5 Ways to Use Instagram to Increase Your Fundraising

The first thing you should know about social media is that it’s your friend. And it’s soon to be your best friend because it will help you fundraise even more for your upcoming event!

Here are a few helpful tips and tricks you can use on Instagram to bring awareness to the next adventure in your life: being a St. Baldrick’s shavee!

1. Share your St. Baldrick’s images

This is a given when it comes to Instagram, but here are a few examples that may bring in some more donations.

Everyone loves a classic before and after picture, especially those who wanted to see you go bald but were unable to attend your event.

Creating your own collage from your head-shaving adventure will help tell your story, and it’s the perfect way to ask for last-minute donations.

Giving updates on your fundraising goal is one of the easiest ways to show your followers your progress. If you are close to certain markers ($100, $500, $1,000, etc.), ask your friends for an extra boost to get you there.

2. Post your fundraising link

You can’t include hyperlinks in photo captions, but you can post a link to your participant page in the “info” section of your profile. Then, in the captions of your photos, remind your followers that they can find the link there.

Tip: It’s also a good idea to let your followers know when you ‘ll be shaving.

3. Work those hashtags

Hashtags are the best way to find posts relating to yours — so use them! Some hashtag ideas:

• #StBaldricks
• #Shavee
• #GoBald
• #BaldSelfie
• #ConquerKidsCancer

When you use these hashtags, anyone browsing them could stumble across your photo and make a donation to you.

Hashtags also help provide a little more context for what you’re doing. People should know you’re not just shaving your head to make a statement — you’re raising critical funds for childhood cancer research, and you could use their help!

4. Put it in motion

Instagram video is another way to get the attention of your followers. Make a video, up to 60-seconds, explaining why you decided to #RockTheBald and mention that your fundraising link is included on your profile page (for easy donation access, of course!).

Stories — a new Instagram feature — is similar to Snapchat and a fun way to show off your shave or event. Keep in mind, your story will disappear after 24 hours!

To post a story:

1. Tap in the top left of your screen.
2. Tap at the bottom of the screen to take a photo, or hold to record a video.
3. Tap , or to draw, add text or a sticker to your photo or video.
4. When you’re done, tap Your Story to share to your story!

5. Tag us so we can find you

Make sure to tag your head-shaving photos with @StBaldricks so we can see the fun you’ve been up to — we might want to share it with our followers!

Looking for more fundraising tips? Check out our Shavee Tips page for more ideas on how to work that bald head!

Shavee Tips          
Read more on the St. Baldrick’s blog:

• Double Your Donation With a Matching Gift – Q&A
• St. Baldrick’s Participants: Add an Honored Kid to Your Fundraising Page
• Heroes for Hannah: Cayman Islands Community Comes Together to Cure Childhood Cancer
• Children, Cancer, and Standing Up for What I Believe: One Mother’s Story