How to Use Social Media To Fundraise For Abortion
I co-founded an abortion fund and was in charge of their social media for two years. After our state passed an abortion ban, we suddenly became the most famous abortion fund in the world and raised millions of dollars in a matter of weeks. What I learned from my experience managing public relations for that fund is that social media is a powerful fundraising tool. I also learned that there are countless people who care about abortion access and want to help, but they just don’t know how.
I am no longer affiliated with a specific repro organization, but I have earned the nickname “abortion donation link fairy” for my efforts to signal boost funds all over the country in the replies to tweets about abortion, from news headlines to viral “hot takes” and everything in between. Abortion is increasingly making national headlines as anti-abortion legislators throughout the country pass abortion bans in anticipation of Roe’s repeal this summer. While those of us in the movement have seen this coming for a long time, the average person is clueless about what the abortion access landscape looks like and how they can best support those impacted.
Here are three ways that you can use social media to most effectively promote abortion funds:
1. SHARE POSTS BY ABORTION FUND ACCOUNTS!
Following abortion funds and advocacy organizations is a great way to stay up to date about events and fundraising campaigns, as well as to educate yourself on subjects such as the landscape of access and relevant legislation. Sharing posts from these accounts helps build their following and informs others about relevant issues and initiatives. Social media is an essential platform for funds to gain supporters and donors, and every share or RT helps! Looking at the “following” lists of abortion funds on Twitter or Instagram is a great way to find other accounts to follow.
2. ALWAYS INCLUDE DONATION LINKS IN YOUR POSTS!
Whenever you post about an organization, include a direct link to their donation page. Tagging an organization is nice, but the likelihood that your audience will take the time to visit their page and find the donate link themselves is low. This advice applies to organizations as well! Always include a link. You never know which post or tweet will be the one to mobilize donors.
3. POST IN REPLIES AND COMMENT SECTIONS!
Whenever I see a news article or a viral post about abortion, the first thing I do is post resources in the replies. Providing information about existing resources is vital for both potential donors as well as potential abortion seekers. Most articles do not include a call to action, and most readers have no idea where to start. For national/general articles, here’s my basic template:
“I have created a document with info about abortion funds specific to each state: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter . I encourage y'all to share this information and follow/donate to the orgs I have cited!”
The usernames included in that document are specific to Twitter, but the donation links and organization names can and should be shared universally! Whether you’re a Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, or Reddit user, I guarantee that your awareness raising will make a tremendous impact.
Fundraising through social media is effective, but nothing beats the peer-to-peer method. I highly encourage y’all to find a fund participating in Fundathon and create your own fundraising page if you haven’t already (here is a step by step guide)! Ask your friends to join you and make a fundraising team. Set an initial goal of $100, then raise it each time you reach a new milestone. You’ll be surprised how fast you can fundraise once you get other people involved!
Reach out to your friends and family and ask them to donate directly to your page, or even ask if you can request $5 on Venmo or Cashapp so you can donate for them. Educate yourself about the perils that abortion seekers and providers currently face, then use that information to explain to them why it’s more important than ever to support abortion funds. Abortion funds run on shoestring budgets and every dollar makes a difference! We need all hands on deck to survive what’s coming once Roe is gone, and that includes your hands too.
Did you find this helpful? OARS is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to providing accurate information and facilitating access to abortion care. Donate to support our work.
