If you’re a nonprofit or organisation that wants to encourage supporters to use Facebook birthday fundraisers, here’s how you can make it happen.
Nonprofits and charities have many amazing opportunities to fundraise online. But with so much out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Not sure where to start? Encourage your supporters to create a Facebook birthday fundraiser.
Birthday fundraisers give everyday people and businesses the chance to raise money for an organisation that’s near and dear to them. More than 45 million people give birthday wishes on Facebook each day. We can help you turn some of those ‘happy birthdays’ into fundraising opportunities.
In this article, we’ll show you how effective Facebook birthday fundraisers are, ways your charity or nonprofit can make it easy to host a fundraiser, and tips to create a successful one.
The Amazing Impact of Facebook Birthday Fundraisers
Facebook birthday fundraisers are an excellent way to get people to rally around a cause. When Facebook added a donate button in 2013, the social media platform made it easier for organisations to network for good. Suddenly, anyone with a Facebook profile and a bank account could donate money to their chosen cause with just the click of a button.
In 2017, Facebook launched birthday fundraisers and donations surpassed $300 million USD in the first year. Since then, more than 750,000 different nonprofit organisations have raised over $1 billion USD in birthday donations.
Across the U.S., United Kingdom, and Ireland, the average mean donation value for Facebook birthday fundraisers increased by 21% from 2019 to 2020, going from $81 to $98 USD.
The network has also eliminated Facebook payment processing fees. Now, 100% of the money donated goes to the charity you’re raising money for.
Some of the most common causes include cancer research, fighting to end world hunger, and the ASPCA. Before birthday fundraisers, The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organisation focused on LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention, averaged around $1,000 a month in Facebook donations. When Facebook launched birthday donations, The Trevor Project raised over $10,000 in a month for the first time.
How Facebook Birthday Fundraisers Work
Two weeks before their birthday, Facebook users receive a notification asking if they’d like to start a fundraiser. They can then choose the nonprofit they wish to fundraise for and post about it on Facebook, asking their friends to donate on their behalf.
Facebook users often tell a story about what this organisation means to them, personalising their fundraising campaign. Their friends and family will see this message on their news feed, with the aim of inspiring them to visit the Facebook page to learn more.
Then, happy birthdays and donations come rolling in.
Tips for Creating a Successful Facebook Birthday Fundraiser
Now that you’ve made it easy for people and businesses to start a personal fundraiser for your nonprofit, here’s how you can help them achieve their fundraising goals.
1. Create an Announcement Template
Create a few templates that someone can customise by highlighting:
- Why your organisation exists
- What it does
- How it’s different
- Your organisation’s impact
You can also include information like last year’s annual report, other upcoming fundraising events, and a cover photo with your organisation’s name and logo.
The person or business raising money for your cause can put this directly on their fundraiser page for their Facebook community to see.
2. Answer “Why Now?”
When they create fundraisers for their birthday, Facebook users will often explain why they chose your charity. You can go the extra mile by inviting them to share a landing page, blog post, or video that explains why your charity is timely and relevant.
Answering the question “why should I donate now?” can turn a good fundraising campaign into a whopping success.
As we mentioned earlier, The Trevor Project enjoyed success when their monthly donations jumped from $1,000 to $10,000.
During Pride Month in June 2018, their monthly donations swelled to over $200,000. Why? Because Pride Month is when most people are inspired to donate to LGBTQ+ causes.
3. Create a Facebook Challenge
Facebook challenges can be a huge success. Do you remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Over 17 million people on social networks participated, raising more than $115 million USD.
While the Ice Bucket Challenge is an extreme example, social network challenges can boost the success of a birthday fundraiser. Think up some fundraising ideas with your team, or challenge a similar organisation to see who can raise more during a set time period.
4. Like and Subscribe
Encourage birthday fundraiser individuals to ‘like’ your Facebook page. Then, they can stay in the know about what your nonprofit is up to.
Also, create a landing page geared to birthday fundraisers. Include an easy way for visitors to subscribe to your mailing list.
5. Implement Giving Levels
Many nonprofits create a tiered system to show what they can do with a donation. The more someone donates, the bigger the impact they can make, and the better they will feel. Check out this example of a giving-levels strategy for inspiration.
You can also pair giving levels with donor gifts, making each gift more valuable than the one before.
6. Say “Thank You”
“Thank you” is one of the most powerful phrases in the English language.
Once the birthday fundraiser is over, send a “thank you” message to the people or business raising money on your behalf.
Also, provide them with a “thank you” message to share with their community. Thank donors on your Facebook page, website, and/or via email as well.
Celebrate Birthdays With the Gift of Giving
Birthday fundraisers are an impactful way for people and businesses to talk about what your nonprofit or charity means to them. They’re one of the best methods to get your organisation out there and show how you’re making the world a better place.
When you ensure a Facebook birthday fundraiser is easy to create and follow the steps to make it a success, you can raise the funds you need to make a huge impact!
Are you looking for more strategies to increase your fundraising activation rate? Create your next Facebook birthday fundraising campaign with Raisely, and get the support you need to help make the world a better place.
If you’re ready to start your next campaign, Sign up with Raisely and discover how our all-in-one fundraising platform can help elevate your cause.
