So this year we are using People Funding Online. It is a crowd funding platform. I want to walk you through my whole experience from beginning to end so, please come back for updates. This is am awesome platform with no fees. the monies raised go to the cause you are raising it for.
I want to add, this isn't just for organizations. This can be used for so many fund raising needs. The categories to chose from in the drop down menu are:
- Animals
- Art
- Business
- Charities
- Community
- Creative
- Education
- Environment
- Faith
- Film/Video
- Hardship
- Health/Medical
- Human Rights
- Personal Goals
- Popular Issues
- Sports
- Veterans
- Water
If you have anything that you need help with that you want to reach out with, this is an awesome website to go to to help. I am so happy I found this as a resource and a tool. After this campaign, I am hoping to do the same with Cassie's Tuesday group.
So back to the set up. I registered my account and clicked on the submit a campaign tab under the "Campaigns" drop-down. It was so simple to set up and not confusing at all compared to the last one I tried to do. It has very simple questions, anyone can set this up without losing their mind. I did the while set up in less than 15 minutes. It only took that long because it took a few minutes to find the picture I wanted to use.
Writing up a short description was really easy. Just as a little recommendation from me, don't stress over it. You are human and you are reaching out to humans for help. You don't have to make it like a press release. I wrote it up read it and deleted it a few times before I just put my own advise in my mind, then it just took a minute to write.
This is my short description-
Murphy High School Marching Band is an outstanding group of kids from 9-12 grade. They are winning trophies like crazy and there is just one small problem, money. Their instruments are so old and breaking. Some kids are having to learn a new instrument mid way through the year just to keep the band going through their competitions. That hasn't lowered their spirits or slowed them down. They are a true inspiration by way of their dedication and achievements.
Next comes your funding goals and days you want to run the campaign. I picked 90 days and $1,000. I don't know if I will be able to help them raise that much but I am hopeful. I have faith in my fellow man and know that I donate to all kinds of campaigns. I am hoping that people out there will see fit to do the same for this one.
Next, the full story. I was worried that I would write it boring or unattractive but that is me being critical of myself. I just summed it up and put it out there. I stuck to the facts and I hope that helps the band get what they need.
This is my full story-
Murphy High School Marching band has an outstanding group of high school kids that are preforming amazingly this year. The have a small budget that is just not enough for all of the schools in the district. The instruments are breaking and there is no money to replace them. Some students have had to learn new instruments midway through the year just to fill in the gaps. Some parents and grand parents have pooled together to try to get some of the instruments repaired but with little success.
The band is achieving tremendous goals and going above and beyond their expected measure. So far they have competed in competitions in Hendersonville NC, Enka NC, Sprayberry GA, and Blue Ridge GA. These kids are really making it happen out there and need help. That's why I am reaching out to you. Any amount will help, they need instruments desperately.
In addition to instruments, they need traveling funding. All money raised in this campaign will go directly to Murphy High School Marching Band.
After the story is in there, you add in your featured image. This is what cause me most of my time. I finally found the picture and video on their Facebook page- Murphy High School Marching Band. If any of you want to check them out, they have pictures and videos posted :)
This is the 2016/2017 Murphy High School Marching Band. My daughter Abby is in the second row back with the red and blue hair with glasses on. Man, I am so proud of these kids. I have seen them practice 8 hours a day and even extreme circumstances. These kids have more dedication than I have seen anywhere in a long time.
With setting the donations I was a little stressed. I wanted to set amounts that people could relate with but didn't know what to say for the description. At the top of the page there was an example that was very helpful but I was unsure of the prices on the equipment so, I needed more help. I wanted to give people options to give what they can instead of feeling obligated to give more which leads to people giving nothing. I reached out to customer support and they replied right away with a great idea. I used these 3 options:
$1 - Thank you so much for helping!
$10 - We appreciate your support!
$100 - This will get the band on their way!!
What makes it even more awesome for contributors is they can make a custom amount and have the opportunity to donate anonymously so, they can be as private as they want to be. Contributors can also be very vocal about it and share it all over their social media including email. I am hoping that people share it everywhere. There are convenient buttons at the bottom of the page linked to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn and email.
I entered my personal information and clicked the save and preview button. It was that easy. I am so happy that there are tools like this out there.
I went back to the campaign to preview and submit it and it was just how i imagined it. I am so happy with the look of it and I am really hoping that it will go far. I submitted it for review and within a few minutes I go an email with the link to the campaign and a link to edit it if I want it edited.
This is such a user friendly website. If you check it out, please let me know what you think. I think it's really cool and I am hoping that other people agree.
If you read this post and were inspired to donate to the Murphy High School Marching Band, please click HERE to help them along the way.
If you have any questions about this campaign please feel free to email us directly at [email protected] or [email protected]
Your daughter is very lucky that her mother is willing to organize something like this. I'm sure she and the entire marching band are very appreciative.
ReplyDeleteThats awesome they were able to raise that much. I may need this in the future. Thanks for sharing the info on the group!
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ReplyDeletethis is a great concept and so many groups need help.. Doing this online the organizing is the way to go.. Thank you for this informative post
They look like a great group. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, this definitely sounds like an awesome program! :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. this sounds like a great program.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful the way you support your daughter and her activities. I love that you listed reasonable amounts. If everyone that read this did one dollar your goal will be met.Does the account keep any money or does it all go to the children?
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool tool! Fundraising can get exhausting and I find it difficult to reach out to the same people over and over again for each organization. Leveraging social media is so smart! It's amazing you guys raised so much last year. Good luck this year and I hope the kids get everything they need. Music and school activities are so important for developing self worth, discipline, relationship skills and perseverance.
ReplyDeleteits awesome the way they did to raise so much money :)
ReplyDeleteThis definitely sounds like an awesome program.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice story, love this idea.
ReplyDeleteWonderful the way you support your daughter.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to raise money.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great way to raise funds for marching bands.
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