Top tips for crowdfunding
In June, we hosted our first Resilient Communities Series workshop - in partnership with YHA Outdoor Citizens and supported by the Sport England Together Fund - on the subject of Routes to Funding for Outdoor Communities.
For this event, we had a panel of four wonderful experts that provided their advice, experience and top tips to help leaders from across the All The Elements community to access funding options that they may not have considered before.
Jes Baikins from Crowdfund 360 joined us to share her top tips for crowdfunding for community groups and individuals.
Jes is an award-winning crowdfunding consultant specialising in helping community groups, charities and socially focused businesses raise money and build audiences so they can deliver their work and become sustainable in the long run. Over the last 6 years, she has raised over £5million for more than 80 organisations.
In her spare time she is an avid hiker, sea swimmer and paddleboard instructor. She frequently leads events for Yes Tribe Sussex and has completed several long distance hikes including the Cotswold Way and the Lycian Way.
You can find out more about Jes and Crowdfund 360 here.
“Using the analogy of dating, crowdfunding is not a one-night stand, it’s at least a five-month relationship!
Take your time [with crowdfunding]; a minimum of eight-weeks prep beforehand, a five-week campaign and then really follow up with the people who have donated.”
At our Resilient Communities funding event, Jes shared some of her tips on crowdfunding with us. We have captured some of her top tips below.
What is crowdfunding?
Typically hosted online, crowdfunding is a way of raising money from a large audience (think social media followers and email lists) to support a project, campaign or organisation.
What are the benefits of doing a crowdfunding campaign?
· It will provide you with unrestricted funding.
· You don’t have to report back to anyone, however, it’s important that you communicate regularly and clearly with those who support your campaign and donate.
· Crowdfunds generate great SEO (Search Engine Optimisation – which means you’ll come higher up in web searches such as Google).
· It’s a great thing to show future funders as it demonstrates that there is a whole community behind your cause who believe in what you’re doing.
· There is a 70% return rate for those who donate – they will continue to support your brand.
· You will reach new audiences.
· It will generate PR for you – you will get press coverage!
· It will give you amazing social validation.
Important things to know when planning a crowdfunding campaign
· Know your brand and strategy. It needs to be clear and easy to understand.
· Allow 8 weeks before you launch to properly plan and prepare. Only 18% of crowdfunds hit their target and this is due to a lack of preparation and planning.
· Planning should include building your community and getting people ready to support you by sharing your crowdfund information and spreading the word.
· You should already have a crowd/community behind your cause. Do not start without one!
· Keep your crowdfund page live for around 5 weeks.
· Keep those who donated updated with your progress and what will happen after the campaign – what will happen with the funds, what will happen if you don’t hit the target and your next steps.
· If you don’t hit your target, you will still learn a lot and you can try again.
Common mistakes when running or planning a crowdfunding campaign
· Not allowing enough time to plan and prepare.
· Talking about how great you are and not talking about how the community will benefit from this. Focus on how this will help the community.
· Not using a trustworthy crowdfunding website. This will create a level of resistance within your audience and people may not feel comfortable donating. Avoid GoFundMe.
Thinking of running your own crowdfunding campaign and would like more support?
Crowdfund 360 provides consultations, workshops and a whole host of resources to help you set up your crowdfund. If you’d like to find out more, you can visit their website here.
All The Elements offers a range of support for those working on diversity in the UK outdoors, including one-to-one calls, in-person and online events, online resources, online directory and consultancy. If you’d like to find out more, please contact us and tell us about what you need to scale your impact!
Did you miss our Resilient Communities event on funding?
You can watch the funding event below or watch all of our event recordings on the All The Elements YouTube channel. Other events have included volunteer management, organisational structures and governance, and event organisation.
This content was produced as part of our Resilient Communities Series 2023 - a partnership event series organised by YHA Outdoor Citizens x All The Elements CIC and funded by the Sport England Together fund.
