If you’re wanting to raise funds through crowdfunding, you’ll be reaching out to your network for help, including family and friends. On the one hand, it’s normal for those closest to you to be the most excited about your creative vision. On the other hand, asking for donations from family and friends might be difficult.
It’s difficult for anyone to talk about money. Asking for financial support for your work or any goal can seem unpleasant, especially if you are asking individuals with more financial resources than you because it might feel like you are exposing an already-existing disparity in privilege and class. It can also be embarrassing if you are aware that your network is facing difficulties that may make donations difficult. Even if it’s difficult, you should reach out to your loved ones as part of your family fundraising approach.
Giving Xcelerator tries to help everyone obtain the help they need. We publish useful fundraising information, such as forthcoming grant opportunities and deadlines, as well as common crowdfunding campaign blunders. We also understand that fundraising is more than just choosing the right online fundraising platform, video, and incentives.
Successful fundraising requires getting into the correct mentality, identifying the emotional problems that arise, and devising strategies to deal with those challenges.
Here are some ideas to help you request donations from your family and friends.
Affirm the relationship
You can set expectations for any contribution conversation with family and friends by first stating that you’re contacting them to request a donation, but emphasize to them that your relationship with them is more important than a fundraising drive. The fact that they choose to give or not has no bearing on your connection. You should make it clear that this contribution discussion is not about emotional manipulation or using fond feelings as financial leverage. You might think that goes without saying, but it never hurts to state the obvious.
Break the awkwardness
It can be unpleasant to request financial assistance. You can confess that it feels strange to you while conversing with your family and friends. That candor might put you and anybody you’re speaking with at ease. Sincerity and honesty are essential components of any family fundraising conversation or strategy, so if it makes sense for you to be upfront with your friends and family about how you’re approaching this time, do so.
Thank the donors within 24 hours
Even if your contributors are relatives and friends, you must follow the basic principles of donor management. Thank your donors as soon as possible (within one day!). You can send an email, call them, or mail a physical thank-you note. They must understand how much you appreciate their contribution, and a prompt thank-you will go a long way.
Individualize your correspondence
When speaking with contributors, personalization is always a smart idea, it shows them how much you appreciate their contribution. It is very vital to take the time to make your correspondence personal to your family and friends. They will be offended or startled if they notice that you haven’t taken some extra time for them, considering that they are someone important in your life aside from their wonderful contributions to your creative work.
Continue the correspondence
You may have had a donation conversation with your family and friends once and thought that was the end of it. While you should not press your family and friends (or anybody else) to support your work, you may need to remind your contacts to donate more than once. Use their preferred means of communication to avoid sending them emails or contacting them in ways that will irritate them more than anything else.
You are not required to conduct repeated, in-depth chats with your family and friends. That might be too much pressure for them. However, you should contact them more than once because, while fundraising may be on your mind, they may have other demands on their time and may require a reminder or two.
Keep people updated
Keep your family, friends, and other donors informed of your fundraising progress and accomplishments, as well as how your work is progressing. It makes people feel more connected to your work and reminds them that they have contributed to your accomplishment. It can also inform individuals when and if you will require further cash. And, if someone is unable to donate when you initially ask, keeping them updated will ensure that when they can donate, they remember you!
Assume abundance
Even if times are terrible and many people are in dire financial straits, and there are other legitimate sources of financial assistance, you can still ask for donations. People can choose how they want to spend and distribute their money.
Indeed, there is substantial evidence that people who are not wealthy are frequently more generous with their resources than the wealthy. Set minor giving levels ($5, $15, $20) to attract donations from persons with limited resources.
Conclusion
Fundraising can be frightening. It can feel like you’re beginning a project that is completely outside of your expertise. But, in reality, you have all you need to raise funds. You’ve got the network, the pitch, and the vision. And Giving Xcelerator is here to offer materials, and to provide an online fundraising platform. You simply need to get into the fundraising mindset with your focused goal about why you need the funds.
