Best Practices Guide

Team leader: best practices guide

In Peer-Based Fundraising, a team leader creates and manages a Team Fundraising page, recruits teammates, sets fundraising goals, organizes fundraising activities, and is the team’s biggest cheerleader.

1. Create a Team Fundraising page

It takes only a few minutes to establish a Team Fundraising page, which is just as elementary to maintain.
To begin, create or sign in to your Give Lively account. Then pick a team name that represents your group. It could be a color, a noun, an adjective, or a combination of words. The name should be concise, memorable, relevant, and appropriate to the nonprofit you’re supporting.

2. Customize your Team Fundraising page

Make it stand out with compelling imagery, a team logo, and a personal note from you, the team leader.

  • Upload your team logo: Pick a team logo that is aligned with the nonprofit’s values and aesthetic. You could design your own or utilize a pre-set graphic. Check out Canva.com, a free and easy-to-use online design tool with thousands of pre-set graphics that you can use to create a great team logo.
  • Add an image or video to your team page: Select a high-quality image or video that tells a story about what you’re fundraising for. It could be the same image or video used on the nonprofit’s campaign page, or one of your own choosing. Make sure it showcases your team’s passion for the cause and motivates people to contribute to and/or join your team.
  • Pick your team’s color: It can be the same as the nonprofit’s default campaign color, or a color unique to your team. Try to pick a color that represents your team and, at the same time, is aligned with the nonprofit’s branding.
  • Add a personal note: In your team leader personal note, highlight why you’re passionate about the nonprofit’s cause and/or the campaign. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to the team and the nonprofit, and energize others who feel the same way and might follow your lead. The default note already in place can be edited any time the team leader feels ready or able to personalize it.‍
  • Set your goals: As a team leader, you set the team’s overall fundraising goal and the team members’ individual fundraising goals. They should be ambitious but attainable, and in line with the nonprofit’s recommendations, which you will see when you create your page.

3. Customize your individual fundraising page

As a team leader, you manage the team page, but you are also a fundraiser, so you’ll automatically have an individual fundraising page connected to the team. To find this page, use the dropdown with your name in the top right of the page. This shows all of the individual fundraising pages and team pages associated with any nonprofit and campaign on Give Lively for which you were or still are raising funds.

To edit your individual page, click the option under "Your Fundraising Page" and then select "Edit Page." Take time to customize it by writing a passionate personal note and uploading a clear profile picture of your face.

Keep in mind that your photo is an important part of your profile, as it is also included on the team page and an important way to achieve your fundraising goals! This is because your family and friends will feel more comfortable about joining the team or donating to it when they see and recognize you.

4. Build your team

With your beautifully designed Team Fundraising page ready to go, the next step is assembling a passionate team of supporters. Think about who in your network could help amplify your impact—friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or members of groups you're involved in. A great team starts with enthusiastic people who care about the cause as much as you do!

Tips for Recruiting Your Team

  • Personal Outreach: Send direct emails, texts, or make phone calls to people who would be excited to join your mission.
  • Social Media Posts: Share your fundraising page and story on your platforms to attract others who share your passion.
  • Community Sharing: Talk to groups you’re involved with, whether it’s your workplace, a local club, or a community organization.
  • Get Creative: From hosting a quick Zoom meetup to spreading the word at gatherings, use any opportunity to build excitement and grow your team!

Sharing your story safely: Personal stories are powerful. Keep yours focused on hope, recovery and reaching out for support. Please don’t describe methods or details of a suicide or attempt; if you mention someone you lost, say they “died by suicide.” When you post, include where to find help: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741.

Remember, the goal is to build a big, committed team—so don’t be shy about sharing why this matters to you and how they can make a difference.

Here’s an example of a team recruitment text that can be used in an email:

Subject Line: Join Me in Making Mental Health Prevention a Priority

Hi [Name],

I’m leading a fundraising team for Start Day One, a nonprofit for mental health and suicide prevention, and I’d love for you to be part of it. Too often, we only talk about mental health once someone is already struggling. Start Day One focuses on prevention—helping people find hope and support early, before they reach a crisis.

Our team goal is [your goal], and every gift, big or small, helps Start Day One reach more people.
Funds raised will help Start Day One:
  • Share inspirational content and real stories that break the stigma around mental health and encourage people to reach out.
  • Host free mental health events where people can learn practical ways to care for their mental health.
  • Bring speakers to schools, rehab centers, military bases and community events to share hope and tools for mental wellness.
  • Grow peer fundraising on Give Lively, so more supporters like you can rally their own networks.
I’m putting together a team of people who care about this, and I’d love for you to join me. It’s easy to get involved, and every person on the team makes a real difference.

Will you join my team, [Team Name], and help put mental health prevention first?

You can sign up here: [Insert Link to your Team Fundraising Page].

Together, we can help more people start their mental health journey on “day one,” instead of “one day.” Thank you so much for considering this!

Best regards,
[Your Name]

5. Fundraise

Make a plan with your team. Identify team and individual fundraising goals, then strategize about fun ways to achieve them. Hold fundraising events (in real life or live streamed), make donation asks, use social media to spread the word, etc.

Get Creative! Fundraising ideas for inspiration:

  • Set up a fundraising challenge. For example: “If we reach our goal of [your goal] by the end of the month, we’ll sing and dance in the park together.”
  • Do some live streaming on social media (Facebook or Instagram Live).
  • Make a YouTube video on your own or with your team and send it to friends and family, encouraging them to ask followers to donate.

6. Encourage your team

As a team leader, you can set your team up for success by holding them accountable.

  • Ensure team and individual fundraising goals are set, and team members’ personal pages are complete and customized, including profile pictures and personal notes.
  • Grow your team by encouraging members to recruit others. Pass along the member recruitment language exhibited above.

7. Stay in touch

Send motivational messages every week or so to keep your team engaged and on track.

  • Post team updates on the Team Fundraising page. Updates can be broadcast publicly, or shared privately with team members only. If desired, updates can also be emailed to all team members.
  • One idea for smaller teams: create a group chat via Slack, WhatsApp or GroupMe to allow for quick communication and help motivate each other and hold each other accountable.
  • Once posted, updates cannot presently be edited or deleted.