Getting your first contributions is one of the most important steps in building momentum for your fund. Early support helps validate your mission and encourages others to contribute.
Funds on Bold.org are designed to support scholarships, so clearly communicating your purpose and actively sharing your fund are key to reaching your goal.
For a broader overview of fundraising strategies, see Fundraising on Bold.org: How to Create and Grow Your Scholarship Fund.
1. Ensure Your Fund Page Is Clear and Compelling
Before you start reaching out, review your fund page in your donor dashboard.
Ask yourself:
Is it clear what scholarship this fund supports?
Who will this scholarship be supporting?
Why does this matter to others?
Your page should make it easy for someone to quickly understand your mission and feel motivated to contribute.
If you still need to launch your fund, see How to Propose a Fund.
To make updates to an existing fund page, contact your Donor Relations Manager or email donors@bold.org.
2. Start with Personal Outreach
Your first contributions will often come from people who already know and support you.
Start by making a short list of 10 to 20 people:
Family and close friends
Mentors or colleagues
Anyone personally connected to your mission
Then reach out individually:
Send a text or email instead of a mass message at this stage
Share why you created the fund
Include your fund link and a clear ask, such as asking them to contribute or share
Try to secure your first 3 to 5 contributions. Early support helps build credibility and makes others more likely to give.
As you begin reaching out, you can also ask a few trusted people to help spread the word. Even a small group of supporters sharing your fund with their own networks can expand your reach.
3. Share Your Fund Broadly
Once you've reached out personally, start sharing your fund with a wider audience.
Ways to share:
Post on social media, such as Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook
Add your fund link to your email signature
Send messages to your broader network
To increase reach:
Ask friends and family to re-share your fund
Tag us for additional visibility: @bolddotorg on Instagram and Bold.org on LinkedIn
4. Build Momentum with Updates and Milestones
As contributions start coming in, keep your network engaged.
Share updates like:
"We just reached $250!"
"Excited to share that we're halfway to launching this scholarship!"
Look for natural moments to re-share:
Milestones in your progress
Anniversaries, birthdays, or other meaningful dates
Holidays or giving seasons
Momentum builds trust, and progress updates give people a reason to contribute.
Fundraiser Success Story
The Women in Robotics Scholarship Fund was created to support students pursuing careers in robotics, with a focus on increasing representation in the field.
Inspired by Joanne Pransky, known as the world's first robot psychiatrist and a pioneer in social robotics, the fund brings together contributions from a global network of supporters.
By clearly sharing their mission and engaging their community, the group has grown support for their scholarship and helped more students explore robotics and related fields.
Next Steps
Review your fund page and reach out to your Donor Relations Manager about any updates
Reach out to your inner circle of 10 to 20 people
Begin sharing your fund consistently with your network
If you have any questions or need assistance, reach out to us at donors@bold.org. We're here to help.