10 Ways To Increase Your Fundraising This Christmas

During the winter, we understand that finances can be tight for everyone, which is why we want to highlight 10 ways to boost your donation efforts for Walking Home.

1. Gift Aid: Don’t forget to encourage everyone to claim Gift Aid on their donations, and if you’re eligible, make sure to claim it for your contributions as well. At no extra cost to anyone, this allows an additional 25p to be added to every pound donated. Every one of those pennies goes directly toward assisting veterans and their families who need our support to rebuild their lives.

2. Matched Funding: An increasing number of organisations are willing to match the funds you raise. The best part is that it won’t cost you or your supporters anything extra. Simply reach out to your employer or your family’s employer (sometimes, you don’t even need to work there!), review the terms and conditions, and watch as your hard-earned fundraising efforts are doubled. This not only boosts your position on the Walking Home leaderboard but most importantly, increases your impact in supporting veterans and their families. 

3. Personalise your Walking Home donation page: When you sign up for Walking Home, your fundraising page is automatically created for you. Enhance your fundraising efforts by sharing why you have chosen to take on the challenge in support of WWTW and those who served. Whether you have family members in the Armed Forces, have served yourself, or are simply looking to challenge yourself and raise money for a good cause, your story adds a personal touch that resonates with potential donors. You can also add regular updates to your donation page, helping to keep your supporters updated on the progress of your challenge.

4. Set yourself a target: Establishing a fundraising target is a great way to rally your supporters and motivate them to help you reach your goal, no matter the amount, even as little as £20. Every penny raise goes towards supporting veterans and their families.

5. Share with family and friends: Kick-start your fundraising by speaking to family and friends and asking for their sponsorship. Initial donations on your page will inspire others to support you and help you to reach your target.

6. Leverage social media: Harness the power of social media to spread the word about your Walking Home challenge. Share your training or challenge updates and milestones with your friends and family, let them know how close you are to hitting your fundraising target, and remember to share a link to your Walking Home fundraising page. Consider using some of the resources in our Fundraising Toolkit.

7. Rally your troops: Make your challenge a fun group effort by enlisting your friends, family and workmates. Their support will add to the enjoyment of the challenge and serve as a fantastic motivator, helping you to stay focused and driven to hit your fundraising goal.

8. Challenge yourself: We invite supporters to take on a challenge that is personal to them, no matter how big or small. For example, this could be walking 10 laps of a garden, walking home from the office, or taking on a 100-mile march across the country. Why not centre your efforts around the number 7, to represent that we aim to locate therapists within 7 miles of a client’s home?

9. Get creative: There are lots of ways that you can get your supporters involved in your challenge and increase your fundraising efforts. For instance, if people you know usually get coffee out of home, why not encourage them to donate the cost of their next cup? Or if you’re planning to meet friends, family or colleagues for a Christmas drink, perhaps they could donate the cost of a pint? If you’re a business taking part in Walking Home, why not offer something in return for a donation? From a cake sale or car wash, to an offer to give a talk on your area of expertise, the options are endless, so get those thinking caps on!

10. Share your success: Just because your walk is over, doesn’t mean the campaign is! After completing your challenge, share an update with your supporters, publicly thanking them. Encourage ongoing donations by emphasising that every pound raised continues to make a meaningful difference to the lives of veterans and their families.

Ready to put our tips to the test? Sign up to Walking Home today.