If you’ve ever run a fundraiser through a platform like Vertical Raise, you’ve probably appreciated how easy it makes the process. Built-in messaging, structured campaigns, and coaching can drive impressive results. But those conveniences come at a cost—often 10–20% of every dollar raised.
What many teams and organizations don’t realize is that you can recreate most of that same functionality using Square Donations and Square Email Campaigns—while paying only standard payment processing fees. With a bit of setup and organization, you can run a highly effective campaign and keep significantly more of the money you raise.
Here’s how to do it.
Start With a Strong Donation Page
Vertical Raise campaigns revolve around a central donation page. You can replicate this easily with Square.
Set up a Square Online donation page that includes:
- A clear and compelling headline
- A short story explaining your cause
- Suggested donation amounts (e.g., $25, $50, $100, $250)
- Photos or videos for emotional impact
- A visible fundraising goal
Keep it simple and mobile-friendly—most donors will visit from their phones.
Recreate Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
One of Vertical Raise’s biggest strengths is peer-to-peer outreach, where participants contact their own networks.
You can do the same manually:
- Have each participant (player, student, member) create a contact list of 20–50 people.
- Provide them with a message template and donation link.
- Ask them to send personalized texts and emails.
Encourage participants to:
- Use their own voice when possible
- Share why the fundraiser matters to them
- Follow up after a few days
This personal outreach is the engine behind successful campaigns—platforms don’t replace it, they just organize it.
Use Square Email Campaigns for Structure
Vertical Raise automates follow-ups and reminders. You can replicate this using Square Email Campaigns.
Set up a simple email schedule:
- Launch Email: Announce the fundraiser and share the donation link
- Mid-Campaign Update: Share progress and remind supporters
- Final Push: Create urgency before the deadline
- Thank You Email: Show appreciation and recap results
Segment your audience if possible (e.g., past donors vs. new contacts) to make messages more relevant.
Add Text Messaging (Manually or With Tools)
Vertical Raise leans heavily on SMS outreach. You can mimic this by having participants send texts directly.
Provide a template like:
“Hi! I’m raising money for [cause]. We’re trying to hit our goal by [date]. Would you consider donating? Here’s the link: [URL]”
Text messages feel personal and tend to get higher response rates than email alone.
Track Progress Publicly
Leaderboards and progress tracking drive motivation. Square’s donation payment links allow you to add a goal, progress tracking, and a deadline, and you can recreate on public progress features with simple tools:
- Share daily or weekly updates via email or social media
- Highlight top participants or biggest improvements
- Celebrate milestones (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%)
This builds momentum and keeps everyone engaged.
Create Urgency and Deadlines
A key part of Vertical Raise’s success is its structured timeline.
Set a clear campaign window—typically 10 to 14 days—and stick to it. Then:
- Emphasize deadlines in every message
- Increase communication frequency near the end
- Encourage a final push from all participants
Short, focused campaigns consistently outperform longer, unfocused ones.
Provide Simple Coaching Yourself
Vertical Raise includes a coach, but you can replicate the most important parts:
- Kickoff meeting (in person or virtual)
- Clear expectations (number of contacts, outreach goals)
- Mid-campaign check-in
- Final push reminder
You don’t need a professional fundraiser—just someone organized and consistent.
Compare the Financial Impact
Here’s where this approach really shines:
- Vertical Raise: ~10–20% in fees
- Square: ~2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
On a $20,000 fundraiser, that difference could mean saving $1,500–$3,000 or more. That’s money that goes directly to your team, program, or cause instead of the platform.
The Bottom Line
Vertical Raise provides structure, automation, and guidance—but those benefits aren’t exclusive to the platform. With Square Donations and Square Email Campaigns, you can recreate nearly all of the same elements:
- A compelling donation page
- Peer-to-peer outreach
- Automated email communication
- Progress tracking and motivation
- A defined campaign timeline
The main difference is that you’ll need to be a bit more hands-on. But in return, you keep far more of what you raise.
If you’re willing to trade convenience for cost savings, this approach can deliver the same results—and sometimes even better ones—because your outreach stays personal, authentic, and fully under your control.