3 ways to get your team excited from the start

Starting your fundraiser strong takes more than hitting "Go." You need an excited team ready to participate and confident they'll make a difference.

As you work with students, athletes, parents, and more, here are three easy and effective ways to energize your team from the start.

1. Create a Win-Ready Challenge

People love a quick, clear challenge — especially if it's fun and achievable.

Try one of these options on Launch Day:

• Give a bonus to whoever gets the first in-person supporter.
• Text three people before dinner and share your fundraising link.
• Share your live leaderboard at the end of the day and shout out top performers.

The goal here is immediacy — you want action within the first 24 hours of your fundraiser. Use these challenges to build momentum!

2. Make It About More Than Money

Many teams tune out fundraising until they feel the "why." 

Encourage this by:

• Sharing a photo or short story of what the funds will make possible, like travel to nationals or new team equipment
• Telling them what each donation does. For instance, with FunditForward, you could say, "Each $20 helps us plant a tree and gets us closer to our team trip."
• Asking each participant to share why they care — "Why are you proud to be part of this team?"

Pro Tip: Connect your team to the purpose from the start, and they'll be more excited to engage.

3. Celebrate Participation, Not Just Results

Early on, it's not about who's winning — it's about who's showing up.

Set a tone that rewards effort and energy. For instance:

• Thank every team member who shares your fundraising link on Day 1, even if they don't have supporters yet
• Highlight actions, not just outcomes: "Thank you to Alan for texting his grandparents this morning!"
• Be positive — no guilt or pressure, only progress

When people feel seen and appreciated early, they're much likelier to stick with the campaign.

Start Small, Go Big

A successful fundraiser is built on small actions repeated over time. If your team feels confident and excited from the start, the rest becomes much easier. 

It doesn't take big speeches to make a big difference. Give your team a few smart nudges and tons of encouragement, and you'll crush your goals!