The Vagina Museum demonstrates the power of crowdfunding

There are a lot of myths about vaginas out there. But one charitable museum – the world’s first – exists to dispel misinformation and celebrate all things gynecological.

From labia length to orgasms, The Vagina Museum has bared all since launching in 2019.

But the charity faced a major setback last summer when it was unexpectedly turfed out of its Bethnal Green home.

However, it reopened on 4 November in a new location, thanks to a successful crowdfunding appeal.

To cover the cost of the new premises, the charity appealed to the public’s generosity and managed to raise more than £90,000 in three weeks.

This demonstrates the power of crowdfunding.

What is crowdfunding?

As we explained in a previous blog post, crowdfunding is an effective way to raise money in the digital space via individual contributions from a large group of people; a crowd, if you will.

The beauty of crowdfunding is it can get your campaign in front of an audience of millions for relatively little effort. And, as the Vagina Museum has proven, if you get it right, it can net you a whole lot of wonga.

Crowdfunding tips

We’ve covered the basics. Now let’s focus on what you need to do to execute a killer crowdfunding campaign.

1. Pick your platform

First things first. You need to decide where you’re going to launch your campaign.

There are hundreds of crowdfunding platforms out there. Before committing, do your homework. We recommend comparing five key areas: structure, fees, features, reach, and reputation. 

This article by GoFundMe is a good place to start.

2.  Frontload your campaign

According to Fundable, campaigns that secure 30% of their goal within the first week are more likely to succeed. This means you need to have backers in place before your campaign goes live.

Tap your trustees, major donors, and management team for donations prior to launch to get the ball rolling.

When you open the campaign up to the rest of the world, they’ll feel like they’re joining a successful movement.

3. Tell a great story

As much as we like to believe we make decisions based on logic, stats, and reason, this isn’t the case. People act on emotion.

That’s not to say there’s no place for facts and figures in your story. They’re important to highlight the scale of the problem you’re trying to solve, but if you want backers to open their wallets, you need to connect with them by sharing a great story.

There are two ways to do it. You can write your story (if you go down this route, it should be supported by striking imagery), or let a film do the talking for you.

According to crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, campaigns with videos raise 114% more than those without.

This emotive piece of video storytelling by Kidscape demonstrates why.

4. Be specific

You’ll raise more funds if you ask people to help you reach a particular goal.

Whether you need help funding a pricey piece of equipment, repairs to your office, or a new initiative to support your beneficiaries, make your ask specific and explain where the money will go.

Oh, and set your goal as low as possible. Why? With some crowdfunding platforms, you won’t receive any money if your campaign doesn’t hit its financial target, so before you press ‘publish’, make sure your goal is realistic.

5. Leverage your network

Once you’ve finalised your campaign, it’s time to spread the word.

Share the campaign on social and ask staff, trustees, ambassadors, volunteers, family, and friends to do the same.

Using your network to access the networks of others will build momentum and awareness.

6. Keep up the momentum

Continually begging for money is going to turn donors off.

When promoting your campaign, consider the 20/80 rule.

Only 20% of your posts should make a direct ask. The other 80% need to convince potential donors you’re worth investing in.

Highlight successful projects, beneficiary case studies, or significant milestones, adding a call to action and your crowdfunding link at the end.

7. Update donors

Along with regular social media updates, be sure to communicate with backers on the campaign platform.

Reply to comments, answer questions, and express your gratitude. And be sure to update them on campaign progress – both on and off the platform.

If you make donors feel valued and show them that their donations are making a difference, the chances are they’ll share the page and encourage others to contribute.

Final Word

Follow these steps and you’ll be well on the way to crowdfunding success.

Looking for a digital fundraiser to kickstart your campaign? You’re in the right place. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get the ball rolling.