Fundraising- How to Get the Word Out

[CursedFireDean]

So I am trying to have surgery before I graduate college, and I created a fundraiser page because I won't be able to save enough without help. I know to share it to my own personal facebook page/ twitter/ etc. but I'm not sure where else to share things. I tried sharing it on my local trans support group's facebook but apparently they have rules against it. They sometimes make exceptions (they say for non-trans-related expenses but I've seen other surgery fundraisers) and there isn't really a consistency in the enforcement (I think they play favourites tbh) but I'm not going to fight them about it. I've also shared it on my tumblrs, one of which has a decent number of followers. I've also shared it to my school's GSA group once but as an officer for the club, I feel worried that I'd be abusing my power or something idk it makes me feel guilty being a leader in the community and asking for money. So I haven't shared it there again. 

Anyways I know that many guides I've seen say to share your fundraiser with news sources or other public venues like that. For other types of medical fundraisers I can certainly see the validity in that, such as bringing awareness to disorders and conditions, or for certain hot topics like cancer and veterans, but for something this sensitive especially when I live in Georgia, I worry about putting myself out there in the news. It just feels too dangerous. If I can find a more liberal paper I might consider it, but we're talking about Georgia. I do live in a less judgemental city but there are many things about where I live specifically that make me unsure.

The suggestions I've seen are:
personal facebook (check)
friends sharing (I have no control over this)
personal blogs (check)
local groups (tried and was told I was not allowed)
support spaces (many have rules against fundraisers)
news/ personal stories/ etc. (worried about the possible danger)

Do you guys have any other recommendations of getting your fundraisers out there and getting more awareness of your fundraiser? I'm thinking about asking a few local businesses if they'd allow me to post flyers or even have a little donation bucket at the counter, but I won't be able to approach them about that until probably mid-January.

[FTMax]

I would share it on your personal facebook at least once a week, and ask your friends/family to share it. Same with personal blogs, though you might be able to do it a little more frequently there depending on how much other content you regularly post.

I run the largest FTM bottom surgery support group on Facebook. It's got over 3600 members. The fact is that if we allowed fundraising posts, there would be little of anything else posted. And the audience in most of these support spaces isn't really conducive to getting funds raised since almost everyone in the group is saving for surgery.

What I would recommend:

- Don't try fundraising for the whole cost of your surgery. People who go for half or less seem to be much more successful. It just jives better with an audience when you say "Surgery costs $5000, I've already saved $2500".

- Do an Amazon Wish List for surgical supplies. I can link you to mine if you'd like to see what I mean. These are shareable. People can buy a few items and have them shipped directly to you. Your address is never visible to the pur->-bleeped-<-.

- Consider doing it kickstarter style where people get something for donating. Donate $50, get some art or some other activity you're capable of doing.

[CursedFireDean]

I would share it on your personal facebook at least once a week, and ask your friends/family to share it. Same with personal blogs, though you might be able to do it a little more frequently there depending on how much other content you regularly post.

I run the largest FTM bottom surgery support group on Facebook. It's got over 3600 members. The fact is that if we allowed fundraising posts, there would be little of anything else posted. And the audience in most of these support spaces isn't really conducive to getting funds raised since almost everyone in the group is saving for surgery.

What I would recommend:

- Don't try fundraising for the whole cost of your surgery. People who go for half or less seem to be much more successful. It just jives better with an audience when you say "Surgery costs $5000, I've already saved $2500".

- Do an Amazon Wish List for surgical supplies. I can link you to mine if you'd like to see what I mean. These are shareable. People can buy a few items and have them shipped directly to you. Your address is never visible to the pur->-bleeped-<-.

- Consider doing it kickstarter style where people get something for donating. Donate $50, get some art or some other activity you're capable of doing.

Thanks!
Yeah it totally makes sense for lots of support groups- there's so many people who need the same thing. Especially when you get to the huge ones like that. I'm in a top surgery group on rn and while they do allow fundraisers, I know that everyone is looking for resources and fundraisers clutter it up. For the local group just the specific atmosphere and size and response of the group was very strange- they didnt give me the standard reasons and what I got didn't make logical sense. But I just dropped it bc the group is small anyways so it wouldn't get the word out that much.

As for the amount- I totally get that. I want to update it as soon as I get a job and know my pay. Definitely I want people to know that I'm working hard for this as well and I know that people feel more comfortable donating when that's the case.

The Amazon wish list is a good idea, thank you! I need to start making a list of supplies anyways and that is a good place to do it.

I've considered the kickstarter kind of thing and I'm just concerned for actually following through- during school I can't do art commissions because it's too much on my plate and that's all I could really offer, so I'm not sure what to offer instead But I'm gonna think on it!