We all have causes we would love to support, but it can seem overwhelming to initiate an "official" donation page. If this sounds like you, you will be inspired by Mollie Scholl of Columbus Ohio (pictured, right). We came across Mollie's campaign "Miles for Maddie" earlier today, and we literally decided to drop everything to share it. From the looks of it, donors are loving it too. In fact, within 24 hours she's almost reached half her goal. So what was the big deal with Miles for Maddie? Was it fancy? Was the goal hugely ambitious? Nope. It was actually quite simple. Like, really simple. We loved it because it was clear that Mollie really got what fundraising is all about. Hint, it's not fancy graphics and sensationally poetic persuasive text! (although also didn't hurt that she also hit a bulls eye on the big 3 tips we give every fundraiser, keep reading to find those out!) Mollie's story reminded us how easy it is to turn any event, hobby or milestone in your life into an opportunity to give back to the people and causes you love. It doesn't take much extra effort, just a little thoughtfulness. About Miles for Maddie Mollie was already planning on running a half marathon this spring, but she thought she might need a little motivational boost to push through the long training days. She had the simple yet brilliantly thoughtful idea to use the race as an opportunity to raise money for a cause near to her heart, CFC International. Mollie's older sister Maddie (24, pictured above, left) suffers from Cardio-Facio-Cutaneous Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the heart, skin, and facial features. CFC International funds research for individuals affected. Mollie decided to set a modest yet still significant goal of raising $600 by race day, May 3, 2014. She made a simple decision to create a campaign, did a little comparative research, and decided to use MemberPlanet because of the price and ease of use. Within hours she was fielding donations. The rookies are always the ones nailing the pro tips... sometimes by accident! We weren't too surprised that her campaign was a success, because Mollie hit the top 3 best-practices for mega-successful personal fundraisers. 1) She included a personal picture. This is Huge! Check out her campaign, you'll see why donors feel immediately connected. 2) She included a brief back story about why she is doing this campaign now, and why this cause is personally important to her. No excuses here, you don't need a dramatic story to be effective with this one, just share why you selected the specific cause you did. There must be a reason! 3) She gave a few facts about the cause, including CFC and the certified nonprofit she will be supporting, along with a link for donors to learn more. **People like to know that their money is going to a sound cause. If you are raising money for a personal matter, state what specific expenses you will be facing and how much they will cost. The point is, whether you're gearing up for a half marathon, a Breaking Bad marathon, or a resolution to quit smoking, thoughtful people like Mollie (and you if you're still reading!) always have an excuse to give, and that's all you really need to start a campaign!
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