📱 Social Media Strategy for Fundraisers · Free Lesson
Lesson 5: Stories and Reels — Your Secret Weapons
Stories and Reels reach far more people than regular posts. This lesson shows you how to use them effectively without spending hours on content creation.
Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours — and that is actually what makes them so effective. Because they are temporary, they feel more personal and less polished than regular posts. People watch them more attentively.
For fundraising, Stories are perfect for:
1
Quick updates: A 15-second video saying 'I just hit £300 — thank you so much!' feels genuine and immediate
2
Behind-the-scenes moments: Showing your bake sale prep, your letter writing, your training runs
3
Polls and questions: Ask your audience things like 'Should I do a sponsored silence or a sponsored run?' — this gets them involved
4
Countdown stickers: Use the countdown sticker for your next fundraising event — it builds anticipation
5
Donation stickers: Instagram has a built-in donation sticker for Stories — use it to make donating one tap away
🎬
Reels — how to reach people who do not follow you yet
Reels are short videos (15–90 seconds) that the platform actively pushes to people who do not follow you yet. They are the single best way to grow your audience and reach new potential supporters.
You do not need to be a video editor. The most effective fundraising Reels are simple:
🎥
The 'why I'm doing this' Reel: Film yourself talking directly to camera for 30–60 seconds. Be genuine. Tell people who you are, where you are going, and why it matters to you. This type of video consistently performs well.
📊
The progress update Reel: A quick video showing your fundraising thermometer and thanking your supporters. Add some upbeat music and text overlays.
🌍
The destination Reel: Use photos or video clips of your destination with text overlays sharing interesting facts. Add trending audio for extra reach.
🛠️
Simple tools to make your content look great
You do not need expensive equipment or software. Here are the free tools that work:
📱
CapCut: Free video editor on your phone — perfect for Reels. Add text, transitions, and music easily
🎨
Canva: Free design tool — create graphics, fundraising thermometers, and quote cards for your posts
📸
Your phone camera: Good lighting (face a window) and a steady hand are all you need. No ring light required.
💡
Tip: Film several pieces of content in one session rather than trying to create something new every day. Batch your content creation and schedule it out over the week.
✏️ Your task — post your first Story update
Film a 15–30 second Story right now. It can be as simple as holding up a piece of paper with your fundraising total on it and saying 'This is where I am — thank you to everyone who has donated!' Post it to your Stories.
Excellent! You are now using Stories properly. In the final lesson, you will put together a simple posting plan that you can actually stick to — and discover what else Ways2Raise has to help you raise more.