Campaigns 3 min read

Managing Your Campaign

Best practices for monitoring and optimizing your active campaign.

Launching is just the beginning. Active campaign management keeps donors engaged and drives continued giving.

Your Campaign Dashboard

Monitor your campaign's health with real-time metrics:

Total RaisedCurrent amount received
FundedPercentage toward your target
DonorsList of unique supporters
ViewsNumber of views your campaign has received

Offline Donations

Not every gift comes through HopeGives. If you receive donations through cash, check, or another source, you can record them as offline donations so your campaign reflects the full amount raised.

How to Add an Offline Donation

  1. Go to your Dashboard
  2. Select My Campaigns
  3. Click Manage Campaign on the campaign you want to update
  4. Select the Offline tab at the top
  5. Add the donation details

You can add one or multiple offline donations at a time.

Note: Offline donations are recorded for tracking purposes only. Because these gifts were received outside of HopeGives, the funds are not processed through the platform.


Posting Updates

Regular updates keep your campaign visible in donors' feeds, show accountability and progress, give donors shareable content, and encourage additional gifts.

Milestone Celebrations"We just hit 50%! Thank you!"
Behind-the-ScenesShow the work happening
Impact StoriesShare how funds are being used
GratitudeThank donors (without naming unless they agree)
Countdown MomentsBuild urgency near deadlines

How Often to Update

Short Campaigns (1-2 weeks)Every 2-3 days
Medium Campaigns (1-3 months)Weekly
Ongoing CampaignsAt least monthly

Thanking Donors

HopeGives sends automatic receipts, but personal follow-up matters more.

Personal Thank-You Messages

  • Send within 24-48 hours of receiving the donation
  • Be specific about how their gift helps
  • Keep it brief but heartfelt
  • Ask them to pray and share

Consider thanking donors in your updates too (with permission) — this encourages others to give.


Editing Your Campaign

You can update your campaign anytime: story, images, goal, or end date.

Note: Significant changes to your goal or story should be explained in an update. Transparency builds trust.


When Campaigns Stall

  1. Personal Outreach — Directly ask people who haven't given
  2. New Angle — Post an update with fresh perspective
  3. Matching Challenge — Find someone to match donations for a period
  4. Deadline Push — Create urgency if your end date is approaching
  5. Social Proof — Share testimonials and donor quotes

Ending Your Campaign

When your campaign concludes:

  • ✓ Post a final thank-you update
  • ✓ Share concrete results and impact
  • ✓ Send individual thanks to major donors
  • ✓ Consider what you'd do differently next time

Related Articles

Sharing & Promotion

Campaign Best Practices