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.
Quick Links:
- Why use Refer & Raise
- How Refer & Raise Works
- How to Set Up Refer & Raise on Your Event
- Best Practices
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:
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Recruit new participants by turning your fundraisers into ambassadors.
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Motivate fundraising with referral bonuses that boost participants’ thermometers.
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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:
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Participant Experience (Referrer)
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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.
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Registration Experience (Referee)
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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.
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Bonus Experience (Referrer + Referee)
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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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Admin Experience
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Referral bonuses appear in your Offline Donations tab and CSV export as:
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Donor Name = Referred Participant
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Payment Type = Fundraising Bonus
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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
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Enable the Feature
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In your event, go to Participant & DIY Settings.
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Enable Refer & Raise and configure your program:
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Set the fundraising threshold both referrer and referee must meet.
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Choose the credit amount applied to each thermometer.
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Decide whether returning participants count, or if only new registrants qualify.
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Write the message you’d like to display to participants (e.g., outlining how the program works).
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Customize Participant Messaging
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The way you explain the program in setup will display during registration and in the participant portal.
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Keep it clear, encouraging, and aligned with your event’s tone.
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Test the Flow
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Try registering with a referral code to ensure the experience is smooth.
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Confirm that offline donations display correctly in the participant thermometer.
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Best Practices
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Promote Refer & Raise: Announce the program in event emails, on social media, and in participant updates so everyone knows about it.
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Keep thresholds achievable: Encourage participation by setting reasonable fundraising minimums.
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Celebrate referrers: Highlight top ambassadors in your community to inspire others.
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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.