How To Create A Fundraising Page For A Charity Run

9 hours ago

5 min read

Your fundraising page gives people one place to learn why you’re running, follow your progress and make a donation. You can create one in minutes, but taking time to personalise it will give supporters a clearer reason to get involved.

Whether you’re preparing for your first 5K or a marathon, this guide will help you set up a fundraising page, tell your story and keep it active throughout your training.

Person sits at a sunny home office desk, speaking into a phone while writing notes beside a colourful laptop and wall notes.

Check Which Fundraising Platform To Use

Before creating a page, ask your charity whether it wants you to use a particular fundraising platform. If you received your race place through the charity, it may have given you a specific link or instructions so your fundraising is connected to your event place.

If you entered the race yourself, ask which platforms the charity supports. Check how donations reach the charity and whether donors are shown any fees or optional contributions. Once you know where to set up your page, you can focus on making it your own.

Read how to create the perfect Justgiving page here and the perfect Enthuse page here.

Give Your Page A Clear Title

Your title should tell visitors who you are, what you’re doing and which charity you’re supporting. “Josh’s Marathon For [Charity]” says more than a general appeal for donations, particularly when someone shares your link with a person who doesn’t know you.

If the platform allows you to choose a page address, make it short and easy to remember. Check the spelling before you add the link to messages, posters or social media profiles.

Tell Your Fundraising Story

Explain which event you’re taking on, why you chose the charity and what the challenge means to you. Write in your own voice. Someone visiting your page for the first time should understand why you care and what you’re asking them to support.

You do not need a dramatic personal story. You might know someone helped by the charity, have a connection to its cause or simply believe in its work. Say what brought you to the challenge, then tell readers why a donation would matter to you.

For example, you could write: “I’m running my first half marathon for [Charity] because its work supporting [cause] matters to my family. Training is a new challenge for me, and I’d be grateful if you could support the charity as I work towards race day.” Use that as a starting point, then add the details that make the story yours.

Explain What The Charity Does

A visitor may know you without knowing the charity. Describe its work in plain language and give a specific example of whom or what it supports. This helps people understand the cause behind your run.

If you want to say what a particular donation amount could achieve, check the wording with the charity first. Otherwise, describe its work without attaching an unverified figure to a donation.

Choose A Photo That Fits Your Story

A photo of you running, training or representing the charity helps visitors connect the page to a real person. It will usually serve your story better than a generic fundraising image. If other people appear in the photo, check that they are happy for you to use it publicly.

Some platforms also let you add a video. A short recording explaining why you’re running can add a personal touch, but you do not need one to build an effective page. A clear photo and a thoughtful story are a strong start.

Person in an orange jacket jogs down a snowy street past snow-covered cars and trees. — A training photo can help supporters follow your journey.

Set An Honest Fundraising Target

If you have a charity race place, confirm your fundraising commitment before setting the target on your page. If you have your own entry, you can ask the charity for a suggested amount or choose a target that fits your plans.

You can increase a target if you reach it and decide to keep fundraising. Explain the new goal in a page update so supporters can follow your progress. Your target should reflect what you’re genuinely aiming to raise.

Check Your Page Before Sharing It

Read your page as someone seeing it for the first time. Is it clear what you’re doing and when? Have you selected the right charity, checked the spelling and made sure the donation button works?

Open the page on your phone as well. Most people you send the link to will be able to decide whether to donate from there, so the story, photo and donation option should all be easy to find.

Share Your Fundraising Page

Start with people you know. Send the link with a short personal message explaining why you’re running and why you chose the charity. A link on its own gives someone much less reason to open it.

You can also share the page through the social channels you use, such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp or LinkedIn. Put the link somewhere easy to find and give people a fresh reason to visit it each time you post. A training milestone, fundraising event or update from the charity offers more than repeating the same donation request.

Your running club, workplace and local community may be willing to help spread the word. If you’re promoting a fundraising event in person, a QR code on a poster can take people straight to your page. Focus on the approaches that suit you and the people you’re trying to reach.

Keep Your Page Updated

Your page can tell the story of your training as it happens. Add an update when you complete your first long run, reach a fundraising milestone, organise an event or overcome a difficult week. A relevant photo can help bring that moment to life.

Updates also give you something new to share with supporters. They can see that you’re putting in the work, learn what their support means to you and follow the journey towards race day.

Thank Supporters And Share Your Result

Thank donors when you can, whether through the fundraising platform, a message or in person. If someone has donated anonymously, respect their choice when sharing updates or thanking people publicly.

After the race, return to your page and tell supporters how it went. Add a photo, thank them for helping you get there and explain whether the page is still open for donations. They supported the journey, so give them the chance to see how it ended.