Online Fundraisers
Fundraising guide
Turn a date that matters into a year of school
An online fundraiser is the simplest way to mark a birthday, a milestone, a memorial or a run. One page, one link, one clear target — and a real account of where the money goes.
Why this route works
An occasion gives people a reason to give that has nothing to do with guilt. They are celebrating you, remembering someone, or marking a finish line — and your page turns that moment into school fees, books and mentoring.
The strongest pages are specific. They name the program, show one approved photo, explain what a gift funds, and commit to reporting back. See Where Every $50 Goes for the exact breakdown.
Choose your platform
Compare four things before you create the page:
- Processing fee and who pays it. Some platforms deduct it from the gift; others ask the donor to cover it.
- Payout timing and currency. Know when the money reaches SKF and whether international gifts are supported.
- India and international giving. Donors in India may need 80G and FCRA clarity — ask us before you publish the page.
- Employer matching and team fundraising. If your workplace matches gifts, make that visible on the page.
We will confirm the platform and the wording before your page goes live. Do not use a service that cannot receipt donors or report the final amount.
Set it up in eight steps
- Pick the occasion and a deadline two to four weeks out.
- Choose the program: girls’ education, skills development or social enterprise.
- Set a target using the ladder below — not a round number you cannot explain.
- Write three short paragraphs: why you care, what the money funds, what you will do.
- Add one approved photo. Skip photos that identify a child.
- Draft three updates before launch so you are not writing under pressure.
- Test the link on a phone and on desktop.
- Send it to us for a quick review before you share it publicly.
What a good page says
- Title: the occasion plus the outcome — “My 40th: a year of school for one girl”.
- First line: why this cause, in your own words.
- Where the money goes: name the program and the impact ladder.
- One photo: approved, warm, not pitying.
- The ask: one target and one deadline.
- The promise: an update when the campaign closes and again when the funds are used.
Every gift is receipted. Operating costs are funded by a founding member, so 100% of every donation after payment-processing fees goes to programs.
Update cadence
Launch. One story on day three. A midpoint update on day five. A final forty-eight-hour note. A thank-you within a day of closing. Five messages in total — enough to be seen, not enough to exhaust your network.
If the campaign stalls, do not add pressure. Send one direct message to five people who care and ask them to share.
Receipts, matching and the paper trail
Every gift is receipted, and US donors can claim a deduction under EIN 47-3774368. If your employer matches charitable gifts, ask their giving team before the campaign closes and send us the form they need. For gifts from India, contact us first so we can confirm 80G and FCRA treatment. At the end, send us the final total and the list of donors who asked for a receipt. We will not publish a number you have not raised, and we will not overstate what the campaign achieved.
What the money funds
What your ask makes possible
These are shares of a real program cost, not fixed price tags — need varies by village — but they show what a modest gift can do.
- $50 — one-fifth of an annual sponsorship: roughly a term of school materials, uniform and exam fees.
- $250 — a full year of Support-A-Girl for one girl: tuition, books, uniform, safe accommodation, healthcare and mentoring.
- $1,250 — five years of sponsorship, carrying a girl from school into higher education or a trade.
Donations are tax-deductible in the USA (EIN 47-3774368). For Indian 80G and FCRA status, please contact us before giving if a deduction matters.
Questions
Where does the money go?
To the program you choose: school fees, books, uniforms, safe accommodation, meals, healthcare and mentoring. Operating costs are covered by a founding member, so 100% of every donation after payment-processing fees goes to programs.
Do donors get a receipt?
Yes. Every gift is receipted. For US donors the receipt supports a tax deduction under EIN 47-3774368.
Can I fundraise as a team?
Yes, if your platform supports team pages. Keep one team target and one shared story so the ask stays clear.
How long should the campaign run?
Two to four weeks. Longer campaigns lose urgency; shorter ones do not give people time to act.
Can I raise money in India?
Talk to us first. Indian 80G and FCRA rules affect how the funds can be received and receipted.
What if I do not hit the target?
The funds still go to the program. Tell donors what was raised and what it will do — a partial result honestly reported is better than silence.
Can my employer match the gift?
Often yes. Ask your employer’s giving team, and tell us so we can provide the documentation they need.
Contact us
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