When raising money online, some of our fundraisers have told us that they initially felt scared and awkward when reaching out to friends and family for help. This is understandable, especially if you’re fundraising for the first time, but there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.
Samantha’s Experience
When we follow up with these individuals after fundraising, the response has always been refreshingly positive.
Here’s what Samantha, a recent fundraiser said:
“I realised that the only way to cover my medical expenses would have been, as suggested by a friend, to start an online fundraiser. The out-of-pocket expenses that I couldn’t meet came to $8,000. By myself, this was a mammoth bill. But if this was split with just 40 people that cared, it was a much more manageable $200 each.
I created a pitch and explained my cause. I really paid attention to keep it friendly without any pressure. To my astonishment, I had raised the needed amount in just 12 days. People were incredibly generous, and they even praised me for creating the page. The heart-warming comments really made my heart melt and gave me a new lease of life.
If there’s anyone else in the same situation, I’d recommend that you just jump in and create a page – don’t suffer in silence. People that care WILL come forward to help. Thank you to all my donors and to Go Get Funding”
We get incredibly excited when we hear stories such as Samantha’s. It reminds us that humans are helpful by nature, which can be all too easy to forget at times. Think about it; if you see someone struggling, you would most likely try to help them. Most of us are fundamentally good people and will do our best to be there for others.
Giving Makes People Happy and Healthy
Giving is an extremely fulfilling act. If you’ve ever helped someone in need or given a gift to a loved one, you’ll know that warm fuzzy feeling you get inside knowing you’ve made a difference in their life. Giving to others activates the regions of the brain associated with pleasure and triggers the release of chemicals that make us feel good.
This study is one of many that found that when people spend money on others, they gain much greater happiness than when they spend money on themselves. Research also shows that when people spend their money on family and friends, they feel even happier. This report clearly explains: “The satisfaction of knowing that we can help our close ones and contribute to their happiness can make us feel good about ourselves.”
Giving isn’t just great for our mood; it’s also excellent for our physical health. Research shows that helping others reduces stress, lowers our blood pressure, reduces the risk of other health issues, and has even been proven to help people live longer!
There’s No Shame in Asking for Help
Recognising that you need help and being courageous enough to ask for it is a sign of strength, not weakness. It doesn’t mean you’re failing or you’ve given up: instead, it means that you’re going to do everything you can to ensure you succeed. It’s something to be proud of, not to be ashamed of.
As humans, we’re innately built to work as a team. If you think about it, most aspects of human life are teamwork, from making the houses we live in to running a business. You don’t need to ‘make it’ alone to be successful. Let those who love you be part of your team. Remember that you would be there for them if they needed you, so give them the opportunity, and the pleasure, of helping you.
Fundraising Tips to Help You Feel More Comfortable
There are a few things you can do to increase your comfort level when you’re asking for donations:
- Be honest and open about your cause
- Write about why you’re asking for help openly, with emotion and honesty to help potential donors connect with your story.
- Be clear about where their money will go
- Let donors know exactly how you will spend their money. The more detail, the better. This builds trust and lets them know what they’re investing in.
- Be proactive
- Being proactive not only shows donors that you’re serious about your campaign but can also help you feel more active in raising the money you need. Promote your campaign and regularly update your donors to keep them involved.
- Consider a fundraising event or offering rewards
- A great way to help yourself feel more comfortable with asking for donations is to run a fundraising event, like a sponsored walk, for example. You could even offer your donors rewards, such as small gifts, cards, or a ‘shout out’ when they donate. This lets them know how grateful you are.
- Suggest alternative ways to help
- It can often feel as though you’re putting people on the spot when you ask for donations. You can relieve some of that pressure by suggesting other ways to help if they can’t donate, such as sharing your campaign on their social media platforms or spreading the word to their loved ones.
Giving someone the opportunity to make a real positive difference in your life is not something that others can do every day. Therefore, when in need, don’t be afraid to reach out.
Start your fundraiser in just a few minutes. You can also check out our success stories page for more comments from fundraisers that have been astonished by what a fundraising page has helped them achieve.
References
Elizabeth W. Dunn, Lara B. Aknin,Michael I. Norton, (2014), “Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off”. Current Directions in Psychological Science 2014, Vol. 23(1) 41–47
American University of Sharjah, (2020), “First Year Reader”.
Providence Health & Services, (2021), “Good giving: Why helping others is good for your heart and your health”.
