11 tips for a successful donation campaign

From the position of people who have a lot of experience with running hundreds of charity campaigns, the team behind the PavelAndreev.ORG Foundation will share 14 tips that will help you run a successful charity campaign. Over the years, we've learned what works and what doesn't work so well. We'll give you guidelines on how to not only organize your charity cause, but also the possible obstacles you might face during the campaign.

1. Raise funds through the PavelAndreev.ORG platform

Choose a platform to use to raise funds for your charity campaign. Our conditions are completely transparent and we do not deduct any percentage of the donation amount. Only a transaction fee is deducted. The idea behind the Pavel Andreev donation platform was to become the largest and only one of its kind in the country. Registering and setting up a charity campaign through the site is extremely easy and you won't have a hard time using it at all. The fast and intuitive design is just one of the significant advantages of the platform over all others. Familiarize yourself with the site's Terms and Conditions before launching a campaign, and don't hesitate to contact the Pavel Andreev team if you have any questions.

2. Choose a suitable name for your campaign

It is important to choose a name to associate your campaign with. Suppose you want to create a charity campaign to support homeless dogs or a shelter. In that case, you need to come up with a name that not only attracts attention but also gives specific information about your cause. A name like ,,I'm raising money for homeless animals" would be too general and not accurate. Be specific. Much better would be ,,Donation campaign to buy food for shelter dogs.. in the city..'' etc.

3. Create a donation account

Setting up a donation account is necessary when running a campaign to raise funds for treatment. Be careful when signing the contract and make sure there are NO FEES as sometimes banks ,,forget'' to apply this. It is also important to know the time frame in which the account will be set up, as with some banking institutions it happens instantly, while with others it takes a long time, and in such situations every second is precious! And last but not least - when opening a donation account, it is very good to read the terms and conditions section of the agreement. It is important to know that some banks do not pay expenses retroactively and do not approve payments on documents not issued by the medical institution!

4. Create an action plan

When you have a plan - things happen much easier! It can be difficult to collect your thoughts at such a time and create a plan to follow, but it is advisable to do so. With the type and purpose of your campaign in mind, create talking points and set realistic goals to pursue. Think about how you are going to run the campaign; which people would be involved; when it should end and a number of other details to think about.

5. Provide full information about the campaign

Often many people rush to publish their campaigns and don't pay much attention to the text and layout. They don't realise that this is what determines the success of a charity campaign. When creating a campaign on the PavelAndreev.ORG website, users receive "hints" about the minimum text; number of photos; title, etc. Try to give as complete and concise information about your cause as possible. Here are the most important things to provide when you are running a fundraising campaign for a cure:

• Share ALL the documents you have - epicrisis, tests, etc. to prove that the person is sick and needs treatment. Add to them the offer from the hospital where the treatment will take place.
• Explain in detail what the illness is
• State the exact amount you have so far and the amount needed to carry out the treatment. In case you are not sure yet - give an estimate.
• Get your closest friends to share information online through their profiles, thus 'vouching for you' and confirming that you really need help. This way you will get more people to join the cause!
• Share updates on your spending by attaching photos/documents to verify what you have paid.
• Share regular information about the patient's condition - what treatments have been done; how they are feeling etc.

6. Don't limit yourself to charity websites

Use absolutely all channels through which you can disseminate information - social media; TV; radio; media sites etc. You can also organise charity events such as bazaars; concerts; sporting events and anything else you can think of to help raise funds for the campaign.

7. Target your efforts to specific places

Spread the word about your campaign first in places where you think you could get support. For example, if you set up a fundraiser to collect food for homeless dogs, you're likely to see a lot more support from people who have pets. Share about your campaign first on all possible dog and pet related topic channels. Don't expect serious support if you post about your campaign in a "buy and sell auto parts" group, for example. Not that there probably aren't people in that group who love animals, but the idea of that community is quite different.

8. Take a cue from the "successful

Take a look at the successful charity campaigns on the Pavel Andreev platform and find out how they have developed through the different stages. See what you could apply to your campaign and don't hesitate to 'borrow'. There's no reason it can't work for you too! You could even seek direct contact with the people behind them. We are sure they will respond to your request and help you with specific guidelines and goals. They might even get behind your campaign!

9. Create a team

Two heads always think better than one! Accept ongoing advice and ideas from people who are connected to your cause. Always look for a new source of inspiration and constantly ask yourself ,,What more can be done'. In case your campaign becomes more serious and you can't do it all - volunteer for it. You are sure to find some. Carefully select the right people and choose those with whom you will mutually keep the fire alive. It is the driving force of any successful charity campaign.

When the required amount is reached, stop the campaign. This is how you build trust with people! If additional treatments are needed or treatment changes that will require more funds - reopen the campaign. Say what led to this change. Most importantly - what is the amount you need.

10. Not a campaign, a cause!

Turning a charity campaign into a cause is no easy task at all. A cause means you will be leaving a legacy that will benefit others for a long period of time. You'll be bringing thousands of people, known and unknown, together for a good cause. The law of the universe is clear - the more you give, the more you get!

11. Be grateful

Constantly express your gratitude to the people who have supported your campaign. Be it through financial means or otherwise. Remember that every help counts and every dollar is equally important!