If you’ve ever wondered how people actually raise serious money in a short amount of time… this is your guide.

Real people. Real strategies. Real results.

Let’s walk through six steps that can help you raise $$$ quickly, featuring Tennema (who raised over $1K) and Lydia (who raised over $2K in just 5 days).

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1. Start Close; Your People Are Your Power

Before going wide, go deep.

Tennema started with the people who already know and love her:

“To get donations to my fundraiser, I started off by sharing the landing page in family/friend group chats. I included a brief message on why the fundraiser was important to me and shared that I would be very grateful for any contributions made towards it.”

This works because:

• You’re not cold-pitching
• You’re inviting people into something meaningful
• People are more likely to give when there’s a personal connection

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2. Make It Easy to Share (multiply your reach)

Don’t just ask for donations… ask people to spread the word. Tennema shared,

“I also encouraged my family to share the fundraiser within their own networks, which really helped cast a larger net.”

This is where things start to grow beyond your immediate circle.

Think of it like:

• You → your people
• Your people → their people

That’s how momentum builds.

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3. Use Social Media (but don’t rely on it alone)

Social media helps, but it’s not the whole strategy.

Here’s how Tennema got strong results:

“My biggest influx of donations came when I shared the fundraiser on my personal social media platforms. I shared my goal and how close I was to meeting it, which I think made it feel attainable and didn’t pressure anyone to give a single large donation, but rather more smaller ones.”

Meanwhile, Lydia noticed something important:

“My initial posts had a minor impact: I posted on Facebook and LinkedIn, but these generated very limited traction—only one $25 donation on Facebook. This reinforced that passive posting alone wasn’t enough.”

Takeaway:
Post (but don’t stop there).

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4. Make Direct, Personal Asks (this is where the money comes from)

This is the step most people skip, and it’s the most powerful.

Lydia’s biggest success came from email:

“Direct email outreach had a major impact! I sent a message to my holiday card/email list (about 90 people), which resulted in about $1,250 raised. I offered a personal match of the first donation that came through. This was the most effective single action—people who already had a personal connection to me were most responsive.”

And Tennema reinforced the same idea:

“I also sent a few individual messages to folks who wouldn’t have caught my messages in group chats/social platforms.”

Yes, it can feel uncomfortable:

“It was a bit scary initially making the ask, but because it’s for a great cause, there were many people willing to contribute.”

But this is where real results happen.

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5. Tell a Story (video = even better)

People don’t just give to links. They give to meaning.

Lydia leaned into storytelling:

“Video storytelling = moderate impact. I recorded and shared a personal video explaining why Making Waves matters to me, paired with Outdoor Afro imagery. Posting this on Instagram and Facebook along with photos provided by Outdoor Afro helped raise another $750. At the end of the day, I posted another video thanking everyone for their response and gifts.”

Storytelling helps people:

• Understand why it matters
• Feel connected
• See the impact

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6. Follow Up + Show Gratitude (this builds momentum)

This is where good fundraisers become great ones.

Lydia stayed engaged throughout:

“I sent individual thank-you texts and emails as donations came in. This helped deepen relationships and encouraged continued sharing. I also got to hear from my friends and family why they also love Making Waves! Bonus: Posting a thank you message after my social media sprint resulted in $200 more in donations.”

And she didn’t stop there:

“I’m continuing with weekly follow-ups across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and email. I’m also removing people who have already donated to avoid over-messaging and keep outreach thoughtful.”

Her biggest lessons say it all:

“1. Personal asks outperform general posts; emails still work! 2. Video storytelling significantly increases engagement and giving 3. Consistent follow-up is essential 4. Gratitude builds momentum and community”

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