Encouraging Family and Friends to Donate to Charity

13 Jul 2023 Samantha Munoz

If you have a cause or organization you feel very passionate about, it’s understandable that you want family and friends to support it as well. However, asking for donations from loved ones can feel awkward, and you might feel hesitant or anxious about getting started. Here are some easy tips on encouraging your family and friends to donate to charity.

1. Express gratitude at every step. Whether you’re simply sharing a Facebook fundraiser and sending a detailed email, thank your potential donors, even before they’ve made a contribution.
2. Use different channels to reach people. Social media may be convenient to use for reaching friends that you don’t often talk to, but for family and friends, a direct phone call, face-to-face chat, or email can be more effective.
3. Use storytelling. People are usually not compelled by dry statistics to donate to charity. Instead, tell a story to show the importance or significance of your cause for a single person. People are more encouraged to help when they learn about a single individual, rather than large numbers of people.
4. Make it easy. Sometimes the donation process is complicated (or seems that way) and it turns off potential donors. Make sure you provide your family and friends with an easy, convenient way to support your cause.
5. Ask again. Don’t pressure yourself with expectations of getting results right away from a single ask. Take advantage of social media to broadcast your cause regularly. Of course, be careful not to be too pushy in asking family and friends to contribute.

These are 5 easy tips on getting more people to donate to charity. If you feel awkward about getting started, think about how much difference it can make when you have a group of family and friends supporting your cause. Let your passion keep you striving toward your goal.