5 Ways to Make Your Cause More Successful

Here at PledgeCents, we want to do everything we can to make each and every cause on our site as likely to be successful as possible. Our Cause Creators often reach out and ask “What can I do to raise more funds for my cause?” Well, why keep those tips secret? So here they are: 5 Ways to Make Your Cause More Successful

1. Be Persistent

The first time someone hears about your cause, they may not take the action you expect. They might overlook the email. They might assume someone else will contribute. They might want to wait until closer to when the cause ends. They might intend to contribute and forget. There are a million reasons why someone might not invest in your cause the first few time they hear about it. The most successful Cause Creators follow up with people they have reached out to over and over again. They update them on their progress and remind them why this cause is important and how it will impact students. It may feel uncomfortable to keep contacting the same group of people, but if you believe that the students deserve the opportunity, then it is worth the work to raise the money.

2. Remind Potential Investors That Every Cent Counts

Sometimes when you ask people for money, they assume that in order to make a difference, they need to be in a position to contribute a large amount. In reality, even if someone only gives a little bit, it adds up! If a lot of people give a little bit, it adds up quickly! If you can set a goal of a certain number of small investments, people who can only give a small amount will be more like to give. For example, if you are trying to raise $500, set a goal of having 50 people give $10 each. If someone wants to give more, that is great, too!

3. Spread the Word Using a Variety of Mediums

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media platforms are a great way to get the word out about your cause. In fact, on average, for every 1 Facebook Share, $5 is contributed to a cause. But if you focus only on social media, you might be missing out on a lot of potential investors! Some people tend to ignore any asks that come in the form of social media because they are so inundated. Try a personal email, an in person request, or even a handwritten piece of snail mail! Go visit a local business and ask for their support or call up your aunts and uncles and ask if they know anyone who might want to contribute to your cause. You never know who will step up, and what you will find is what many of our Cause Creators have discovered: people want to give, they just don’t know how to give or where to go. The more you spread the word, the more people hear about your need, and you don’t want to miss out on their support just because they aren’t active Facebook users.

4. Take Advantage of Promotional Campaigns

You never know when your cause is going to be part of a promotional campaign. If you are selected a part of a campaign, be sure to make the most of it. $1 for every Facebook share? Ask your friends and family to share and also to let their networks know that just by sharing your cause, they are making a difference. Matching funds? Incentivize people to give sooner rather than later by letting them know that they have limited time to double their impact. If someone is trying to give you extra money for your cause, don’t miss out!

5. Involve Others

While Cause Creators are the ones ultimately trying to raise the money, they don’t have to work alone. We recognize that not everyone is in a financial situation where they can invest in a cause, but everyone does have some sort of network, no matter how big or small. When trying to raise funds, think about how you can encourage your network to spread the word to their network. This might mean writing an email for your friends to send to their coworkers or asking a family member to pass along information at their book club. When you create a cause, don’t feel like you have to do all the work yourself. People who care about you will care about the students you are working hard for, so give them ways to help that don’t necessarily put a financial strain on them!

If you have other tips that have worked for you, please let us know! We would love to share them with others. Thanks for reading, and whether you are an investor, a cause creator, or just an interested person, we appreciate you taking an interest in what we are doing here at PledgeCents!