintain momentum and raise donations, such as how often they update their fundraiser and share it on social media. Taking inspiration from an example of a successful fundraiser can be a great model for new ideas to boost your fundraiser donations. Before or after starting a fundraiser on GoFundMe, check out various examples of fundraisers, resources, fundraising FAQs, and more for additional inspiration and information.
7. Find a champion for your cause
Last but not least, another thing you can do when your fundraiser stalls is find someone who understands your cause to be a champion for you. Make sure you choose someone who has the time and ability to share your fundraiser with their networks. Having a champion is beneficial because not only will they be able to provide emotional support, but it also helps build confidence and trust in your fundraiser.
Increase donations to your cause today
If you’re ready to crowdfund for a personal or charitable cause, start your fundraiser and raise money today. Before you begin, take a look at how GoFundMe works and get answers to common fundraising questions. Moreover, check out the mistakes successful fundraisers avoid, learn how to write a compelling fundraiser story, and discover our top fundraising tips to help you reach your goals. With GoFundMe, our team is here to help you every step of the way.