If your family is willing to pitch in…
Even though many people may like to support you, giving money is difficult. You can encourage your friends and family to help you raise funds by asking them to match your fundraising progress at a certain percentage or direct dollar amount. For instance, if your parents want you to have the experience of raising some of the fee for your study abroad program, they might be willing to match your efforts if they see you’re working hard at it. And while a relative might balk at just writing you a check for $50, they might be more receptive if you asked him/her to match your efforts at, say 5%. This will give them the sense that you are working toward your goal, and give them an opportunity to check in with you about it, reward your hard work and cheer you on. If you raise $1,000 and get a 5% match, it’s $50. Matching also gives you the potential to earn more than just a flat amount because the more money you raise, the more you are matched. You will also want to ask your patrons about the maximum amount they’ll match your efforts. The agreement might be, “I’ll match your fundraising efforts at 10% up to $500.”