How to Write a Captivating Crowdfunding Description (With Examples!)
Your crowdfunding description is one of the first things that people will see when they arrive on your campaign page.
Because of its prominence, your crowdfunding description should be well-written and free of errors. It should also fully explain the cause, project, person, or event that you’re raising money for.
However, because many people have never started a crowdfunding campaign before, they are unsure of how to go about writing the ideal description.
Luckily, the tips you need are right here!
- Write 300-700 words
- Tell your story within your crowdfunding description
- Provide links to your blog or website
Let’s get started!
1. Write 300-700 words
The best crowdfunding campaigns are the ones that fully explain the fundraiser and provide specific details.
Guess what? You can’t accomplish either of those things with a short crowdfunding description!
Of course, some campaigns will need more explanation than others. Crowdfunding campaigns set up for memorial or funeral costs tend to be more straightforward than those fundraisers started to fund creative projects, for example.
Let’s take a look at a sample crowdfunding description that uses the right number of words to lay out the details of the organizer’s crowdfunding campaign (check out the campaign here).
This crowdfunding description accomplishes a few things:
- First, the organizer has done an excellent job of explaining the general issue (the endangerment of painted dogs in Zimbabwe).
- Second, the description discusses the solutions that the organization is currently developing and how they will help solve the problem.
- Finally, they offer links to more information about the program and painted dogs.
The description does all of that in just 443 well-written words! Not only that, but this crowdfunding description is free of error and is extremely professional.
Clearly, the description is having an impact on this fundraiser, since they’ve already raised over $8,000!
It’s also important to remember to not get too wordy within your crowdfunding description. If donors are immediately faced with a block of text, they might become overwhelmed and decide not to make a donation.
:arrow: Quick Tip: Write a detailed and specific description that is between 300 and 700 words. A longer crowdfunding description enables you to explain your cause more thoroughly to your supporters.
2. Tell your story within your crowdfunding description
Inspirational stories captivate people. Tales of overcoming adversity, discovering a passion, or pursuing a dream can drive people to make emotionally-driven donations.
Your crowdfunding description is the perfect place to tell your story!
As long as you tie your story into your fundraiser, the two can work in perfect harmony to convince your friends, family members, and peers to give to your cause.
Let’s take a look at an example crowdfunding campaign that tells an incredible story (check out the campaign here).
The story opens with the organizer describing her lifelong love for Mt. Everest. She then talks about how she and her brother climbed the first 5 of the “Seven Summits” together and are aiming to become the first brother-sister duo to climb all seven peaks.
Finally, she makes the emotional claim that,
“When I was young, girls were not encouraged to involve themselves in adventure sports like climbing the world’s tallest mountains.”
This sentence in particular and the description as a whole are inspirational and powerful, and probably have a lot to do with the organizer raising nearly $17,000 in just a few short weeks.
:arrow: Quick Tip: If you have an emotional or inspirational story to tell — tell it! Your crowdfunding description is the ideal platform for getting the word out about the obstacles you’ve overcome or the challenges you hope to face. A great story can inspire more people to be connected to your cause and give to your campaign.
3. Provide links to your blog or website
Most people make the mistake of writing too little in their crowdfunding description, but there are some people who just have so much to say!
That’s not necessarily a problem (it means you’re passionate about your cause!), but your crowdfunding description space isn’t the place for a novel-length outline of your cause, project, or event.
Instead of posting lengthy paragraphs that might dissuade some would-be supporters, make your main points within your description and include a link to your blog or website.
Let’s look at an example of a crowdfunding campaign that did just that (check out the fundraiser here).
As you can see, this crowdfunding organizer chose to place the the link to the organization’s website right in the middle of the crowdfunding description. The description then goes on to list out the nonprofit’s recent accomplishments.
Placing the link to your website or blog within your description can help direct supporters to more detailed information about your cause. It frees up the space in your crowdfunding description to get down to the truly important components of your fundraiser.
Linking out to your website or blog also allows supporters to become more educated about your cause. They might become even more involved and assist you in your fundraising efforts in an even bigger way!
:arrow: Quick Tip: Include a link to your website or blog if you find that you have a lot to say about your crowdfunding campaign. You can then decide exactly what needs to be said in your crowdfunding description, while directing your supporters to more information on your site.
These three tips are by no means the only ways to write excellent crowdfunding descriptions. They are, however, a good starting point for anyone who has just set up a campaign!
If you’re looking for more tips, here are some additional resources that can help you raise more money and awareness:
- Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding. If you want to learn more about crowdfunding and how a compelling description can add to your campaign, check out this guide.
- Tips for Shooting and Uploading Crowdfunding Photos. Another important piece to a crowdfunding page is the images. Learn how to take powerful photos to enhance your campaign.
- Advice for Writing Crowdfunding Updates. Crowdfunding updates give you the opportunity to keep donors informed about your campaign’s progress and ask for more donations. Learn how to craft an effective update with this guide.
- Tips for Sharing Your Campaign. After you’ve optimized your crowdfunding page, it’s time to share it with the world! Use these tips to spread awareness and reach donors.
- Pre-Written Email Templates. Asking for donations can be difficult—especially if it’s your first time. Get our email templates to make the process a little easier.
Happy fundraising!
