How to Use Social Media in Your Fundraising

Social media is a part of most of our lives, and while we love all the fun connectivity social media allows, it can also be a useful tool. It makes fundraising simple! Use it to kick start, finish or follow up on your fundraising goals with a whole lot of likes ? Here are easy ways to use social media in your fundraising.

Holiday or Event: A great place to start on social media is to ask friends to donate a specific amount by a certain date. Be it for your birthday, another holiday, or even an important date for you, like your first team training walk, setting a deadline creates a sense of urgency. Remember, don’t use the pre-provided Facebook “Donate” button, but instead, link to your own personal fundraising page. This will ensure that all donations go right to you!

Sample Post: My birthday is coming up and I want to celebrate by raising $300 for the 3-Day! I need 10 friends to donate $30 each to hit my goal. Won’t you help me make my birthday, and 3-Day, wish come true?

Use Instagram: Post about your 3-Day goals on your Instagram account. They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and this is the perfect way to prove it. By showing your training walks, fundraising efforts and even photos from past walks, you will personalize your journey. Then, link to your fundraising page in your bio. If you need post ideas, follow us on Instagram for inspiration!

3-Day Challenge: Have your friends “challenge” their friends to donate. Once one friend donates to you, ask them to update their Facebook status and challenge a few more of your mutual friends to donate as well.

Sample Post: I donated to Lisa’s 3-Day journey, and now I’m challenging Maria, Liz and Sarah to do the same! Let’s make a difference in the fight against breast cancer together!

Facebook App: If you want to really boost your fundraising efforts, add the 3-Day Facebook app to your Facebook page and use it to post regularly. Your posts will automatically include a link directly to your fundraising page! It makes it all so easy.

Time-Based Challenge: Like setting a goal around a holiday, you can make your own social media finish line! Set a challenge for yourself where you will do something crazy/silly/adventurous if your fundraising goal is met by a certain date. You can also get your whole team in on the action!

Sample Ideas: Jumping into your family pool in all your 3-Day gear, doing a trick on the trampoline, making a team human pyramid, or singing a song in your funniest 3-Day garb.

Fundraising Widget: Get a 3-Day fundraising widget at The3Day.org/Widgets and add it to your email signature or personal blog. That way, every time someone gets an email from you, even if it’s not about the 3-Day, they’ll be reminded of your goals.

Facebook Photos: Change your Facebook profile or cover photo to a 3-Day image. Get one at The3Day.org/Logos (make sure you’re logged in) or on the Inspiration Gallery on our blog! Then ask for donations in your status updates, and the caption of your photo.

Tap Your Team: You can also use your team to help you with any and all of these ideas! Do a team challenge to hit a fundraising goal by your first team training walk, take a team photo for your profile or cover photo, or just use them for inspiration for new social media ideas.

How do you use social media in your fundraising efforts? Tell us in the comments!

Gotcha!

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Did you believe our April Fool’s Day jokes? Don’t worry! We won’t make you sail your way through 60 miles and (sadly) won’t be able to have your 3-Day dinners delivered by drone this year. We just wanted to share a joke, give a smile, and start your April off right.

If you spotted the joke, high five! You’re a smarty! Feel free to share around to your team members from the 3-Day, or other people who need a grin.

Another April Fool’s Day prank to share? See if people will believe that we’re having the 3-Day by sea this year! Don’t worry, we’ll be walking as usual, but it could give someone a laugh 🙂

What are some other funny 3-Day jokes or pranks we could share on April Fool’s Day next year? Tell us in the comments!

Meet Dr. Brionn T., Twin Cities 3-Day Medical Crew Lead

Our Medical Crew is a key component of our 3-Day family and experience. They keep us safe and strong as we embark on a 60-mile weekend together. We are thankful for them every day, but specifically today, on National Doctor’s Day.

On this day, we want to thank the men and women who volunteer their time to keep our 3-Day family safe and sound. That includes Dr. Brionn T., Program Director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Minnesota Health… and Twin Cities 3-Day Medical Crew member!

Brionn first became involved in the 3-Day almost five years ago, when a colleague got in touch with him to encourage people from their department to volunteer, as well as recruit the trainees that Brionn works with at the hospital.

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“We in the medical field have a very unique skill set. Most people go into healthcare to help people, and we’re fortunate that a lot of times we get paid to do it. But there are a lot of cases where people can benefit from medical care where we might not get paid to help. And those times are even more important!”

In his first year on event, Brionn camped overnight in the medical tent, instead of his own. He wanted to be there just in case anyone needed anything, all night long.

“I can still remember seeing that sea of pink tents for the first time! That, and the Closing Ceremony, was memorable and powerful, and will stay with me.”

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He hopes memories like that will also stay with the doctors and trainees he recruits to come back to the 3-Day with him year after year. The connections he makes with his fellow crew are ones he now treasures and looks forward to each year. He calls it a “reunion” and knows that any involvement with the 3-Day comes with its own sense of accomplishment.

“Even if I don’t walk, we help people get across the finish line. It’s about being part of the team, treating all the walkers and getting them moving again!”

That strikes the perfect balance of teamwork making the dream work, which, for Brionn is at the heart of the 3-Day.

“It’s fun… with a mission.”

This mission is now part of Brionn’s life all year, and he encourages everyone; doctors, volunteers, walkers, and more, to join him.

When asked what he would say to get someone to join the 3-Day for the first time, he said, “Just jump in! You’re not going to regret either walking or volunteering. Find what works for you and just do it. You’ll make friends. You’ll feel accomplished and you will never be upset that you came out and did it.”

We’re certainly not upset that Brionn joined the 3-Day. Thank you Brionn, and all our Medical Crew, for coming out and being there whenever we need you.