There is nothing more effective than a direct ask. Your closest ones will surely be excited to hear from you about the program that you volunteer at and will be happy to support you. Make sure to explain to them the work that All Hands and Hearts does, what disaster we respond to, which communities we assist. It's also good to mention your role in this and why this cause is close to your heart.

Finally, make a direct ask for a donation. If your friends or family aren't in the situation that allows them to donate, ask them to share your story and fundraising page on their social media or pass your message to their close networks instead. This will help you reach a wider audience.

You never know. It might have inspired someone to donate, join as a volunteer or even start a career in the humanitarian sector!

You received a donation? Make sure to say thank you! Some contributions are anonymous, but if they are public, why not make a 'thank you' post on social media to show your appreciation? You can also message your donors directly or leave a comment under their donation on your fundraising page.

Keep your donors updated on the progress of your fundraising and the program. It will show them that their contribution truly makes a difference and that you still remember their gesture. Maybe they will even donate again after seeing the fantastic progress or decide to join you on a program!

Almost everyone is on social media these days. Therefore, sharing regular posts about the program and writing a meaningful explanation of why you are so passionate about our work will be a great encouragement for your network to visit your fundraising page, possibly donate and/or maybe apply to be a volunteer! Almost 50% of all our volunteer applications come from alumni and direct referrals, so your social media posts really can make a difference!

Need some inspiration? Ask the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator on your program for help with writing a post or giving you access to pictures from the site. They are full of great ideas and are always happy to help.

Personal videos with a direct ask and a simple explanation of our work go a very long way! Some volunteers shoot 'day in a life of a volunteer' videos. Others chose to film themselves explaining the reason behind assisting a particular community and dive deeper into the 'why' behind our work and fundraising.

Videos are one of the most engaging ways to get your network interested in the cause you support, and they also perform better on social media than photos or just text, so why not start with that?

Please refer to our ethical storytelling video, which will guide you on sharing stories from a program in a respectful and dignified way.

Together with 'give up month', personal challenges are some of the most exciting and preferred ways to fundraise for charities in 2021. This can be anything and everything: commit to run a half-marathon if you raise $2,000, walk 5k a day if you raise $1,000 or learn how to juggle if you raise $500 within 5 days. This is a fun and engaging way to encourage your network to donate to the cause that you advocate for.

If you are thinking about a challenge more specific to the AHAH work and you're feeling adventurous, why don't you cycle or walk the pathway of a hurricane that we respond to?

Surprisingly (or not?), this has been one of the most popular ways to fundraise in 2021! How to use it? Commit to giving up eating sugar, drinking coffee, using social media or doing anything else for a month if you manage to fundraise $500, $1,000 or more in a short time. Your network would love to see you 'suffer' for a month for a good cause.

Keep yourself accountable and maybe even pay up $5 or $10 each time you break the promise. Also, remember to update your network regularly on how the fundraising and the challenge are going.

Giving season is fast approaching, and this is one of the best times of the year to ask your close ones for a donation to your fundraising page. November through January is when many people celebrate Giving Tuesday, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year, and many others.

Encourage your network to make a donation in the name of their close ones or as a Christmas present for you. For example, if you're going to visit your family or friends after the program, you can offer to bring them small gifts from a place where you volunteer as a Christmas gift in exchange for a donation. Make the most of this giving period!

Is your birthday or any other significant anniversary approaching soon? Great! Asking for donations instead of presents or wishes is one of the most effective ways to encourage your closes ones to donate to your fundraising page.

If you choose to have a birthday fundraiser, make sure to name your fundraising page accordingly and explain to your network why AHAH is your charity of choice. Communicate about your birthday fundraiser on your social media and send direct messages to your close ones to maximize this fundraising opportunity.

Everybody loves incentives! Why don't you offer your friends to send them a postcard from the program or the place where you're volunteering for every donation that they make? If you're up for that, you can even offer a bit bigger present for anyone who will donate $100 or more to your fundraising page. This would be a memorable way of acknowledgement and might help you reach your fundraising milestones even quicker.

We love to see our volunteers actively engage at the base! So, if you have an idea for a fundraising event, campaign or competition, let the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator on the program know. They will support you with whatever you need and will guide you on how to maximize your efforts.

Organizing your own event can be a great way to encourage fundraising at the base, motivate other volunteers to follow your example and engage your own network.