Running Your Own Self-Hosted Fundraiser
Learn how to create and manage a self-hosted fundraiser where you source and fulfill products yourself, giving you complete control over your campaign.
What is a self-hosted fundraiser?
A self-hosted fundraiser allows you to create a campaign using your own products rather than partnering with Raised's network of wholesalers. This option is perfect when you want to:
- Sell your own creations: homemade baked goods, crafts, team merchandise, or other items your organisation produces
- Work with local suppliers: partner with a local bakery, artisan, or business that isn't on the Raised platform
- Have full control: manage your own product selection, pricing, inventory levels, and fulfilment process
- Offer unique items: provide products that are specific to your organisation or community
With a self-hosted campaign, you have complete flexibility over what you sell and how you deliver it to your supporters.
Getting started
To create a self-hosted fundraiser:
- Navigate to your Raised Dashboard
- Click the "Create Campaign" button (usually found in the bottom left)
- Select "Self-Hosted Campaign" from the campaign type options
You'll then be guided through a series of setup steps to configure your fundraiser.
Step 1: Initial setup questions
Raised will ask a few questions to tailor the setup process to your needs:
Organisation type
Select the option that best describes your organisation:
- School: for schools and educational institutions
- Sports Team: for sports clubs and athletic teams
- Organisation/Other: for nonprofits, clubs, and other groups
- Individual: for personal fundraising efforts
Order fulfilment method
Choose how customers will receive their orders:
- Delivered by you: you'll handle delivery to customers
- Collected by customer: customers will pick up orders from one or more collection locations
Tip: If you select collection, you'll be able to set up multiple pickup locations with specific details like addresses and opening times.
Student delivery responsibility
If you're a school or organisation where students/members will distribute orders, select "Yes" to require customers to enter a student's name during checkout. This helps you organise orders by student for easier distribution.
Step 2: Select or create a catalogue
A catalogue contains all the products you'll offer in your fundraiser.
Create a New catalogue
If this is your first self-hosted campaign, select "Create New" and provide:
- Currency: choose the currency for your products (e.g., NZD, AUD, USD)
- Products: add your products manually using the product builder
For each product, you'll enter:
- Product name
- Price
- Optional product description
- Optional product image
Click "Add Another Product" to include multiple items in your catalogue.
Tip: You can also import products from an Order Form PDF to quickly populate your catalogue if you have an existing product list.
Use an existing catalogue
If you've run self-hosted campaigns before, you can select "Use Existing" to reuse a previous catalogue. This saves time if you're selling the same products.
Step 3: Basic campaign information
Configure the core details of your campaign:
Campaign name
Choose a clear, memorable name for your fundraiser (maximum 50 characters).
Examples:
- "Spring 2025 Cookie Dough Fundraiser"
- "Hawks Basketball Team Gear Sale"
- "Annual Pie Drive"
Campaign description
Write a compelling description that explains:
- What you're fundraising for
- Why supporters should participate
- What makes your products special
This description appears on your campaign page, so make it engaging and informative.
Campaign banner image
Upload an eye-catching banner image to display at the top of your campaign page. This could be:
- A photo of your products
- An image representing your cause
- Your organisation's logo or branding
Contact information
Provide your public contact details:
- Contact Name: the name shown publicly
- Contact Email: email address supporters can reach you at
- Contact Phone: phone number for inquiries (with country code)
Note: This information will be visible to all campaign visitors, so only include details you're comfortable sharing publicly.
Step 4: Campaign period and fulfilment
Campaign dates
Set your fundraiser's timeline:
- Start Date: when your campaign goes live
- End Date: when your campaign closes (specify the exact time, e.g., "November 27th, 2025 at 00:00")
Tip: Allow enough time after the end date to fulfill orders. Typical campaigns run for 2-4 weeks.
Order fulfilment method
You'll see your earlier selection here and can configure additional details:
If You Selected "Delivered"
Provide delivery information such as:
- Expected delivery timeframe
- Delivery areas you service
- Any delivery fees or minimums
If You Selected "Collection"
Set up your collection locations:
- Collection Location Name: e.g., "School Office", "Main Campus"
- Note/Address: provide the address and any special instructions
- Collect at specific time: optionally set specific pickup windows with start and end times
You can add multiple collection locations if needed by clicking "Add Another Pickup Location".
Step 5: Payment methods
Select which payment methods you'll accept. Raised offers three options:
Credit & debit card payments (recommended)
✅ This is the recommended option for the best customer experience.
- Processed automatically through Stripe
- Immediate payment confirmation
- No manual reconciliation required
- Professional and secure checkout experience
Payments with cash
- Customers pay you in cash at a later date
- Payments are not verified automatically
- Requires manual tracking and order updates
- Creates additional administrative work
Cash Payment Notes: If you enable cash payments, provide clear instructions for customers, such as: "Please bring exact change to the school office during business hours."
Payments with bank transfer
- Customers transfer funds to your bank account
- Must be manually reconciled
- Payments are not verified automatically
- Requires you to match transfers to orders
Bank Account Number: Provide your account number and transfer payment notes with instructions like: "Please include your order number as the reference."
⚠️ Important: Cash and bank transfers require manual processing. You'll need to track payments yourself, mark orders as paid, and follow up on unpaid orders. This creates significantly more administrative work for your fundraiser.
We strongly recommend using credit/debit card payments exclusively for a smoother experience for both you and your supporters.
Australian organisations: if your organisation passes fees on to supporters, only card payments are available. Fees are built into the prices supporters see, and this only works with card. Switch to absorb fees if you need cash or bank transfer. See How Pricing Works for Australian Organisations.
Why we recommend card payments only
Using Stripe for card payments provides:
- ✅ Automatic payment verification
- ✅ No manual reconciliation work
- ✅ Professional checkout experience
- ✅ Immediate order confirmation for customers
- ✅ Reduced risk of payment issues or disputes
- ✅ Better reporting and financial tracking
Step 6: Public statistics
Configure what campaign statistics are visible to the public:
Fundraiser target
Set a dollar target to display a progress bar on your campaign page. Enter 0 if you prefer not to show a target publicly.
Example: If you need to raise $5,000 for new uniforms, set your target to 5000. Supporters will see your progress toward this goal.
Thank you message
Customise the message shown to customers in their order confirmation email. Use this to:
- Express gratitude for their support
- Provide additional information about your cause
- Share next steps or what to expect
Leave blank to use the default thank you message.
Step 7: Review and confirm
Before creating your fundraiser, you'll see a summary of all your settings:
- Selected catalogue and products
- Basic information (name, description, contact details)
- Campaign period dates
- Order fulfilment method
- Payment methods enabled
- Fundraiser target (if set)
Review everything carefully and click the "Back" button if you need to make any changes.
When you're satisfied, click "Create Fundraiser" to launch your self-hosted campaign!
After creating your campaign
Once your fundraiser is live:
- Test the checkout process: place a test order to ensure everything works smoothly
- Share your campaign: Send the campaign link to your supporters via email, social media, and other channels
- Monitor orders: Check your dashboard regularly to track orders and payments
- Prepare for fulfilment: start arranging product sourcing and delivery logistics
- Communicate with supporters: Send updates and reminders as your campaign progresses
Optional: add an Entry Draw
If you take card payments only, you can give supporters free draw entries with every item they buy. Open Campaign Settings, choose Ordering, and use Set up an Entry Draw under Checkout Questions. Do this before you start promoting, because orders placed earlier do not receive entries and it cannot be changed once it is on. The conditions that make this a sales promotion rather than a raffle are in Choosing the Right Type of Fundraiser.
Managing orders
As orders come in, use your Raised dashboard to:
- View all orders and their statuses
- Download order reports and customer lists
- Mark manual payments (cash/bank transfer) as paid or unpaid
- Track which students/members have orders to distribute (if applicable)
- Send customer communication emails
For more guidance, see our Campaign Management documentation.
Best practices for self-hosted fundraisers
Product selection
- Offer 3-8 products - too few limits choice, too many overwhelms buyers
- Price products appropriately to achieve healthy profit margins
- Include high-quality product images when possible
- Write clear, appealing product descriptions
Communication
- Send regular updates to supporters about campaign progress
- Remind participants as the end date approaches
- Clearly communicate fulfilment timelines after the campaign ends
- Follow up promptly with any customer inquiries
Fulfilment planning
- Source products from reliable suppliers
- Order products with enough lead time for delivery
- Organise orders by collection point or delivery route
- Communicate pickup/delivery details well in advance
Payment processing
- Strongly prefer credit/debit card payments for ease and efficiency
- If using cash/bank transfers, set clear deadlines and follow-up procedures
- Mark orders as paid promptly in your dashboard
- Have a process for handling unpaid orders
Common questions
Can I edit my catalogue after creating the campaign?
You can manage your catalogue through the Raised dashboard. However, significant changes during an active campaign may confuse supporters who have already purchased.
What if a product isn't available on Raised?
That's exactly what self-hosted campaigns are for! You can add any product you want to sell, whether you make it yourself or source it from a supplier who isn't on the Raised platform.
Can I limit stock for certain products?
Yes! When creating products in your catalogue, you can enable stock limiting and set a maximum number available for each item. This is useful for limited-edition items or when you have supply constraints.
How do I work with a local supplier?
Simply create products in your catalogue that match what your local supplier offers. You'll handle ordering from them and fulfilment separately from the Raised platform. The platform manages the orders and payments from your supporters.
What are the fees for self-hosted campaigns?
Check our Processing Fees documentation for current fee information. Australian organisations should also see How Pricing Works for Australian Organisations.
Need help?
If you have questions or need assistance with your self-hosted fundraiser, please contact our support team. We're here to help you run a successful campaign!
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