5 Ways Your Community Supports Your Fundraiser Beyond Donating
At the end of a school or team fundraiser, the first thing most people ask is, “How much did we raise?” It’s an important number. It tells you how much you can put toward new uniforms, a field trip, or the next band competition. But there’s a lot about your fundraiser that a dollar total can’t tell you.
It can’t tell you who sent the campaign link to the family group chat, who showed up early to set out supplies, or who cheered for the last student to finish the walk-a-thon. Those are the details people remember, and they’re worth including when you thank your community.
As Thanksgiving approaches, think back to a fundraiser your group ran this year. Who helped it reach more people? Who made it easier for families to join in? Who showed up for the kids? Here are five ways people support a fundraiser beyond donating, along with simple ways to thank them.
1. They share your fundraiser with people you might never reach
Your school newsletter or team email can get the word out to the families you see every week. A grandparent, former player, or neighbor can introduce your fundraiser to a whole different group of people.
How one link travels
One share can reach a whole new group.- A parent shares their child’s page with relatives
- A family friend forwards the link
- Someone miles away follows along
Think of a parent who sends their child’s GoPledge participant page to relatives out of town. A family friend sees the link and forwards it to someone who used to play for the same team. Suddenly, people who live miles away can follow along and see what the group is working toward.
Sharing takes only a moment, but it matters. A personal note about why a student is excited for a class trip or what new equipment would mean to a team gives people a reason to open the link and pay attention.
A simple way to thank them: In your next school or team email, try, “Thank you to everyone who sent our fundraiser to a friend, relative, or neighbor. You helped us reach people we wouldn’t have been able to reach on our own.”
2. They give their time when you need an extra hand
If you’ve ever been the person holding the clipboard at check-in, you know how much one extra volunteer can help. Someone needs to tell families where to go, answer last-minute questions, refill the water station, or stay behind to put everything away. Those jobs are easy to overlook until you’re the one trying to do three of them at once.
Some volunteers help for the entire campaign. Others can spare 20 minutes after school or show up a little early on event day. Both kinds of help make a difference. The person who took over check-in for half an hour may be the reason the organizer got to step away and watch their own child participate.
A simple way to thank them: Name the job and what it made possible. “Thanks for taking the first shift at check-in. You kept the line moving and helped families get to the starting area on time” tells someone exactly what you appreciated.
3. They make introductions and lend what they have
A community connection can solve a problem before it turns into another item on your to-do list. A parent might introduce your PTO to a neighborhood business willing to hang a flyer. A community group might offer to share your fundraiser in its newsletter. Another team might lend cones, folding tables, or a tent for the day.
These contributions can save your organizers time and give the fundraiser a presence beyond your usual school or team channels. They can also come from people who already have a connection to your group. A former band parent might know where to borrow music stands, or a neighbor who sees the team practice every week might offer a spot for a flyer.
What people lend and share
Small offers that save organizers time.A simple way to thank them: Let them know how you used what they offered. “Thank you for lending us the folding tables. We used them for check-in and the water station, and it made setup much easier for our volunteers.” If a business helped, you can also ask if they’d like to be mentioned in your next community update.
4. They help families feel comfortable joining in
Every group has someone who remembers what it felt like to be new. They tell another parent which entrance to use, explain how the activity works, or invite a student to walk with their group. It may feel like a small thing to the person doing it. For a family attending its first school event, it can make the whole experience easier.
This kind of support matters even when a fundraiser happens online. Maybe a returning band family shows a new parent where to find the campaign link. Maybe a team parent makes sure a family that missed the kickoff knows when the event is and how their child can participate. A few minutes of help can make a busy week feel a little more manageable.
A simple way to thank them: Give them a quick, personal thank-you. “I saw you walk the new families over to check-in and explain how everything worked. Thanks for making them feel welcome.” An ordinary moment is often the best one to mention.
5. They show up and cheer participants on
Ask a student what they remember about a fun run, and they might tell you who was standing at the finish line. Ask a player about a skills challenge, and they might remember the teammate who counted every basket and cheered for the last shot.
Parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, and friends all help make a fundraiser feel like a community event. Sometimes that means coming to the gym or standing outside on a chilly morning. Sometimes it means sending a text before the event or asking a student afterward how it went. When the fundraiser is built around something kids are doing together, having people take an interest in that effort is part of what makes the day memorable.
A simple way to thank them: Include a detail from the event in your next update. “To everyone who lined the track and stayed to cheer for our last walkers, thank you for making sure every student had someone cheering at the finish.”
Make your Thanksgiving message specific
If you’re writing a Thanksgiving note for your school, team, or youth group, take a minute to ask a fellow organizer what they remember. You might hear about a teacher who opened the gym early or a student who stayed to help clean up. Pick two or three details that capture what people did. A few sentences in a newsletter or team email are enough.
Here’s a note you can adapt:
Your Thanksgiving note
Click the note to add your own details, then copy it.This Thanksgiving, we’re thinking about everyone who helped with our fall fundraiser. Thank you to the families who shared our link, the volunteers who got the gym ready, and everyone who stayed to cheer for our students. We’re grateful to the people who gave and to everyone who made time to help. Our students had a day they’ll remember because so many of you showed up for them.
Whether you’re thanking your community now or wrapping up a campaign later this year, take a moment to remember the people behind the total. Tell them what you noticed and what it meant to your group.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at GoPledge! 🧡
Give Every Participant a Page Worth Sharing
GoPledge gives schools, teams, and youth groups a free way to raise money with pledges and donations. Every participant gets a personal page that family and friends can share.
