Do some research
Sign up for another
organization’s campaign
to see how it works. Or,
ask other organizations
about their campaigns
and what advice they can
offer you.
Choose your campaign’s format
Will you build it around a big event
that your own organization
produces (e.g., walk-a-thon or
gala)? A third-party event (e.g., city
marathon)? A DIY, constituent-led
event (e.g., birthday, tribute,
memorial)?
Create a compelling story
Why should someone
donate? What difference
does one donation make?
How do you want people
to feel about your
campaign?
Gather the essentials
Pick a person in your
organization to own the
campaign, identify at least 5
supporters you can count on
to fundraise, and get buy-in
for the campaign from your
organization.
Estimate how much you’ll raise
List your top individual
supporters and groups of
supporters, and estimate how
much each person could raise.
Add it all up for a ballpark
figure of what your campaign
might raise.
Determine your budget
Estimate costs for
copywriting, event
management, graphic
design, printing, postage,
online software, and a
kickoff party.
Define your campaign committee
Pick a campaign leader,
executive, marketing manager,
IT representative, and finance
manager to form a crossfunctional
campaign
committee.
Make it fun
Keep fundraisers engaged and
motivated using social media badges
so fundraisers can show off their
progress. Offer appreciation gifts for
fundraisers who reach specific
milestones.
Announce your campaign
Send an email and direct mail to
current and past donors. Use social
media, your website, signs, ads, and
public service announcements to
spread the word farther.
Build a calendar for recruiting
Schedule communications from
announcement through launch to
recruit your fundraisers. Write down
the date of the last communication
you will send for your launch, and
work backward to add all other
communications and prep work
leading up to that date.
Track your progress
Be sure to have a tool in place to
track your campaign’s progress,
including how many fundraisers have
registered, how much money each
fundraiser has raised, and how much
money the entire campaign has
raised.
Kick off your campaign
Hold a kick-off event for your
fundraisers. Have your executive
director welcome them, have
someone speak about the impact of
your organization on their life, hand
out training notes, tips, and other
campaign details.
Send a weekly email
Motivate your fundraisers with weekly
emails featuring tips, an update on
funds raised to date, and an
inspirational story about someone
who benefitted from your
organization’s mission.
Make it social
Use social media to post images and
stories about your campaign,
mission, and your kickoff event. And,
ask your fundraisers to re-post, retweet,
and share!
Add a personal touch
Call your fundraisers to thank them.
Write a personal note, or send them
a virtual high-five via text when they
reach a milestone.
Think about who
you’re talking to
Segment your lists and tailor
messages to team captains, top
fundraisers, and even fundraisers
from past campaigns to let them
know they can still sign up to
fundraise.
Say thank you
Thank your fundraisers for their work
through emails and a wrap-up event, and
let them know what the organization will
be able to do with the funds raised.
Ask for feedback
Send your fundraisers a
survey so you can find out
what worked, what didn’t,
and how you can improve
your next campaign.
Keep in touch
Don’t stop communicating
when the campaign ends.
Keep fundraisers updated
to keep them engaged
and ready for the next
campaign.
Debrief
Bring together your whole
campaign team to review
your goals, results, and
lessons learned, and start
outlining your next
campaign.