March 1, 2023

Welcome to March! Welcome to the #2 issue of the #FUNdraisingGeek Newsletter! The premiere newsletter for #FundraisingTips, #SocialMediaTips, and #FeaturedCharities 

#FUNdraisingTips

You've started fundraising, you have your Facebook fundraiser active, and the donations are rolling in... what's next? Be sure to thank your donors.

There are so many ways to thank your donors and supporters. In person, on line, photos, videos, gifties! Here are just a few ideas for you.

• Send a handwritten thank you note or postcard 💌

• Send a thank you note as the donations come in

• Send a thank you note after the final event - include a photo, a sticker, and/or a grand total of your fundraising efforts 💰

• Thank your donors with a comment on your facebook fundraiser

• Create a separate post to thank your recent donors

• Create a video or go live to thank your donors

• Send a thank you text or email

• Use gifs to thank your donors (⬇️ more on that in #SocialMediaTips ⬇️)

#SocialMediaTips

Keep sharing your fundraising link. Sometimes people need to see it a few times as a reminder to donate.  Also, social media algorithms are funky, to say the least... so your friends and followers are likely not seeing every time you post! 

Here are a few ways to get your posts noticed...

• Post photos 📷 - photos of faces and people do well.🤠🙋‍♀️🦸🏽‍♀️

• Use video content - Instagram Reels, and Tik Tok videos are all the rage. Take advantage of their popularity.🎥

• Tag your donors in a thank you post - people love to get a mention on the socials!😊

• Tag the nonprofit that you are fundraising for - you might get a retweet or a share.

• Create a video or go live to ask for donations and spread the word about why you are fundraising.

• Explore using gifs to share your excitement and gratitude...

#FeaturedCharity

For March I am featuring The St. Baldrick's Foundation 🍀

• 🍀More children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease.

• ❤️Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 2 minutes.

• 🍀St. Baldrick's mission is to find cures for childhood cancers and to give survivors long and healthy lives.

• ❤️St. Baldrick's is the the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants.

• 🍀March is a popular month for St. Baldrick's fundraising events, and people all over the world are shaving their heads — all with one goal: to cure childhood cancer.

One particular St. Baldrick's event, Chiaravalle Kids Conquer Kids' Cancer, is near and dear to my heart. ❤️ The first year of this student led event, I was one of many participants to #BraveTheShave, and I continue to provide social media support to help spread the word! This event is inspiring, and a joy to promote.

• Started in 2016 by Josh, a student at Chiaravalle Montessori School, who led the first 3 events.

• In 2020, Nora led the charge after Josh graduated from Chiaravalle.

• In 2022, Mahin stepped up to lead our first outdoor event last spring, and is back at it again this year.

• To date, we have raised over $297,000

• Our honored hero is Sophia Z. She volunteers, donates her hair, and works tirelessly making CKCKC themed bracelets as part of her fundraising efforts. Sophia is a force for good and kindness.❤️🍀❤️

Thank you for reading! 💜 If you'd like help out this fledgling of a newsletter, please share with your friends and other fundraisers via email and all the social media! 

Connie Bickford, Chief Geek 

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