How to fundraise for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a seminal event in a Jewish child’s life. As well as an opportunity to engage with their community and celebrate, it is a fantastic time to raise money for charity. Follow our guide to learn how to start your Bar or Bat Mitzvah fundraiser today.
How to start your Bar or Bat Mitzvah fundraiser
You can fundraise for almost every registered charity on GoFundMe in a few simple steps.
Simply click ‘start a fundraiser’, select ‘charity’ when asked ‘who are you fundraising for?’ and just search for your charity in the list that follows.
Type in your fundraising goal (remember this can be changed anytime) and the title and description for your fundraiser, and publish. Viola! You have a link that can be shared anywhere you like. And that’s all you need to do. All money will be automatically sent to the charity you’ve selected, alongside Gift Aid.
What is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a coming of age ritual for Jewish children. In more traditional communities, girls reach Bat Mitzvah at 12 and boys at 13. In reform communities this age tends to be 13 for everyone, and instead of using the gendered terms ‘Bar’ or “Bat’ Mitzvah the celebration is often referred to as a ‘B’nai Mitzvah’.
5 Bar and Bat Mitzvah fundraising tips
If you’re looking for tips on how to make the most of your fundraising, you’ve come to the right place.
Tell your story
Sara, who raised £2,000 for Chai Cancer Care and Camp Simcha, explains why she is fundraising and why it means so much to her. She is taking on a five-mile fundraising walk for the charities, and explains why it means so much to her: “Chai Cancer Care and Camp simcha have both been an immense support to my family and friends. Chai was a great support to my grandma and continues to support my family now, and very recently, Camp Simchah have also personally supported me”.
Start with the basics
Email your fundraiser to a few close friends and family to get your first donations before sharing it more widely.
Teams are great
Of our top 20 fundraisers for the last year 85% used our team product, which means they had more than one person helping manage and share their fundraiser. Get parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, guardians and friends to join your fundraising team and help raise more for charity
Sharing is caring
Don’t be afraid to share your fundraiser! This is a time where people will want to support you and celebrate your achievements. That means donating to your favourite charities (and giving you gifts).
Think outside the (Tzedakah) box
Fundraise on the night by including a QR code at your simcha to allow guests to scan and donate! You can even have a moment in the speeches where you prompt everyone to make a donation – or if you’re brave enough, make enough donations and skip a speech.
Start your Bar or Bat Mitzvah Fundraiser today
Many Mazels on reaching Bar or Bat Mitzvah age! Here at GoFundMe we see thousands of donations a year to funds for people just like you. Join our community and start a fundraiser today. It is safe, secure, and designed to help people and charities. What are you waiting for?