Fundraising toolkit
Sharing your personal connection to OHSU — your personal why — is the most powerful way to encourage others to give.
Setting up your online fundraising page
Decide what kind of campaign fits your “why”: Campaign for a Cause, Honor Someone Special or Memorialize a Loved One.
Click on Create Your Personal Fundraiser or Create Your Tribute Page and choose your fundraising style from the available choices: as an individual, join a team or create a team.
If this is your first time creating a fundraising page with OHSU and Doernbecher, please create an account. If you are an existing user, simply log in.
Follow the instructions to create and edit your page.
Tell your fundraising story
People love giving to people they know!
Adding personal touches to your fundraising page, like why you’re fundraising, your connection to OHSU or Doernbecher, or personal photos and stories, helps your friends and family connect more with our mission. Your personal supporters will feel more compelled to give because they understand your unique relationship to OHSU or Doernbecher and what it means to you. So don’t forget to personalize your page to reflect your reason for fundraising and share updates as your progress grows!
PRO TIP: Be the first to donate to your fundraising page to show how dedicated you are to the mission. You’re bubbling up your own progress bar and removing any fear of donors being the first to “join the party”!
Key messages
Here are a few key messages that can help you get started with your outreach. They’re also great to share with your friends and family if they ever ask you what makes OHSU and Doernbecher unique.
- OHSU is Oregon’s only academic health center in Oregon, and is distinguished nationally as a research university dedicated solely to advancing health sciences.
- OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital offers the region’s broadest range of pediatric treatments – to more children in more places than any other hospital in Oregon or Southwest Washington.
- Doernbecher experts travel the region to provide specialty care at more than 150 outreach clinics in 13 locations so kids can receive care in their own communities.
- The mission of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is to end cancer as we know it. The institute treats about 6,000 patients every year and conducts about 1,400 research projects, including more than 400 clinical trials.
Spread the word
You’re on your way to fundraising success! Now it’s time to spread the word and take strides toward your goal.
We suggest starting by creating a list of people you plan to reach out to.
- Start with your closest inner circle – This is a great group to target for your first few donations, as they are more likely to respond to your personal outreach. It’s always nice to get some quick wins in the beginning!
- Cast a wider net – Don’t be afraid to look beyond your immediate connections and expand your list. Some people in your wider network may have a personal connection to our mission, and it could spark some great conversations on top of a donation toward your goal!
Utilize local media support
You have a compelling story to tell. Think of ways you can share your story locally and offline. Local media outlets – print, TV, and radio – are hungry for good content, and they may want to help you spread the word about your cause.
TIPS
- When you’re approaching one of your fundraising milestones, use the opportunity to contact people who haven’t responded yet. Remember: people are busy and their in-boxes are full. They may miss your initial message; it’s OK to follow up.
- When you reach out with an update on the progress of your campaign, try to include inspiring stories or personal anecdotes so it’s more than just a repeat ask.
- Continue using social media. It’s acceptable to post frequent updates on social channels.
Don’t just ask once – follow up with new information.
A few people may not respond to your first message. Don’t give up on those folks. Set goals instead. When you set up fundraising milestones such as $500 by end of week two and $1000 by end of week four, you accomplish two things:
- You create a sense of urgency that can inspire friends and family to support your cause.
- You have a reason to reach out again.
You can also use the number of donors as your goal rather than focusing on the amount raised.
Example emails
Email is one of the easiest and most effective ways to fundraise. This should be the first place you start in your outreach strategy.
PRO TIP: Keep your message clear, direct, and timely! Don’t be afraid to add some visual and personal elements to catch donors’ attention and inspire immediate action.
Example 1:
Subject – [Add Powerful Subject Line]
Dear [Name],
I’m raising money for [OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital] and it would mean so much if you could help me reach my goal!
Please Click Here [Add Your Fundraising Page] to give.
Here is why I’m passionate about supporting OHSU Doernbecher:
[Add information about your personal connection.]
Thanks so much for your support!
[Name]
Example 2:
Subject – [Add Powerful Subject Line]
Hey [Name],
I’m fundraising for [OHSU Knight Cancer Institute], an organization that [why you support Knight Cancer Institute]. The money raised will go toward [the program you chose to support at Knight Cancer Institute].
I’m trying to raise [$ Fundraising Goal] by [DEADLINE]. If I can inspire just five people to contribute [$ Fundraising Goal/5] or more, I’m there.
It’s really important for me to help [the mission of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute] because [your unique connection to the cause]. I hope you’ll support me and [OHSU Knight Cancer Institute] by making a gift to my fundraising page below.
Thanks so much for your support!
[Name]
Example 3:
Write your own!
Subject – [Add Powerful Subject Line]
Hey [Name],
[Content]
Thanks so much for your support!
[Name]
How to leverage social media
In addition to email, use social media to bolster your communication outreach. This is a great way to reach people who fall outside of your inner circle. To make this even easier, take advantage of the built-in social sharing options on your fundraising page!
Human health touches all our lives, and most of our donors and supporters have a personal reason for supporting their area of passion at OHSU. Sharing your personal connection to OHSU — your personal why — is the most powerful way to encourage others to give.
PRO TIP: All social channels are good social channels. Your network on Facebook will be vastly different from your network on LinkedIn, but each offers its own unique value. Don’t be shy about promoting your campaign across all of them to spread the word!
Be sure to use a photo! Social media posts with pictures get more views and more engagement on every channel. Don’t forget to tag us so we can see your story and engage with you.
Best practices for sharing on social media
Always include an image
Studies show that social media posts with pictures get more views and more engagement on every channel!
Keep your post short and sincere
People are less likely to read long posts. Keep your message simple, succinct and sincere. The goal is to get people reading your story and inspire them to give.
Be authentic
Share your personal story that inspired your giving. People who connect with a cause personally are more enthusiastic about giving – and that enthusiasm is contagious.
Engage with questions
After you post, it’s important to check back on your post to see if anyone has asked you a question via reply (X), comment (Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn) or private message (any.) They may want to know why you’re donating or how to learn more. Take a couple minutes to respond to them; it could make all the difference!
Tag us!
Follow the OHSU Foundation and OHSU social media accounts
These accounts share stories of impact and ways to get involved throughout the year. Be sure to follow the accounts that connect to your area of passion and then share those posts with your networks!
Follow, set up notifications (if desired, so you don’t miss a post!), engage and share. It’s really that easy.
Below are a few of the many OHSU-affiliated social accounts. For a comprehensive list, visit the OHSU social media directory.
Thanking your network
When donors respond to your campaign by making a gift, the most important thing you can do is thank them. It’s an essential step in building a relationship with your donors. Make your thank you message authentic, and send it as soon as you can to acknowledge their donation. Don’t let them wait around to hear from you, or you might not be able to count on them to support your cause again in the future.
Tips for writing effective thank you messages to donors
Make it a personal message. Don’t just rely on the automatic receipt to acknowledge their donation – let them know how much it means to you that they supported your cause, and why it’s so important to you.
Email and text are OK, but a handwritten letter is best. Get out your stationery and stamps, and make sure you mail the letter within two weeks of receiving their donation.
Recognizing donors on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter – or another favorite social network! – to publicly thank them will also make a difference to your campaign.
If you are thanking your donors, click the Thank Your Donors template in the Emails section of your fundraising page. You will see default text to help as a guide. We highly encourage you to personalize your thank you messages.
Tips for the tone of your thank you messages
- Celebrate what your donors did and what they’re helping you accomplish. Highlight the impact of their gift.
- Thank you messages should have a positive, can-do tone, with a message of hope and action. Remember, your email or letter is about your donor’s gift and how it helps.
- Remember: This is not the time to ask for another gift. Stick to your focus: celebrate your donors, the heroes of your story, and what their donation has accomplished.
