10 Steps to Run an Effective Medical Fundraising Campaign

Do you want to raise funds for a medical cause? If so, you'll need to organize a strong fundraising campaign.

Medical fundraising is the same as other fundraising campaigns. The only difference is that it aims to benefit us all rather than just a select few.

Here are 10 effective ways to building a medical campaign that funds your needs.

1. Create Sympathetic Awareness

Whether you're trying to raise money for children's hospital expansion or cancer research, your campaign needs to attract a great deal of sympathy for your cause.

Make sure people see images of the patients who will benefit. You can do this through ads, banners, social media inserts, blogs, and other media.

2. Know Your Donor Base

• What draws donors to your program?
• Where do their sympathies lie?
• Which demographic is more likely to support your cause?

Collect these statistics by studying the responses you get. Then target these groups specifically to get more mileage for your campaign.

3. Be Specific

List exactly what kind of equipment you want for your research, along with costs. If it’s a hospital building you’re constructing, share plans with details of wings, number of beds, what kind of treatment rooms are planned and so on.

The more details you share, the more support you’ll get.

4. Determine Goals

Meet up with your hospital or research board and determine both long and short term goals. Then plan your fundraising campaign, setting all expectations beforehand. Stagger your goals – you may not be able to achieve them all in one single campaign.

5. Identify Key Players

Assign roles and responsibilities early on so that everyone’s in synch.

Determine who will lead the campaign's public relations efforts and who will oversee daily operations. Decide who will be in charge of the media, mailings, social media updates, the planning committee, volunteer rallying, and so on.

6. Create A Blog

Write articles on how you’ll use the funds to benefit the public. Refer to the medical benefits that other campaigns have brought to society. Summarize technical details in a reader-friendly format. People should know that you know what you’re talking about.

7. Stick To The Same Messaging

The general public may not understand a great deal of medical jargon. So it is important to stick to clear messaging and ensure that everyone on your team speaks on the same terms. It will not help your campaign if one person talks about X while another talks about Y.

8. Brainstorm Ideas

Ask everyone on your team to come up with ideas. Consider everything from silent auctions, merchandizing campaigns, and benefit concerts, videos, television Ads, print Ads, online banner Ads and so on. Always check each idea for feasibility, expense and possible outcomes.

9. Look For Endorsements

A celebrity endorsement can give your campaign a great deal of mileage. Look at Angelina Jolie standing for cancer research and Bono standing for AIDS research. Talk to celebrities who have personally experienced medical tragedies, and seek endorsement.

10. See What Other Organizations Are Doing

If other hospitals or medical charities are raising funds at the same time in your area, make sure the dates don’t clash. For example, if organization X is holding a marathon race to save children, choose another day to hold your event. In this way, you’ll get sole media attention.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I must admit that raising money for a medical cause is difficult. But if you come up with the right strategy, you can make an effective campaign plan that draws support and attention.

So pay close attention to the tips given in this article. Keep your goals in mind, and focus on gaining support and awareness for your cause.

Finally, good luck with your fundraising efforts!

Quick Tips

• Create sympathy by sharing images of patients who will benefit.
• Understand your donor base by studying their interests and demographics.
• Be specific about your needs and costs.
• Determine your goals and plan your campaign accordingly.
• Assign roles and responsibilities to your team members.
• Create a blog that summarizes technical details in a reader-friendly format.
• Use clear messaging to ensure everyone speaks on the same terms.
• Brainstorm ideas with your team and check each for feasibility and possible outcomes.
• Look for celebrity endorsements and support.
• Check for other events in your area to avoid scheduling conflicts.