Fundraising on Bold.org: How to Create and Grow Your Scholarship Fund

A fundraiser allows you to crowdfund donations toward a scholarship hosted and managed by the Bold Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit).

Each fundraiser (or “fund”) acts as a pool of money set aside specifically to support scholarships. By creating one, you can invite friends, family, colleagues, or your broader community to contribute to your cause through tax-deductible donations.

Funds can stay open for ongoing contributions, allowing you and your supporters to build momentum over time.

Starting a fundraiser on Bold.org takes just a few minutes. To start, log-in to your donor dashboard and click the Yellow "Create a Fund" button.

When you propose a fund, you’ll be asked a few questions to help personalize your page and inspire trust in potential donors:

Once submitted, our team reviews your proposal and publishes your fundraiser page as soon as possible.

Because fundraisers are often time-sensitive, they don’t go through a long editing or draft process. We publish your submission as you wrote it—so your personal tone and voice shine through.

Raising awareness for your scholarship fund works best when you treat it as both a campaign and a story worth sharing. Here are a few tried-and-true ways to boost your success:

Use every channel available to you:

Invite a few trusted people to help amplify your message. Whether it’s family or community members, having others share your fundraiser adds credibility and visibility.

Be genuine about what inspired your scholarship. Whether it honors someone, celebrates a milestone, or supports a field of study, people give to stories they connect with.

Share updates during meaningful times—anniversaries, holidays, or Giving Tuesday are all great opportunities to re-engage your network.

The Losinger Family started a fundraiser with Bold.org to support nursing students across the country. By sharing their story widely and engaging family and friends during personal milestones, they reached their goal and established a lasting scholarship.

“Seeing our community rally around this cause was incredible. It reminded us how powerful collective generosity can be.” — The Losinger Family

👉Check out their fund here.

Can I update my scholarship award amounts based on how much I fundraise?

Yes! You can increase award amounts or add additional recipients as your fund grows. Get in touch with your Donor Relations Manager to get this updated.

Do I have to have a scholarship on Bold.org to start a fundraiser?

Yes. Every fundraiser is tied to an active or proposed scholarship managed through Bold.org.

What happens with funds that aren’t awarded right away?

All donations remain securely held by the Bold Foundation until you decide to create or renew scholarships. If you have remaining funds after you’re done with operating scholarships, you can donate those funds towards another scholarship on the Bold platform.

Does my scholarship automatically launch once I hit my goal?

Not automatically — you’ll still review and approve the scholarship launch or renewal with your Donor Relations Manager. Reach out to your DRM when you’re ready to publish and we’ll help you get things started.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Yes. All contributions go through the Bold Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all contributors receive tax receipts from Bold via email once we’ve processed their donation.

I’ve already funded a scholarship through my fundraiser. Do I need to start a new fundraiser?

No! Your fundraiser page is live and available for you to share year-round. The fundraising total is a running total, showing all donations collected over time.