5 Ways to Make Your Christian Crowdfunding Successful

If you are a Christian business owner or brand who is launching a crowdfunding campaign, you may be feeling a bit clueless about the how and why parts of the process.

• How do you secure pledges to raise the funds for something that isn’t complete?
• How do you entice your audience to believe in the core message of your product or service?
• How do you foster trust?

Not only are there questions about your ideal target audiences, but there are also questions about how to logistically ship your product or to get the incentives to their recipients. It can feel like a literal minefield of possible hurdles, but with our 5 best Christian Crowdfunding tips, you’ll be well on your way to securing funding and interest without a major headache.

Source: The Biologist

1. Tell a Great Story

Research shows that crowdfunding audiences want to engage with something they believe in, so make sure to give them a compelling and interesting story to invest in. Share how you or your brand got started. Share struggles you have overcome and even moments you wanted to quit! Most importantly, share why you kept going! Audiences also love a great story about how you didn’t give up when things got hard, and it will show resilience and encourage trust that you’ll see something through to the end. Kickstarter is the most used platform and is a great way to raise funding, but you don’t get the funds if you don’t raise 100% of your goal.  For that reason, we recommend that crowdfunding newbies start with Indiegogo, which allows you to keep what you earn, even if you fall short of your funding goal. GoFundMe is also a good alternative for certain situations.  

2. Be Available and Stay Tuned In

Encourage trust in the process by answering messages, comments, and shares. Show appreciation for those who are helping spread the word by engaging with them and providing current updates, news, and frequent notes so they can track your progress. Be honest and forthcoming about any obstacles or struggles in the process so audiences will want to stay in step with your news. Of course, also share any victories, no matter how small! (There will always be a Negative Nancy who feels the need to judge why your organization or product may need funding. Be polite and kind, but don’t engage or try to fight with internet trolls. Those who want to support you will!). Do regular email updates to your followers with reminders about the incentives and progress. 

3. Share Your Budget, Your Plan, and Your Benefits

It is great to show an estimated budget for your project so that your audience knows what they are paying for. People are more likely to give when you are more specific, such as “new camera equipment for filming” or “mailers for our charity event.” People often forget to factor in ALL the fees involved including what the crowdfunding sites take out, your tax liabilities, your packing and shipping costs, your overhead, and more. Show them what you plan to do with the funds. Finally, tell them how your product and organization benefit them personally and the world around them.  

4. Start with Your Inner Circle

A common crowdfunding misconception is the Field of Dreams mistake: “If you build it, they will come.” Most funding will come directly from people you already know or who are familiar with you or others on your primary team. Plan to raise 100% of your initial goal from this audience, then add stretch gifts and goals to raise even more. To capitalize on this, post it on your personal Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube pages, and start off strong. According to Entrepreneur, “Once the funding window opens, it’s important to reach the 20 percent benchmark as soon as possible. That percentage, according to Kickstarter, is a crucial tipping point — while 10 percent of projects never receive a single pledge, 80 percent of projects that manage to raise more than 20 percent of their goal end up being successful.” Then, follow up with personal emails, messages, and texts to those you reached out to. 

5. Optimize Your Campaign Length

Most 30-day campaigns have ended up being more successful than 90-day campaigns because the time frame demonstrates urgency and confidence in the process. No matter what you choose, be intentional about the 30, 60, or 90-day deadline you have set, and stick to it. If you firmly believe in and present your message and the value of what you are requesting funding for, your audience will too!

Do you need help setting up a campaign for your funding needs? Contact us today to learn more about our Christian crowdfunding services. We have extensive social media and marketing experience that will prove valuable to your crowdfunding needs!