Start Fundraising
Follow our step-by-step guide.
Starting a fundraising campaign can be quick, easy, and, most importantly, impactful by following the steps below.
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Customize your fundraising page.
Let people know they're in the right place.
Adding a photo and personal note to your fundraising page makes it immediately clear that this is your fundraiser. It is also your chance to explain why you joined Strides for Pride, what it means to you, and why you need their help.
Here’s how:
- Login to your Strides for Pride fundraising account.
- Find the “Your Page” on the dashboard.
- To add a photo, click or tap the pencil icon over the photo avatar and follow the instructions to upload an image.
- To add a personal note, click or tap the “My Story” tab under your name and photo, then find the pencil icon in the right corner.
- To customize your page URL, click or tap the “Settings” tab (next to the “My Story” tab). Click or tap the “Customize” link and add your name or initials in the field provided. Use blue button to save changes.
If you’re a team captain, click the “Team Page” icon from the top menu and follow the same steps to customize your team’s page.
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Make a list.
Decide who you want to ask for support.
Start with a few basic categories and fill in a list for each.
- For example: immediate family, cousins, childhood friends, college friends, current and former colleagues, neighbors, etc.
- Include people whom you see less regularly, like a LinkedIn connection, but still may want to hear from you.
Consider the following questions when making your list:
- Would this person open an email from me?
- Would I want to hear from them about something they’re passionate about?
- Is this a cause that they could connect with?
Work to identify between 20-50 people.
- Now may not be the right time to ask some people to support your fundraiser, and that's ok. By reviewing your list carefully and sorting it into categories, you can feel more confident about sending a message that each group will find meaningful. Remember, many people are looking for ways to give back.
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Write a personal note.
Now that you know who you're talking to, you can draft your message.
Select a sample message to use as your starting point. Then add your voice!
Taking time to add personal details to your fundraising page and appeals will not only help your fundraising, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of what connects you to this mission.
If you're not sure how to start a personal note to a person or group, try asking or answering the following questions:
- What made you decide to join Strides for Pride? What are you hoping to get from the experience?
- If you have supported Covenant House before, what's different about this event?
- What activities will you do to meet your 40 minute goal each day? The more details, the better. (You may inspire someone else to join!)
- What's something that has made you feel hopeful recently?
Keep these tips in mind:
- Always include your personal URL! Login to your fundraising page and click/tap the "My Page" icon. Scroll down to find the "Settings" page, and copy your custom URL. This will direct people right to your fundraising page.
- Most people need 2-3 reminders before they take action, so think about what your next message will be! An email reminder to people who haven't responded, a social media post with a statistic or graphic, and a follow up text are all great options.
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Find the right platform and hit send!
The final step!
While email is the most effective fundraising tool, social media, text, and even in-person or phone conversations are all great options to talk about Strides for Pride. Think about where you talk to people normally (in a group text, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, Slack, etc.) and take your appeal to them.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Facebook: connect a Facebook Fundraiser to your fundraising page when you register (or through your Participant Dashboard later) even if you don't use Facebook regularly! Facebook will automatically send a notification to your friends, so you're sure to make it into their feeds where they can donate directly.
- Instagram: add your personal URL to your bio in the "website" field to make it clickable. When you post, direct people to the link in your bio.
- Texting? Your page is mobile responsive! When you share your page link over text, people can donate directly on their phones.
Remember, most people need 2-3 reminders before they take action! Think about how you can share your fundraiser on multiple platforms and in different ways. For ideas, review our shareable content and sample messages.