Is There a Best Time to Launch an Online Fundraising Campaign?

It can sometimes be difficult to predict what will make any particular fundraiser successful. There are however, at least three staple components that will certainly help;

• You would need a great cause that appeals to the demographic of your community, social circle or targeted donors
• Your fundraiser page would be as attractive and informative as possible
• You would share your fundraiser page as far and wide as you can – using traditional and internet-based methods.

If you use these three components you will already be well on your way to achieving success.

The way you promote and manage your fundraiser will directly impact how much money you raise and one of the factors that affects this is when you launch your campaign. So, if you’re not bound by time constraints, you should consider when to launch your fundraiser.

 

Launching your fundraising page at an optimum time is likely to generate more initial donations and create additional fundraising momentum. It is this momentum that can really make your donations soar. It is well known that donors are more likely to donate to a fundraiser that is already established and has received donations regularly and recently. This is why many charity events that are hosted over an evening can raise more comparatively than a long running campaign. Potential donors can see others are donating to the cause and feel happy and comfortable to be a part of it by donating too.

 

One of the easiest things to consider is to launch at the very beginning of any given month. Typically, this is when potential donors have just been paid and are eager to spend a little cash, or are simply more likely to feel generous.

 

Another option is to launch at the beginning of the year, appealing to those who have resolved to be more generous and help others.

 

If you are fundraising for a particular cause, it is always worth considering when this would be most effective. For example, if you want to raise funds for a school event you should consider launching your fundraiser at the very beginning of a new term. This will not only make the fundraiser more memorable but it means you can be consistent with promoting it. Should you launch part way through the term, you risk losing any momentum you may have gathered during the first couple of weeks, when the school breaks for a holiday. It will then take time to re-establish the momentum you worked so hard to achieve.

 

Similarly, if you are creating a fundraiser make sure you are able to commit to several weeks to promoting it, replying to comments and generally driving the fundraiser to a stage where the donations are almost self-perpetuating. This doesn’t mean you have to commit to hours upon hours of networking every day. Just being available regularly, checking your fundraiser is running smoothly, distributing the link and responding to any comments or rewards you may have promised.

 

The obvious times to avoid launching your campaign  if possible are during major holidays – such as Christmas, Summer break and so on, as donors will have disruption to their usual routine and are likely to be distracted by more pressing matters. Donating may not be at the forefront of their minds despite their best intention to do so.

 

Optimizing the launch time of your fundraiser in no way guarantees extra donations. Some fundraisers will be successful regardless, others not so much. But sometimes the timing of your launch really can make a difference.

 

Is now the right time to start your online fundraiser with us? If so, lets go and raise money online!

 

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