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Let’s talk about fundraising! How to hit your January target

Posted on 23 December 2021

Many of our fundraisers are now a few months into their fundraising journey, and they are smashing their targets! We’ve chatted to some of the fundraisers who have already hit their January fundraising target to see what has worked well for them, get their tips and tricks, and see what their plans are for future fundraising.

Before we jump into it, our wonderful Fundraising Officer Jess shares her advice…

“It’s all about how you market it! Our ethos is all about play, fun and happiness, so do events that you enjoy. Show people you are enjoying your fundraising. And make sure you tell people how excited you are about your volunteering. People will feel your energy and enthusiasm, whether that be through a social media post, a handwritten letter through your neighbours door, or just chatting to your friends about it.

My top fundraising ideas to get guaranteed money coming in before your target would be scratch cards, writing handwritten letters, selling things, jello-shots on New Years Eve, get in on the January hype of Veganuary, Dry January or 30 day challenges and SHARING YOUR PAGE!”

Now over to Emily August, a Bournemouth student who has already reached 74% of her total fundraising target!

  1. What have you done to get to your target so far?

Fundraising was probably the scariest of the whole process, but it really helped me to get to my donation total so far. When I began my page, I first sent it to my closest family members and friends who helped getting the money rolling before showing everyone else. I then for the next couple days to a few weeks, I started posting how much I was raising, even how small it was, and tagged the donators on each of my social media pages to thank them for their contribution which got other people’s attention. This even attracted strangers or distant acquaintances to support you and each time I thanked them individually. I also sent group emails out to my further family members about the charity and asked for a Christmas donation rather than any gifts. The most fun and recent fundraiser which helped my motivation was hosting a charity karaoke night where Megan Brookes and I encouraged our friends to come down and support. The nerve-racking thing was going around and asking strangers to donate but once you got going, it made you so happy to see how many strangers were supporting your cause too. A big help is sending messages into course group chats or societies your apart of as well

2. What has been the most successful way you’ve found to fundraise?

The most successful way I have fundraised money so far was through the charities raffle event that ran for a month, this encouraged a lot of my family and friends to donate once they saw they could win a prize in return.

3. What would be your top tip on getting cash quickly?

My top tip on getting cash quickly is to not get disheartened when close friends and family don’t donate straight away, focus on promoting your cause on your social media for others to see and once you start getting a few donations in, your friends and family usually follow. And host as many fundraisers as possible, they are not only fun, but you also reach a larger audience and strangers you haven’t seen before.

4. What are your next plans to raise money?

Megan Brookes and I are already working on our next fundraiser in February which we are hoping to get a larger group of people to support by hosting a charity club night.

Emily’s fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emilyfundraisingpage

Next up is Arun Austin, a UEA student who has hit 45% of his target already and wants to share what has worked well for him so far!

  1. What have you done to get to your target so far?

I am currently doing an advent run where I am running every day from December 1st until Christmas Day with the aim to reach 100 miles!

2. What has been the most successful way you’ve found to fundraise?

I have been posting my progress on my Instagram story daily with a link to my Just Giving page. I tend to get a few more donations each time I post so it is definitely effective in reaching lots of people. 

3. What would be your top tip on getting cash quickly?

Do something challenging but achievable and keep posting your progress. Also, keep people up to date with whatever fundraiser you plan to do so they know how you’re getting on. The main thing is to try and fundraise by doing something you enjoy!

4. What are your next plans to raise money?

I have had a few thoughts, such as organising a bake sale with family and friends. I have also thought about going busking as I love music, but I may need to practice a bit more for that!

Arun’s fundraising page:  https://justgiving.com/fundraising/arunaustin

Thea Gabrielsen is a student at Bournemouth University, and she’s currently at an impressive 64% of her total fundraising target! Here’s what she had to say…

  1. What have you done to get to your target so far?

So far, I have done a fundraiser at campus where me and my friend sold donuts and cookies and also gave people the opportunity to name a houseplant. The person who gave it the best/most creative name got to keep it – a very fun and engaging activity which helped us raise a lot of money.

2. What has been the most successful way you’ve found to fundraise?

The most successful way I’ve fundraised so far is by sharing my JustGiving page on social media and then asking people for donations for my birthday instead of presents. That’s where I’ve gotten most of my donations from.

3. What would be your top tip on getting cash quickly?

My top tip would be to repeatedly share your fundraising page all over social media and then have other people share it as well. At your parents work or on their Facebook pages etc and before you know it, you have people that you don’t even know donating and wanting to help you. 

4. What are your next plans to raise money?

My next plans to raise money would be to spread the word to friends and co-workers back home in Norway during the holidays. After that I’m looking at planning another fundraiser at campus, doing a bake sale or something like that and relating it to a theme – a great suggestion from Jack at PAI.

Thea’s fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thea-gabrielsen

Mia Hobson, a student at University of York, has hit 65% of her target already. Raffles, bake sales, EasyFundraising, every little helps when fundraising!

  1. What have you done to get to your target so far?

So far, I’ve had a generous amount donated just by asking my family and friends! A lot more people are willing to donate than you think and all it takes is asking. I’ve also done a couple of raffles and bake sales, as well as asking businesses if they’d be willing to donate in exchange of advertising for them.

2. What has been the most successful way you’ve found to fundraise?

I’ve definitely raised the most just by people being generous and realising that this means a lot to me and therefore they’d like to also take part in raising money for such a wonderful cause.

3. What would be your top tip on getting cash quickly?

My top tip would be to use EasyFundraising as with Christmas coming up, a lot of people are doing their Christmas shopping and so you can raise a lot just by family and friends signing up!

4. What are your next plans to raise money?

My next plan is to do a raffle after Christmas as I’ve had a few family members kindly donate things to me.

Mia’s fundraising page: http://www.justgiving.com/MiasFundraisingForUganda2022

As always, if you’re currently fundraising for us and you think you’d benefit from getting a few more ideas, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Jess at jess@playactioninternational.org. Happy fundraising!