Campaigns 3 min read

Managing Your Campaign

Best practices for monitoring and optimizing your active campaign.

Launching is just the beginning. Active campaign management keeps donors engaged and drives continued giving.

Your Campaign Dashboard

Monitor your campaign's health with real-time metrics:

  • Total Raised — Current amount received
  • Funded — Percentage toward your target
  • Donors — List of unique supporters
  • Views — Number of Views your campaign has received

Offline Donations

Not every gift will come through HopeGives. If you receive donations through cash, check, or another source, you can record them as offline donations so your campaign reflects the full amount raised.

Adding offline donations helps keep your campaign total accurate and gives you a complete picture of the impact of your campaign.

How to Add an Offline Donation

  1. Go to your Dashboard
  2. Select My Campaigns
  3. Click Manage Campaign on the campaign you want to update
  4. Select the Offline tab at the top
  5. Add the donation details

You can add one or multiple offline donations at a time, making it easy to record individual gifts or enter several gifts you've received outside of HopeGives.

Note: Offline donations are recorded for tracking purposes. Because these gifts were received outside of HopeGives, the funds are not processed through the platform.

Posting Updates

Regular updates are essential for campaign success. They:

  • Keep your campaign visible in donors' feeds
  • Show accountability and progress
  • Give donors shareable content
  • Encourage additional gifts

Posting Updates

Regular updates are essential for campaign success. They:

  • Keep your campaign visible in donors' feeds
  • Show accountability and progress
  • Give donors shareable content
  • Encourage additional gifts

What to Post

  • Milestone Celebrations — "We just hit 50%! Thank you!"
  • Behind-the-Scenes — Show the work happening
  • Impact Stories — Share how funds are being used
  • Gratitude — Thank donors (without naming unless they agree)
  • Countdown Moments — Build urgency near deadlines

How Often to Update

  • Short Campaigns (1-2 weeks) — Update every 2-3 days
  • Medium Campaigns (1-3 months) — Update weekly
  • Ongoing Campaigns — Update at least monthly

Thanking Donors

Prompt, genuine thanks builds lasting relationships:

Automatic Thanks

HopeGives sends automatic receipts, but personal follow-up matters more.

Personal Thank-You Messages

Send individual thank-you messages through the platform. Tips:

  • Send within 24-48 hours of receiving the donation
  • Be specific about how their gift helps
  • Keep it brief but heartfelt
  • Ask them to pray and share

Public Acknowledgment

Consider thanking donors in your updates (with permission). This encourages others to give.

Editing Your Campaign

You can update your campaign anytime:

  • Story — Add new information, correct errors
  • Images — Add photos showing progress
  • Goal — Adjust up or down based on response
  • End Date — Extend if needed

[!WARNING] Significant changes to your goal or story should be explained in an update. Transparency builds trust.

When Campaigns Stall

If donations slow down, try:

  1. Personal Outreach — Directly ask people who haven't given
  2. New Angle — Post an update with fresh perspective
  3. Matching Challenge — Find someone to match donations for a period
  4. Deadline Push — Create urgency if your end date is approaching
  5. Social Proof — Share testimonials and donor quotes

Ending Your Campaign

When your campaign concludes:

  1. Post a final thank-you update
  2. Share concrete results and impact
  3. Send individual thanks to major donors
  4. Consider what you'd do differently next time