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City-Bay fundraising tips

27th July 2018

You’ve registered for the Westpac City-Bay, and are keen to start raising money for Team MS! But where do you start?

We’ve put together our six top tips to help get you started, and smash your fundraising goals.

1. Set up your fundraising page

Your fundraising page is where your fundraising journey really begins! This is where people can go to see your progress and donate to support you to reach your targets. Visit Everyday Hero to set up your online fundraising page, and choose ‘MS Society SA/NT’ as your charity.

This is where donors connect with YOU, so personalise your page to mirror your personality! Upload photos and videos of yourself, share your progress, share your story, and connect with your supporters.

2. Set a goal and back yourself

You can’t reach your targets, if you don’t have a goal! Decide how much money you want to raise and make your goal ambitious, but achievable.

People are more likely to donate if they know they are helping you to reach a goal. If you meet your fundraising goal, set a new one! Share your goals with your supporters and keep them up-to-date with your progress along the way.

Give your fundraising a kick start, and make the first donation! It will inspire potential donors to help you reach your targets, and it’ll help you get closer to scoring your Team MS t-shirt to wear on the day.

3. Share your story

Perhaps you’re living with MS and want to support research into a cure? Maybe you have a friend or family member living with MS, and want to help fund the essential services empowering them to live well? Maybe you’ve never heard of multiple sclerosis and just want to run for a good cause.

Whatever the reason, share your motivation for running/walking with your supporters. Tell them why it’s important for donors to give, and where their money will go. Your passion can really inspire people to get behind the cause and donate.

4. Spread the word

Tell everyone you know you’re running the Westpac City-Bay to raise funds for MS! Text your friends and family members, send an email out to your co-workers, knock on your neighbours’ door, call people you haven’t spoken to in years… spread the word!

Don’t be afraid to ask, ask, and ask again! Not all people will donate the first time you ask—they might forget or be distracted by other things. Keep them updated on your progress regularly to prompt them, and follow up on those who haven’t gotten back to you with a polite reminder.

5. Social media is your friend

For many of you, social media was probably your first thought when it came to spreading the word about your fundraising efforts. And rightly so! Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are all great platforms for reaching hundreds of people instantaneously.

Keep things interesting. Share your story, and include pictures in your posts for maximum impact. Post at least once per week, and don’t forget to link every post back to your fundraising page.

Why not keep your followers and supporters up-to-date on your training in the lead up to the big day? Share photos of you out on a run, or a photo of your healthy lunch. Sign up to a fitness app and share your walks/runs with your supporters, to take them on the journey with you.

6. Say thank you

Don’t forget to thank your supporters! Each donor helped you get one step closer to reaching your goal, so let them know how grateful you are!

Let your supporters and social media followers know how the event went and thank those who supported you. You never know, you might even get some last minute donations rolling in. Keep your fundraising page up and running, for those last minute donors.