Peer-to-peer fundraising. It sounds simple, get people to sign up, raise money, and boom success. But anyone who’s ever tried to get their friends to donate to a charity run knows that it’s not quite that easy. So, let’s break down how to get people involved in your peer-to-peer campaign, how to help them actually raise money, and how to make sure their friends and family don’t just ignore their donation requests.

Getting People to Sign Up for a Peer-to-Peer Campaign

The first step is to get people to care. If they don’t care about your cause, they’re not signing up. The trick is to make your messaging clear, compelling, and impossible to scroll past. No one has time to decode a complicated mission statement. Keep it simple, What’s the cause? Why does it matter? And why should they personally get involved?

For example, if you’re running a bike ride fundraiser, your messaging shouldn’t be a long-winded explanation of global issues and statistics. Try something like “Bike for a Better Future”. Clear, direct, and easy to repeat when they tell their friends.

Another thing to consider is who are your current supporters? If your donor base consists mostly of middle-aged professionals, a week-long camping trek might not be the best idea. Match the event to your audience. If your supporters love fitness, a marathon makes sense. If they’re more likely to donate from the comfort of their couch, maybe a virtual challenge is the way to go.

Helping Fundraisers Get Their Friends to Donate

Getting people to sign up is one thing. Getting them to actually raise money? That’s another challenge. Most people feel weird asking their friends for money, so make it as easy as possible.

1. Give them the tools – Don’t expect fundraisers to craft the perfect social media post from scratch. Provide pre-written messages, email templates, and shareable graphics. The less effort required, the better.
2. Use a good platform – Fundraising platforms like Raisely or GoFundraise make it simple for people to share their campaigns, track progress, and accept donations. If the process isn’t seamless, people will drop off before they even start.
3. Send reminders – People forget. A well-timed email or message nudging them to share their fundraiser again can make a huge difference.
4. Recognise progress – Leaderboards, badges, and social media shout-outs all help keep momentum going. If someone sees their friend getting recognition for raising $500, they might be motivated to step up their own efforts.

Getting Donors to Buy into the Charity (Not Just the Fundraiser)

Let’s be honest, a lot of people donate to peer-to-peer campaigns because their friend asked them to, not because they’re deeply invested in the cause. The challenge is turning a one-time donor into a long-term supporter.

• Tell them why their donation matters – When they donate, send an automated thank-you email that actually means something. “Thanks for supporting John’s marathon!” is fine, but “Thanks to your donation, we can provide meals for 10 families in need” is better.
• Follow up – Don’t let the donor experience end at the transaction. Send updates on the impact of their donation, invite them to future events, or encourage them to get involved in another way.
• Make it personal – If someone donates to a cause because of their friend, there’s a good chance they care about it too. Give them ways to stay engaged that don’t just involve donating money, like volunteering or joining a mailing list for future initiatives.

The Takeaway

Peer-to-peer fundraising works but only if you make it easy, engaging, and actually worth people’s time. If your messaging is confusing people won’t stick around. But if you create a seamless experience, recognise their efforts, and make them feel connected to the cause, they’ll not only raise more money, they might just become lifelong supporters.