Fundraising Tools
Welcome to Your Fundraising Journey
Welcome, and thank you so much for joining us in this important cause! We’re incredibly grateful that you’ve chosen to raise funds and make a difference. Every dollar you raise will have a meaningful impact, helping support the work that makes this cause so important.
We know that starting a fundraising campaign can feel a little intimidating, but you’re not on this journey alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way, with resources, encouragement, and plenty of guidance along the way.
First off we wanted to share some of our top fundraising tips with you to make sure you are starting off strong. We’re so excited to have you with us and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make!
Keep it Personal
The most successful fundraising campaigns tell your personal story and connect you to the place or project that you are volunteering with.
For example: I care deeply about improving health worldwide because... OR It's important to me to give back to the places we travel because... OR I believe we all need to learn and connect more across the world...
Offer Something in Return for Support
This doesn't have to cost a lot (or anything at all)! Maybe it is taking up a challenge that your friends or family would love to see you do (like running a 5K in a costume or giving up coffee for a month) or making something for a certain donation amount (like cookies; a fun thank you card; or a group dinner). Think of what motivates & connects your community
Reach Out
Reach out to local businesses and corporations that might align with the cause. Consider asking for a 1:1 dollar match for your fundraising efforts or reach out to the local media to help spread your message!
Provide Updates
Share the milestones of your (and the wider) campaign. Share photos and updates of the project as it progresses. You can email your donors directly through your fundraising page! These updates keep people engaged in the process and they love to see how where their money is going and who is benefiting.
Define Your Goal
We ask for a minimum of $2000 per participant donation to help fund the project (see Where Does Your Donation Go?) but our participants often fundraise more! Add into every ask how close you are to your target and a call to action to help meet that.
Try something new!
Surf For Life volunteers have used all sorts of creative & fun ideas to help fundraise for their trips! We invite you to try something new or a way to bring your community together to support your cause. See some of our favorite Fundraising Ideas below
Be Direct
Reach out with personal texts, phone calls, direct messages or emails.
We have provided you with Sample Templates that you can copy, edit and send off quickly!
These will go farther than just a mass post (but this also helps too!)
Share It Widely
Share it across your social media platforms and make sure to include the link to your fundraising page. See our pre-made posts below for a quick share. Make sure to tag us @surfforlifeteam so we can reshare and keep the momentum going!
Create Your Own Fundraising Page
Step 1: Create Your Own Fundraising Page to Share
Next to "I want to help fundraise" click on the Fundraise button.
Under "How Do You Want to Fundraise" to create a "Solo Campaign" This will prompt you to create an account through our fundraising platform Zeffy.
Step 2: Edit Your Fundraising Page
Follow the link in your email to log into your Zeffy account. Click on Edit next to the name of your form
Once in the editor, you'll be able to edit the Title; Fundraising Goal; Description; Style; Banner; Logo & Thank You Email from the menu on the left.
You will see our text populating each of these areas but we encourage you to adapt it & make it your own!
Step 3: Share Your Campaign with Your Community!
Email, post, text etc your campaign to your community! You can use and edit our samples below!
$15,000 Will Make It Happen!
Where Does Your Fundraising Money Go?
We ask for a minimum donation of $2000 per participant to cover the costs of:
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building materials and labor costs for local foreman and crew
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long-term sustainability of partner programming
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support in the development of sustainable projects (including this one!) by Surf For Life
A note that $2000 is a *minimum* ask. Many participants fundraise more! This helps us go further and is still a direct donation to the non profits involved.
What Are We Funding?
Support Healthcare Access in Pavones
Pavones is a small community in southern Costa Rica, surrounded by rural communities including Punta Banco, Cocal Amarillo, Vista Mar, Altamira, and Pilón. The surrounding area is home to approximately 7,511 people, based on 2020 population data.
For many residents, accessing basic healthcare requires traveling more than 45 minutes over rough mountainous roads to the nearest public health center in Conte. For something as routine as a pregnancy checkup, this can mean a difficult journey—only to arrive and find that appointments are unavailable or supplies are limited.
The Asociación de Bienestar Pro Salud Pavones is working to make healthcare more local, accessible, and community-centered through:
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70% discounts at Pavones Clinic for qualifying local residents.
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Health education and prevention through printed materials, WhatsApp, and social media.
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Essential supplies for vulnerable families, including diapers, powdered milk, and medications.
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Twice-yearly medical outreach trips to neighboring Indigenous communities, including Altamira and Vista Mar.
Together with Pavones Clinic, we operate through a public-private community partnership, providing low-cost or free care to local residents while offering paid services to visitors and travelers. Revenue from these services helps support our nonprofit community programs.
Our Next Step: A Community Health Center
We are seeking support to build a dedicated space that would provide:
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Clinical laboratory testing, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for basic diagnostics.
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Medication dispensing and specialist visits, bringing essential services closer to the community.
This small investment in local infrastructure could make a significant difference in the health, safety, and well-being of Pavones and its surrounding communities.
By investing in healthcare access in Pavones, you can help create a sustainable, community-centered model that brings essential medical services closer to the people who need them most.
Templates For Spreading The Word
We have provided a few templates to get you going to spread the word about your campaign! Feel free to edit them or create your own, as you know your audience best.
Email:
Add Email Subject: Volunteer trip to Costa Rica - Help me make it happen!
Dear Friends and Family,
I hope you’re having a wonderful summer! This November, I’ll be traveling to Pavones, Costa Rica to volunteer with Surf For Life, a nonprofit that partners with underserved communities on sustainable, high-impact projects.
Bringing Health Care to Rural Costa Rica
This year’s project supports Asociación de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones, a local initiative creating a clinical and diagnostic center for the community and a public health outreach program serving two remote Indigenous communities.
The center will:
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Serve more than 7,500 residents, including the communities of Alta Mira and Vista Mar.
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Make basic health care and diagnostics more accessible to people who currently travel more than 45 minutes over difficult roads.
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Expand affordable, community-centered health care.
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Focus on prevention, education, and long-term community resilience.
Surf For Life has been supporting projects in Pavones for more than 10 years, and I’m excited to contribute by working alongside local community members to help build this center and participate in activities with the elders it will serve.
I’ve committed to raising [$2,000], which will help fund construction materials and project-related operational costs. Any contribution, large or small, would mean so much to me. Donations are 100% tax deductible.
[Donate through my personal fundraising page here.]
If your company offers matching donations through Benevity, YourCause, or a similar program, you can donate to Surf For Life in my name and have it count toward my goal. Just be sure to include my name when asked if the donation is supporting a specific volunteer.
I know there are countless important causes asking for support, so I truly appreciate you considering mine. I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity and would love to share more about the project or answer any questions.
And if you choose to support me, I’ll keep you along for the journey with updates, photos, and videos from Costa Rica!
Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, and friendship.
Warmly,
[YOUR NAME]
Text:
Hi [Name]! 👋 I’m fundraising with Surf For Life to help build a new room at a local health clinic in Pavones this November! 🏥🌴
I’m hoping to raise $2,000, and I’d love your support. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! 💛 If you could also help by sharing my fundraising page, would be epic!
[Insert your donation page link here]
Social Media:
📣 Big News! 🌊✈️
I’m thrilled to share that this November, I’ll be traveling to Pavones, Costa Rica to volunteer with @surfforlifeteam, helping to build a clinical & diagnostic room for the local health clinic Asociación de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones💛🇨🇷
This incredible opportunity allows me to give back in a meaningful way, and I need your help to make it happen. I’m working to raise $2000, which will go directly toward the planning, materials, and execution of this impactful project.
🔗 [Insert your fundraising page link here]
💡 All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Every dollar helps — no contribution is too small. Thank you so much for your support! Let’s make a difference together. 💪🏽🌍✨
#SurfForLife #CostaRica #VolunteerAbroad #GiveBack #CommunityImpact #PavonesProject #Asociaciónde BienestarProSaluddePavones #ServiceTravel #Fundraiser #DoGoodFeelGood
Surf for Life Website: www.surfforlife.org
Direct Donation Link: [Insert your donation page link here]
Gallery:
We have provided below some sample social media posts and photos to help show the community that your funds will help benefit and potential impact to your community. Feel free to download, use and share to support your fundraising campaign!
 Social Media Post Download Here |  Social Media Post Download Here |  Social Media Post Download Here |  Social Media Post Download Here |
|---|---|---|---|
 Social Media Post Download Here |  Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |  Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |  Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |
 Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |  Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |  Download image to add to your email, texts or social media posts |
Fundraising Ideas:
Here are some of our favorite fundraising ideas to accelerate your campaign and bring your community together!
