Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Tips

Donate to yourself

Back yourself! To kick-start your fundraising, why not lead by example and donate to yourself? By donating to your own page before asking your friends, colleagues and family for support, you show others that you are committed to the challenge and that you care about the cause. This is a guaranteed way to build fundraising momentum. Plus, it helps set a benchmark for future donations.

Update and personalise your page

The small act of updating your fundraising page to include a photo of yourself and a bit about your personal reason for taking on the challenge will have a huge impact on your overall fundraising. Why? Because if people see that you care, they are more likely to care too. So, head over to your fundraising page and give it a quick update before you share it via social media or email. Make sure you update your fundraising target and be sure to thank everyone who donates.

If you’re stuck, below are some tips for crafting the perfect page bio:

• Share a personal introduction: write a sentence that introduces yourself and your story. Give readers (potential donors) the most relevant information first. How do you define yourself in relation to your story, or to Youth Focus? Whether it was your role as a parent, a friend or a lived experience, what was it that led you to join the Hawaiian Ride for Youth?
• Define the essential parts of your story: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Answer questions such as:
  • What will the funds be used for?
  • How are you connected to the cause?
  • How will the donations help you or others?
  • When it comes to fundraising, whyis it particularly important – why do young people need our support?
• Share the challenges you have faced. Take this opportunity to describe the effect of your struggle on your family, your local community, or society. Feel free to add more context now that readers have the basics.
• Emphasise what prompted you to take on this challenge and start fundraising to make a difference.
• Review the flow and tone. Be sure to read your story from a donor’s point of view.

Share your page! And share again!

So, you’ve updated your fundraising page with a photo and a personal reason for riding. Now it’s time to ask your friends, families and social networks for help to reach your target.

By sharing your fundraising page to socials, you not only show everyone that you will be fundraising but you help shed light on mental health challenges. By sharing on your socials, you can inspire others to join in, or donate to you for your impressive effort.

Be sure to send the link to your fundraising page out far and wide. Use SMS, email, socials and good old word of mouth to spread the word. This is the fastest and easiest way to reach your target. It’s also important to follow up if your friends haven’t responded – sometimes it takes a second ask.

Host an event

Our seasoned riders have all kinds of interesting ways of raising funds for the Hawaiian Ride for Youth. Everything from quiz nights to battle of the bands!

Some riders are funded entirely by their events, and others get across the line with the support of their company through dollar matching, or donations from their professional networks and clients. However, you chose to fundraise, do it your way.

Click here to read our Guide to Fundraising Events.

Leverage your workplace

Asking your colleagues for support is one of the easiest ways to have a big impact. And you don’t need to stick to simply asking for a donation – what about holding a workplace fundraising event?

Want an extra boost? Chat with your communications and media teams about profiling your participation in the Hawaiian Ride for Youth internally and externally. We have created a number of resources (including customisable posters, social media tiles, newsletter images and much more!) to help promote your participation (and your workplace’s support!) on our Fundraising Resources page.

Email your contacts

Pop a link to your personal fundraising page in an email and send away. If there were ever a time people truly understood the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing, it’s now! Often asking can be the hardest part of fundraising, but it’s surprising how many people will come out to support you when you do. So put it out there and let everyone know about your fundraiser. By sharing your journey, you help bring attention to Youth Focus’s life-changing work with young people. And for that, THANK YOU.

Remind people and post regular updates

Even your best-intentioned colleagues, friends and family may forget to donate! Don’t be afraid to remind them.

Bring your donors, colleagues, family and friends along for the ride! Inspire people to join your journey with frequent updates sharing not only good news but also your challenges and hardships.

Thank your supporters

It is so, so important to thank your donors. It sounds simple, but it goes a long way to making them feel good about supporting you. Thanking people for their donations should be timely, personal and appropriate. You should always thank someone within 48 hours of receiving a donation. Thank them on your fundraising page, write them a card or email, send them a text message or publicly acknowledge their act of kindness on your socials.

Need more support? We’re here to help. Get in touch with our team at admin@rideforyouth.com.au