Success Spotlight: Real stories from real fundraisers

When Hurricane Helene struck, Annie’s Uncle JJ lost nearly everything–his car was destroyed, and his home became uninhabitable. Annie wanted to step up, but the level of support Uncle JJ needed was more than she could handle alone. Reflecting on the situation, Annie said, “I knew that we couldn’t carry this on our own, so for me, it was like, okay, well how do we collect help from others?” Driven by this realization, she took action, rallying her family and the wider community to make a difference. 

Start with your closest contacts

Annie began by creating a GoFundMe fundraiser and reached out to her immediate family for help. She sent the fundraiser link to family members in small groups–like her siblings and their spouses, her other aunts and uncles, and her grown cousins. “I sent all three of them [cousins] in one email or one text message,” Annie said, “And I think by doing that by unit kind of holds them a little bit more responsible, in a safe place, so they’re not likely to just ignore it and assume somebody else is going to contribute.” This personal approach made everyone feel connected and accountable. 

Along with asking for donations, Annie encouraged her family to share the fundraiser with their own networks, emphasizing the power of spreading the word. Annie remembers it this way, “I sent it to my siblings, and then I sent it to one person in another family unit and then she spread the word in that group, and then I sent it to another cousin from my uncle’s generation. She then sent it to all of her relatives, so it was really kind of a ripple-out effect.” 

Expand your reach

The family embraced the mission and shared the fundraiser widely on their social media platforms. Annie explained, “I asked my cousins and my siblings to just kind of put it out there on Instagram, on Facebook, kind of socialize the need. And that drew a lot of attention. I had friends and friends-of-friends who donated but don’t know my uncle at all, never met him. They did it because of my relationship with them, and they gave generously.” 

With each share, the message went further and further. In the end, about 80% of donations came from people who knew Uncle JJ and about 20% came from friends or family who wanted to help out. By encouraging others to share, the family amplified their impact beyond what they could have imagined. 

Update the community

Uncle JJ was loved by many, and people cared deeply about his recovery. To keep everyone informed, Annie used GoFundMe’s updates feature. She posted three updates sharing progress, ongoing needs, and heartfelt thanks. This kept supporters engaged and gave them a sense of how their contributions were making a difference. 

Impact beyond donations

The support also expanded beyond financial contributions. As word spread, a family member offered Uncle JJ a temporary place to stay–something Annie hadn’t even thought to ask for. Sharing the story helped uncover additional solutions and resources that went beyond the fundraiser’s original goals.

Through her efforts, Annie showed how one family can come together to create meaningful change for someone they love. By combining a personal touch, lots of sharing, and regular communication, they were able to get Uncle JJ back on his feet.

Max has always been a creative soul, with a lifelong passion for art that inspires everything he does. When an opportunity arose to transform a humble shack into a one-of-a-kind roadside attraction, Max was excited but unsure how to fund his vision. Drawing on his experience with a few small, prior GoFundMe fundraisers, he decided to ask his community for support once again–and the results were inspiring. 

Share your story and don’t be afraid of the details

Max understood that people connect with stories and want to know the “why” behind a project. He leaned into the power of details, sharing the day-to-day aspects of his life and creative process. “It’s all really normal to me, but everybody else is, like, fascinated,” Max said. “Share your world a little bit and open up, and people are gonna be, like, wow, that’s not my life, that’s something fascinating.”

By inviting people into his world through his updates, he made his campaign relatable and engaging, turning everyday moments into a compelling story. 

Keep it simple: Sharing doesn’t have to be hard

Max made sharing feel easy by documenting his work and life as he went. Whether snapping photos or taking quick videos, he made sharing part of his routine. This approach had two major benefits: 

1. It saved him time, allowing him to focus on his project.
2. It gave his followers an authentic glimpse into his journey, building trust and excitement for what he was creating.

By treating sharing as an extension of his work, Max was able to keep his community engaged without adding extra stress to his day. 

Make it real for donors

Max realized that big projects can sometimes feel overwhelming to supporters. To bridge the gap, he broke down his fundraising goals into smaller, concrete steps. 

For example, when he needed a nail gun to continue his work, he shared a specific weekend goal for raising funds. By explaining exactly how donations would be used in the short term, Max made it easy for donors to see the immediate impact of their contributions. 

Build connections through sharing

What surprised Max most about the process was the sense of community that grew around his project. “Everybody wants to be a part of something,” he shared. “Even if someone can only give a couple of bucks, it’s really cool.”

By consistently sharing updates and giving his supporters meaningful ways to help, Max made them feel like active participants in his journey. This connection turned his fundraising efforts into more than just a campaign–it became a collaborative experience. 

Max’s story is a great example of how sharing your vision authentically and breaking down your goals can inspire people to rally around your cause. With the right approach, a community can help turn even the most ambitious creative dreams into reality.

Dan’s passion for music began in childhood, and it wasn’t long before he realized its transformative power. Music gave him opportunities, joy, and a sense of purpose–things he wanted to share with others. What started as a personal mission turned into a lifelong commitment to help people through music. 

Before the internet made crowdfunding possible, Dan went door-to-door explaining his mission and gathering support. As his organization grew, he had a chance to gain support from the South African government. That experience taught him a critical lesson: The importance of building trust and accountability. When Dan began using GoFundMe to expand his project to Zimbabwe, he carried those same principles into his approach by combining transparency, connection, and community-building. 

Build trust through details

Dan believes donors deserve to know exactly how their contributions will be used. He explains, “It’s a huge amount of money, and they say ‘We’re giving you this money, how are you going to spend it?’” To foster trust, he shares detailed breakdowns of where donations will go. “Breaking it down is very important,” Dan adds. “People need to know how are you spending the money and where exactly it’s going…They trust you with their donations to do good.”

For example, Dan explains that a $300 donation will purchase six new doors for the music center building. Including these details not only shows respect for donors’ generosity but also helps them visualize the impact of their contributions. Once the funds are used, Dan provides updates, letting supporters know what was purchased and how it benefits the mission.

Building trust through personal connection 

Dan knows fundraising isn’t just about asking for money–it’s about building relationships. After each donation, he sends a personalized message to thank the donor and share the impact their support is making. This simple gesture shows gratitude and creates a sense of connection. 

But Dan doesn’t stop there. He emphasizes the importance of transparency and keeping donors informed, saying “When you finish, you need to come up with a report of, like, okay the window is done, the chairs will buy, and then you do a checklist so that they know, like …what are we going to do next.” By sharing these updates, Dan builds trust and encourages continued engagement. 

He also invites donors to help spread the word by sharing his fundraiser with their own networks or even inviting him to speak in their communities. These relationships don’t just sustain his fundraising efforts–they create lasting connections that help his mission grow. 

Building trust through community

Dan’s fundraising is an ongoing effort to sustain and expand his work. To engage his supporters, he created a unique community initiative: He asked donors to send photos of people who made a positive impact in their lives. He then displayed these photos in a public library exhibit, turning the fundraiser into a celebration of generosity and human connection. 

This effort transformed Dan’s fundraiser into more than a transaction; it became a community movement. By involving his supporters in a meaningful and creative way, Dan helped them feel like they were part of something bigger–a shared mission to spread opportunity and joy through music. 

Dan’s journey shows that successful fundraising is about more than raising money–it’s about building trust, fostering connections, and creating a sense of community. By being transparent, engaging with donors personally, and involving them in the mission, Dan has turned his fundraiser into a movement that not only supports his work but inspires others to join in. 

With his passion for music and his dedication to helping others, Dan is proving that when trust and community come together, the possibilities are endless.