News is a powerful tool to make your fundraising campaign a success – no matter whether you are collecting money for private individuals or for social and activist initiatives. They create transparency, trust and an emotional connection with your supporters. What's more, you can use the news feature to mobilise your supporters and encourage them to do more for your campaign beyond their donation. In this article, you will learn why news is so important, what content they should contain and how you can best design them.
Why Are News Updates Important?
A good update is more than just a status message. It's an opportunity to strengthen the personal connection with your supporters. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should send updates:
- Personal connection and engagement: By keeping your supporters regularly informed, you create a personal connection. People identify with your campaign, they feel included and part of it.
- Motivation to share: Updates that appeal to people's emotions motivate your community to share the campaign further, thus attracting new donors.
- Reinforce positive feelings: Your supporters should feel good – whether it's through a sense of community, hope, or the knowledge that they have made a difference.
- Transparency and trust: Show how the donations are being used and what progress has been made. This increases trust in your campaign.
- Create a talking point: When you share exciting stories and successes, people are more likely to talk about your campaign and recommend it to others. This can also lead to important issues finally getting the attention they need to make a change. For example, rare diseases that receive so much attention through a fundraising campaigns that health insurance reimbursement policies are changed!
- Motivating further support: If you share that supporters are giving a yoga class in return for donations for the campaign or organising a charity concert for the campaign, this motivates others to organise similar events.
When Should You Write an Update?
Now you have already learned some reasons why it makes sense to send updates via the news function. But when is the right time to do it? There are many occasions to write an update. Here are a few examples:
- Reaching a milestone: Did your campaign raise $1,000 or reach 50% of the fundraising goal? Celebrate this success with your supporters!
- Initial progress: Have you already started with the planned expenses, e.g. renovation work after a fire? Share this progress.
- Personal thanks: A heartfelt thank you from you, the beneficiary or their family shows how important the donations are to you. In this article, we explain in detail how you can say thank you effectively.
- Special events: Did one of your supporters organise a fundraiser or did a company, influencer or sports club support your campaign? Share the news and tell your community about it.
- Media attention: Did a newspaper or online article report on your campaign? Share the link with your community.
How Do You Write News Updates?
You can write and send updates in the admin area under ‘News’. Don't forget to tick the box to have your news sent by email to all donors. In addition to the email, the news will also be visible on your betterplace.me donation page.
An effective and motivating update follows a specific structure and addresses supporters personally. We give you tips on how to structure your update. It's best to use the suggestions and adapt them to your campaign:
1. Personal Salutation:
An effective and motivating update follows a specific structure and addresses supporters personally. We give you tips on how to structure your update. It's best to use the suggestions and adapt them to your campaign:
1. Personal Salutation:
- ‘Dear friends, dear colleagues, dear people from [place] and beyond who have donated!’
- A personal address creates a direct connection.
2. The Update:
- Be specific: What has happened since the last update? Share facts and figures, and above all, stories.
- Be personal: How do you feel? What does this progress mean to you or the beneficiary?
- Use quotes: A quote from the beneficiary, their family or supporters can reinforce your message.
- Humour and emotion: A humorous or emotional tone can strengthen the bond with your supporters. Just make sure that the tone of your update is appropriate for the occasion – for example, not everyone can handle (black) humour when it comes to death.
3. The Call to Action:
- Ask your community to share the campaign or support it in some other way, for example with a solidarity action. Examples:
- ‘Share this campaign with your friends so that we can reach our goal together!’
- ‘Help us reach the last milestone – every donation counts!’
- It is always better to address the reader personally in calls to action, so write ‘Please share’ (and not ‘Please share’)
4. Say Thank You:
- End with a heartfelt thank you. Your supporters should know how valuable their help is. You can also find tips and phrases for saying thank you in this article.
News Examples from the Betterplace.me Community
Example 1: The Sick Child Reports on the Progress of the Treatment – and on Happy Family News
'Hello everyone!
Before the Christ Child comes, I really have to get back to you! Time flies soooo fast and I have a lot to tell you....
The doctors have the retinoblastoma very well under control thanks to the chemotherapy I received! Unfortunately, the strong medication damaged my right eye so badly that an artificial pea was inserted in June...... Oh!...No......wait a minute, now I think I've got something mixed up – it's called a lens – I got an artificial lens.
The retina, which had already detached, has reattached and is growing – the doctors and everyone else were very happy about that. It's like eating pizza, watching TV and cuddling with mum at the same time, they said.
So, guys... I saved the best for last. I'm really excited and stoooolz... because I've recently become a ‘big brother’!!! Well, that's great news, isn't it? I can't wait until Maximilian can walk and we can go on a journey of discovery together.
Dear ones, I'll be in touch again when there's something new, kisses
Your Julian
PS: I almost forgot. So you know what I look like now, there's a new picture on betterplace.me.'
Example 2: A Person Reports on the Impact of the Donations
'Thank you so much for your generous donation. You have helped us raise almost €35,000 to distribute to folks who do not have access to any other financial support system during the COVID-19 crisis. By supporting these folks, you have joined with us to show solidarity that we hope will continue well beyond this crisis.
We have now distributed over €25,000 to 98 individuals who are most in need. Every week we're also donating €500 to an organisation which is working on the ground with people in crisis. So far your money has helped: OLGA, Gladt e.V and CrowBar Crew-Solidarity continue their essential work.
There is still an urgent demand for help in our community—these funds are needed by people to cover basic costs such as food. We would really appreciate your continued support by sharing our campaign online and via email, directly talking to your loved ones about it and, if you're able to, please consider donating again.
We are truly grateful for your support and so are the people your donation has helped: ‘I have no words to express how much gratitude I'm feeling for all you now, this means not only the financial help but also the motivation kick I needed to get straight up again. I literally had 45 euros with me left. Thank you so much to you all! I promise you all I will be working hard and proactive to find a solution for the problem I'm facing right now. A lot of love, respect and gratitude ***’
Solidarity, health, and well-wishes,
Berlin Collective Action'
Example 3: A Restaurant Owner Donated the Proceeds from a Whole Day
'Exactly one week ago, we launched the ‘Help Timo’ campaign. We have currently raised 46,339 euros. The Badebistro in Langenburg sold pizzas for Timo on Thursday and Friday and donated the entire proceeds. Thank you so much for this amazing campaign, Peer and Jonas. You have already transferred 1,750 euros. We won't be able to see the amount until tomorrow because of the weekend.
1 week – 1,045 donors – 48,089 euros
❤️ THANK YOU ❤️
With great gratitude and joy, I remain with warm regards,
Christiane Kubis'
Example 4: Half of the Donation Goal Has Been Reached
‘Dear supporters,
We did it – we reached the first half of our fundraising goal! Thanks to you, we have already been able to start the renovation work. This means so much to us and gives us hope that we will soon be able to return to our home. A big thank you to everyone who has helped so far. Please keep sharing the campaign so that we can really move back into our home soon!
Best regards,
Your Max’
Example 5: The Crowdfunding Campaign Was Featured in the Local Press
‘Hello everyone,
A big thank you from my whole family for your incredible support! Today our crowdfunding was even featured in the local newspaper. We are speechless with gratitude. If you want to read the article, here is the link: Please share the campaign to help us reach our goal soon!’
Conclusion:
Writing and sending updates is key to engaging your community, building trust and making your fundraising campaign a success. Stay personal, transparent and emotional. And don't forget: a small thank you and a clear call to action can have a big impact.
So write your next update now and stay in touch with your supporters! Just click on ‘News’ in the admin area of your crowdfunding campaign.
So write your next update now and stay in touch with your supporters! Just click on ‘News’ in the admin area of your crowdfunding campaign.
The Most Common Questions and Answers about Writing News
Why Are Updates so Important for a Fundraising Campaign?
Updates create transparency and strengthen the trust of your supporters. They keep your community up to date and help you to build a personal relationship with them. With exciting news, you motivate your supporters to spread the word about the campaign or support it in other ways.
How Often Should I Write Updates?
There is no hard and fast rule, but regular updates are important. Write after important milestones, when you make progress or when special events happen. Some crowdfunding campaigns develop so rapidly in the first few days and fascinate people so much that it makes daily updates worthwhile. This way, donors feel like they are part of the action. Give your supporters all the important information without flooding or overwhelming them with too many messages. Especially if you send updates in quick succession, make sure they are not too long.
What Makes a Good Update?
- A personal greeting
- Specific information on progress or milestones
- Emotional or personal stories
- A clear call to action
- A heartfelt thank you
How Can I Ensure that My News Is Read?
Keep your updates short and to the point. Use emotional stories and interesting facts to grab the reader's attention. Make sure that your update is clearly laid out with paragraphs, is easy to read and is not too long.
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