If you’re wondering how to start a fundraiser then look no further. Fundraising can be a daunting task if you’ve never done it before and don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you out!

There can be a lot to consider when looking to start a fundraiser, from choosing an event, to knowing how to publicize it and gather funds. Your personal situation, target audience and resources, often dictate what type of fundraiser will best suit your cause.

This article contains all the information you need to know how to start a fundraiser, with tips on tricks on how to start a fundraiser online, how to start a fundraiser on Facebook, and how to start a charity fundraiser. You’ll find useful online resources and some great fundraising ideas for your event. 

Whether you’re fundraising on a budget, organizing an event for younger kids, or have limited time and resources, you can find all the answers to your questions here. 

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get fundraising!

How to start a fundraiser for a cause

So, how to start a fundraiser for a cause? Well, the first step is choosing it! 

As an individual, you may be fundraising for a personal project, loved one, or perhaps a charity that is close to your heart. Alternatively, you may be part of a group that is raising funds for its work in the community. Sports groups, PTOs, school clubs, or community groups such as churches or NGOs are just some of the organizations who may look to fundraising to support their work. 

Photo by Katt Yukawa on Unsplash

Whichever category you fall into, the most important part of knowing how to start a fundraiser for a cause is to have a very clear fundraising goal and mission. Make sure to publicize the reason for your fundraising so that your supporters know exactly where their donations are going. 

If you are looking to start a fundraiser for a charity, source some information about who they are and what they do to share with supporters. Most charities have a wealth of online resources to help you with this, such as leaflets or information pages you can link to. You can include this information on your donation page or create a poster to have at your event.

If you are part of a PTO, sports group, or Booster club, you could outline exactly what the funds will go towards and perhaps include a goal amount. An effective way of raising awareness of your fundraiser for a cause is to include information about your event in a newsletter or round-robin email. Include information about your event and the reasons you’re fundraising and send it out to the friends and family of your club, group, or organisation.

Having a clear goal and fundraising aim will encourage people to support you and donate.

How to start a restaurant fundraiser

A restaurant fundraiser is an event where a group eats at a restaurant on a particular day and the restaurant donates back a set percentage of sales to the group’s cause. A restaurant fundraiser is a fun and versatile way to raise funds, and also helps support the community by dining at local establishments.

There are lots of different methods for starting a restaurant fundraiser and lots of restaurants to choose from! Regardless of whether or not a restaurant has hosted a fundraiser event before, most will be open to organizing one with you, all you need to do is ask! 

With GroupRaise, organizing a fundraiser for a cause couldn’t be easier. GroupRaise is an online platform that connects fundraising groups with local restaurants where they can book a fundraiser event online.

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

Host a meal at a restaurant such as Applebee’s or honeygrow, or organize a post-club meet trip to IHOP! The list of restaurants that offer fundraisers is endless. So you can opt for a more formal evening event or simply encourage people to stop by for a coffee and snack, all while raising money for your cause!

Make sure to select a restaurant that has enough space for your group and a menu that can cater to all dietary requirements and taste buds.

With the events of the past two years and covid regulations, you may be wondering how to start a restaurant fundraiser while socially-distanced. The good news is that restaurants now offer a range of different ways to host a fundraiser, including takeout, curbside pickup, and drive thru. So even if you can’t enjoy your food together, you can still organize a restaurant fundraiser with your friends, family and fundraise!

Read this article for more information on how GroupRaise can help you to start a fundraiser event.

How to start a fundraiser online

Nowadays, the resources available to help you know how to start a fundraiser online and organize an event are endless. Consequently, organizing an online fundraiser has never been easier. There are so many different ways to start a fundraiser event online that can be tailored to your unique requirements.

Platforms such as GoFundMe or Just Giving are good basic sites for setting up a donation page where friends and family can make donations to your cause. It’s also a great place to include some information about who you are and what you’re raising for at the top of your page.

There is also a huge range of online fundraiser companies that provide you with everything you need to start a fundraiser online. There are sites for setting up online raffles or auctions, webshops for selling t-shirts or stash, platforms for holding virtual games nights, and so much more.

Find more online fundraiser ideas in this article.

Whichever online fundraiser you decide to choose, make sure to utilise social media to publicise your event and share your donation link with as many people as possible. Facebook and Instagram now have some great tools to promote fundraising and make it even easier to start a fundraiser online.

How to start a fundraiser on Facebook

Knowing how to start a fundraiser on Facebook is actually very simple. Facebook has made it really easy to launch a fundraising campaign with multiple tools you can use to create a fundraiser event, publicise it to friends and family, and take donations online.

There is now a ‘Fundraiser’ option in the drop down menu that allows you to start a fundraiser on Facebook by setting up an information page and adding a payments link. You can even create donation amount buttons, such as $10, $15, or $20 to make it even easier for your supporters. All they have to do is click the amount they want to donate and follow the instructions!

During the Covid pandemic, birthday fundraisers on Facebook became a very popular way to start a fundraiser online. Birthday fundraisers are a particularly good way to start a fundraiser as an individual and your friends and family will be keen to support your cause instead of a birthday gift. Facebook now even prompts you to start a birthday fundraiser on Facebook as the day approaches!

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

Once you’ve created a donation page, be sure to post about your fundraiser to your feed and include donation buttons to encourage people to support your cause.

How to start a fundraiser on Instagram

There are a few key tips when it comes to knowing how to start a fundraiser on Instagram. 

Just like Facebook, you can create a fundraiser event from the post options menu. This feature allows you to search for a charity, fill in information about your fundraiser event, and include a donation page link. 

Instagram is a little different to Facebook because people use the story feature more and there is the ability to ‘go live’ on stories and talk to an audience. These are both great tools you can take advantage of to start a fundraiser on Instagram.

Once you’ve set up a fundraiser, you can make a post for your feed announcing your event to let people know what you’re up to or to share details so they can take part. 

Share your post to your stories and regularly repost and include a donation page link. This way, as many people as possible will hear about your event and can easily donate to your cause! Confident talking to an audience? Consider hosting an Instagram live where you tell people about your fundraiser and explain what you’re raising for!

With so many resources and sites available it couldn’t be easier to start a fundraiser for your cause. The GroupRaise blog has lots of great articles on fundraising ideas and other tips and tricks to help you get started with your fundraising campaign, so be sure to have a look around!

While you’re here, why not see which restaurants near you offer fundraisers for a delicious and easy way to support your cause?

So what will you choose for your first fundraiser event? Whichever option you go for, we hope it is a successful and fun event for you and your community!