Maximising your fundraising
Every penny you raise propels us closer to a cure. And no matter how big or small your plans, we’ll be here to support and guide you at every step.
We rely 100% on voluntary donations, including gifts in Wills, and could not fund our work without the time and generosity given by our supporters.
Follow our top tips and take your fundraising further!
Fundraising tips
1. Tell us about your fundraising
Your local community fundraiser can provide support with your fundraising and make sure you have everything you need for your event. Please also visit the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice for additional fundraising guidance.
From banners to balloons and beyond – if you’re fundraising for us, let us know so that we can provide you with everything you need to make your event a success!
2. Moving forward online
It only takes a few minutes to create a personal online fundraising page. Online pages are easy to set up and are a great way to communicate your fundraising progress to your friends, family and colleagues. We recommend JustGiving, which gives plenty of handy tips to help you personalise your page. Click on the images below to check out our top tips!
Photos
Having a profile picture on your JustGiving page improves fundraising by an average of 47%.
Don’t forget to add images to your story section too. One or more photos can improve fundraising by an average of 39% as they help engage your supporters with your story and with us.
Target
Add a specific target amount to your page as this can increase money raised by a massive 134%.
You could ask a friend to start your fundraising with a certain amount, for example £20, as people donating will often match the previous amount.
Fundraising summary
Use this section to let people know what you’re doing so they can quickly see how you’re fundraising and why.
Your story
This is your chance to tell your story.
Why is The Brain Tumour Charity important to you? What are you doing to raise funds for us and what do you hope those funds will achieve? Why should people donate?
Adding information to this section can improve fundraising by an average of 40%.
Update your story
Updating your story regularly with your progress towards your challenge has been shown to improve fundraising by an average of 24%.
Don’t forget to update it after you’ve completed your challenge too, as over 20% of donations come in after the event.
Share
Make sure you share your story and what you want to achieve. People can’t donate if they don’t know about it! JustGiving ‘Shareables’ can help you to let everyone know.
But don’t just use social media, use email too as some people don’t have or check social media accounts. You could even consider sending a letter. People receive such little post these days that a letter can really grab attention.
3. Go social
Social media is a fantastic way to let your family, friends and local community know what you are doing to raise money for charity! Using pictures and videos is an excellent way to document your training for a challenge or promote your event. Images will really make you stand out and grab the attention you deserve. Remember to tag us in your photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
4. Go local
Let local businesses, shops and schools know about your fundraising event. They may be able to help you gain sponsorship, give a donation or maybe put up a poster. Download our free posters that you can use to help promote your event.
5. Share your story
Never underestimate the power of local media. Tell your local paper and radio station about your event and if you are comfortable, share your story including any unusual or inspirational reasons behind your fundraising.
Download our templates to help you put a press release together before and after the event. Our PR Team can help you find the most appropriate press contacts for your local area.
PR Template – pre-event – docx
A simple Word document template that you can personalise to create a press release to send to your local media before your event/activity to raise the profile of your fundraising.
PR Template – post-event – docx
A simple Word document template that you can use to create a press release after your event/activity to encourage your local media to share your story and fundraising success!
6. Add some milestone challenges
Encourage your friends and family to give more by adding in a few personal challenges for each milestone you reach. For example, when you reach £100 you will pledge to dye your hair pink for the day, sing in front of family and friends or bath in baked beans! Just choose something you know they will definitely want to pay to see!
7. Tell people what you are doing
Don’t be shy! Many people will want to help you once they know what you are doing. Identify a list of all the people you can tell about your fundraising, give updates on your progress and ask people to help share your story. People usually really do want to help.
Find out if your employer offers matched funding, work colleagues or friends might even help boost your funds by joining your activity or sponsoring you. There are more ways to raise money than you think! Just think if you know 20 people who each could help to raise a fiver, then you already have £100!
8. Don’t forget that Gift Aid counts
HMRC operates a scheme called Gift Aid that allows charities to claim the basic rate tax, 25p, on every pound donated. So if someone donated £100 to your fundraising efforts then it means that they could actually be giving us £125. Giving under Gift Aid means that so much more money can be raised at no extra cost to our donors. Download a Gift Aid form.
Gift Aid certificate – docx
If you are a UK Tax Payer, please use this form to let us know so we can claim Gift Aid tax relief of 25p on every pound you give at no extra cost to you.
Gift Aid certificate for multiple donations – docx
If you have held an event and asked people for voluntary donations, or they have given a donation on top of an event ticket/entry price, you can use this form to collect their details so we can Gift Aid their donation.