How to Set Up a JustGiving Page | Free Lesson

A JustGiving page is one of the most powerful fundraising tools a teenager can use. It gives you a permanent, shareable link that people can donate to at any time — from anywhere in the world. Once it is set up, you can share it on WhatsApp, Instagram, in emails, and even in person using a QR code.

JustGiving is free to use for personal fundraising. They take a small percentage of donations to cover payment processing, but there are no upfront costs and no monthly fees.

What Makes a Good JustGiving Page?

The difference between a page that raises £50 and one that raises £500 is almost entirely down to the story. People do not donate to causes — they donate to people. Your page needs to answer three questions clearly:

Who are you and what are you doing?
Why does it matter to you?
What will the money be used for?

Here is an example of a story that works:

"Hi, I'm Amelia and I'm 16 years old. In July 2025 I'll be travelling to Kenya with World Challenge to build a classroom in a rural community and trek to the summit of Mount Kenya. I've been working towards this for two years — it's the biggest challenge I've ever taken on and I'm raising £3,800 to make it happen. The money covers my flights, accommodation, food, equipment, and the community project itself. Every penny goes directly towards the trip — there's no profit involved. I've already raised £1,200 through bake sales, car washes, and a sponsored walk. I need your help to get the rest. Even a small donation makes a real difference — £10 covers a day's food, £25 covers a night's accommodation, and £100 covers my share of the community project materials. Thank you so much for reading this. It means the world to me." — Example page story

Notice what this story does: it is specific (Kenya, World Challenge, £3,800), it explains exactly what the money covers, it shows the fundraiser has already made effort (£1,200 raised), and it breaks down what different donation amounts mean. That last part is particularly powerful — it makes donating feel tangible.

How to Set Up Your Page: Step by Step

Go to justgiving.com and click "Start fundraising". Select "I'm raising money for myself or a friend" (not for a charity). If you are under 18, use a parent or guardian's account.

Choose your page title. Something like "Amelia's Kenya Expedition 2025" is clear and specific. Avoid vague titles like "Help me raise money" — they do not inspire confidence.

Set your fundraising target. Be honest — use your actual expedition cost. A realistic target that you are working towards looks far more credible than a round number that seems made up.

Write your story. Use the structure above: who you are, what you are doing, why it matters, and what the money covers. Aim for 3–5 paragraphs. Include a breakdown of what different donation amounts mean.

Add a photo. Use a clear, friendly photo of yourself — ideally outdoors or doing something active. Avoid selfies in your bedroom. Smiling, natural, and well-lit works best.

Customise your page URL. JustGiving lets you choose a custom URL like justgiving.com/crowdfunding/amelia-kenya-2025. A clean URL is much easier to share and looks more professional.

How to Share Your Page Effectively

Setting up the page is only half the job. The other half is getting it in front of people who will donate. Here is what works:

WhatsApp is your most powerful tool. Send a personal message (not a group broadcast) to every family member and close friend. A personal message gets far more responses than a group message that everyone ignores.
Post on Instagram and TikTok. Share your page link in your bio and post regular updates about your fundraising progress. People who follow your journey are far more likely to donate.
Ask your school to share it. Many schools will mention student fundraising in newsletters or assemblies. Ask your form tutor or head of year.
Create a QR code. Use a free QR code generator (qr-code-generator.com) to create a QR code that links to your page. Print it on posters, flyers, and even your bake sale table.
Post updates regularly. JustGiving lets you post updates on your page. Every time you hit a milestone, share it. "We've hit 50%!" or "Only £500 to go!" keeps donors engaged and encourages new ones.

💡 The first donation is the hardest

Pages with zero donations look abandoned. Ask a family member to make the first donation before you share the page publicly — even £5 is enough to get the ball rolling. People are much more likely to donate to a page that already has some donations on it.

Gift Aid: Free Extra Money

If your donors are UK taxpayers, they can tick the Gift Aid box when they donate. This allows JustGiving to claim an extra 25% from HMRC at no cost to the donor. A £20 donation becomes £25. A £100 donation becomes £125. Make sure your page has Gift Aid enabled and remind donors to tick the box when they give.

Ready to set up your page?

It takes about 20 minutes to set up a great JustGiving page. Start today and share it this week.

Set Up Your JustGiving Page →