Need Money? Crowdfund Thousands of Dollars (Part 1)

Part 1 in a multi-part series on crowdfunding by Valerie Costa

There are no "get rich quick schemes" in fund development.  If you're in a pinch though, we recommend one strategy that's sure to raise thousands--crowdfunding. You've probably heard of Kickstarter, Indiegogo, FirstGiving, Crowdrise.  These are all online platforms that people use to raise money from their friends and family for their favorite cause.

The crowd: they'll be happy to support you

Non-profits can either raise money for a project and ask their supporters to fund it by a certain date (through Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or a similar platform) OR they can ask their supporters to fundraise on their behalf, often through a personal challenge like running a road race or asking for donations in lieu of birthday gifts.  We're talking about the latter today--how your non-profit can catalyze the support of your ENTIRE NETWORK and their extended networks to raise money. 

You can reach the outer ring of this network through crowdfunding

I just raised over $1,200 through the Vermont Workers' Center and Migrant Justice's crowdfundraiser "Exercise your Rights."  I set a goal, picked a 5k to run, and asked about 40 people to help me meet my goal.  It was a great way to get back in touch with people, show gratitude for their support, get out running, and feel good about helping out two awesome organizations.  I met my goal and the whole experience was really positive (and not just because I'm a fundraiser!).

Val after her 5K (2013 Asheville)

Check back here for more blog posts about how to start a crowdfunding campaign, how to ask friends/family/your network for donations, and learn about some of the online platforms currently available and some pros/cons of each.  

If your nonprofit would like crowdfunding consulting services,please contact us to find out more about how we can help you out.