Fundraising is, not surprisingly, most successful when your community is actively involved — whether it’s parents, alumni, or local supporters.
Social media has become essential for any fundraising campaign, connecting groups through Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, creating community, sharing updates, and creating compelling actions that amplify your fundraising results.
But how do you effectively reach out to that community and engage them in a way that inspires action authentically?
1. Connect with Parents
Parents are often the backbone of school sports teams and extracurricular activities. They want a personal, relatable approach and they want to know exactly how they are making a difference.
Here’s how you can work with parents to accelerate your fundraising:
Show the Impact: Use photos, videos, and testimonials from players to show exactly how the funds will be used. Whether it’s upgrading equipment, travel costs, or funding new uniforms, giving parents a clear picture of where their donation is going connects them to the cause.
Use Direct Messaging and Email: While social media is great for outreach, nothing beats a personal touch. Reach out to parents via email or direct messages on social media. Craft a short, personalized message explaining why their support matters.
Offer a Convenient Donation Process: Keep the donation process simple and easy. Platforms like MoneyDolly make it easy for parents to donate quickly with just a few taps, without the need to track checks or cash.
2. Tap Into Your Alumni Network
Alumni can be a vital source of donations, especially when they feel they’re a part of something meaningful. Engaging with your alumni network requires a bit more effort, but the payoff can be huge (not to mention long-lasting!):
Share Success Stories: Highlight how past donations have positively impacted the team or school. Showcase personal success stories, like an athlete who made it to the next level thanks to your support. This humanizes your cause and encourages alumni to contribute, knowing their donation can change lives.
Create Exclusive Opportunities: Offer alumni opportunities to connect with current teams. Consider hosting virtual meet-and-greet events with the team, exclusive updates, or even a special mention at events for alumni who donate. This creates a sense of exclusivity and pride in being part of the team’s continued success.
Leverage LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great platform for professional networking. Consider creating a LinkedIn group for your alumni, where you can post updates, thank them for their support, and even ask for donations directly.
3. Engage Local Supporters
Local businesses and supporters are essential to any successful fundraising effort. These are the people who live and breathe the local community, and they want to see it thrive.
Here’s how to engage local supporters:
Highlight Local Impact: When reaching out to local businesses, emphasize how their support will directly benefit the community. Explain how the funds raised will support local students, athletes, and educational programs that benefit the area.
Collaborate with Local Businesses: Partner with local businesses to host fundraising events, offer their services as rewards for donations or get them to donate directly. In exchange, you can offer them advertising on social media or during events, allowing both parties to benefit.
Host Community Events: Host events that bring people together, like a fun bake sale, or local talent show. These events raise awareness while encouraging donations. Use them to highlight the importance of supporting the school or team.
4. Leverage Social Media Platforms to Reach Your Community
Now that you have your strategy for engaging parents, alumni, and local supporters, you can bring it to life through social media.
Here’s how to maximize these tools to build your fundraising community:
- Visual Storytelling: Post behind-the-scenes content, highlight individual players, and share stories of how donations have benefited the team.
- Instagram Stories: Use Stories, interactive features like polls, quizzes, and donation stickers to encourage engagement – you can even host a live Q&A session to discuss the fundraising goal!
- Hashtags and Tagging: Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags (e.g., #SupportOurTeam or #FundraisingForACause) to expand your reach.
- Create Event Pages: Create event pages for fundraising activities share with your community and encourage parents and alumni to invite others. Include a donation link or QR code directly on the page.
- Share Donor Stories and Milestones: Create posts that recognize donors and celebrate fundraising milestones. People love being recognized, and it also encourages others to donate.
- Facebook Groups: Create private groups where parents and alumni can join to discuss upcoming events, share success stories, and make donations directly through the group.
TikTok
- Engage with Fun and Creative Content: Show your team in action, with behind-the-scenes moments, or even create a challenge that encourages people to donate.
- Hashtag Challenges: Launch a hashtag challenge that encourages users to post videos with a specific theme and donate to the campaign.
5. Use MoneyDolly to Streamline Your Fundraising Efforts
No matter which platforms you use, the key to success is making it easy for supporters to donate. With MoneyDolly’s peer-to-peer fundraising platform, setting up campaigns and collecting donations is a breeze. Share your fundraising link on all your social media profiles, and encourage your supporters to share it as well.
Ready to boost your donations?
With the right strategy, the power of social media, and a little support from MoneyDolly’s systems … your next fundraiser is bound to be a success!
