How Does It Work?

GiveForward was created to help people reach their fundraising goals. Whether you're a small non-profit raising funds to build a school in Africa, an individual running a race to raise money for your favorite charity, or just chipping in so your neighbor can pay for unexpected medical expenses, we can help you raise the money you need.

But, we're also a site for donors looking to find a more meaningful way to give. By connecting you directly with people and communities in need, you know that your gift, no matter the size, can make a difference.

For Fundraisers

1. Getting Started

Create a free, customized fundraising page for your cause by clicking "Start Fundraising" and choose either "Individual" or "Group Pages." Individual pages are best for a person looking to raise money for a favorite charity, a close friend, or even a volunteer trip abroad. Group pages are best for non-profits, schools, college clubs and anyone looking to have multiple people raising money for the same cause.

2. Personalize Your Page

Personalize your Fundraiser or Group Page with a long description, photos, videos, event calendar and updates. The more details you add, the more likely you are to receive donations, as people like to understand how their money will be used and the impact those dollars will have. And don't forget to thank your donors by adding a personal thank you message to their receipt.

3. Leave Words of Encouragement

Although you may be tempted to send a mass email to everyone in your address book, the best thing to do is to email your closest friends and family first. They are likely to be the most generous and will help get the ball rolling for future donors. Then, go crazy. Email anyone you think would be willing to help you reach your goal. When asking people to help you reach your goal, it's important to share with them the reason you are fundraising in the first place. Make sure each request comes with a description of what this cause means to you. And, check out our Fundraising Bootcamp for more ideas on strengthening your efforts early on.

4. Be Persistent

Fundraising is not the easiest thing in the world. In fact, studies show that people need to be asked 3-5 times before they'll consider giving. So, don't get frustrated if people don't jump at the opportunity to give you money. You might have to try a few different techniques. You can find plenty of ideas in our Fundraising Tip of the Week section of the blog.

5. Thank Your Donors

After you receive a donation, it's important to earnestly thank the person who gave you money. You can do this quickly and easily by logging into your account and clicking "My Donors." You can even thank the anonymous donors...although you still won't know who they are.

6. Experience Awesomeness

Once your fundraiser closes, GiveForward will email you to let you know the final amount raised minus our 3% processing fees and the 2.6% credit card fees. We'll then send a check within 10 business days to the beneficiary you specified, who will also receive a letter informing them of the amazing job you did raising money for them.

 

Donors

1. Search

Donating on GiveForward can be just as rewarding as fundraising. Through our easy search function that checks for names, keywords, cities, and organizations, you are sure to find an interesting project (or many!) to support.

2. Give 5

If you want to give a little but don't know where, we have Give5 that helps match you with projects you might be interested in. Simply answer some or all of the questions to be matched with exciting fundraisers on the site. Then, you choose which five projects will receive $1 from you.

3. Spread the Word

When you submit your payment, make sure to leave a word or two for the fundraiser. They are working so hard for something they really care about, and hearing from friends, family, and even strangers can help boost their motivation and encourage them to try that much harder.

4. Feel Secure

Credit card transactions are secured using 128 bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, so you never have to worry about identity theft or fraud. In addition, we do not share your contact information with beneficiaries or fundraisers on our site unless you choose to do so at checkout. So no need to worry about receiving solicitations from non-profits in the mail or in your inbox.

If you ever have any questions about how all of this works, please email us at support@giveforward.org or give us a call at 312-957-6113.