By my rationale that doing something once and succeeding makes me an expert, I’m offering you my step-by-step brilliantly executed plan: How to Fundraise on Twitter
1. Pick a Worthy Cause
You can’t fundraise without a cause. Well, technically you could, if you’re a scam artist or just don’t want to work, but keep your honeymoon fundraising off Twitter. No one wants to fund your bike trip down a volcano. I’m talking legit 501(c)(3) organization fundraising for worthy causes. My cause was the MS Challenge Walk–a 50 mile, 3 day walk to raise money for the MS Society.
2. Have an Epiphany
In my last post I mentioned that I met my goal for the MS Challenge Walk at the 11th hour. I was about $300 from my goal and was desperate to meet it by the time the walk started. Having already tapped into my family and friends for donations and realizing that neither group was going to pay me to stop begging, I had an epiphany. I could use another source: Twitter.
3. Listen for the angels
You just had an epiphany–they should be singing.
4. Come up with a plan
I had asked for donations on Twitter previously in my fundraising efforts, but this time was different. I needed something that would make people want to donate to a stranger. I had to be creative! So I tapped into curiosity and offered the unknown “weird things” as a reward for a donation.
The result? My Twitter followers, likely thinking that they would receive some naked selfie, obliged.
5. Execute the plan
I had one person re-tweet my request for donations and within minutes the first donation came rolling in. It was from my friend Josh and I set myself up to do my first “weird” thing to thank him. Due to both self respect and lack of resources in a hotel room, I did the first second thing that came to mind–I dressed myself up like a puppy!
Probably not the best idea considering I subsequently had to wipe my eyeliner-drawn nose and whiskers off of my face but Puppy Emily was well received. Josh and I exchanged some “terRUFFic”puns and I was one step closer to my goal. Woohoo!
