Why the Right Images for your Fundraiser are the Key to Success

A picture is worth a thousand words, and it can make or break your fundraiser. Adding compelling fundraising images to your fundraiser page is one of the best ways to become a crowdfunding success story. Fundraising appeals with at least five photos raise more than those with just one. Photos can tell your story, elicit compassion and inspire action.

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Use high-quality images

Quality matters. Online users have a short attention span, so you only have a few seconds to grab their attention and keep it. Great photos are your key to success.

Clear, focused and well-lit pictures help build empathy. Make sure your cover shot clearly shows your beneficiary.
Your featured cover image should capture the viewer’s attention and give an idea of what your story is about.
The recommended main image size is 600 pixels wide by 400 pixels tall.

Post plenty of pictures  

Fundraisers with at least five photos raise more than those with just one. The bottom line is that donors love looking at lots of pictures!

Choose the best photo for your cover image and then add several more to the gallery. Don’t post duplicate images – show many different aspects of your cause.
Use photos to tell your story. Think of it as a slideshow about your cause and include a beginning, middle and end.
The more beautiful and varied your images are, the more people will want to share them on social media. This will drive more donations to your cause.

Mikayla Rydzeski in Hurst, Texas on June 29, 2018. (Cooper Neill)

Update as often as possible

Sharing updates is a great way to inspire people to donate as your fundraiser gets noticed. Refresh your page with new images to keep your fundraiser engaging.

Start with a few images and add new ones with each update. Include the highest-quality photos in your gallery.
Take pictures during fundraising events and add pictures taken by your supporters (with their permission).
Continue posting images to social media and encourage others to share them too.

Some fundraiser photo don’ts

There are a few types of photos that we don’t recommend you share on your fundraiser.

Make sure that your photos are family-friendly. Be sure that your photos are appropriate for all ages and are compliant with our Terms & Conditions.
Don’t use photos that you don’t own. If you’d like to use photos, videos or music that you don’t own, you must get permission first. While it’s best to use your own photos, you can have a look at Flickr’s Creative Commons database for high-quality stock photos.

Picturing crowdfunding success

Along with photos, videos can play a key role in fundraising – they’re just as powerful, if not more so, than images. For other great fundraising tips, visit our main fundraising tips page. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding site with a 0% platform fee for organizers; if you haven’t already started, launch a fundraiser today.