What is a peer-to-peer fundraising page?

A peer-to-peer fundraising page is an online fundraising tool that allows individuals to create their own customizable donation page to raise money for a specific cause or organization. Peer-to-peer fundraising taps into the power of social networks by allowing fundraisers to reach out to their friends, family, colleagues, and broader networks to ask for donations. It provides an easy way for individuals to get involved in fundraising for causes they care about.

How do peer-to-peer fundraising pages work?

Peer-to-peer fundraising pages are hosted on fundraising platforms like GoFundMe, JustGiving, or Rallybound. These platforms provide the templates and tools for individuals to set up and customize their own page. The pages include the individual’s fundraising story, photos, videos, donation progress bar, and a call to action for viewers to donate. The pages are shareable via social media and email so the fundraiser can spread the word to their network. Donations made through peer-to-peer pages are quick and secure, with donors entering their payment information and receiving an automatic receipt. The money raised goes directly to the nonprofit or cause specified by the fundraiser, minus any processing fees charged by the platform.

What are the benefits of peer-to-peer fundraising pages?

There are many benefits to using peer-to-peer fundraising pages:

Allows anyone to fundraise for a cause they care about, even if they are not affiliated with a nonprofit
Leverages the fundraiser’s existing social network for donations
Provides an easy way for donors to give via credit card, Apple/Google Pay, etc.

Offers customizable pages where fundraisers can share their story
Shows progress towards the fundraising goal to motivate giving
Reduces administrative work for nonprofits compared to traditional fundraising

Reaches new donor demographics like younger generations

In summary, peer-to-peer fundraising opens up fundraising to grassroots individuals, makes it simple and inspiring for donors, and taps into new networks – leading to more money raised.

Who uses peer-to-peer fundraising pages?

Here are some of the key groups who utilize peer-to-peer fundraising pages for their causes:

Individuals: For personal causes like medical bills, tuition, or mission trips
Nonprofit organizations: To recruit fundraisers and reach new donors
Schools/sports teams: To raise money for equipment, travel costs, etc.

Event participants: To crowdfund for a walk/run, bike race, etc.
Businesses: To engage employees in giving back to the community
Advocacy groups: To mobilize support and donations around a cause

Religious groups: To fundraise for missions, buildings, and programs

Peer-to-peer fundraising is flexible enough to be used by anyone who wants to harness their community to fundraise for a passion project or cause. Both individuals and organizations can benefit from tapping into their supporters’ networks.

What steps do you need to take to set up a peer-to-peer fundraising page?

Setting up a peer-to-peer fundraising page is easy and straightforward. Here are the basic steps:

Choose a fundraising platform like GoFundMe, JustGiving, or Rallybound. Compare platforms to find the right fit.
Create an account on the platform and choose the type of fundraiser you want to create.
Fill in the fundraiser details: Photo, story, fundraising goal amount, beneficiary organization, etc.

Customize the look and feel of your page with themes, colors, messaging.
Add donation levels or rewards to motivate different amounts.
Connect payment processing so donations can be quickly accepted.

Share the page via social media, email, messaging to spread the word.
Thank donors and provide updates on fundraising progress.

Most platforms provide templates, guidance, and tools to make it simple to create your page and start receiving donations in under an hour. Don’t be afraid to get creative in customizing your page to share why your cause matters.

Choosing a fundraising platform

When choosing a fundraising platform, look for the following features:

Easy set-up with templates and guidance
Customizable pages and designs

Tools to share your page and fundraise via social media
Ability to collect donations quickly and securely
Provides donor management tools

Detailed reporting and tracking of donations
Good customer support resources

Research different options to find the right platform for your needs and cause. Many offer free accounts to get started.

Spreading the word about your page

Creating your page is just the first step. To hit your fundraising goals you need to promote your page and ask others for donations. Some ways to share your page include:

Post on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
Email your contacts and include a link to your page

Send the page to friends/family via text message or messaging apps
Ask colleagues to share or donate to the page at work
Reach out to clubs, places of worship, or other networks you are a part of

Share your page when you attend related in-person events or gatherings

The key is leveraging all your networks, both online and offline. Don’t be afraid to follow up and send reminders about your fundraising drive.

What are some tips for creating a successful peer-to-peer fundraising page?

Here are some top tips for boosting the results from your peer-to-peer fundraising page:

Share a compelling story – Inspire people by explaining why you are passionate about this cause and why others should donate.
Set a challenging goal – Big, aspirational fundraising targets encourage more giving than small goals.
Customize the look and feel – Add colors, photos, videos to bring your page to life.

Offer donation levels/rewards – Provide incentives tied to donation amounts.
Promote frequently – Share across social channels and follow up with email reminders.
Update donors – Show the progress you are making towards your goal.

Send thank yous – Personally acknowledge everyone who supports your campaign.

Really focus on making your page stand out and speak to donors’ emotions. The more exciting and personal you can make your fundraising journey, the more people will want to give.

What common mistakes should be avoided with peer-to-peer fundraising?

While creating a DIY fundraising page is easy, there are some common mistakes to look out for:

Setting a low goal – Don’t underestimate what your network can achieve. Set an ambitious target.
Launching without a plan – Have a strategy and timeline to promote your page before going live.
Not personalizing outreach – Asking for donations should feel personal, not like a mass email blast.

Not following up – Use reminders and updates so people remember to donate.
Forgetting to thank – Express gratitude and share the impact of donations.
Launching right before an event – Start fundraising well in advance, not right before a race, wedding, etc.

Avoid treating your page like a one-time blast. Plan an integrated campaign with ongoing promotion, personal outreach, and donor stewardship.

What legal/tax considerations are there with peer-to-peer fundraising?

For personal fundraisers, donations received through a peer-to-peer page are typically considered gifts and are not taxable income. However, fundraisers should be aware of a few key legal and tax considerations:

Funds raised on behalf of a nonprofit go to the organization, not the individual fundraiser.

If raising money for a friend/family member, make sure it is clear who the beneficiary is.
For medical fundraisers, work with the beneficiary to know if funds affect eligibility for assistance programs.
Be compliant with platform policies around prohibited items or illegal activities.

Disclose to donors if any fees are deducted from amounts raised.
Fraudulent fundraising can result in legal penalties.

Consult the platform’s policies and an accountant or tax advisor if you have any concerns. Most reputable platforms provide disclaimers and disclosures.

What are some examples of highly effective peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns?

Here are some real-world examples of ordinary people who launched highly successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns:

Campaign	Amount Raised	Details
Scott Benner’s Pan-Mass Challenge	$652,000	Raised over half a million dollars riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge charity bike race for cancer research in honor of his mother.
Emily Nishi’s 30th birthday wish	$30,000	Emily leveraged her 30th birthday on Facebook to raise funds to support children’s literacy programs.
Andrew Sartori’s Marathon Bahamas fundraiser	$24,000	Andrew used his upcoming marathon to raise money to install water wells in the Bahamas after a hurricane.
Katie Perry’s MS 150 bike event	$4,200	Katie rode 150 miles over 2 days to raise money for multiple sclerosis and was the #1 fundraiser.

These examples show the power of combining a personal passion, cause, or event with peer-to-peer fundraising. Turning individual efforts into opportunities to fundraise can increase impact.

Should I offer any rewards or gifts for different donation levels?

Offering donor rewards or gifts is an optional approach some peer-to-peer fundraisers use. Some ideas include:

Give small thank you gifts like t-shirts, bracelets, stickers tied to different levels like $50, $100, $250.
Digital rewards like custom artwork, playlists, videos for top donors.
Shout outs and public thank yous on social media.

Random drawings for larger donated gifts or prizes among all donors.
Naming part of a program or physical space after a large donor.
Invitation to a special event or dinner for the biggest donors.

Rewards help show gratitude and make the giving experience more fun and engaging. However, they are not required. Ultimately donors want to support the mission. Any gestures to recognize them should be proportional to contribution amounts.

What are some alternatives to setting up my own page?

If creating your own standalone page seems too intimidating, here are a couple alternatives to consider:

Join an existing team page: Many events, nonprofits, schools etc. have broader fundraiser teams you can join instead of starting from scratch.

Fundraise through social media only: Use Facebook Fundraisers or mobilize giving through Instagram, TikTok, Twitter posts instead of a dedicated page.
Encourage giving to the nonprofit directly: Share links to donate to the organization you want to support.
Ask your social networks to share existing pages: Repost other peer-to-peer pages for causes you care about.

The most important thing is rallying support for organizations and people in need. With some creativity, you can adapt peer-to-peer fundraising in a way that feels comfortable.

Should I continue fundraising after hitting my original goal?

It’s a great idea to keep fundraising even after hitting your initial target. Here are some tips if you want to extend your goal:

Publicly announce that you’ve hit the goal, thank donors, and share the impact.

Consider setting a new “stretch” goal with a higher target.
Add new milestones within the original goal to keep momentum going.
Highlight new programs or needs the additional funds will support.

Offer new incentive levels or rewards for new milestones.
Send personalized requests to previous low-level donors to increase gifts.

There’s no need to immediately shut down fundraising once you cross your goal. Many donors are willing to give more to campaigns demonstrating success and impact.

How can I get more people to share my peer-to-peer fundraising page?

Every share of your page expands the fundraising reach. Here are some ways to encourage more shares:

Ask donors directly to share after they give as a way to say thanks.
Offer small incentives for sharing like raffle entries, shoutouts, etc.

Craft pre-written social posts people can easily copy and paste to share.
Share other friends’ fundraisers to inspire sharing in return.
Host a virtual fundraiser event where sharing the page is the price of admission.

Share visual content like pictures, videos that people will want to repost.

Make it as turnkey as possible for people to share your campaign across their networks. The key is giving people easy ways to help spread the word.

Should I continue email and social media outreach after the campaign ends?

It’s important to follow up even after your official fundraising period ends. Here are some ways to continue engaging your network:

Send a wrap-up email announcing final funds raised, impact, and expressing gratitude.
Share photos, videos, or stories demonstrating the difference donations are making.
Invite people to continue following progress on social media.

Ask supporters to sign up for newsletters from the beneficiary nonprofit.
Keep them updated on future campaigns or volunteer opportunities.

Stewarding donors is key. Keep your network invested in the cause beyond just raising money. This nurtures them into long-term supporters.

Conclusion

Peer-to-peer fundraising pages empower ordinary people to significantly expand fundraising for their favorite cause or organization. By tapping into the power of social networks, customized pages allow individuals to fundraise in an easy, creative, and engaging way. Setting up a page is simple, but requires spreading the word and stewarding donors to maximize impact. With strategic planning and promotion, ordinary fundraisers can mobilize their community to raise extraordinary sums – all without extensive experience or training in fundraising. Peer-to-peer platforms democratize fundraising, allowing anyone to harness their passion and relationships for social good.