Peer-to-Peer Fundraising for Breast Cancer

Start a fundraiser, rally your community, and help drive progress in breast cancer research

Peer-to-peer fundraising empowers people to mobilize their friends, family, and communities to support a cause they deeply care about—such as advancing breast cancer research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

BCRF’s peer-to-peer fundraisers play a critical role in our organization’s mission to prevent and cure breast cancer by fueling the world’s most promising research. The millions of dollars our generous fundraisers raise every year help our 260-plus researchers study every aspect of the disease, from prevention to metastasis.

Whether you want to set up a lemonade stand, hold a fundraiser at work, or do something else, below is guidance on how to set up your peer-to-peer campaign and make a meaningful impact.

What is peer-to-peer fundraising?

Peer-to-peer fundraising allows you to raise money for a cause by creating a free personal online fundraising page. This approach empowers you to make a direct impact by connecting with your personal network and spreading awareness within your communities.

With the right motivation and guidance, anyone can participate in peer-to-peer fundraising. In fact, it has become an increasingly popular way to support important causes like breast cancer research. 

Peer-to-peer fundraising’s effectiveness lies in its personal touch. You can transform donations into a community-driven effort by sharing your unique stories, reasons for supporting a cause, and fundraising goals.

How peer-to-peer fundraising works

Setting up a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign is simple. With BCRF’s tools, you can create a free online personalized fundraising page that makes it easy to share your story, set a goal, and track progress.

Once your page is set up, you can spread the word not only by text and email but across your social networks—reaching people you may not have been able to connect with otherwise. You can even expand your efforts through team fundraising, encouraging others to join your campaign and help raise donations together.BCRF provides all the tools, resources, and guidance you need to get started. Whether it’s your first time organizing a fundraiser or you’ve done it before, you’ll have support to ensure your campaign is successful and impactful. From personalized pages to fundraising toolkits, we are here to empower you to raise critical funds for breast cancer research.

Best practices for creating successful campaigns 

Running a successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign involves more than just sharing your link. 

Here are some best practices to help ensure your success:

• Tell your story: Personalize your fundraising page with your unique story. Whether you’re honoring or celebrating a loved one, or simply passionate about breast cancer research, sharing why this cause matters to you will inspire others to contribute and encourage fundraisers in your community.
• Set clear goals: A specific fundraising goal can motivate donors to give and encourage them to spread the word. Be realistic, but aim high—every dollar counts. Clear goals will also help you track your progress and keep your campaign on target to raise donations effectively.
  
  

When you use BCRF’s fundraising platform, your page can show a progress bar that will motivate your supporters to stay engaged and contribute more.

• Leverage your network: Share your campaign through online tools like social media, email, and even in person. The more people who know about your campaign, the greater your chance of reaching your goal.

Fundraising platforms and tools

BCRF makes it easy for anyone to launch a peer-to-peer fundraiser through our platform, hosted by GoFundMe Pro. 

This user-friendly platform allows you to:

• Create your personalized individual or team fundraising page
• Track donations in real-time
• Share updates with your supporters

Using a peer-to-peer fundraising platform simplifies your campaign by aligning with BCRF’s mission to support breast cancer research. In addition to simple social sharing and the ability to send thank you messages with just a few clicks, BCRF provides:

• Campaign templates
• Tools to guide your fundraising efforts

With these resources, you can focus on what matters most: raising funds and spreading awareness of lifesaving breast cancer research.

Keeping up your fundraiser’s momentum

Once your campaign is live, it’s essential to maintain energy and momentum. Here are a few tips to keep things moving:

• Celebrate milestones: Every donation brings us closer to a cure. Acknowledge your fundraising and activity milestones to keep the excitement going.
• Engage with your donors: Thank your donors, share updates on how their contributions are making an impact, and keep them involved in the campaign’s progress. For teams, encourage participants to share the campaign with their networks to expand support and increase donations.
• Set small, achievable goals: Break your larger goal into smaller milestones. Reaching each one provides a reason to celebrate and motivates your community to continue supporting your cause.

Case studies: successful fundraising campaigns

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a powerful way to support breast cancer research. Here are some inspiring examples of successful fundraisers who have supported BCRF’s mission to end breast cancer through peer-to-peer campaigns:

1. Pink Lemonade Stand Challenge

The Pink Lemonade Stand Challenge (PLSC) is a nationwide initiative encouraging kids and families to set up lemonade stands in their communities to raise funds for breast cancer research. Created by Brynne Rhodes, who started raising money at just seven years old in honor of her mother and several family members impacted by the disease, the campaign has now raised over $360,000 for BCRF.

One of the most inspiring events was the Black & Yellow for Pink Lemonade Stand held before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game at Acrisure Stadium in 2023. The Pittsburgh community rallied together, raising an impressive $53,122 in just 24 hours and setting a Guinness World Record for the most money raised at a lemonade stand.

“Breast cancer impacts most families, and it is the number one cancer diagnosis in women worldwide,” Brynne says. “My goal is to inspire people everywhere to #MakeAStand and make an impact.”

This campaign not only raised crucial funds but also brought communities together to raise awareness and spread a message of hope.

To take the Pink Lemonade Stand Challenge, organize your lemonade stand, pledge to donate the funds to BCRF, and share your experience on social media using the hashtags #MakeAStand and #TurnItPink.

2. Jen Feinberg: Family-driven fundraising across years

Not all campaigns look the same—that’s the beauty of peer-to-peer fundraising. Jen Feinberg has created a long-running fundraising effort, structured like a team to reflect different years of activity and her daughter’s fundraiser. This multi-year, family-driven approach demonstrates how peer-to-peer campaigns can evolve while staying personal and impactful.

3. Tri Sigma Marist: A student-led sorority fundraiser

The Tri Sigma Marist sorority hosted an inspiring peer-to-peer campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, rallying their campus community. Events included a charity hockey game, which brought students and local supporters together for a fun and meaningful cause. Their efforts show how student organizations can mobilize school spirit to drive awareness and raise funds for lifesaving research.

4. Convergint Women Connect: Company-wide fundraising impact

Convergint Women Connect organizes an annual company-wide fundraiser during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Different office locations host creative events ranging from bake sales to community activities, proving that workplace-based fundraising can be versatile and highly effective. Their campaign highlights how corporate teams can empower employees to make a difference together, no matter the size or location of the group.

Why participate?

• Support lifesaving research: Every donation contributes to BCRF, the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research.
• Spread awareness: By hosting a fundraiser, you become a voice for breast cancer research in your community.
• Have fun and make an impact: Fundraising is meaningful, fun, and a great way to spend time with loved ones while contributing to a lifesaving cause.

How you can get involved:

Create a personal fundraising page through BCRF’s platform. Choose the approach that fits you—an event, a group effort, or a family tradition—and share your story and goal. Every effort, big or small, helps bring us closer to a cure.

These are just a few examples of how individuals and communities come together to make a real difference in making progress against breast cancer. Whether organizing a lemonade stand, hosting a fundraising event, or exploring breast cancer awareness month ideas, you can participate in our movement to support critical research.

Take some time and explore more inspiring stories and ways to make an impact.

Getting involved with BCRF

Starting your online peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for BCRF is simple. To begin, create your personal fundraising page through BCRF’s platform. You can add your story and photos, set a goal, and easily share your page with your network to raise funds.

BCRF provides everything you need to get started, including fundraising toolkits, campaign templates, and personalized support. From getting your first donation to tracking your fundraising progress, BCRF is with you every step of the way to help your campaign be successful.Looking to make a difference? Fundraise with BCRF and help support vital breast cancer research.

Frequently asked questions about peer-to-peer fundraising