Crowdfunding has revolutionized the way people fight cancer. Through crowdfunding, it’s simple for people to quickly raise money to pay medical bills and find both financial and emotional support from their community. These cancer fundraising tips can help you find financial relief so you can focus on your health.
Creating and managing a fundraiser takes time and energy. In fact, you will receive the most support by sharing your fundraiser frequently and creatively with your community. We know it can be a challenge to focus on other tasks while in treatment—so this is when a fundraising team comes into play.
A trusted friend or family member can take point on managing your fundraiser and assembling a fundraising team that can help spread the word about your cause. To keep everyone organized, your crew of supporters can also help you create a fundraising plan.
While some financial help for cancer patients comes from the government and organizations, it’s rarely enough to cover all expenses. It can be tough to ask for help, but listing all of your expenses will give your donors an understanding of your financial situation and why you’ve chosen your fundraising goal. Don’t forget to account for any out of pocket medical expenses when setting your fundraising goal.
Your written fundraiser story is critical to fundraising success. It allows potential supporters to connect with you and get to know your history. People love it when you’re clear and honest, so try to answer these questions when crafting your story:
If you’re feeling creative, why not come up with a catchy hashtag to use in your fundraiser? A hashtag makes it easy for your supporters to follow your story on social media.
Asking for financial support isn’t always easy, but remember that your friends and family members want to help. One of the best, low-pressure ways to reach out to your network is through a fundraising letter. You can encourage people to visit your fundraiser by sharing a small portion of your story in your email, then telling them to “click my fundraiser link to read more and find out how to help.”
Besides asking for financial support, consider asking your friends and family to help in other ways within your fundraiser description. For instance, someone may be able to help you run errands or drop off weekly meals.
If you need a hand coming up with the right words, try one of our fundraising email templates that you can personalize.
Sharing any news or progress on your fundraiser will keep supporters engaged and encourage continued support. Share the highs and lows of treatment or recovery in your fundraiser updates. Your supporters want to know what you’re going through, whether it’s good or challenging. Feel to get creative with your update messages using videos or images. Having an event? Try using one of our fundraising ideas for cancer patients.
Rob is well known in the West Kootenay and in the Nelson sports community as hockey coach and metal worker. Rob was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and the community of Nelson and his sports family raised over $40,000 for his treatments.
In February 2017 at age 12, Jacob DeForge was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Since that day, the DeForge family world had been forever changed. After exhausting treatment options and years of gruelling chemotherapy, Jacob was accepted into a trial study at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Nearly $50,000 has been raised to support Jacob as he continues to fight.
Looking for more inspiration? See how even more people have used cancer fundraising to relieve their financial burdens.
Remember that you’re not alone on this journey. Your network wants to help, and GoFundMe gives them the tools to rally around you and offer financial support. We provide fundraising so you can meet your fundraising goals faster, and our Customer Care team is available 24/7 to lend an extra hand. Sign up today to begin fundraising.