You’ve started your PlayVS Fundraiser, added your students as participants, and customized your campaign dashboard - now what should you do first? Well, we’re here to help walk you through what to focus on during each week of your 28-day campaign, and how to make the most out of your fundraising efforts.
Here’s a quick overview of the process:
Day 1 & 2 - Start strong with outreach to your closest contacts.
Week 1 - Expand your reach and build momentum.
Weeks 2 & 3 - Keep moving forward with occasional, personal updates.
Week 4 - Create urgency and show gratitude to those who have given.
Patterns show that donations typically surge in the first and last 48 hours of your campaign. If things are quiet, don’t be discouraged! Personal persistence and consistency will help build trust and help ensure your students reach their goals (or beyond!).
Day 1 & 2: Starting Strong
The initial days will set the tone of your whole campaign. A strong start helps build credibility and creates urgency for potential donors. You’ll start by:
Crafting a clear and refined reason for your campaign directly on your dashboard.
Working with your students to add their closest contacts first. Family and friends are perfect for this - bonus points for direct, personal messages!
Posting across as many social media channels, group chats, and email addresses at once - the more eyes on your campaign, the better.
Add as many contacts and source as many donations as possible. No matter how small, every dollar raised will help build your campaign’s legitimacy.
Week 1: Building Momentum
Once the dust has settled, the work will truly begin for you and your students. The focus for the remainder of the week should be building your contact lists and creating some advocates within your community. Tips for this period include:
Expanding your outreach beyond friends and family to neighbors, co-workers, and other community members.
Providing materials to your supporters and encouraging them to share the campaign within their own networks.
Posting an update thanking your initial donors and reminding folks who may not have given to your campaign yet.
Set a small milestone (or start a Flash Raise!) to create urgency and excitement for the community.
Stay consistent and, most importantly, support your students during this time. Communicate with them, and help them come up with new ideas to try out. Things will likely slow down, and that’s okay - This downtime will not make or break your campaign.
Weeks 2 & 3: Keep Moving Forward
As you and your students have (hopefully) reached the end of your contact list by the end of the first week, these weeks will be quiet. Here’s what you can do to fill the gaps and stay in the conversation:
Send a single campaign update to the community showing your progress and the remainder of your goal.
Promote your campaign in the PlayVS Discord server and connect with other coaches.
Keep your campaign reason front and center - Photos and videos from meetings and practice or testimonials from your players are great for occasional updates to your community.
Bonus: Reach out to local businesses to try and find a campaign Sponsor!
Maintain visibility with personal messages and updates without spamming your contacts with daily reminders of the goal. Use this time to source new ideas and research best practices as you reach the final stretch.
Week 4: The Final Push
The final two to three days of the campaign are a mirror of the first, resulting in a second wave of donations as you rush towards your goal. Reach the finish line by:
Sending a final chance reminder 2-3 days before your deadline to build urgency.
Follow up with anyone who has expressed interest in your campaign but has not yet donated.
Continue to show appreciation for your donors publicly before the campaign comes to a close.
Once the final donations are counted and your campaign closes, your final goal is to send your final remarks to thank your community for their support. While this is certainly the natural close, it will also help set your future campaigns up for success.
Resources
Pledgebox on Campaign Duration
GoFundMe on Your First Week of Fundraising
Snap! Raise on the Fundraising Playbook
GoGetFunding on Starting a Fundraiser
HowLongFor on the Length of Crowdfunding Campaigns
Snap! Raise on The Gift of Giving