FUNDRAISING IDEAS
LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA
Your project’s crowd-funding campaign has the power to create impact by leveraging social
media. You can simply share your online project on your social media outlets and ask people
to participate. Amp it up, by adding visuals. Tell your story with a video, and link your
campaign. Or come up with a unique and creative challenge to motivate your friends and
family to get involved. For example, you can create a post or video that challenges 3 specific
people to participate. In addition to donating, they should also create a post, challenging
3 of their friends to also participate with your campaign. The potential for exponential success
is BIG!
Be sure to tag Kidstarter in your social media posts so we can reshare:
Your project’s crowd-funding campaign has the power to create impact by leveraging social
media. You can simply share your online project on your social media outlets and ask people
to participate. Amp it up, by adding visuals. Tell your story with a video, and link your
campaign. Or come up with a unique and creative challenge to motivate your friends and
family to get involved. For example, you can create a post or video that challenges 3 specific
people to participate. In addition to donating, they should also create a post, challenging
3 of their friends to also participate with your campaign. The potential for exponential success
is BIG!
Be sure to tag Kidstarter in your social media posts so we can reshare:
WRITE AN EMAIL OR LETTER TO FRIENDS, FAMILY OR BUSINESSES
Your friends and family can be a great network to share your story with. Because they
naturally are already connected to you, they will be likely to listen to what you have to say.
Think of your letter as a way to share your message, and not just a way to ask people to
support. You may find that some people do not contribute at all financially, but may share
your story or fund-raising page with others.
1. Make a list of people you know. Include email addresses or physical addresses depending
on how you wish to share your letter. You can also think about local businesses you frequent.
Businesses often set aside funds each year to give to community projects. If you send letters
to businesses, ask to find specific people to address the letter or email to.
2. Craft your letter. You should share what the PROBLEM is, WHY we should care about it,
WHAT the solution is (include the project goal and deadline here), and HOW they can get
involved. Be sure to include a link to your fund-raising page so that people know exactly
where to go to get involved.
3. Create a follow up plan. Within one, to two weeks after you have sent your letters out, you
should plan to follow up with anyone you haven’t heard from. A quick email or phone call
confirming that they received your letter, and offering to answer any questions they may have
is all that is necessary.
4. Send THANK YOUs. We’ll provide Kidstarter THANK YOU post cards that you can send
to the people that supported you. This is a very important step in the fund-raising process.
HAVE A SALE
Do you like making treats? Are you really good at creating art? Do you have experience
in making jewelry? Take something you already enjoy doing, and share it with people to
raise funds for your project.
1. Plan what you want to sell (ie: jewelry, baked goods, etc). Decide how much of the
items you’ll need.
2. Decide where you want to sell your items. Will you need to contact someone at that location
to gain approval before you sell there?
3. Advertise!
4. The easiest way to collect funds is to have a tablet or computer at your event that is open to
your fund-raising page.
CAR WASH
Many times, gas stations, or companies with large parking lots will allow kids to host car washes.
1. Create a list of local businesses that you’ve seen car washes at before. Call them and ask if
they would be willing to let you host one.
2. Set a date.
3. Find friends to help you with your car wash.
4. Make sure you have all the supplies and signage you need.
JOG/READ/JUMP-a-thon
Collect pledges for doing something that positively affects you or the community. Some Kidstarters
have done a Trash-Pickup-A-Thon where they helped clean up a street (with supervision). For
every bag of trash they picked up, they had donors giving a pledge. If someone pledged $5 for
every bag, and they picked up 5 bags, then that donor would end up giving $25! This type of
A-Thon can be motivating to donors because they are not only helping your Kidstarter project’s
cause, but you are also helping your community. It’s a WIN -WIN!
1. Decide what you want to do.
2. Create a list of people you want to share your A-Thon with.
3. Collect pledges (a spread sheet is a great way to stay organized)
4. Do your A-Thon.
5. Follow up with those who pledged to let them know how well you did. Be sure to direct them
to your fund-raising page so they can make their donation.
POP CAN DRIVE
Does your state account for deposits on cans and bottles? You can collect cans and bottles from
your neighbors, friends and family and they add up fast. Do your parents’ place of work
collect cans and bottles to recycle - ask if you can collect their cans and recycle for them
as a way to support your project.
WORK WITH A COACH
If none of these ideas get you excited, consider contacting a Kidstarter coach for help.
Fill out an online application to start the coaching process.
Your friends and family can be a great network to share your story with. Because they
naturally are already connected to you, they will be likely to listen to what you have to say.
Think of your letter as a way to share your message, and not just a way to ask people to
support. You may find that some people do not contribute at all financially, but may share
your story or fund-raising page with others.
1. Make a list of people you know. Include email addresses or physical addresses depending
on how you wish to share your letter. You can also think about local businesses you frequent.
Businesses often set aside funds each year to give to community projects. If you send letters
to businesses, ask to find specific people to address the letter or email to.
2. Craft your letter. You should share what the PROBLEM is, WHY we should care about it,
WHAT the solution is (include the project goal and deadline here), and HOW they can get
involved. Be sure to include a link to your fund-raising page so that people know exactly
where to go to get involved.
3. Create a follow up plan. Within one, to two weeks after you have sent your letters out, you
should plan to follow up with anyone you haven’t heard from. A quick email or phone call
confirming that they received your letter, and offering to answer any questions they may have
is all that is necessary.
4. Send THANK YOUs. We’ll provide Kidstarter THANK YOU post cards that you can send
to the people that supported you. This is a very important step in the fund-raising process.
HAVE A SALE
Do you like making treats? Are you really good at creating art? Do you have experience
in making jewelry? Take something you already enjoy doing, and share it with people to
raise funds for your project.
1. Plan what you want to sell (ie: jewelry, baked goods, etc). Decide how much of the
items you’ll need.
2. Decide where you want to sell your items. Will you need to contact someone at that location
to gain approval before you sell there?
3. Advertise!
4. The easiest way to collect funds is to have a tablet or computer at your event that is open to
your fund-raising page.
CAR WASH
Many times, gas stations, or companies with large parking lots will allow kids to host car washes.
1. Create a list of local businesses that you’ve seen car washes at before. Call them and ask if
they would be willing to let you host one.
2. Set a date.
3. Find friends to help you with your car wash.
4. Make sure you have all the supplies and signage you need.
JOG/READ/JUMP-a-thon
Collect pledges for doing something that positively affects you or the community. Some Kidstarters
have done a Trash-Pickup-A-Thon where they helped clean up a street (with supervision). For
every bag of trash they picked up, they had donors giving a pledge. If someone pledged $5 for
every bag, and they picked up 5 bags, then that donor would end up giving $25! This type of
A-Thon can be motivating to donors because they are not only helping your Kidstarter project’s
cause, but you are also helping your community. It’s a WIN -WIN!
1. Decide what you want to do.
2. Create a list of people you want to share your A-Thon with.
3. Collect pledges (a spread sheet is a great way to stay organized)
4. Do your A-Thon.
5. Follow up with those who pledged to let them know how well you did. Be sure to direct them
to your fund-raising page so they can make their donation.
POP CAN DRIVE
Does your state account for deposits on cans and bottles? You can collect cans and bottles from
your neighbors, friends and family and they add up fast. Do your parents’ place of work
collect cans and bottles to recycle - ask if you can collect their cans and recycle for them
as a way to support your project.
WORK WITH A COACH
If none of these ideas get you excited, consider contacting a Kidstarter coach for help.
Fill out an online application to start the coaching process.