The Only Medical Crowdfunding Guide You’ll Need
There’s no price you can put on health, right? If you are wrestling with how to pay medical bills, you are not alone. Americans collectively owe at least $220 billion in medical debt, with approximately 14 million of them owing more than $1,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
And 41 percent of American adults have been hit by medical debt, says the Commonwealth Fund. The average cost of care continues to climb, creating a massive financial burden for individuals and families. There are some ways to help manage this burden, through negotiating your medical bill, obtaining low-interest loans, and qualifying for charity care and forgiveness programs. This guide from National Debt Relief outlines several strategies.
While some turn to loans or forgiveness programs, many have found that their close friends and family members are eager to support them. And crowdfunding is a quick and simple way to find emergency financial assistance for themselves or others.
If you aren’t sure how to raise money for medical expenses, this medical crowdfunding guide breaks down everything you need to know about raising funds, offering the steps, tools, and tips to run a successful medical crowdfunding fundraiser.
Why crowdfund for medical expenses?
When confronted with a sudden medical condition, people frequently worry about how they will pay for medical costs and how they will stay out of medical bankruptcy. People use medical fundraising to raise money for a wide variety of medical-related expenses, from mental health services to cancer treatment and IVF treatments, to surgery costs, and everything in between. Crowdfunding can relieve some of the financial burden and allow you to concentrate on healing.
- Crowdfunding fundraisers help spread your story among your family, friends, their friends, and even strangers who are potential donors looking to support you during a difficult time.
- When you don’t know how to get financial help for out-of-pocket medical expenses, a strong crowdfunding fundraiser page makes it simple. Suggesting a donation amount to help with your medical needs is good practice.
- Crowdfunding can help spread awareness about certain medical conditions and the healthcare system. Every shared post can spark a larger conversation.
Seven best practices for successful medical crowdfunding
If you’re new to the world of online fundraising, you might not know how to fundraise for medical bills. While the following tips will assist in building a compelling fundraiser, the most critical step is just getting started.
1. Ask a friend or family member to help write your story
Asking for help takes pressure off the patient, who should be focused on healing, not raising money. You may find that someone else can often tell your personal story better than you. It’s helpful to have an outsider’s view of your medical emergency when it comes time to write your fundraiser story.
2. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable
Your fundraising success often depends on how clearly you explain your situation. Share what happened, how it’s affected you, and why you need help. The better people can understand what’s actually going on with your medical status, the more likely they are to donate to the cause. A clever fundraiser title can be another way to immediately attract people’s attention and make them want to read more about why you need financial help. Be clear about your fundraising goal, and be transparent about how the funds will go towards medical treatment.
3. Use powerful visuals
When it comes to adding visual elements to your story, photos are powerful fundraising tools and can take your fundraiser to the next level. Posting pictures of ourselves when experiencing such a difficult time can be hard, but sometimes photos will draw folks in and give them a chance to empathize with your story.
Fundraisers that include multiple photographs also end up raising significantly more than fundraisers that include just one. You can add photos of your loved one or of medical bills to give people a full understanding of your predicament, but make sure that any information you do not wish to have shared is blocked out or removed.
4. Share on social media
Social media is by far the best way to reach more people. Invite friends, colleagues, and backers to promote your fundraising page to widen your audience. Each share increases the number of people who might donate.
Keep your post short and include a link to the fundraiser. You can also reshare posts with updates, milestones, or thank-yous.
5. Share beyond social media
Not everyone is online all the time. Connect with other networks via in-person outreach, texts, emails, or direct mail. This is made easier with templates and pre-written messages. If you belong to a nonprofit or are part of a support group, you may want to check if they would be able to assist in promoting your fundraiser.
Fundraising without social media can extend your reach in different ways. If you’re having trouble finding the words to ask for financial help, fundraising email templates provide a lot of ideas and help you get started.
For more tips on getting the word out, take a look at our blog post 20 Fundraiser Sharing Tips to Increase Donations.
6. Keep everyone in the loop
Share frequent updates as you achieve important milestones. Once you start getting donations, your supporters will want to know how you’re doing. Have their donations been helpful? Are the medical treatments going well? You can answer these questions through updates on your crowdfunding platform.
You can also communicate progress updates, roadblocks, and words of thanks that will keep your supporters connected to your journey. This is particularly useful for peer-to-peer fundraisers that have others fundraising for you. Not sure the best way to write a compelling update? Read our blog post How to Write a Fundraiser Update.
7. Show your gratitude
This can seem trivial, but thanking your potential donors is among the most important things that you can do in fundraising because it makes people feel appreciated. You can thank your donors by posting a mass update to the fundraiser, or even write them individual donation thank-you letters, which can have more of an impact. Gratitude doesn’t have to end at letters and emails, though. Take a look at our blog post 21 Affordable Ways to Say Thank You to Donors for more ideas.
Choosing the right fundraising platform
Look for crowdfunding platforms that offer:
- A clear donation amount breakdown
- Secure payment processing
- Support resources and additional resources
- Templates and tools for promotion
Also, consider your network. If you are affiliated with a nonprofit group or a start-up, consider partnering with support groups or healthcare providers in order to reach more people.
Start raising funds for medical expenses today
In the blink of an eye, anyone can be touched by an unexpected accident or devastating illness. And medical emergencies are made worse when they become a financial crisis. With crowdfunding through GoFundMe, you can quickly receive the support you need to deal with the challenges of a sudden illness or accident. Our fundraising model and best-in-class customer care agents are just two reasons why GoFundMe is the leader in online fundraising.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to start your medical crowdfunding journey. Gather your community, write your story, and begin raising the funds you need.