Top Online Fundraising Ideas to Raise Money in the Digital Age!
Online fundraising has quickly taken the nonprofit world by storm. More people than ever are making their charitable contributions via online avenues, but for most organizations, there’s still significant room for growth. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best online fundraising ideas that can help your nonprofit raise more money funds than ever before in the digital age.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Online Donation Forms
- Crowdfunding
- Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
- Workplace Giving Drives
- T-Shirt Fundraising
- Gift Card Fundraisers
- Online Giving Days
- Text-to-Give Campaigns
- Online Auctions
- Viral Fundraising Challenges
- ‘Donation for Vote’ Campaigns
Let’s take a closer look at each of these online fundraising ideas. As you browse, be sure to make a note of any strategies you’d like to adopt for your own organization!
Online Fundraising Idea #1: Establish an Online Donation Form.
One of the most traditional ways to raise money online is through the tried-and-true online donation form. In many cases, donation forms allow you to brand your page and create special fields to capture specific, related information.
Best of all, online donation forms can be mobile-friendly, so even more of your supporters can access them.
With many options and vendors available (including both free and paid solutions), your organization can create a form that is completely unique to your cause. Here’s an example of what such a form could look like:
For the best results, look for an online fundraising vendor with a responsive technical support team and an easy-to-use interface; you shouldn’t need to be an expert in HTML or CSS to create a professional-looking form. With a simple donation form builder, your organization should be able to drag and drop the elements you want to use and customize them to fit your needs.
Popular online donation sites include:
When creating your online donation forms, be considerate of your donors’ time and keep your donations quick and simple.
Main Takeaway: Creating a convenient and beautifully designed donation page starts with finding the right software. Find a provider that offers the features that will make donating quick and easy.
Online Fundraising Idea #2: Start a Crowdfunding Campaign.
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 leverages a nonprofit’s or an individual’s existing network of supporters, friends, family members, coworkers, peers, and even acquaintances.
Nonprofits and individuals can set up crowdfunding pages and share them on social media and via email. 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 acknowledgments to donors.
- Track metrics such as the 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 context and lets them 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 the specific actions your nonprofit can accomplish for each donation amount.
Popular crowdfunding sites include:
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!
Online Fundraising Idea #3: Encourage Peer-to-Peer Fundraising.
Peer-to-peer fundraising or virtual events are types of fundraising that many nonprofits pair with fundraising events like walkathons, marathons, and in-person events that need to be transitioned to virtual formats.
While the specifics can certainly vary, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns typically follow a similar 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.
Popular peer-to-peer fundraising sites include:
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.
Online Fundraising Idea #4: Host a Workplace Giving Drive.
Take your digital giving strategy to the next level by tapping into corporate workplace giving. Beyond traditional out-of-pocket donations, thousands of companies offer workplace programs that allow employees to support their favorite causes seamlessly. By highlighting these opportunities, you can unlock entirely new revenue streams and corporate partnerships.
A modern workplace giving drive should focus on three main pillars:
- Payroll Deductions: Encourage supporters to set up recurring, pre-tax donations to be taken directly from their paychecks. It provides your nonprofit with predictable, sustainable revenue while making giving effortless for the donor.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Thousands of companies will match (or even triple) their employees’ financial donations, allowing organizations to increase the ROI of their online fundraising!
- Volunteer Grants: Companies frequently award monetary grants to nonprofits where their employees regularly volunteer. Best of all, virtual volunteering activities (such as digital mentoring, online data entry, or remote administrative support) often qualify for these grants, allowing supporters from across the globe to convert their screen time into mission funding.
To maximize these programs, successful nonprofits embed user-friendly search tools directly on their “Ways to Give” pages and campaign emails and within their online donation forms, making it easy for supporters to find their employers’ specific workplace giving guidelines in seconds.
Popular workplace fundraising sites include:
Main Takeaway: Workplace giving is a widely underutilized revenue stream that your organization should be proactively tapping into. By promoting a mix of payroll giving, matching gifts, and virtual volunteer opportunities, you can lower the barrier to entry for supporters and unlock massive pools of corporate funding.
Online Fundraising Idea #5: Design and Sell Branded T-Shirts.
Another effective way for nonprofits to fundraise online is by selling t-shirts. Your nonprofit can design t-shirts as merchandise and sell them online to your supporters.
T-shirt fundraisers are a fun, engaging way to raise money for your nonprofit because they let supporters show their love for your organization while still getting something in return.
For supporters who may not be able to donate as much as they would like due to financial limitations, t-shirt fundraisers offer them the opportunity to contribute to your cause without breaking the bank (plus, they get a fun t-shirt for their support!).
Even better, the t-shirts you sell double as marketing materials for your nonprofit’s brand. When people see their friends wearing your organization’s shirts, they may get inspired to start contributing to your nonprofit.
When choosing an online host for your t-shirt fundraising initiative, look for one that:
- Offers plenty of t-shirt customization options.
- Allows you to upload original designs for your shirts.
- Gives you the freedom to set your own t-shirt prices.
- Charges a low-overhead fee so you can keep more of your profits.
- Gives you the ability to customize your nonprofit’s t-shirt sales page.
Popular t-shirt fundraising sites include:
As your organization starts selling t-shirts, remember that customization is key! Supporters are more likely to buy your organization’s shirts if they feel the product (and sales process) reflects the brand they have come to know and love.
Online Fundraising Idea #6: Organize a Gift Card Fundraiser.
Gift card fundraising is an innovative way to generate revenue online. Each time someone buys a gift card through your fundraiser, a percentage of the sale goes back to your nonprofit. The exact amount varies by retailer, but it’s often around 5.5%. And these contributions add up over time to make a major difference for your organization!
To launch a gift card fundraiser, follow these three easy steps:
- Register your organization. Your selected platform vendor should walk you through a simple onboarding process, answer any questions you may have, and provide the app your supporters will use to purchase their gift cards.
- Spread the word. Effective marketing is essential to a successful gift card fundraiser. Leverage a variety of communication channels to make supporters aware of your fundraiser and provide instructions for getting started. The platform you partner with may be able to provide some marketing materials, too!
- Track results. Your dashboard will display real-time fundraising data to help you thank your top supporters and encourage them to continue buying gift cards to support your cause.
Consider starting your gift card fundraiser at a time of year when people are likely to be buying a lot of gifts. For instance, you could launch in November to prepare for the holiday season or in April as your supporters start thinking about Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, peak wedding season, and upcoming graduations. Just make sure to leave your fundraiser open year-round so supporters can buy gift cards in between these busy seasons, too.
Popular gift card fundraising sites include:
Main takeaway: Gift card fundraisers are an easy virtual idea that is free for your organization to launch. They’re also convenient for supporters, who can support your cause by buying gift cards they would have purchased anyway.
Online Fundraising Idea #7: Get Timely with an Online Giving Day.
An online giving day is a 24-hour period where a nonprofit tries to raise as much money as possible from its supporters. The most common online giving day is #GivingTuesday, a national day of charitable giving that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year.
Whether your nonprofit participates in #GivingTuesday or not, you can also organize your own online giving day for your supporters!
An online giving day needs extensive digital promotion to be effective. For this reason, we recommend engaging your supporters:
- With emails
- Over social media
- Via text message
- On your website
- With videos
These digital outreach methods should include information about your giving day, such as the time, donation options, how the funds will be used, and how supporters can get 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)
Popular Giving Day platforms include:
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.
Online Fundraising Idea 8: Enable Easy Text-to-Give Functionality.
Text-to-give emerged 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 organizations and causes!
Today, text-to-give tends to work like this:
- A donor will text a keyword to a specific number 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!
When choosing a text-to-give tool, look for a provider that is PCI-compliant, which means the company follows strict rules to ensure a high level of security.
Ease of use and integration are also vital characteristics to look for in a text-to-give tool. You want the giving process to be quick and simple for donors, as well as have a way to export data to your CRM.
Popular text-to-give platforms include:
Many nonprofits, schools, and churches use text-to-give technology as an online fundraising channel year-round, and it’s also a popular donation method at 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 by this fundraising trend!
Bonus: Check out the ultimate guide to text-to-give.
Online Fundraising Idea #9: Plan an Online Auction.
Online auctions are essentially digital silent auctions that are more cost-effective and open to all your supporters, further increasing fundraising potential.
As with any charity auction, you’ll need to secure items and experiences that excite your guests and encourage them to bid. Look for unique items that your guests won’t find anywhere else. (Top tip: companies can be your best donors!)
Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:
- Sports memorabilia
- Backstage passes to a concert
- Tickets to an exclusive museum exhibit
- And so much more!
Generate excitement before your event by creating an auction catalog with images and descriptions for each item, and teach registered guests how to place bids to help them prepare for the big day. Plus, with dedicated auction software, you can track the progress of your online auctions in real time!
Popular online auction sites include:
Main Takeaway: Online auctions make it possible for supporters from all over the world to participate and are cost-effective so that you can raise the most money from your event.
Online Fundraising Idea #10: Initiate a Viral Fundraising Challenge.
Do you remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? In just a month and a half, this viral fundraising challenge raised $115 million (and tons of awareness!) for ALS research by asking people to pour cold water on their heads.
Another example of a successful campaign? Through “Movember,” participants across the globe grow out their facial hair during November each year and donate to support men’s health.
Interested in starting your own? Keep these tips in mind before attempting to launch a viral fundraiser:
- 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, those little donations add up!
- Create a memorable hashtag. Hashtags help group social media posts and make your nonprofit’s message easier to find on digital platforms. Use a memorable, punchy hashtag in all your social media posts and encourage your supporters to use it as well!
- Get to the point. A viral campaign has to be focused. It’s not the time to explain every detail of your mission. Instead, boil your essence down to a few key points and use them consistently throughout your campaign.
- Use all your digital channels. Post on Facebook. Snap a picture for Instagram. Start a Pinterest board. Send out emails. Use every digital communications channel at your disposal!
Popular viral fundraising sites include:
Just remember: it might take a few months or more for your campaign to pick up steam, so don’t expect viral results right away.
Main Takeaway: It takes a lot to get a viral fundraising campaign off the ground, but if you can do it, your nonprofit’s vision will be made known to supporters worldwide!
Online Fundraising Idea #11: Organize a ‘Donation for a Vote’ Campaign.
If you want to inject lighthearted competition into your digital fundraising, a “Donation for a Vote” campaign is a highly engaging strategy. The concept is simple: host a friendly, community-driven contest where supporters cast votes with their dollars ($1 equals 1 vote).
Because the barrier to entry is low and the mechanic is inherently social, these campaigns excel at capturing a high volume of small-dollar donors who might otherwise sit out traditional fundraising appeals.
The key to a successful campaign is picking an emotionally engaging subject that your community actually cares about. A few successful concepts include:
- The Cute Factor (Pet Contests): Invite your supporters to submit photos of their pets and run a contest where pets with the most “votes” win a dedicated page in your annual calendar.
- The Humorous Stakes (Leader Challenges): Let donors vote on which wacky stunt your Executive Director has to perform if the organization hits its fundraising goal. Examples include head-shaving, ridiculous costumes, or a live-streamed pie to the face!
- Creative Assets (Merch or Mascot Design): Encourage your audience to design and vote on your new merch, a logo variant, or the name of a campus building.
To execute this flawlessly, look for dedicated platforms that feature live leaderboard functionality. Watching a favorite choice slip to second place creates natural urgency, driving supporters to donate again and share the link with their own networks to rally more votes.
Popular donation-for-a-vote sites include:
Main Takeaway: Donation for a vote is a fun and engaging way to raise money for your cause. Make sure to choose challenges that reflect your mission and continuously encourage supporters to cast their votes.
Next Steps: Navigating the Online Fundraising Frontier
The digital age has completely rewritten the playbook for philanthropic success. Fundraising is no longer just about passing a physical collection plate or waiting for annual mail-in checks. It’s about meeting your donors where they already spend their time: online, on social media, and on their mobile devices.
By diversifying your approach with a mix of these modern online fundraising strategies, you can overcome geographic boundaries, reduce administrative overhead, and build sustainable, recurring revenue models. The key is to start small: pick two or three strategies that naturally align with your current habits, master those tools, and then expand your digital footprint.
For more ideas and tips, check out these helpful resources:
- 200+ Amazing Fundraising Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals. Couldn’t find what you were looking for with our online fundraising ideas? Check out our full list of engaging fundraisers to find the perfect strategy for your cause.
- How to Buy Fundraising Software That’s Right For Your Nonprofit. If you want to start fundraising online, you’ll need the right technology to accept digital donations. Use this helpful buyer’s guide to learn what you should be looking for in a software solution.
- 9 Top Strategies to Maximize Workplace Giving at Your Org. Grow revenue for your organization by strategically tapping into underutilized workplace giving programs. Find out which of your supporters work for participating companies and how to increase their engagement here.
