How to Start a Foster Love Fundraiser
Want to make a difference in the lives of kids in foster care? Starting a Foster Love fundraiser is a simple yet powerful way to create lasting change. When family, friends, and communities come together, their collective support helps provide comfort, resources, and new opportunities for foster youth through programs like Sweet Cases, academic scholarships, sibling reunification, and more. To get started, follow our Foster Love fundraiser steps down below!
We’ll guide you through creating an account, choosing the program or event you want to support, personalizing your campaign, going live, and sharing your fundraiser with friends, family, and your community. Using these steps, you can maximize your impact and help provide comfort, resources, and hope to foster youth nationwide.
Fundraising makes it possible to achieve a greater impact together—even if you can’t give personally.
Even by just sharing your fundraiser and the Foster Love mission, you’re helping spread awareness, inspire compassion, and build a stronger network of support for children in foster care across the country.
Here’s how to use Foster Love’s Fundraising Platform on our site:
Step 1: Create an Account
Go to https://my.fosterlove.com/fundraisers/create and sign up for an account. This gives you access to your personalized fundraising dashboard where you can track donations, set goals, and manage your campaign.
You’ll also be able to see the direct impact you’ve made, and any events you’ve signed up for like volunteering, or volunteer sponsorship roles here, as well.
Step 2: Choose Your Fundraiser Type
Select a fundraiser under “What type of fundraiser would you like to start?” and select one of three options:
I WANT TO SUPPORT A SPECIFIC PROGRAM
Choose this option to support Foster Love’s ongoing initiatives, including Sweet Cases, STEM Boxes, Superhero Boxes, Birthday Boxes, Bikes, Skateboards, general sibling reunification events, Safe Spaces (Foster Care Awareness Month), academic programs, and teen duffles. Donations for service activities like duffles, boxes, and bikes/boards help cover the cost of items included in these programs for our volunteers to assemble. You can also select “Where It’s Needed Most” to let your donation have the greatest impact.
I WANT TO SUPPORT AN UPCOMING EVENT
Select this if you want to support one-time or annual events such as Shopping Sprees, Socktober, Disney Days, or Birthday Palooza. Donations will either cover your participation fee for the event or help send a child to the event.
I WANT TO DO A SERVICE ACTIVITY
This option is for team-building activities. Pick the activity your team wants to participate in—Sweet Cases, Superhero Boxes, STEM Boxes, Birthday Boxes, Bikes, or Skateboards. Your fundraiser will cover all materials, instructions, and shipping, and your team will help assemble the items, making a direct impact while fostering collaboration.
Step 3: Personalize Your Fundraiser
Give your fundraiser a name, create a custom link, and share why supporting foster youth matters to you. You can use the suggested message in the dashboard or write your own heartfelt story. Adding a cover image helps your fundraiser stand out and captures attention online.
Set a Goal
Decide on a fundraising goal for your campaign. Every dollar counts, whether it’s $50, $500, or $5,000. Even small contributions can provide essential items like socks, clothing, or educational resources for children in foster care.
We recommend starting with an achievable goal for your time frame. For example, raising $1,000 in one week might be a bit difficult, but $500 in two weeks might be more doable. You can always raise more than your goal!
Step 4: Go Live and Spread the Word
Once your fundraiser is live, share your link via social media, email, and text. Encourage friends, family, and coworkers to participate and support your efforts.
You will get an email confirmation that your campaign is live, along with an ID number. Keep this handy in case you need help or have questions about your fundraiser. Any questions can be emailed to [email protected], or our Director of Development directly at [email protected].
Tips to Boost Your Fundraiser
Share a Personal Story
Connect your supporters to the mission. Explain why foster youth programs matter to you. For example, “After volunteering with Foster Love, I saw how important it is to provide children in foster care with the support and resources they deserve.”
Highlight the Impact
Help donors see the tangible difference they make. “Your donation will provide socks, warm clothing, and care items to children in foster care who often enter with nothing but the clothes on their backs.”
Celebrate Milestones
Keep supporters engaged by announcing milestones. For example, “We’ve raised $250 so far—thank you for helping children in foster care receive the resources they need!”
Use Social Media
Share regular updates and visuals to keep momentum going. Highlight stories, statistics, or messages that show the need:
- “Every day, 1,200 children enter foster care, often with little more than the clothes they’re wearing. Your support helps provide essential items and comfort like brand new socks. #FosterLove #Socktober”
- “Children in foster care are 7x more likely to experience depression than children not in care. Your fundraiser helps give these kids stability, care, and hope.”
Track Your Progress
Your dashboard lets you monitor donations, thank supporters, and post updates. Showing progress helps motivate donors to continue supporting your campaign.
Why Your Fundraiser Matters
- Every Donation Makes a Difference: Socks, clothing, educational resources, and care items provide comfort and support to kids in foster care.
- Support Programs Nationwide: Your fundraiser helps children across the country receive items and opportunities they might otherwise go without.
- Raise Awareness: Sharing your campaign educates your community about the challenges faced by foster youth.
- Foster Love Programs Have Proven Impact: From Socktober to Sweet Cases, every program your fundraiser supports directly improves the lives of children in foster care.
Key Stats to Inspire Support
- Over 430,000 children are currently in foster care in the U.S.
- A child enters foster care every two minutes.
- Foster youth are seven times more likely to experience depression than children not placed in foster care.
- 65–85% of children in foster care have at least one sibling also in care, but up to 73% are separated.
- Children placed with at least one sibling show fewer behavioral issues and stronger emotional well-being.
- Early placement stability significantly improves academic success and long-term outcomes.
Get Started Today
Every child in foster care deserves support, care, and opportunities to thrive—and you can help make that possible. By following the Foster Love fundraiser steps, you can create a campaign that brings together friends, family, and your community to provide essential resources and programs for foster youth. Every donation, share, and act of advocacy counts, and with your effort, you’re helping build a network of love, hope, and stability for children who need it most. Start your fundraiser today and see the difference you can make!
Click here to launch your fundraiser and be part of a community dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care.
