We all know that online fundraising is quickly taking the nonprofit world by storm. More people than ever are making their charitable contributions via online avenues. That’s why we’ve compiled 7 of the best online fundraising ideas that can help your nonprofit raise more money in the digital age!
Here’s what we’ll be covering:
Crowdfunding
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Online Merch Sales
Online Giving Days
Text-to-Give Campaign
Viral Fundraising Campaign
Online Cashback Websites
Let’s take a look at each of these online fundraising ideas in more detail.
1. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is proving to be one of the most popular ways for nonprofits and individuals alike to raise money for causes, projects, or events that they care about.
For those new to the term, crowdfunding essentially makes use of a nonprofit’s or individual’s existing network of supporters, friends, family members, coworkers, peers, and even acquaintances.
Nonprofits and individuals can set up crowdfunding pages and then share those pages on social media sites and via email.
A typical nonprofit crowdfunding page looks like this:
Most crowdfunding platforms allow nonprofits to:
Upload images and videos.
Write a detailed description.
Post updates and comments.
Share the campaign across social media sites and email.
Set up giving levels or tiers.
Send out automatic acknowledgements to donors.
Track metrics like number of donors, average donation amount, and total amount raised.
If you want to make the most of your nonprofit’s crowdfunding campaign, follow these best practices:
Interact with your supporters: Your donors want to know how your online fundraising campaign is going! Keep them in the loop by posting updates and responding to their comments on your crowdfunding page.
Post at least 4 photos or videos: Media gives your donors some context and allows them to see exactly what they’re donating to. Make sure that your photos look professional and highlight the people, animals, or communities that your nonprofit serves.
Set up giving levels: Including donation tiers or giving levels on your campaign page allows donors to select the one that they prefer. To create an even bigger impact, you can list out the specific actions that your nonprofit can accomplish with each donation amount.
Main Takeaway: Crowdfunding is one of the best online fundraising ideas for nonprofits. Most crowdfunding platforms enable you to get up and running in just a few minutes, and you can start raising money from your supporters in no time!
Bonus: Start your crowdfunding campaign today!
2. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a type of crowdfunding that many nonprofits pair with fundraising events like walkathons, marathons, and cycling events.
Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns typically follow this structure:
A nonprofit sets a goal, determines a timeline, and plans a peer-to-peer event.
The nonprofit reaches out to loyal supporters and asks them if they want to participate in the fundraiser.
If supporters are willing to participate, they then set up their own online fundraising pages (with the nonprofit’s help). These individual pages link up to the nonprofit’s main peer-to-peer fundraising page.
Individuals reach out to their networks to ask for donations on the nonprofit’s behalf.
Supporters’ friends and family members make donations via the individual’s peer-to-peer fundraising page.
The nonprofit collects the donations, acknowledges and thanks supporters and donors, and hosts the (typically active) event.
Here’s an example of an individual’s peer-to-peer fundraising page:
This individual peer-to-peer fundraising page is linked to the nonprofit’s primary fundraising page:
This peer-to-peer campaign follows a few best practices that we’re a huge fan of:
They include several images: Both the nonprofit’s main page and the individual’s campaign page have images and videos that allow supporters to see exactly what their donations are going toward.
They describe what the contributions will help accomplish: Each page highlights the need for homes and volunteer time in Austin. Both pages have giving tiers that describe what a donation amount will be able to buy. For example, $300 will buy a stove, while $500 will buy a roof.
Each description is detailed: A good peer-to-peer campaign description is the key to encouraging people to donate to your cause. Without it, people won’t know why you’re raising money! This campaign has listed out the reasons for fundraising and lets people know why building homes in Austin is important.
Main Takeaway: Peer-to-peer fundraising is a type of online fundraising that enables your nonprofit to raise more money and acquire more donors. As your supporters reach out to their networks, your nonprofit can introduce more people to your cause and mission.
Bonus: Check out the top 15 peer-to-peer fundraising platforms for nonprofits!
3. Online Merch Sales
Many people enjoy showing their support of their favorite nonprofit organization or cause by wearing a t-shirt, cap, or sweatshirt. Others enjoy staying hydrated with a branded water bottle or sipping coffee from a mug that they purchased from a charity.
Online merchandise can be a great supplement for your other online fundraising ideas.
In fact, you can usually pair merchandise like t-shirts, water bottles, and more with fundraising methods like crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Here’s what an online merchandise sale might look like for your nonprofit:
Even schools have started using online merchandise sales to raise money for their students!
Both of these online merchandise campaigns explain what the donations are going toward and let donors know how purchasing either a t-shirt or a cap will help the organization accomplish a goal.
In addition to selling wearable merch, your nonprofit can also sell:
Stickers and buttons.
Water bottles and mugs.
Bumper stickers.
Food (cookies, popcorn, etc.).
Candy.
Wrapping paper (for the holidays!).
Accessories.
And more!
Find what works best for your organization and what your supporters will be most likely to purchase.
Main Takeaway: Online product sales can be an excellent way to supplement your existing online fundraising methods. Pick the merch that your nonprofit can easily customize and that your donors will want to wear, use, or eat!
Bonus: Check out the top product fundraising ideas for nonprofits!
4. Online Giving Days
The most common online giving day is #GivingTuesday, a national day of charitable giving started a few years ago by the 92nd Street Y in New York.
While your nonprofit might already participate in #GivingTuesday, that doesn’t mean that you can’t organize your own online giving day for your supporters!
Just so we’re clear, an online giving day is a 24-hour period where a nonprofit tries to raise as much money as possible from its supporters.
An online giving day has to have a lot of digital promotion and advertising to make it effective. Reach out to your supporters:
With emails.
Over social media.
Via text message.
On your website.
With videos.
These digital outreach methods should contain information about your giving day such as the time, ways to donate, what the funds will go toward, and how supporters can get more involved.
Here’s an example of an animal nonprofit that promotes #GivingTuesday on Twitter:
Be a hero for a cause during #GivingTuesday! Kim fights for the animals because “Everyone deserves a second chance.” https://t.co/GGMPkn5uct pic.twitter.com/y5XiDXQTZv
— Homeward Pet (@HomewardPet) November 27, 2016
Of course, Twitter has character limitations, so this tweet had to be short and sweet. Your other digital promotions for your giving day can go a bit more in-depth and include more specific information about your online fundraiser.
Whatever route you take, make sure that you explain what the funds are going toward and provide supporters with a link to your online donation page.
Main Takeaway: An online giving day can be an energetic and fast-paced way to raise money for your cause. Electrify your donor base with lots of digital promotions and encourage them to give as much as they can in just 24 hours!
Bonus: Take a look at these #GivingTuesday promotional resources.
5. Text-to-Give Campaign
Text-to-give came on the scene as a digital fundraising method in 2010 when millions of dollars were donated to the American Red Cross to support victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Since then, text-to-give (or text-to-tithe for churches) has become a mainstream way to raise money for any organization or cause!
Today, text-to-give tends to work like this:
A donor will text a keyword to a specific number that has been assigned to a nonprofit.
The donor will receive a link as a text message.
The link takes the donors to a mobile-responsive donation page where they can make a contribution.
It’s that easy!
Many nonprofits, schools, and churches use text-to-give technology as an online fundraising avenue throughout the year, but it’s also a popular donation method during fundraising events. One of your speakers can make a live appeal and ask people to give with their cellphones (all of your attendees will likely have their phones in their pockets or purses!).
Main Takeaway: Text-to-give is quickly becoming one of the most popular online fundraising ideas. Don’t get left behind with this fundraising trend!
Bonus: Check out the ultimate guide to text-to-give.
6. Viral Fundraising Campaign
You’ve likely heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, but you may not know just how successful that particular viral fundraising campaign was.
In just a month and a half, the ALS Association was able to raise $115 million (and tons of awareness!) for ALS research by asking people to pour cold water on their heads.
Another example of a viral fundraising campaign is “Movember.” For this viral campaign, men grow out their facial hair during the month of November and make donations in support of men’s health.
These are just two of the many viral fundraising campaigns that nonprofits have started. Why not start your own?
Keep these tips in mind before trying to launch a viral fundraising campaign. And remember, it might take a few months or even more than a year for your campaign to go truly viral.
Don’t ask for too much. You aren’t going to receive a ton of donations if you ask for $500 every time. Instead, ask people for small contributions like $5, $10, or $20. Once a campaign goes viral, all of those little donations will add up!
Create a memorable hashtag. Hashtags help group your social media posts and make your nonprofit’s message easier to find on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Create a memorable and punchy hashtag. Use it in all of your social media posts and encourage your supporters to use it, as well!
Get to the point. A viral campaign has to be focused and targeted. It’s not the time to explain every single detail of your nonprofit’s mission. Instead, boil down your vision to a few key points and use them interchangeably throughout the duration of your campaign.
Make use of all of your digital channels. Post on Facebook. Tweet out a promotional message. Snap a picture and post it to Instagram. Start a Pinterest board. Send out emails. Use every digital communications channel at your disposal!
Main Takeaway: It might take time to get a viral fundraising campaign off the ground, but if you can do it, your nonprofit’s mission and vision will be made known to supporters across the country and even around the world!
7. Online Cashback Websites
Online cashback sites can be used by nonprofits as well as individuals who are looking to raise a little extra money while doing something that nearly everyone loves: shopping online!
Let’s break down how most online cashback websites work:
Someone in your nonprofit needs to buy office supplies or something else online.
The staff member begins their search for office supplies at an online cashback site.
Once the items have been purchased, a percentage of the total amount is deposited into a cashback account.
Your nonprofit can withdraw the cashback amount at regular intervals (typically monthly or quarterly).
Common cashback sites include:
Welzoo
GoodSearch
Qmee
Ebates
In addition to these sites, Amazon, the largest online shopping marketplace, has created an affiliate program that enables nonprofits to receive a certain percentage of sales that originate on the nonprofit’s website.
With Amazon’s affiliate program, your nonprofit can place banners, images, and links on your website that will direct users to a page on Amazon’s site. If the user makes a purchase, your nonprofit gets a cut of the purchase from Amazon.
While cashback sites aren’t going to help your nonprofit break any fundraising records, they are an easy way to raise more money from online shopping. Signing up for most of these cashback sites is easy, and everyone in your nonprofit can participate!
Main Takeaway: Online cashback sites can supplement your existing fundraising efforts. If your staff does a lot of online shopping, sites like Ebates and Amazon can be an easy way to raise extra funds!
We hope that these 7 online fundraising ideas have inspired you to go out and try some different fundraising techniques.
For more ideas and tips, check out these helpful resources:
80+ Fundraising Ideas
Church Fundraising Ideas
School Fundraising Ideas
Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits and Charities
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