Before I start, if you haven’t already, check out our semi-generic fundraising tips! ALL of those points still apply, even in 2020 (when people might be tired of donating to political causes/existential threats). There’s a conversation script and email template as well.

TIP #1:

Remember that just like querying, people will always respond more positively when it’s individualized and personalized. Mass emails/facebook posts/tweets can work, but direct, personalized asks are more effective. 

SO. Let’s start.

TIP #2:

Personalize your Give Lively page.

That means:

• Change your picture (if you have a child and you’re comfortable sharing images of them online, a photo with you + your child is particularly touching for Every Mother Counts)
• Change your “note”: Give Lively doesn’t allow you to easily add line breaks, so be careful not to include too much text. But if you have a story related to maternal health–share it! Stay positive wherever possible, though.
• Change your “hero image”. If you want to be especially motivated, you could make a short video (less than one minute) to embed from youtube! And/or share one of the videos posted by Every Mother Counts.

Tip #3

Be your own sponsor.

First of all, for whatever psychological reason, people rarely want to be the first person to donate. If you have the means, throw down $10 or $20. If you have even more means, promise yourself that you’ll donate again when you make word count goals! (Also, Kat will donate to your Give Lively page when you win NaNoWriMo.)

Tip #4

Give a recommended donation amount.

If you’re asking individually, you can also personalize that amount to what you think is appropriate. Have a good friend who wants to help but doesn’t think they can do much? Tell them even a dollar can make a difference (spoiler alert: it can). Lucked out and got that rich aunt who always gives you a couple hundred dollars for Christmas and birthdays? Heck, ask for another couple hundred. 

Tip #5

Remind your potential sponsors that there’s a deadline.

Whenever you give updates, remind your friends and family that you are hoping to have a certain amount raised by the 10th, 20th, or 30th so you can be eligible for xyz prize–and why that prize will make a difference to YOU, the person your friends and family actually care about. So not only is the Mighty Pens a win-win for you, the participant, it’s also a win-win for them: they get to donate to an AMAZING cause while also helping you achieve your authorly dreams.

Phrasing it with deadlines means people are more likely to donate *now* versus say or think they’ll donate later and then…not.

Tip #6

Acknowledge the awkward.

Feel weird about asking people to donate? That’s okay! Tell them! Make it funny! Know that people you’re asking already donate to other causes? Acknowledge it. Let them know you won’t be offended if they don’t donate–but do ask that they amplify your voice by sharing. Perhaps they can’t donate, but maybe THEY have a story about pregnancy/childbirth care that they’d let you share with other potential sponsors. Or they can share that story + your Give Lively link to their own social media followers. There’s a lot people can do that doesn’t involve money.

Tip #7

Write.

The Mighty Pens isn’t about raising money in order to get cool prizes. It’s about raising money to force yourself to write and then, bonus, get cool prizes. Don’t let the stress of fundraising make you forget your end goal: reaching your NaNoWriMo word count, whatever that may be.

Fundraising can seem daunting, but I promise, it’s no more daunting than querying or applying for a job. Yes, that’s stressful. But you can also *do it*. So write! And raise money! And let’s change the world at least a little bit for the better–together.