How To Create a Fundraiser on Facebook

By SYBIL DAVIDSON

Creating Fundraisers on Facebook is an easy way to invite your church community to give.

Glenn Memorial UMC in Atlanta recently held a Facebook fundraiser for its church playground makeover. Action Ministries board members are taking part in a fundraiser on Facebook as part of their end of year giving challenge. And many North Georgia United Methodists have invited online friends to donate to a favorite ministry via Facebook instead of giving a birthday gift.

Facebook page administrators can create fundraisers on behalf of their organization and individuals can create fundraisers as well. 

When someone gives through a Facebook donate button, they are emailed a receipt from Network for Good. Then in a few months, the church receives a check for a lump sum.

One challenge for churches using this giving tool is tracking donors for the purpose of thanking them and accounting for their gift, said Rev. Susan Pinson.

"It’s up to the person who hosted the facebook fundraiser to track names for 'thank you' purposes. And even then, that person only has access to the giver's Facebook name, not contact info," she explained.

Despite the challenge, it's worth it to offer such a convenient way to give, Pinson said.

How To

To create a fundraiser for a charitable organization follow these steps:

1. Click Fundraisers in the left menu of your News Feed.
2. Click Raise Money.
3. Select Nonprofit/Charity.
4. Select a charitable organization, then fill in the details like title and cover art.
5. Click Create. 

To collect gifts directly from Facebook:

Action Ministries used Facebook's Network for Good giving option until about a year ago when they applied to use fundraising tools directly through Facebook. This means gifts deposit into the organization's bank account about twice a month. This process is more complicated and begins with verification of 501c3 status and setting up direct deposit. 

Communications Director Katie Farmer shared a step by step guide she found helpful in setting this up: https://nonprofits.fb.com/topic/collect-donations/

Has your church tried Facebook fundraising? Let us know by email at communications@ngumc.org.