Hosting your own fundraiser is a great way to raise money to promote endometriosis awareness and shine a light on this under-discussed disease! Here are four easy steps to get you started:
Plan Your Event
What type of fundraiser do you want to host?
You can start by asking yourself, "What is my favorite thing to do with my friends/family/co-workers?" "Do I have a special skill or hobby?"
If you're looking for inspiration, here are some ideas from the EndoFound community: fun walk/run, Twitch stream, tea party, wine tasting, benefit concert/open mic, raffle/auction, golf tournament, selling homemade products/baked goods
Pick a date and location
After you decide what kind of event you're going to host, decide when and where you want to host it. Think about what space will be best suited for your event: local park, your living room, Zoom, etc. You may even ask a local restaurant if they'll sponsor your event by donating space.
Set your fundraising goal
Decide how much you would like to raise and/or the number of people you want in attendence. Set benchmarks along the way to help you reach your goal and hopefully surpass it! Remember to calculate the costs for the event (food, beverages, venue, technology) and adjust your fundraising goal accordingly.
Create your fundraising page online
Go to EndoFound's fundraising website, JustGiving, to create your fundraising page.
- Click the button above and then click "Start Fundraising."
- Create a new account or click "Log in" to log into an exisiting account or sign up with Facebook or Twitch
- Set up your fundraising page. Select "Doing your own thing" or the category that best fits your event
- Fill out your event details
- Customize your page with photos and your story
- Share
Note: If your donors prefer, they may donate to your fundraiser via check. Please make all checks payable to Endometriosis Foundation of America and mail to the EndoFound office at 872 Fifth Ave, New York NY 10065. The donor should include a note designating the gift to your fundraiser.
Kick off your campaign: 5 tips for a successful fundraiser
Get the ball rolling
No one likes to be the first. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your fundraising off to a good start by making the first contribution to your JustGiving fundraiser.
Add your WHY
On your fundraising page and social media posts, tell your friends and family why endometriosis advocacy, awareness, education, and research matters to YOU. How can they help? Your personal message is what matters most to the people you care about.
Identify your networks
Take time to plan who you are going to reach out. Think about the best way to reach your loved ones: social media post, text, email, phone call, or mailed letter. You may consider the following groups for your outreach.
- Friends and family
- Former/current colleagues and professional network
- Community or religious network
- Recreational groups
Keep donors engaged
Ask friends and family to spread the news about your fundraiser. You may be surprised to find who in your broader network has been impacted by endometriosis. Keep donors engaged with updates about your progress via email or social media.
Say thank you
Thank your donors for their generosity and support after they donate or share! A simple thank you will also help donors stay engaged in your cause. EndoFound will send all donors a tax receipt for their donations via email or letter.
Promote via Social Media
Posting about your fundraising event on social media is a great way to spread the word and garner support.
Tag @endofound
Tag EndoFound in your posts, so your supporters have a direct link to the charity to which they're giving. The EndoFound social media team will see your post and can share it on our pages as well!Posting tips
- Keep posts short. Use conversational and audience-specific language
- Make sure donation/participation instructions are clear and visible
- Endometriosis can be a complex issue to explain. EndoFound reccomends posting a video if you want to share your story or directing supporters to endofound.org for more information.
- Using hashtags can help your posts reach new people who are already engaged with endometriosis advocacy and may be willing to donate to your campaign! Suggested hashtags: #endofound #endometriosis #endo #1in10 #endometriosisawareness #endowarrior
Share Your Sucess
After the event, celebrate your sucesses! Thank your loved ones who donated, shared, and cheered you on. You may consider handwriting thank you notes or calling your donors to tell them about their tremendous impact.
Please contact events@endofound.org with any questions!
