Every year, across South Africa, wildlife organisations, rehabilitation centres, sanctuaries, and conservation teams are faced with the same difficult reality: the need for urgent action rarely arrives with guaranteed funding.
An injured animal cannot wait months for support. A rescue operation cannot pause while organisations search for resources. Rehabilitation, emergency veterinary care, anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and long-term conservation all require immediate and ongoing funding.
That’s where wildlife crowdfunding can become an important tool to raise ongoing funds for these causes.
More than just fundraising, crowdfunding creates a way for ordinary people, individuals, or organisations to actively participate in protecting wildlife. Crowdfunding for these causes can transform concern into tangible action, allowing communities to directly support the people and organisations working tirelessly behind the scenes to rehabilitate injured animals and protect endangered species. And increasingly, platforms like BackaBuddy are helping make that support possible.
Why Animal Rehabilitation Needs Public Support
Wildlife rehabilitation is often emotionally demanding, logistically complex, and financially expensive. Behind every rescued animal is an entire network of care:
Emergency response teams
Veterinarians
Rehabilitation specialists
Feeding programmes
Medical treatment
Transport
Long-term monitoring
Habitat support
For many organisations, these costs continue long after public attention fades.
Unlike larger institutions with substantial funding structures, many rescue centres and conservation organisations rely heavily on donations to continue operating consistently. This is especially true during emergencies such as droughts, wildfires, flooding, or poaching crises, where needs escalate rapidly.
That’s why animal rehabilitation fundraising has become such a critical part of conservation work in South Africa.
How Wildlife Crowdfunding Creates Real Impact
One of the most powerful things about wildlife crowdfunding is that it allows people to support conservation in practical, immediate ways. A donation is rarely just a donation. It may help:
Feed orphaned wildlife
Fund rehabilitation equipment
Cover veterinary treatment
Support anti-poaching patrols
Provide emergency transport
Expand long-term conservation efforts
And because crowdfunding campaigns are visible and shareable, they also help conservation stories reach wider audiences who may never otherwise engage with wildlife rehabilitation work.
Wildlife campaigns on BackaBuddy often become more than fundraising pages. They become educational spaces where people can understand the realities facing wildlife organisations and see exactly how support translates into impact.
Guardians of Eden
🎥 One example of this is the Guardians of Eden campaign run by Eden to Addo.
The campaign focuses on protecting and preserving South Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage through long-term conservation support. What makes this initiative especially meaningful is its sustainability model. Rather than relying only on once-off donations, the organisation has built a recurring donor community through the Donors for Life cohort, creating more predictable, long-term support for ongoing conservation work.
This kind of monthly giving structure can have extraordinary long-term impact. Even smaller recurring donations, when sustained over several years, create stability that allows organisations to plan proactively instead of constantly reacting to crises. Importantly, the campaign also uses storytelling and visual content effectively to help supporters feel connected to the mission. Check it out here.
The success of campaigns like this highlights something important: people want to support causes where they can clearly see the purpose, transparency, and long-term impact of their contribution. You can find the Guardians of Eden campaign here.
When Crisis Hits: Panthera Africa’s Wildfire Appeal
Wildlife crowdfunding also becomes especially critical during emergencies.
In January 2026, Panthera Africa launched an emergency wildfire appeal after devastating fires threatened animals and infrastructure. Campaigns like this demonstrate how quickly communities can mobilise when conservation organisations face urgent situations. In moments where time matters, crowdfunding allows support to happen immediately:
Donations can be processed quickly
Campaigns can be shared widely
Updates keep supporters informed in real time
That speed can make a meaningful difference during rescue and rehabilitation efforts. To see the impact made you can find the Panthera campaign here.
Why Crowdfunding Works So Well for Wildlife Rescue Fundraising
The success of wildlife campaigns often comes down to one thing: emotional connection. People care deeply about animals and conservation, but they also want to understand:
What happened
What’s needed
How their support helps
What impact their donation will make
Crowdfunding creates a direct line between organisations doing the work and the people who want to support them. They turn supporters into champions. Some conservation campaigns grow because people don’t just donate, they actively rally others around the cause.
BackaBuddy allows supporters to create their own fundraising campaigns for organisations they care about. These are called Champion campaigns. A supporter chooses an organisation, sets a fundraising target, creates their own campaign, and then encourages their community to get involved.
Project Rhino is a great example of this in action. Supporters have taken on personal challenges like long-distance swims, endurance walks, and community fundraising efforts to raise money for rhino conservation through the organisation’s BackaBuddy profile.
This kind of fundraising expands conservation efforts far beyond a single organisation’s network. It gives everyday supporters a practical way to become part of the mission and helps conservation causes reach entirely new communities.
On BackaBuddy, campaigns are designed to make that connection feel human and accessible:
Real-time fundraising totals show momentum
Supporters can share campaigns easily
Organisations and champions can post updates and progress
Recurring donations allow for sustainable support
Stories remain visible and easy to follow
These features help campaigns grow beyond immediate donor circles and build communities around conservation work.
4 Elements of a Successful Wildlife Rehabilitation Fundraising Campaign
For organisations wondering how to raise money for wildlife rehabilitation, some of the most successful campaigns tend to share a few common traits.
Focus on storytelling
People connect with real stories, not abstract conservation problems.
During Panthera Africa’s wildfire campaign, regular updates about rescued animals like Arabella helped supporters stay emotionally connected to the journey. By sharing recovery updates through social media and campaign update posts, donors could see the direct impact of their support in real time.
Show impact clearly
Regular updates can make a big difference here. Campaign creators can post updates directly from their BackaBuddy profile or send them to the BackaBuddy updates team, who can distribute a single update email to all donors. Once a campaign gains momentum, sharing updates on social media can also help strengthen emotional connection and encourage further support. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about keeping donors engaged throughout the journey here.
Use visuals effectively
Strong visuals and videos help people emotionally connect to the story and see the real impact of their support, whether that’s rescuing injured wildlife, funding treatment, or protecting habitats. BackaBuddy allows campaign creators to embed YouTube videos directly onto their campaign pages, helping conservation stories feel more personal and engaging.
Many wildlife crowdfunding campaigns grow because supporters become advocates, sharing the campaign far beyond the organisation’s immediate audience. Encouraging people to share a campaign, even if they can’t donate, can significantly increase visibility and help conservation stories reach entirely new communities.
BackaBuddy’s platform is designed to support exactly these kinds of campaigns, helping conservation organisations focus on the work itself while making fundraising easier to manage and share.
Conservation Is a Shared Responsibility
The reality is that wildlife conservation cannot rest solely on the shoulders of rangers, veterinarians, rescue teams, or nonprofits. Protecting wildlife is something that increasingly requires collective participation. That participation may look different for everyone:
Donating monthly or once off.
Sharing campaigns.
Sponsoring rehabilitation efforts.
Supporting emergency appeals.
Raising awareness online.
But together, these actions create something much bigger than individual contributions. They create sustainability. They create continuity of care. And sometimes, they create a second chance for animals that would not otherwise survive.
Support Wildlife Conservation on BackaBuddy
If you’d like to support wildlife rehabilitation, rescue efforts, or conservation campaigns across South Africa, explore active causes on BackaBuddy here.
Crowdfunding is growing rapidly in South Africa, giving non-profit organisations an incredible opportunity to raise more money by tapping into the power of events-based crowdfunding. While more than R880 million has been raised on BackaBuddy for various causes, our most successful organisations will tell you that fundraising is not always easy.
At BackaBuddy, we are deeply committed to making things easier for the organisations and charities that fundraise on our platform. With that in mind, our team has put together this article on how to diversify your fundraising income through event-based crowdfunding, exploring different ways to raise additional funds by using some of the most famous local sporting and community events.
What is a Charity Champion?
Before diving into your next campaign, it helps to understand the driving force behind modern champion fundraising: the charity champion.
A charity champion is a passionate supporter, volunteer, or everyday hero who steps up to raise funds on behalf of your cause. Instead of your organisation doing all the asking, these individuals create personal fundraising pages linked to your charity. They then rally their own networks, friends, family, and colleagues to donate. When tied to major sporting or community events, these champions become the ultimate advocates for your mission, expanding your reach far beyond your existing donor database.
Once you have registered your charity to raise funds on BackaBuddy, the next step is to find these passionate individuals and put together a winning champion fundraising team.
Where can you find champions?
Tip 1: The best place to find champions to raise funds for your organisation is to reach out to past fundraisers who have previously supported your cause.
Tip 2: If you have volunteers at your organisation, ask them if they would be interested in putting together a campaign to highlight a specific need, or if they can help to promote your new champions when they sign up.
Tip 3: Reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and social groups to see if the keen champions among your inner circle would like to spearhead a champion fundraising drive for your organisation.
Tip 4: Create a post on social media to see if any of your followers are taking part in upcoming events. If anyone on your social network is entering a challenge, message them privately to see if they will champion your cause! You can also share this post in various groups and forums to reach potential donors.
Tip 5: Following the official social media hashtags for major races and challenges could also introduce you to potential champions. Click here to explore event-related hashtags via Ugenie.
Tip 6: Send out a call to action to your email list or database to see if any of your donors will be participating in an upcoming event and would like to raise funds for you.
Here is a template you could use:
Dear [Name],
I hope you are well and staying safe.
We are reaching out to you because you have been a valued supporter of our organisation and the vital work we do.
This month, we are putting together a champion fundraising team for the [Name of Event], which will take place from [Date] to [Date].
We are harnessing the power of events-based crowdfunding to raise awareness for our cause and secure much-needed funds for [Project/Need].
If you are passionate about our organisation and our mission to [insert mission, e.g., feed vulnerable families], please consider entering the [Name of Event] to raise funds on our behalf.
How to enter:
1. Register for the [Name of Event] here: [Link to website]. 2. Create your fundraising campaign on BackaBuddy by letting our team know who you are, how much you would like to raise, and why you are passionate about our organisation here: [Link].
If you have any questions, please contact Lakiwe, your dedicated BackaBuddy Head of Charities, via email at [email protected] to arrange a meeting.
How can you support your champions?
To maximise the success of your events-based crowdfunding efforts, you need to support your champions as much as possible and empower them to raise funds effectively.
Show your champions who you are
If you have an organisational video or emotive, inspiring images that showcase the valuable work you do, share them with your team. This will motivate your champions on their events-based crowdfunding journey and provide them with beautiful, ready-made content to share across social media.
Give your champions the latest statistics relating to your organisation and tell them about your recent success stories. This equips them to confidently engage their networks and encourage donations.
Tell your champions what you need
Crowdfunding campaigns with a tangible, specific need always resonate better with the public. Give your champions a clear idea of how the funds raised will be used to benefit your organisation. This helps them determine a realistic fundraising target and encourages potential donors to give in specific increments.
For example:
“R100 will allow us to purchase 1 pair of shoes for a disadvantaged child living in Edenvale, Johannesburg.”
“Raising R10,000 will allow us to cover the internet data costs for 100 students struggling with online learning in their matric year.”
“If we raise R100,000 through our events-based crowdfunding campaign, we will be able to completely refurbish two classrooms.”
If a participant has a personal connection with your charity and wants to fundraise for a particular project that resonates with them, it makes for a highly emotional and successful crowdfunding appeal!
Highlight your donors and help them spread the word
Throughout their champion fundraising journey, your supporters will need your encouragement to achieve their targets.
Create dedicated posts on social media to introduce your champions to your followers, post regular updates about their campaign progress, and congratulate them publicly when they reach milestones. Encourage your champions to share their personal connection to your organisation on their own platforms alongside their crowdfunding campaign link.
Example of a social media post you could create:
Stefani from Cape Town is halfway towards reaching her fundraising target of R100,000 on BackaBuddy! With the incredible support she has received so far, we can cover the registration costs for 10 learners at UCT! Show her some love and support her champion fundraising campaign here: [Link]
Communicate with your champions
Create a WhatsApp group to keep in touch with your champions, monitor their campaign progress, and learn what is working or where they might need a bit of help. Host regular Zoom meetings to motivate them, say thank you, and offer encouragement. If you would like a BackaBuddy team member to be present in your virtual workshops to share expert tips, just let us know!
Encourage larger donations
If your organisation is Section 18A certified, make sure your champions know to share this information with potential donors. It is a fantastic incentive that encourages businesses and individuals to make larger contributions. If you have Section 18A status, let us know and we can add it directly to your campaign page for all potential donors to see!
If your organisation has any questions about launching an events-based crowdfunding campaign, please reach out to us. The BackaBuddy team is here to help.
We wish your organisation and all your champions the absolute best of luck on their fundraising journey!
Over time, runners have recognized the potential of sports events as more than just a race—they’re also a powerful opportunity to rally support and raise funds through crowdfunding. Harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of participants, these events become a vibrant hub for both athletic achievement and philanthropy, showcasing the transformative impact of collective action.
If you have not yet pledged to support your favourite charity or bought your tickets for the event, have a read through our article below.
Here to guide you in raising funds at your local event, the BackaBuddy team has put together our best advice on how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign!
How to enter your chosen event
Before you begin your crowdfunding journey on BackaBuddy, make sure you have entered for the event on their website.
Launch your crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
Once you have registered, it’s time to create your crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for your chosen charity.
A key thread in all successful crowdfunding campaigns is a well-written, emotive, and informative story that connects with potential supporters of your campaign.
For inspiration on how to tell your story, Meet Zanele.
Zanele Hlatshwayo from Soweto, told a powerful, personal story. when raising funds for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in honour of her late father.
When writing your campaign story, be sure to answer the following questions:
Who are you and where are you from?
Which organisation are you fundraising for and what do they do? Do you have a personal connection to the charity you have chosen?
Your campaign message should highlight the importance of your cause and why others should support it. If the charity you have chosen has success stories or interesting facts to share with you, this will also help you tell your story. Connect with your charity and find out as much information about them as you can.
How much would you like to raise and how will these funds be used in a tangible way to benefit your charity and the work they do?
Take a look at these examples on how to write a tangible campaign ‘ask’.
For example, I am taking part in the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2024 to…
Raise R10 000 to purchase 100 school shoes for children in need at Afrika Tikkun.
Raise R100 000 to help Hillwood Primary School in refurbishing 1 classroom.
Reach my crowdfunding target of R20 000 to support Dignity Dreams in purchasing sanitary items for young girls so that they don’t miss out on an education.
Focus on the positive impact of donations
Presenting your campaign in a positive way can make a big difference. Focus on the positive impact the funds raised will have and the impact of your awareness campaign.
According to the 2018 Trends in Global Giving Report, by Non-Profit Tech For Good, 91% of donors are motivated to donate to causes when they feel positive emotions such as hope and empathy and only 9% respond to negative emotions such as fear and sadness.
For those who don’t like reading, put together a short campaign video!
Campaigns with video content tend to raise 4 times more funds, and are shared 7 times more on social media, as they are more personal and emotive!
Shoot a video on your phone
For a crowdfunding campaign, you don’t need professional lighting, equipment or editing skills to convey a powerful message.
We recommend shooting a short, personal and informal message on your cellphone that can be posted on social media as well as on your crowdfunding campaign.
Make sure you are presentable and wearing comfortable clothes (try to avoid clothes with busy designs or a lot of text).
Choose a clearbackdrop or tidy background to shoot your video.
Try to eliminate as much background noise as possible.
Let viewers know where they can make a donation to your campaign and include your crowdfunding campaign link in every post you share.
When choosing your crowdfunding image, choose an inviting and friendly image of yourself. If you have a photo of yourself in running gear, this will show your potential donors that you mean business and are already training to make them proud!
Set your target based on your network and available time
When setting your fundraising target, it’s important to consider:
Just like no one likes to be the first person on the dance floor, donors typically support crowdfunding once a campaign has a few initial donations.
Through data research, we found that campaigns with initial support from family and friends specifically, tend to raise 220% more funds.
How to share your campaign with close family and friends:
When looking for your first donations, we recommend sending a personal, instant message on WhatsApp, Facebook message, email or SMS to close family and friends, extended family, neighbours, co-workers.
An example of a message you could send:
“Hi Monique, I hope you are well!
I am taking part in the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2024 to raise funds to support FoodForwardSA and the wonderful work they do.
With my crowdfunding campaign launched on BackaBuddy I hope to raise R10 000 to provide 100 meals to disadvantaged children living in Edenvale, Johannesburg.
If you can, please be so kind as to donate to my campaign and cheer me on during the event.
If you’re unable to contribute, please share my campaign with your friends and loved ones: Here is my campaign link: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/
Once you have your first donations in, we recommend sharing your campaign to a wider audience on Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram.
Depending on your chosen social network, read through our guidelines on how to make the most of social sharing!
Find out if the organisation you are raising funds for is Section 18A certified as a tax break is a great incentive to encourage donations in larger amounts.
Need more tips? Visit the BackaBuddy Impact Village or reach out to Simbulele from our marketing team for advice at [email protected]Want impact stories and top crowdfunding tips? Sign up for our newsletter and join our community!
Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or satisfying a need in your organization by raising money from many people who each contribute a small amount to your cause.
Crowdfunding is growing rapidly in South Africa, giving non-profit organizations an opportunity to raise more money through tapping into power of the crowd.
It is a way fundraise that doesn’t rely on sponsorships from big businesses or the government, but rather relies on many small contributions from those around you who are inspired by your cause.
Although over R59 million has been raised on BackaBuddy for various causes, our most successful charities, The Smile Foundation and Rainbows and Smiles for example, will tell you that crowdfunding is not easy.
If you understand that crowdfunding requires a lot of effort, speaking to your networks and isn’t a quick fix for your organization, then you’re in the right mindset for a successful campaign!
In this article, we will cover the following:
Do you have the necessary tools to run a campaign?
Managing your Crowdfunding Expectations.
What are your needs?
Do you have access to a crowd/network?
Who is going to be in charge of your campaign?
Do you have the tools you need to run a campaign?
For a successful crowdfunding campaign you need access to a couple practical tools such as a Computer, Smartphone with an Internet connection. If you are unable to connect and talk to your potential donors, it will be difficult to raise funds online.
Have you created social media accounts for your organization? Do you have a mailing list with email addresses or database of your supporters?
Do you have previous success stories or testimonials from past projects in the form of videos, photos, articles etc will bring credibility to your campaign.
Managing your Crowdfunding expectations
Are you crowdfunding for a quick/large cash injection to save your organization or do you need to secure funding for a certain need within your organization?
Although crowdfunding can be rewarding, success does not come easy to those who expect a large amounts of money in a short space of time, particularly you are a new charity.
The chance of you reaching your target shortly after you go “live” is rare, our big, high networked charities, would be able to tell you that it doesn’t happen often!
If you understand that crowdfunding is a process that requires the correct marketing message, a target that isn’t too high and lots of communication with your supporters, then you have a clear view of what to expect!
What are your needs as a charity?
Simply put, WHAT are you crowdfunding for and WHY.
Crowdfunding is the most effective, when you focus on a certain need that you can measure.
Sit with your fundraising team and your finance department to identify specific needs that are “tangible” and easy for the public to understand.
This step is very important in determining how successful your campaign will be, general phrases should be avoided.
Your donor wants to know exactly where their money is going to in order to connect with your cause.
What doesn’t work:“The funds will be used for social upliftment”
What works: “The funds will be used to build a free-clinic in Mitchells plain that will support a community of 200 people”
What doesn’t work: “To help children reach their potential”
What does work: “It costs R30 000 to put one child through a coding course, we hope to put 5 children in through this course at Buddy Coding School in Blouberg by 2019.
What doesn’t work:“ Raising money for awareness”
What does work:“We plan to visit 10 Government schools to educate students about Gun safety”
Tip: Be the first person to support your own campaign. No one wants to support a project that has 0 funds raised.
Setting a realistic, target is an important part of setting up your crowdfunding project.
If your target is too high, you will discourage donations in smaller amounts, because your donor might think their R100 donation won’t make your barometer go up.
As a non-profit, you most likely have a number of important needs in your organization, for the purpose of crowdfunding, it is better to tackle one need at a time.
For example, You might need 5 new vehicles for your organization that will cost R500 000, which might discourage the average donor, but if you crowdfund for 1 vehicle that costs R100 000, your campaign seems a lot more achievable.
Finding your crowd.
Crowdfunding can be a great way to raise money, build your donor database and communicate with your donors on a more personal level.
Where is my crowd?
Your existing Donor Database. (List of names and contact information of those who have donated to your charity in the past)
Your Social Media followers
Your website or blog subscribers.
Past & Present Volunteers/Interns.
The Media: Your local radio station/local paper
Your family & Friends
Who will be in charge of the campaign?
A successful crowdfunding campaign, can’t be done alone.
Rainbows and Smiles have raised over R2 Million rand on BackaBuddy. Click here to see how.
You will need at least one person in your organization who will be in charge of all the crowdfunding activities.
Sit down with your team and determine who will be responsible for the following:
Setting up the campaign.
Marketing the campaign by creating interesting things to post online.
Engaging with your supporters.
Who will run the Facebook/Twitter page.
Updating donors on how successful your campaign was and thanking them for their support.
… so do you think you have what it takes to run a successful campaign?
Listen to our COO, Catherine Du Plooy’s advice to new charities using crowdfunding here
