Building a Fundraising Website
Regardless of whether you are an organisation that relies solely on fundraising to survive, or if you are a P&C Committee fundraising for your local school, a website is a powerful tool in achieving your goals. However, many of us don’t know where to start. Don’t be overwhelmed – we can help you get up and running before you know it.
Why start a fundraising website?
Following the COVID pandemic, everything has become digital. Whether we like it or not, everything has started to move online: our groceries, medical care, education and even fundraising!
Besides being a bare necessity, a website can bring lots of value to your fundraising campaign if you do it properly!
A fundraising website can help you share your fundraiser with lots of people.
A website connects you with donors.
Social media has made it easier than ever for you to connect with donors. But for social media to actually bring in donations, they need something to click on. That’s your website!
A website communicates with your donors.
People don’t just donate because they know you. They donate because they believe in your cause!
Your website must tell a good story if it will convince other people to donate. In order to be effective, your website should cover a few main points:
- What you are fundraising for, like a new clubhouse for your sports team, a trip to help people overseas or more funding for your canteen;
- Your group’s fundraising goal, or how much you would like to raise as an individual;
- Your story and why you have chosen to fundraise.
Your website represents your fundraising organisation. It shares your mission, vision and core values with your audience. The first few seconds are essential to capturing your potential donors’ interest.
Your website calls your donors to action.
Once you have your audience interest, your website must call them to action. It must be easy for them to donate then and there, before they get distracted. By calling them to action, you tell them exactly what they need to do support you – usually, this is to donate money to your worthy cause!
Put the Fun back into Fundraising!
If fundraising feels overwhelming, it might be time to bring in a few extra hands.
Don’t let the burden of intense organisation prevent you from achieving your fundraising goals. Let our friendly team help you today.
A fundraising website is the best way to start fundraising online!
What should I have on my fundraising website?
Everyone will need different things on their fundraising website, depending on their unique goal and fundraising type. But there are a few key ingredients to make sure your fundraising website is a success!
About You: Introduce Yourself
Although many people who visit your fundraising website will already know you, some may not! Just in case, it’s always best to include a few sentences about who you are, who you are fundraising with (like your school or community group) and why are you are choosing to fundraise.
Describe Your Fundraiser
Make sure you tell your potential donors what you are fundraising for and how you intend to do it. People are much more likely to purchase a product or service or sponsor you for an event (like a Colour Explosion Fun Run).
Use your fundraising website to share when your event is taking place and how your supporters can get involved.
Make it easy for people to donate.
The most crucial part of a fundraising website can be easily forgotten – the way to donate! Make sure it is easy for people to find the ‘Donate Now’ or ‘Purchase’ button and that there are lots of ways for them to give.
Kick start Your Online Fundraising with us!
Don’t struggle with making your own fundraising website. Let us do the hard work for you!
All of our fundraising programs at Australian Fundraising come with a free online fundraising platform. Simply log in to My Profile Page, and start fundraising online. Call us today and discover how we can help kick start your online fundraising today!
These three major mistakes can kill your fundraising website!
Three signs of a bad website
However, launching a website does not always yield positive results. Just because you have spent many sleepless nights ensuring your web design is right, there can be other elements that we tend to miss.
We wonder why we do not have enough donations or enquiries when we have followed all the recommendations.
Surprisingly, the mistakes we commit are not too technical. Usually, you can spot these three possible website mistakes and fix them before it’s too late!
1. You have too much or too little information.
As much as we want our donors to be as passionate about fundraising as we are, people can become ‘lost’ if we give them too much information.
We may find ourselves rambling, or offering our products and services, but failing to describe our cause.
The way to convey the message to our audience is to keep everything simple and clear. It may take a while to find the exact words to describe your organisation, but the first 5 to 10 seconds are precious. Choosing the right words will give your audience an idea about who you are and what you need them to do.
2. Not connecting with the audience.
Your potential donors commit to you when they feel connected with your cause. Do you tell a touching story? Are your images friendly and compelling?
Are you engaging your audience? It is difficult for your audience to stay when they do not feel connected to the goals you want to accomplish.
If you want your potential donors to commit to helping you, you need to convince them that helping you is what they must do! They are the hero, and you need their support.
3. You present boring or unengaging content.
Going into too many details can bore customers. If people are bored by your website, it will not take long for them to decide against donating.
Prospective donors will appreciate it if you get straight to the point. They do not want a detailed account of how the organisation was formed. Telling a powerful yet interesting story about your cause is more than enough.
Kick start Your Online Fundraising with us!
Don’t struggle with making your own fundraising website. Let us do the hard work for you!
All of our fundraising programs at Australian Fundraising come with a free online fundraising platform. Simply log in to My Profile Page, and start fundraising online. Call us today and discover how we can help kick start your online fundraising today!
