Community Spotlight: Meg Kaylee

Why do you choose to fundraise?

Fundraising to me feels like a tangible way to put some good into the world, and an opportunity to speak about and shine a light on causes that are important to me. In different ways, the causes I fundraise for represent different pieces of my soul, I think. The passion I have for the good that these organizations are doing is what drives me to do what I can to help support them. I've always believed that while the world has a lot of bad, it has a lot of good, too. And there is so much more light that we as individuals can add to it. I feel that is what charity organizations are out here doing every single day.

What Tiltify tools have you used that made an impact on your fundraising?

The ability to add incentives, as well as the donation goal bar, have been so handy to use in the past! There are so many ways to encourage donations with these tools, and to reward folks with fun things for choosing to give. I love that I can easily display relevant and useful campaign information, like recent donators and incentive choices, in a way that feels clean, concise, and doesn't take up too much of the screen or confuse the audience.

What is a fun fact you’d like to share?

A charity-related fun fact - for a short time, I volunteered as a Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line! The training that they provide to their counselors is really incredible, and I built really useful skills when it comes to crisis intervention and helping people move from a moment of crisis to a cool calm. It was work that felt really rewarding and important, and I definitely recommend taking a look at Crisis Text Line if you're someone looking to volunteer for that sort of work! You can do it from your PC at home, and set your own volunteer hours. Alternatively, they're also a resource I have used myself when I've been on the crisis end of things, and it really helped me when I felt alone - so I'd also recommend keeping it in mind as a free text line if you're ever in need of that kind of support! It can be scary to reach out for help, but is so important to. You're not alone in anything you're going through - I promise!

What advice do you have for anyone fundraising for the first time?

Go for it. It can be easy to get stuck feeling like you're "too small" or like you won't raise "enough" - but the truth is that any amount you could possibly raise is "enough," and more than the charity had before. We also can't forget the power of word of mouth, and how even just discussing an important cause can raise crucial awareness. My first fundraising stream was in 2015 when I was very new to streaming and still had a very small audience, and we raised $200 for Make A Wish. It takes time to build momentum, and that is okay. Set attainable goals and don't be afraid to try out creative ideas you think of for donation incentives.