Empower Holiday Crowdfunding Guide

Thank you so much for joining the Empower end-of-year giving campaign from 11/17 – 12/31.“It Takes a Village” is a campaign to celebrate the remarkable people at Empower and invite others to join our village to make sure no child walks through grief alone. We hope you feel our sincerity when we say thank you for being a part of our village! 💙

This guide includes sample emails, social media captions, and graphics that make it easy and fun to be a part of the campaign!  If you have questions, we would love to hear from you! Please contact Abby at abby@weareempower.org.

CREATE YOUR PAGE

• Click HERE and go to the “Create a Fundraising Page” button on the right. 
• You must have a CauseVox account to create a page.  If you have been a part of our campaigns in the past, log in, or create an account.
• Share your story of loss and love, and tell donors why you are passionate about Empower.

Talking about loss is hard, but as we say at Empower, we can do hard things.  The more personal, the more impactful it will be for friends and family who visit your page. Add your own write-up and personal photos, or simply use our write-up or photos from our GUIDE – it’s up to you! 

SHARE WITH FRIENDS + FAMILY

• Kick things off with a donation of your own (any amount counts!), and invite others to donate too!
• Send at least 4 friendly nudges — drop an email, text, or social post every week this month inviting friends + family to give!
• If someone prefers giving another way, such as through a foundation, no worries—have them reach out to Sam at sam@weareempower.org.

SAY THANK YOU

• Every donor will receive a thank-you from Empower, however a little personal “thanks” from you will go a long way! Let’s make them feel extra special for joining our cause!
• Know that in being a part of this campaign, every single dollar helps and 100% of all funds raised go directly to our program. So, smile and have fun knowing you are changing a child’s life for the better. 

Using any one of these stats can help your friends + family better understand the issues children who are bereaved face after the loss of a parent:

• 1 in 11 children (6 million) in the United States will experience the death of a parent by age 18. That number more than doubles to 14 million by age 25.
• 93% of grieving children report feeling “significant isolation” at a developmental age when they need connection and nurturing.
• In a study of teachers with students who have experienced the loss of a parent, 87% report children having difficulty concentrating in class, 82% report withdrawal and absenteeism, and 68% report a significant decline in academic performance.
• Children who lose a parent are 75% more likely to join a gang or be incarcerated.
• When death is not openly and honestly discussed, dissonance is created between what children experience and the discussions that are had around or with them, causing psychological harm.
• Complicating problems for children, widows are twice as likely to experience bankruptcy, and their income falls on average by 31%.
• Data shows that unresolved grief leads to a lifetime of complications such as those listed above, and also issues with employment, mental health, food insecurity, finances, and relationships.

Empower is an international non-profit organization formed in 2013, with a very specific mission – to empower, support, and connect children and young adults up through age 24 who have experienced the loss of their parent(s). Empower has one mission with two programs: EVENTS that remind children and young adults they are not alone in their grief and offers opportunities to meet others who can relate to their loss. Our MENTOR PROGRAM instills hope + optimism while building confidence. Mentors support + empower each child or young adult, helping them to find their voice and to see this beautiful life still holds joy. All programs and activities are provided at no charge to the family.

Empower is a non-therapeutic, volunteer-driven and community-based organization and is currently the only program of its kind in the country. Empower offers support and community to children and young adults who have experienced the loss of their parent(s).

Learn more on our website: www.weareempower.org

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