How to start a crowdfunding campaign: a 7-step plan

Step 1: decide on your goal and target amount

Start with what the money is actually for. ‘New shirts for the youth team’ is a goal; ‘supporting the club’ isn’t. The more concrete your goal, the better people understand why their contribution counts. Get quotes or draw up a simple budget so your target is based on real costs.

Factor in the fees too. On DonoLink the platform keeps 3.5% of each donation and Stripe charges transaction fees per payment method, which come off the total. Add a small margin to your target. If you’re torn between a high and a low amount, go for what you genuinely need and say what you’ll do with any surplus.

Step 2: choose an end date

An end date gives your campaign a rhythm. Without a deadline the link just sits there; with one, people have a reason to donate now. Where possible, tie the date to something real: the start of the season, the day of the operation, the studio sessions or the opening of the exhibition.

Keep the duration manageable. A few weeks is enough for most campaigns to reach your network before attention fades. After the end date DonoLink closes the campaign to new donations and the page stays visible, so everyone can see the result.

Step 3: write your story

Your story answers four questions: who are you, what are you raising money for, why now, and what will happen to the money? Write the way you talk, in short paragraphs. Lead with the essentials and save the background for later, because many visitors only read the first few lines on their phone.

Be honest about what you’ve already done yourself and what’s still missing. A breakdown of the amount helps: this much for materials, this much for transport. End with a clear ask and a thank-you.

Read next: How to write a fundraiser story: examples and tips

Step 4: pick your visuals and suggested amounts

A good cover does most of the work. Choose a sharp photo of the people or project involved, or a short YouTube video in which you explain what you want to achieve. Add up to six photos to the gallery, for example of the current situation or the team.

Then suggest a few amounts for donors to choose from. A set like €10, €25 and €50 makes choosing easy, while anyone can still enter their own amount. Pick an accent colour that matches your club or project so the page is instantly recognisable.

Step 5: set up payouts

To receive money, you connect your DonoLink account to Stripe. Stripe processes the payments and asks you to verify your identity. Do this before you launch so nothing gets stuck when the first donations come in.

If you’re raising money on behalf of a club or for someone else, agree beforehand who manages the account and how the money will be passed on. Keep your own record of what came in and what you did with it. Your supporters will appreciate it, and the tax authorities may ask for it. Your dashboard shows the date and amount of every donation.

Read next: Crowdfunding and tax: the rules in four countries

Step 6: launch with your own circle

The first donations matter most. A campaign that already has a few contributions feels more trustworthy than an empty page. So start with a personal message to the people who know you best: family, friends, teammates. Ask them to donate and pass the link on.

Then share the campaign more widely: in group chats, on social media, in your club or school newsletter and with the QR code on a poster or flyer. Each time you share, say something new so it doesn’t feel like repetition.

Step 7: keep the momentum going with updates

After a quick start, attention often dips. Updates help: a photo of the first purchase, a thank-you at the halfway mark or a reminder when the final days begin. Linky helps you here, giving you a shout at milestones and a nudge if you haven’t posted an update for a week.

Wrap up properly. After the end date, post a final update with the result and show what’s happening with the money. Supporters will remember your campaign fondly and be quicker to back the next one.

Common mistakes

These mistakes come up most often in campaigns that stall:

• A vague goal with no amount or explanation.
• Sharing only on day one and then going quiet.
• No plan for when more or less money comes in.
• Sorting out payouts only after the money has arrived.
• Forgetting to thank your donors.

What goes into your campaign

A DonoLink campaign is a page of its own with a title, a one-line summary of what it’s about, a goal and an end date. At the top you add a cover photo or a YouTube video, followed by your story and a gallery of up to six photos. You pick an accent colour and the amounts you suggest to donors. Visitors can see at a glance how much has been raised, what share of the goal that is, how many people have chipped in and how many days are left.

Along the way you post updates with a title, text and an optional photo, so everyone can see what the money is doing. The supporters’ wall shows who donated, by name or as ‘Anonymous’, together with their message. You decide whether amounts are shown and whether anonymous donations are allowed. You can share your campaign on WhatsApp, with a link to copy or with a QR code for a poster or flyer. All your campaigns sit together on your profile page.

Keep-it-all: every donation reaches you

With DonoLink, every successful donation comes through, even if you don’t reach your goal. After the end date the campaign closes to new donations, but the page stays online so everyone can look back at what you achieved together. Payouts go through your own connected Stripe account; Stripe asks you to verify your identity.

This is always donation crowdfunding. Donors don’t get a return, shares or a loan repayment, and there are no rewards or perks. People who give are simply backing your cause.

Linky helps you get started

When you sign up, Linky, DonoLink’s mascot, asks what you want to do and who you’re raising money for. Then you set up your first campaign together with a title, a goal and an end date. During the campaign Linky gives you a shout at milestones, such as your first donation or reaching half your goal, and a gentle nudge if you haven’t posted an update for a week. That makes crowdfunding easy, even if you’ve never run a fundraiser before.

Payments and fees in your country

If you run your campaign in Spain, use donolink.es. Your donors pay by bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. DonoLink keeps 3.5% of each donation; Stripe charges its processing fees separately. For a standard card from the European Economic Area, Stripe's public rate is 1.5% + €0.25, and other cards cost more. From a €25 donation with a standard card you keep about €23.49. There is no subscription, and DonoLink never asks your donors for a tip.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Stripe: pricing
• Dutch Tax Administration: crowdfunding and gift tax