Fundraising Tips
How to set up your LOWVELO fundraising page
You’re all signed up for the big ride. Now, let’s get your fundraising page set up so you can hit that fundraising goal fast.
Follow these simple steps to get your page ready:
1. Click the button on the top right of the screen on this website that says “Sign In.” If you haven’t already created your account, this is where you do it. Otherwise, enter your email address and password to enter your account.
2. Once logged in, click “Medical University of South Carolina Foundation.”
3. Then, scroll down until you find the box that has your name and “for LOWVELO 2025.” Click “Manage.”
4. If you get a pop-up box that says “What do you want to manage?” select “Manage fundraising page.”
5. On this page, you’ll see several tabs along the top of the page under your name: Overview, Story, Donations, Emails, and Details.
The overview tab will take you step by step through the process of personalizing your page. Or, you can click through each tab to do it manually.
The story tab is where you can add your personal “Why I Ride” story. Tell your friends and family the reason for your ride, how you became involved in LOWVELO and who you are honoring. Potential donors love to know why you’re so passionate about the cause.
The donations tab will show you all of your donations and donor messages.
The emails tab allows you to send donation requests and thank you emails to friends and family.
The details tab is where you can upload a photo, change your fundraising page headline, increase your fundraising goal and set up a vanity URL for your fundraising page.
As always, if you have any questions about setting up your page or if you need help hitting your fundraising goal, the LOWVELO team is here to help. Email us at LOWVELO@musc.edu.
So, you’re all registered for LOWVELO26. Now what? Fundraising can feel like the toughest part of the journey – but it doesn’t have to be. With a little strategy, a personal touch, and the right mindset, you’ll be surprised how quickly the support adds up.
Whether you’re a first-time rider or a seasoned pro, these simple tips and ideas will help you build momentum, reach your goal, and make an even bigger impact on cancer research.
Add your "Why I Ride" story to your fundraising page
Your fundraising page has a “story” tab specifically for sharing why you’re riding, how you got involved, and who you’re honoring. Write this first, before you ask anyone for money. Donors give to people, not pages. Keep it personal and short — three to four sentences is enough.
Make your first three asks to the three closest people in your life
Don’t blast everyone at once. Start with a best friend, a parent or sibling. A personal text or phone call – not a social post – converts dramatically better. Seed your page early; a page at $0 is harder to ask others to donate to.
Lean on the 100% message as your hook
100% of every participant-raised dollar goes directly to cancer research at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. This is a rare and powerful trust signal. Lead with it in every ask. Most donors assume overhead eats a chunk – tell them upfront that it doesn’t here.
Send personalized emails through your fundraising page, not just social posts
The “emails” tab on your fundraising page lets you send donation requests and thank you notes directly to friends and family. Social posts are passive. A direct email with someone’s name in it is an active ask – and it performs three to five times better for first-time donors.
Write a personal letter or email
Sometimes donors want to hear your personal story and see it in an actual letter or email. Personalized letters can be very powerful. To help, we’ve created some sample letters that you can copy and paste, and add your own touch to before sending. Please feel free to use any other information from the LOWVELO website when contacting potential donors.
Thank every donor within 24 hours – individually
A short personal thank you (text, email, or comment on their donation) turns a one-time donor into a repeat one. It also makes them more likely to share your page with others.
Post a milestone update, not just an initial ask
When you hit 25%, 50%, and 75% of your goal, post an update. Something like: “Halfway there! Only $X to go before ride day.” Progress creates momentum and re-engages people who saw your first post but didn’t act.
Use the LOWVELO social media toolkit
Visit our social media toolkit to find graphics, videos and stories about LOWVELO. These can be customized and/or shared on your social media accounts to help tell people about the mission of LOWVELO and why you are riding.
Customize your email signature
Add a direct link to your rider page in your email signature.
Host fundraising events
Do you love baking, cooking, wine tasting, karaoke or yoga? Consider hosting an event to gather donations! You can sell tickets, or include drawings or contests to generate funds. Local businesses may also be willing to donate gift certificates.
Need help advertising your event? Click on the images below to download our LOWVELO event flyer and social media graphic. Then, add your own details, save the edited file as a jpeg, and start promoting!
Need a high-resolution LOWVELO logo or help with putting together your fundraising flyer? Email the LOWVELO communications team and we’ll assist!
Dedicate miles to donors
For donors giving $25 or more, you can dedicate a mile to them – and while on that mile, share it on social media with a mention and photo. This turns a donation into a public moment of recognition, which donors love.
Have a neighborhood yard sale/bake sale
Ask your neighbors if they would be willing to have a neighborhood yard sale with a percentage of their sales going to sponsor your LOWVELO ride. Neighbors who are not around to participate may be willing to donate items for you to sell. Or have a bake sale with a new twist! Instead of actually selling baked goods, have an auction of items such as: cake of the month, care package of the month to a student away at school or camp, or a specialty dessert for a dinner party.
In lieu of gifts
In lieu of gifts for a special occasion, ask that a donation be made to your LOWVELO ride.
Use the trickle-down effect of fundraising
Ask your sponsors if they will join you in your fundraising efforts by asking their friends, families, and companies to support your ride. Are you riding in honor of a person who is battling cancer or who has lost their battle to cancer? Ask if they would like to join you in your fundraising endeavors by sending out letters to their family and friends.
