Do you want to use GoFundMe to raise money for your education costs?
Think crowdfunding could be a way to get a degree, pay for a course, or help with expenses associated with university living?
In this article, we’re giving you some tips and advice if you want to use GoFundMe to raise money for college-related costs. These insights will help you to raise more money and have better reception on the platform.
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Your Campaign Story
When you tell someone a good story, something amazing happens: you capture their attention.
This attention-grabbing is vital to the success of any GoFundMe campaign. And as a by-product, you can transmit necessary information about your goals through the telling of that story.
The goal of your story should be, primarily, to elicit an emotional reaction.
In the case of GoFundMe, you are trying to produce an emotion of empathy towards your cause. Think of yourself as the protagonist in a movie.
What makes this character likeable? Why are you so invested in their journey?
You want to position yourself in a similar context. You want potential backers to be cheering for you, in a sense.
But you have to build this context out. People — strangers in particular — need some help to get into that emotional state.
Think about a time where you randomly turn on the TV and see someone crying. You recognize their emotion, but if you’ve missed the whole show, you’re probably going to change the channel.
Then there is the case where you’ve been following a show for an entire season and you reach a climactic moment with a crying protagonist. In this case, you’re much more likely to cry along with them and feel an emotional stake in the situation.
The same thinking applies to a GoFundMe campaign.
How to Tell Your Story
So — we’ve established that storytelling is the most important element of your GoFundMe journey. But how do you actually give people that compelling narrative?
Through your campaign page.
This page serves as the transactional point between you and potential donors. You’ve got to structure it in a meaningful way.
This is done through three elements:
- Video: If you have the capability, create a video demonstrating some key points, events, and moments in your life that have led you to ask for this donation.
- Images: Put a face to your campaign. In an educational context, you might consider including some photos of you participating in your prospective field of study, etc.
- Campaign Text: This is an opportunity to speak to a donor in your own words. For more information on this, check out this video: Powerful GoFundMe Writing Tips.
Once you’ve compiled all these elements, your story should include:
- What has happened to get you to this point.
- Why you need the money / what you’ll be using it for.
- The stakes of getting the funding.
- A sense of who you are as an individual; make donors feel like they know you. What are your hopes and dreams?
Promoting / Marketing Your GoFundMe Campaign
Most people out there aren’t just scrolling through GoFundMe campaigns looking to donate. And further, the majority of your donations will come from people that you know.
You have to reach out to them and that’s done through promotion.
Mainly, this will be done through social platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as email, text, and phone call outreach.
If you’re unwilling to market your campaign — and we hate to break this to you — you’re not going to have much success. Of course, it’s a little bit awkward to ask for money.
But this educational pursuit is going to change your life, so you gotta go all in!
If you can, communicate this idea of vulnerability. Highlight the fact that you are putting yourself out there for something that you really care about.
For some more in-depth insights on promotional strategies, make sure to check out this video:
How to Promote a GoFundMe Campaign
Appreciation Strategy for GoFundMe
When it comes to GoFundMe fundraising, I see a lot of people neglecting to talk about one of the most important elements of any campaign: saying thank you.
Showing appreciation is extremely important because it makes people feel good about donating to your cause. And when they feel good, they’re more likely to tell their friends or return to donate again.
A great way to give thanks for a GoFundMe donation is publicly.
Why?
Because it’s another great excuse to talk about your charity fundraiser. When you create a post thanking a person for a large donation or tag people that have donated in a list format, it creates social proof.
People who are still skeptical about donating might look at that and say:
Oh, other people believe that this is important. Maybe I should too.
Additionally, people who have donated might like, comment on, or even share your appreciation post. That means huge exposure!
Every successful non-profit company does this. They’re always honoring their donors, because it’s what facilitates community, connections, and proof of cause!
Resources For GoFundMe Fundraising
You understand the importance of education — that’s why you’ve set out to run this GoFundMe campaign.
Here at CrowdCrux, we’re all about educating as well. That’s why we’re writing this blog post for you!
We have some additional resources that you can look into to ensure that you launch a project that is successful as possible. Check them out:
- Book: Crowdfunding Personal Expenses
- Course: GoFundMe Cash Machine
Both of those resources will give you A to Z guidance as to how to run an awesome project based on tried and true best practices that we’ve discovered over the years.
In the course, you’ll discover downloadable templates and checklists to build out your storytelling and make sure that you’re hitting every promotional channel possible. These modules will walk you through, step-by-step, the keys to unlocking your funding goals!
We hope that this article has been helpful for you and that you take us up on some of the resources we’ve mentioned. Keep in mind as well that we’re always chugging out helpful, free GoFundMe content on the blog and Youtube Channel, so make a bookmark or subscribe!
Good luck with your GoFundMe educational campaign. You’re officially one step closer to moving the world!
