Launching a participant referral program for Peer-to-Peer fundraising initiatives

Learn how to build a referral marketing program that boost participation for your Peer-to-Peer (Pledge & Multi-Pledge) events with the Refer & Raise feature.

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Why use Refer & Raise?

Building community is at the heart of successful peer-to-peer fundraising. With Refer & Raise, you can empower your participants to invite friends, family, and colleagues to join your event — and reward them when they do.

This feature is designed to:

  • Recruit new participants by turning your fundraisers into ambassadors.

  • Motivate fundraising with referral bonuses that boost participants’ thermometers.

  • Build community as participants invite people from their networks to rally behind your cause.

In short, Refer & Raise makes it easy (and fun) for participants to spread the word and feel recognized for their efforts.


How Refer & Raise Works

The feature connects three experiences:

  1. Participant Experience (Referrer)

    • Once enabled, a new Refer section appears on each participant’s Fundraising Portal.

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    • Participants can access their referral code and share it easily through multiple channels.

  2. Registration Experience (Referee)

    • During registration, new participants can enter the referral code (or name) of the person who invited them.

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    • This ensures the referrer gets credit and the new participant feels welcomed.

  3. Bonus Experience (Referrer + Referee)

    • When both participants reach the fundraising thresholds you’ve set, a referral bonus (credited as an offline donation) is applied to both of their fundraising thermometers and honour rolls.

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  4. Admin Experience

    • Referral bonuses appear in your Offline Donations tab and CSV export as:

      • Donor Name = Referred Participant

      • Payment Type = Fundraising Bonus

    • This allows you to track bonuses separately from realized donations.

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How to Set Up Refer & Raise on your Pledge or Multi-Pledge Hosted Fundraising Initiative

  • Enable the Feature

    • In your event, go to Participant & DIY Settings.

    • Enable Refer & Raise and configure your program:

      • Set the fundraising threshold both referrer and referee must meet.

      • Choose the credit amount applied to each thermometer.

      • Decide whether returning participants count, or if only new registrants qualify.

      • Write the message you’d like to display to participants (e.g., outlining how the program works).

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  • Customize Participant Messaging

    • The way you explain the program in setup will display during registration and in the participant portal.

    • Keep it clear, encouraging, and aligned with your event’s tone.

  • Test the Flow

    • Try registering with a referral code to ensure the experience is smooth.

    • Confirm that offline donations display correctly in the participant thermometer.


Best Practices 

  • Promote Refer & Raise: Announce the program in event emails, on social media, and in participant updates so everyone knows about it.

  • Keep thresholds achievable: Encourage participation by setting reasonable fundraising minimums.

  • Celebrate referrers: Highlight top ambassadors in your community to inspire others.

  • Remember: Referral bonuses are not realized revenue — they remain unconfirmed offline donations in your reporting.

✅ With Refer & Raise, you’re giving participants a simple, rewarding way to grow your event and strengthen your community of supporters.