Using WhatsApp to promote fundraisers

Promoting Your Fundraisers with WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging your audience, making it an excellent platform to promote your fundraisers. From building your contact list to crafting compelling messages, and leveraging WhatsApp features, this guide will show you how to create a successful fundraising campaign.

Whether you're connecting with past donors, engaging new supporters, or collaborating with partners, these tips will help you maximise the impact of your efforts. Read on to learn how to effectively use WhatsApp to drive awareness and donations for your cause.

Building your Audience

• Start by compiling a list of potential donors. This can include friends, family, existing supporters, and anyone who might be interested in your cause.
• Create groups for different segments of your audience (e.g. volunteers, past donors, community members) to tailor your messages accordingly.
• Use broadcast lists to send personalised messages to multiple contacts without creating a group. This keeps communication personal and private.

Leverage WhatsApp Features

• Use WhatsApp Status to share updates and stories about your fundraiser. Since status updates are visible for 24 hours, they can keep your audience informed regularly.
• Use group chats for discussions, updates, and to create a community feeling among supporters.

Craft your Message

• Make sure your message is clear, concise, and to the point. Explain the purpose of the fundraiser, how the funds will be used, and the impact it will have.
• Share a compelling story about the cause you are raising funds for. Personal stories tend to resonate more as donors form a more meaningful connection and want to support your cause.
• Include a strong call to action (CTA). This could be a link to a donation page and details on how to donate.

Use Imagery

• Use high-quality images and videos to showcase your cause. Visual content is more engaging and can convey emotions and messages more effectively than text alone.
• Use the GiveMatch Double your Donation digital poster to educate donors on how to donate and get matched.

Engage with Your Audience

• Send personalised messages to your contacts. A personalised touch can make people feel more valued and more likely to contribute.
• Follow up with people who have shown interest but haven’t donated yet. A gentle reminder can sometimes prompt them to take action.
• Always send thank you messages to donors, regardless of the amount they contributed. Gratitude can foster long-term relationships.

Example templates

1. One month ahead of fundraiser launch:

Hey [Name], exciting news! The [Charity Name]’s "[Campaign Name]" fundraiser, powered by GiveMatch, launches soon.

[Insert 1-2 sentences about your charity’s mission and the impact this campaign will support, e.g., “We’re raising funds to provide 10,000 meals to families in need across London.”]‍

Here’s how it works: Donate, share your unique referral link, and when 2+ friends donate through your link, your donation will be matched, doubling its impact!

[Link to a short video or image related to the campaign]

Mark your calendars and help us make a difference!

2. Two weeks ahead of fundraiser launch:

Hey [Name], get ready! The [Charity Name]’s "[Campaign Name]" fundraiser is launching on [Date].

[Insert 1-2 sentences about your charity’s mission and how this campaign will make a difference.]

Here’s how you can double your impact:
1️⃣ Donate to the campaign.
2️⃣ Share your unique referral link.
3️⃣ Get 2+ friends to donate.

[Link to a short video or image related to the campaign]

Let’s make a difference together—stay tuned for the big day!

3. Launch post:

Hey [Name], the wait is over! The [Charity Name]’s "[Campaign Name]" fundraiser with GiveMatch is now LIVE! 🚀

[Insert 1-2 sentences about the charity’s mission and the specific goal of this campaign, e.g., “We’re aiming to raise £50,000 to fund 5 community food hubs across London.”]

Here’s how you can double your impact:
✅ Donate now: [Insert donation link]
✅ Share your unique referral link.
✅ Get 2+ friends to donate, and your donation will be matched!

Together, we can [insert key goal, e.g., “help #NourishLondon”]. Donate today!

4. Progress updates:

Hey [Name], amazing progress! The [Charity Name]’s "[Campaign Name]" fundraiser is halfway to its goal with GiveMatch! 💙

Thanks to generous supporters like you, we’ve raised [amount raised so far], helping us [insert specific impact so far, e.g., “provide 5,000 meals to families in need”].

It’s not too late to join in—donate today and double your impact by getting 2+ friends to donate through your unique link!

[Link to a short video or image showcasing the impact of the donations]

5. End of campaign thank you:

Hey [Name], a heartfelt thank you from all of us at [Charity Name]! The "[Campaign Name]" fundraiser with GiveMatch has come to an incredible close. 🎉

Together, we raised [total amount raised], which means [insert specific impact, e.g., “15,000 meals will go to families in need across London”].

Your generosity—and your efforts to share your referral link—helped unlock matching funds, doubling your impact!

[Link to a short video or image showcasing the impact of the campaign or a thank-you photo from your team]

Thank you for making a real difference and helping us [insert key goal]. 💙

Analyse and Optimise

• Monitor the engagement levels of your messages. Pay attention to which types of messages get the most responses and donations.
• Collect feedback from your audience to understand what worked well and what could be improved for future campaigns.
• Based on your analysis, adjust your strategy to better meet your fundraising goals.

We hope this is a useful starting point - next, head to our Asset Library to download the 'Double your Donation' to help explain how the matching process works.

If you missed the previous article on promoting your fundraiser do check it out for overall promotion planning and tips on how to use AI to create your messaging.