The short answer
To organize funds raised to help, start by agreeing with the beneficiary on what they need, what they want to share, and who will be responsible for the campaign. Then prepare a budget with specific expenses and explain how the funds and updates will be managed.
The campaign should support the person, not force them to expose their privacy to justify every contribution. This guide is about organizing help; it does not provide medical advice or recommend treatments.
In this guide
- Agree on the initiative with the beneficiary
- Define what help will be funded
- Decide who manages and who receives the money
- Choose a format you can sustain
- Share the need with respect
- Share the outreach work
- Plan for changes and the wrap-up
- Prepare your campaign with Kukumiku
- Frequently asked questions
Agree on the initiative with the beneficiary
Before writing their story, ask them if they want a public campaign and how they want to appear. Agree together on:
- What name, images, and details can be published.
- Who will handle inquiries and speak on behalf of the campaign.
- What updates will be shared and which ones won’t.
If they cannot decide directly, speak with the people representing them. Never publish medical reports, identity documents, or contact details as proof of transparency.
You can explain a need for transportation or lodging without sharing the full diagnosis. The information should be enough to understand the purpose, not be more intimate just to be more emotional.
Define what help will be funded
Break down the expenses and gather supporting documentation: travel, lodging near the hospital, home adaptations, technical aids, or day-to-day support. Use real items, reviewed with the person involved.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Travel expenses | 240 € |
| Temporary housing | 560 € |
| Total of these expenses | 800 € |
If an expense is not yet confirmed, present it as an estimate.
Decide who manages and who receives the money
Identify who is organizing, their relationship with the beneficiary, and how the funds will be received. If you are organizing help for someone else, do not assume you can collect on their behalf: ask the platform how it works and what documentation is required.
An option that avoids many issues is to pay suppliers directly (accommodation, orthopedic store, transportation company) instead of transferring the money to a personal account. At Kukumiku, we can do it this way.
Also explain how you will report on expenses and balances without revealing private data. Tax implications depend on each case: do not announce exemptions without checking first.
Choose a format you can sustain
A donation campaign focuses on the need and community support. A raffle adds a prize, official rules, and fulfillment: it can help with outreach if someone donates a great prize, but it is not necessary to raise funds.
If you are considering it, check the guide to charity raffles and sweepstakes first. Do not improvise selling raffle tickets with just a social media post.
Share the need respectfully
Organize the text into four parts:
- Who is organizing and with what agreement from the beneficiary.
- What specific help you want to fund.
- What the budget is and which part is confirmed.
- How updates will be shared regarding the use of funds.
Do not tie the donation to a promise of a cure. If the goal includes medical care, clinical decisions belong to healthcare professionals, not the campaign.
Share the outreach workload
Designate one person to maintain the page and, if possible, another to answer inquiries. Prepare a message that family and friends can share without adding unauthorized details:
Message for family and friends
Hello. We are organizing a fundraiser, with all funds raised to help [name or agreed wording] with [specific expense]. We are doing this with their agreement and explain the budget at [link].
If you can, contribute or share it with anyone you think could help. We will keep posting on the page how every euro is spent. Thank you!
If needs change, agree on what to share. Do not publish health updates without permission even if donors ask. You can find more ideas in our outreach tips.
Plan for changes and wrapping up
Define from the start what you will do if needs change, if there are leftover funds, or if you raise less than expected, and explain it in the campaign.
When closing, share what was received, how it was used, and what it made possible. You can provide accountability using aggregated information without publishing data that identifies anyone.
With Kukumiku
Preparing your campaign with Kukumiku
Kukumiku is Fundación Kukumiku’s charity crowdfunding platform. We review each project before publishing it, so tell us about your case: who is organizing, what you want to fund, and who is taking responsibility.
- Review of your project in under 48 hours, with suggestions for improvement.
- Real people supporting you throughout the campaign.
- We can pay suppliers directly instead of transferring to a personal account.
- The documentation we request to review the project is never published on the campaign page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set it up for a family member or a friend?
Yes, as long as the person agrees and it is clear who is organizing and who is responsible for the funds. Check with the platform how money is received before making any promises.
Do I have to post a medical report?
No. If the platform needs documentation to review the campaign, they must ask for it through a private channel. On the public page, it is enough to explain the need being funded.
What do I do if there are leftover funds?
Decide in advance on a destination consistent with the campaign (for example, other expenses for the same person or a related organization) and explain it from the start so there are no surprises.
How do I get started on Kukumiku?
Prepare the description and budget, check the help center, and create your project. We will review it with you before publishing.
Keep preparing your campaign
Do you want to organize help for someone?
Tell us about your case. We will guide you to present it respectfully and make sure the money gets where it’s needed.