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A school club is struggling to raise funds for new sports equipment. A nonprofit is working tirelessly to provide meals to underprivileged families. A church is aiming to organize a community outreach program.
Traditional bake sales, car washes, and in-person fundraisers used to be their go-to solutions. But the world has changed, and so has fundraising.
Today, online fundraising has transformed the way nonprofits raise funds. The internet offers endless possibilities to connect with donors, share your mission, and exceed your goals.
Let’s explore the best online fundraising ideas to inspire your next campaign! Before that, let’s see why online fundraising is important for you.
Why is online fundraising important?
Here are some statistics to help you make up your or your board members’ mind.
- Online fundraising doesn’t pose any restrictions, such as maximum venue capacity (for events), regional coverage by volunteers (for in-person asks), and cost restrictions for direct mail fundraising. As of October 2024, 5.52 billion people—equivalent to 67.5% of the global population—were actively using the internet.
For example, WATERisLIFE used the hashtag #firstworldproblems to spread its viral video, the First World Problems Anthem, reaching over 1.7 million people. If you plan correctly, digital fundraising strategies can expose you to a much larger audience with less effort than offline methods. - Making a gift online is quick and easy, which is why online giving is the top choice for donors, with 63% opting to donate using a credit or debit card. Other preferred methods include direct mail (16%), PayPal (10%), and wire transfers (5%). Meanwhile, traditional cash donations account for 4%.
- Nearly half of donors (47%) contribute to nonprofit causes through online raffles or sweepstakes, 45% support nonprofits by shopping at online stores, and 24% participate in online auctions.
15 online fundraising ideas for your nonprofit
Online nonprofit fundraising entails much more than a “Donate” button on your website or social media handles. You need diverse strategies to get the most out of this lucrative fundraising channel.
“Having diversified fundraising revenue creates stability and keeps you from being overly dependent on one source of funding, which is dangerous.”
– Sandy Rees, CFRE, Fundraising Coach
That being said, here are a few unique online fundraising ideas that you can implement right now.
1. Partner with live streamers on Twitch
Twitch streamers raised over $83 million for charity in 2020. As of 2024, Twitch boasts over 7.39 million monthly streamers, up from 7.30 million in 2023. The platform also sees around 35 million daily active users.
“Having already raised over $83 million for charities during this tumultuous year, we are excited to continue working closely with our creators to help them surpass their fundraising goals and support their favorite causes,” said Aly Sweetman, Director of Creator Social Impact at Twitch.
Partner with Twitch streamers and request them to ask their followers to donate. Most viewers are really passionate about these streamers and are more than happy to help them reach these milestones.
How to get started
- Reach out to them over email or their social handles. Most of them have their email listed publicly for such collaborations. Avoid contacting them over chat when they’re streaming.
- Set a fundraising goal to achieve. Viewers are motivated to help live-streamers succeed, so having a goal would push more people to donate.
- Promote the fundraiser on social media and wherever possible. Ask the creator to do the same.
Pro tip
When live-streaming, have someone from your organization engage with donors via the chat option. This is in case someone needs their questions answered or wants to motivate more people to donate.
How DrLupo raised millions with Twitch
Gamer DrLupo, known as Ben Lupo, has raised over $13 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual charity stream, Build Against Cancer.
The 24-hour stream attracted over 6,000 donors, supporting St. Jude’s mission of providing free cancer care to children and their families.
Since starting the event in 2018, DrLupo has raised significant funds each year, including $611,000 in 2018, $2.3 million in 2019 and 2020, and $892,498 in 2021. In addition, DrLupo became the first creator to raise $10 million for the hospital.
2. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding harnesses the power of collective giving by enabling individuals to contribute small amounts to a shared cause. Platforms like GoFundMe, Donorbox, and Kickstarter have made it easier than ever for nonprofits to run successful crowdfunding campaigns.
With compelling storytelling and a clear call to action, these campaigns can raise significant funds while building community support.
Crowdfunding thrives on social proof and emotional engagement, making it ideal for projects with relatable or urgent goals. Campaigns often spread quickly through social media, amplifying their reach.
How to get started
- Choose a platform that aligns with your goals and audience. For example, GoFundMe is great for personal causes, while Donorbox caters more to nonprofits.
- Craft a compelling story with clear visuals, videos, and a strong call to action. Focus on why your cause matters and how donations will make a difference.
- Set a realistic funding goal and provide updates throughout the campaign to keep donors engaged.
- Use social media and email to share your campaign and encourage supporters to do the same.
Pro tip
Set a deadline or emphasize a time-sensitive goal to add urgency to your campaign. Limited-time campaigns often create a sense of immediacy, motivating more people to act quickly.
How Maui Strong Fund raised over $15 million through crowdfunding
In 2023, the Maui Strong Fund launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to support wildfire recovery efforts. The campaign raised over $15 million in weeks, driven by heartfelt stories, powerful imagery, and widespread social media sharing.
People connected with the fund’s message about resilience and community. The fund highlighted the struggles and strength of those affected by the wildfires, sharing real-life stories of loss and hope that resonated deeply with donors worldwide.
Also read- Here’s How To Solve 6 Nonprofit Crowdfunding Challenges Today
3. Ecommerce store checkout donations
Another great way to boost your online fundraising is to partner with an online business and ask them to include a donation prompt at checkout. The idea is the same as having a donation box in a retail store, except that this is online.
A 2022 online survey of 4,000 customers revealed that 88% of respondents had been asked to donate at checkout in the past year, and more than half of them said yes at least once.
If you partner with a store with a lot of traffic, this could generate significant revenue.
Most organizations will be open to this idea as it helps elevate the brand’s reputation as a socially responsible business.
How to get started
- Shortlist and reach out to online businesses that resonate with your cause/charity. For example, a food-based charity should partner with a food delivery service or restaurant. Companies will be more open to such partnerships, and it will also be easier to pitch to the prospect.
- Decide on a schedule for how long you want to keep it up. This could be for a few months or the length of a campaign. You could also set up a permanent partnership with the business to keep it going forever.
- Provide the donor with the option to change the amount.
Pro tip
Pre-select a small donation amount at checkout. Remember, people can deselect the donation amount, and selecting large amounts may put them off. There is a higher chance that people will go through with micro-donations (ranging between 50 cents and $2).
How Indigo raises funds from their millions of visitors during store checkout
The Canadian bookstore chain Indigo asks people to donate a small amount to the Love of Reading Foundation at checkout. The foundation works to provide books and educational resources to children who can’t afford them.
The checkout form pre-selects a donation amount while allowing people to increase it. On average, the bookstore draws over 4 million monthly visitors. Even if 1% of these visitors convert to donate a dollar, the foundation can raise almost $40,000 a month.
4. Partner with social media influencers
Social media influencers consistently provide followers with highly relatable content, forming deep relationships and gaining trust. This trust translates to a lot of influence over their decisions.
Almost all marketers—90%, to be precise—consider influencer marketing an effective strategy.
Partner with influencers close to your community and cause and have them help you by:
- Donating to your organization and sharing their experience with followers. This would enhance your visibility by bringing you to the attention of a new audience and prospective donors.
- They could run a fundraiser and ask followers to donate. This would bring in donations from their followers and others in their network.
- Promoting your fundraising campaign. This could be done by giving your campaign a shoutout and posting something about it with a link to your donation page.
How to get started
- Approach influencers with a relevant audience, not just a large one. For example, a food critic’s audience would be better for food provision programs rather than educational reform charities.
- Leverage influencer marketing tools to make the research process seamless. Kred is one such tool that will help you find relevant influencers.
- Decide the objective of your partnership and search for influencers accordingly. Different types of social media influencers are suitable for reaching various goals. For example, micro-influencers with smaller but highly engaged audiences can be ideal for building trust and sparking authentic conversations, while macro or celebrity influencers may be more effective for increasing brand visibility and reaching a wider audience.
Pro tip
Social Butterfly influencers have a large but varied audience and are suitable for awareness campaigns. Thought leaders, on the other hand, are perfect for endorsing your campaign and raising money.
How Movember has raised USD 1.4 billion for men’s health
Movember fundraisers are a global community of passionate Mo Bros and Mo Sisters—everyday heroes making a real impact in the fight for mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
In the past 21 years, Movember has raised a remarkable USD 1.4 billion for men’s health.
In 2023, the Movember community rallied for men’s health across 20 countries. Through initiatives like Growing Mo’s, Moving for Men’s Health, Hosting Mo-ments, and Mo-ing Your Own Way, Movember raised an impressive USD 90.2 million.
5. Social media challenges
In addition to making appeals online, you can get creative with your online fundraising ideas and engage prospects with a fun challenge. Ask them to do something specific and record themselves doing it. This could be either in the form of a picture or a video.
Then, after donating, have them share the video (or image) on their social media and tag others to participate. Share the donation link with the post and encourage people to share it.
This will not only help you raise money but also raise awareness about your cause and your work among new prospects.
How to get started
- Create a landing page for the challenge. Participants will only donate if they know the reason behind it. Create a landing page with all the relevant information to help them understand the cause (instead of having them scavenge information distributed on your website). Shorten the journey in this way to increase conversions.
- Come up with a unique hashtag for the challenge. A unique hashtag will act as an identifier for the posts, making it more easily searchable on social media.
- Start inviting your board members, supporters, and followers to participate in the challenge and ask them to share.
Pro tip
To achieve virality, you will need some momentum initially. Begin by challenging your closest supporters and having them share the challenge further. People are far more open to accepting these challenges from peers than organizations because they trust and feel more connected to individuals within their social circles.
How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge generated $115 million
Source: The CPA Journal
In the summer of 2014, three young men living with ALS—Anthony Senerchia, Pete Frates, and Pat Quinn—sparked a global movement that forever changed the fight against the disease.
Their ALS Ice Bucket Challenge inspired over 17 million people worldwide to pour ice water over their heads and donate to ALS organizations. This viral phenomenon raised unprecedented awareness of ALS and generated an astounding $115 million in donations.
These funds were instrumental in advancing ALS research and providing care for individuals with the condition.
6. A marathon or walkathon
Marathon walks and runs are some of the most popular fundraising events. They help participants unite as a community, challenge themselves, and raise money for a good cause.
If you don’t have the budget to organize one, get people to walk/run in their homes, backyards, or neighborhoods instead and livestream the event.
If live-streaming seems like a stretch, you can also have people track their steps and the distance they travel (using an app) and share screenshots. You can raise money through registrations, regular donations, and pledge fundraising.
How to get started
- Pick a date range to give participants more flexibility to compete.
- Set up a system to track distance or steps. As mentioned above, you can do this with an app. Apps like Runkeeper, Run with Map My Run, Runtastic, etc. can be helpful. Make sure all participants use the same app to avoid confusion.
Pro tip
Try to pick weekends so you have maximum participation.
How Marathon of Hope has raised over $900 million
The Terry Fox Run is a testament to the enduring legacy of Terry Fox, the Canadian athlete whose “Marathon of Hope” inspires millions worldwide.
This annual charity event, held in numerous countries, channels its efforts into funding groundbreaking cancer research and striving for a deeper understanding of the disease.
Source: Winnipeg
On September 15, 2024, nearly 600 Canadian communities united for the 44th annual Terry Fox Run, carrying forward Terry’s vision of a world free from cancer.
With over $900 million raised, the foundation, in collaboration with the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), has driven life-changing advancements in cancer research, keeping Terry’s dream alive.
7. Virtual watch party
You can also conduct a more fun and comfortable event, like a watch party. This online fundraising idea would be more suitable if your organization has a movie that is important to your community.
Even if you don’t have something you’ve created, you can use other documentaries or movies that resonate with your cause. Set a time for everyone to start watching the movie or documentary together.
You can use a tool to synchronize the video with all the participants’ devices.
Try using a tool with a chat option that allows participants to engage with each other, ask questions, and discuss the movie. You can raise funds through registration or by asking participants to donate after the movie.
How to get started
- Use a tool that allows people to connect via all devices (laptops, TV sets, mobile phones, etc.).
- Assign a host from your staff to facilitate the chat. In addition to encouraging people to engage with each other, the host will also answer any questions regarding your work or the organization.
- Design a landing page for watch parties. This page will provide the details for holding a watch party and include CTAs for participants to take action at the end of the party.
Pro tip
Kast, Kosmi, and Syncplay are a few tools you can look into. Kosmi also supports a webcam and microphone, which allows people to connect via video, which is better.
How Global Fund for Women raises funds through watch parties
The Global Fund for Women has supporters host watch parties for its video series Fundamental. The series highlights grassroots movements and community leaders who advocate for human rights.
They have a dedicated landing page with multiple options for supporters to get involved (donate, volunteer, or host a watch party). People hosting the party are asked to complete a survey and are contacted by a staff member for the next steps.
At the end of the event, the host shares the donation page link with everyone if they wish to donate.
8. Donate to win an experience
A unique experience works much better than most other incentives. Some fundraisers even claim that donate-an-experience platforms help raise nearly 40X more money than auctions or galas.
A raffle is a simple online fundraising idea that you can put to work. You can add a twist to make it more appealing. Instead of a cash prize, offer an incredible experience, like a virtual date with a celebrity, as an incentive for donating.
To achieve this, you must partner with corporations or contact celebrities for support. However, since most organizations and celebrities take social responsibilities very seriously, getting someone on board wouldn’t be too difficult.
The process is quite simple. You fix a price to enter the raffle, and a winner is randomly selected on a given date. The best part is that all of this can be carried out online.
How to get started
- Decide who you’ll partner with and what incentives you’ll offer.
- Leverage platforms to manage all operations seamlessly. Platforms like Omaze or Pledge offer various services to help you carry this out.
Pro tip
Avoid starting a campaign without a fixed list of incentives. You will need them to promote the campaign. Often, organizations begin their campaigns while discussing a partnership. If the deals don’t fall through, offering another incentive later delivers a poor experience.
How the All In Challenge raised nearly $60 million
The All in Challenge has raised nearly $50 million by offering unique experiences with celebrities. The challenge was created in response to the pandemic to aid food charities to help provide food to those in need. Several celebrities have taken part in the challenge ever since.
People had to donate just $10 to enter the challenge and a chance to win an experience. Some included a one-day contract to play with the Mavericks, skating lessons from Tony Hawk, a role in comedian Kevin Hart’s next movie, etc.
Here’s a video of Tony Hawk talking about what he’s offering in the All in Challenge.
9. Online T-shirt sales (or any merchandise)
Selling branded merchandise online is one of the most popular online fundraising strategies that can boost your efforts. It’s a great way to raise money without people having to break the bank since they get a product to use in return.
Besides raising funds, the merchandise will help you generate awareness about your organization when people use it.
How to get started
- Create branded products like mugs, reusable bags, t-shirts (the most common ones), or other merchandise. You can partner with a manufacturing firm to help you produce these for free or for a low price. Make sure that the brand is visible clearly on the merchandise.
- Sell this merchandise on your fundraising website or third-party websites like Amazon.
Pro tip
Provide multiple customization options (color, sizes, etc.). The more options you have, the more people will be interested in buying. A single product option won’t entice enough people.
If providing customizations seems expensive, you can leverage tools like Bonfire, which don’t charge upfront money but commissions from every sale.
How Boston Strong’s t-shirt campaign raised over $1 million
Boston Strong’s T-shirt campaign raised over $1 million for One Fund Boston. Three Emerson College students started the campaign to raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
They designed and sold these t-shirts online and through stalls at various events.
10. Online auctions
Thanks to advances in software, you’re not bound to conduct a charity auction in person anymore. You can do it virtually with ease. Plan the details exactly as you would for a regular auction.
How to get started
- Post and upload photos of the items, allow people to place bids, announce the winners, and make the payments online. Tools like Auctria can facilitate the entire process.
- Use SMS to convey information about the auction to prospects. Whether you’re sending new bid notifications or winner announcements, you need a channel with high open rates (to ensure the messages are read).
Pro tip
Try to use a silent auction format. Hosting a regular live auction may be complex and may restrict the number of participants. However, in a silent auction, people place their bids on an item online over a period of time, and you can announce winners at the end of it.
How Japanese American National Museum raised over $1.1 million through an online auction
Japanese American National Museum raised over $1.1 million through an online auction in 2024. Themed Illuminating Paths, the event celebrated community leaders for their inspiring contributions.
Highlights included the online auction featuring local art and goods, the Bid for Education program supporting field trips for 12,000 students, and the Lexus Opportunity Drawing for educational outreach.
JANM President Ann Burroughs also announced the Museum’s Our Promise campaign surpassed its $65 million goal and increased its target to $85 million.
The main event was live-streamed, and the winners of the main prize were announced after the keynote speeches.
Watch the event here:
11. Peer-to-peer(P2P) fundraising
Since people are more open to accepting an appeal from a friend rather than an organization, peer-to-peer fundraising is one of the most efficient strategies. In fact, in the US and Canada, 10% of donors actively engage in peer-to-peer fundraising to support nonprofit organizations.
In P2P fundraising, you encourage individuals to set up their own campaigns and raise money from their network. You let your supporters control how they want to reach the fundraising target.
How to get started
- Employ software to give fundraisers everything they need for the campaign. This includes a landing page (or micro-site), integration of an online donation tool to collect funds, etc.
- Maintain constant communication with fundraisers to provide them with relevant support. Most fundraisers may be less experienced and need your help meeting their targets. They may require technical support (like using the tool) or operational support (how to promote the campaign effectively). Help them in whatever way possible. Their success is your success.
Pro tip
Keep the motivation high with some healthy competition. Display top fundraisers’ scores (or funds raised) on a leaderboard to encourage others to get creative and reach their goals. Offer attractive incentives for top performers.
How #OneTeam for Kenya raised over $582,842 through peer-to-peer fundraising
The Brighton Jones Richer Life Foundation has launched a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, #OneTeam for Kenya, to support three impactful organizations: Grace Nanana, Kajiado Child Care Centre, and The Ruben Centre.
These groups aid underprivileged children and families in Kenya, and Brighton Jones has stepped in to amplify their efforts.
The campaign, hosted on Donorbox, has already raised an impressive $582,842.12. Visitors to the campaign page can explore the top fundraisers and their contribution totals, showcasing the power of collective support.
Read Also: Peer to Peer Text Fundraising Guide
12. Text to donate or text to give campaigns
In 2018, mobile giving donations increased by 205%, and it has been on the rise ever since.
To fundraise through mobile, you can set up a text-to-give or text-to-donate campaign. It starts with you promoting a keyword and a number to which people send the keyword to convey their interest in donating.
In text-to-give, a fixed donation amount is deducted from the donor’s phone carrier bill when they send in a keyword. In text-to-donate, they are sent a link that redirects them to a donation page in response to the keyword.
How to get started
- Choose a relevant keyword and number for the campaign. Ensure the keyword is related to the campaign to make it easy for people to remember it.
- Choose the right mass texting software for the campaign. A few platforms, like Snowball, QGiv, and MobileCause, can help you set up text-to-give campaigns. However, these require serious investments.
- Text-to-donate campaigns, on the other hand, can be set up using text message autoresponder systems on any mass texting solution.
Pro tip
Try using a shortcode for texting. Shortcodes are easy to remember, which increases the chances of more people opting in.
How the American Red Cross raised over $43 million through a text-to-give campaign
American Red Cross raised over $43 million through a text-to-give campaign for Haiti’s earthquake victims.
The American Red Cross was one of the earliest adopters of text-to-give. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, they encouraged people to donate $10 by texting the keyword “HAITI.” They promoted the keyword and shortcode on television and in newspapers and raised $43 million in relief funds.
Even now, they have a few active ‘donate by text’ campaigns to help people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and tornadoes.
13. Social media takeover
Besides partnering with influencers, social media takeovers are also great for online fundraising.
If there is a business or organization that supports your mission, contact them and ask them to donate their social accounts to you for a particular period of time. This could be a full day or maybe a few hours.
During this time, you’ll be posting on behalf of your organization on their channels. You could share stories, details about your work, and even donation appeals. It’s an excellent way to reach an entirely new audience and raise awareness.
For the partner organization, it’s a chance to showcase their social responsibility and elevate their brand.
How to get started
- Avoid starting with donation appeals. Sure, it seems tempting to get straight to the point. But people won’t donate just because you partnered with an account they follow.
- Start by letting them know you’re taking over, introducing yourself, and telling your story. Then, gradually lead up to the appeals.
Pro tip
While telling your story, make low-barrier appeals first, especially encouraging people to follow your handles. Even if they don’t donate, you’ll get new followers to nurture.
How eight charities took over Reason Digital’s Twitter account
In 2018, eight charities took over Reason Digital‘s Twitter account to reach a new audience and spread awareness.
Beneficiaries of different charities posted their stories in a series of tweets. These stories aimed to raise awareness about various causes, highlight the importance of giving and raise funds for these charities. This takeover went on for 8 hours straight.
14. Email fundraising
Email marketing and promotional campaigns account for about 28% of all online revenue nonprofits generate. They are also a low-cost communication channel, which is why fundraising emails are vital for online fundraising.
Send a personalized email to everyone in your donor database requesting donations. Keep your email concise and design it to be less distracting. Keep the reader’s focus on the main email CTA. Add visuals to convey a major part of your message.
How to get started
- Plan out a 2-3 email series for the appeal. The average response rate almost quadruples after 2-3 emails.
- Segment your database to send targeted messages. For prospects who haven’t donated, stress on the immediate need for action. For past donors, remind them how they made an impact in the past and how they can do the same again.
Pro tip
Provide multiple options to help you out too. Only some people in your database can help you financially right away.
How Hands on Atlanta raised money through email
Hands on Atlanta has raised money through email to provide 60,000 meals to families.
Hands on Atlanta works tirelessly to provide meals to many families. They send great fundraising emails to people clearly and concisely stating their objectives and the help they need.
Apart from compelling language and visuals, they also allow readers to volunteer (if they can’t donate) without distracting them from the primary donation CTA.
15. Online gaming contest
With over 2.8 billion people playing games on mobile, you have a large audience that you can tap into. Online gaming contests are a more fun and engaging alternative to gaming live streams on Twitch.
Invite them to play single-player games with challenges (like the fastest time to finish the mission) or multiplayer games against each other. People can participate as individual players or in teams.
Online gaming contests can lead to donations by encouraging participants to contribute as part of the entry fee or through in-game fundraising challenges. Players can donate to unlock special features, participate in tournaments, or compete for prizes, turning their engagement into meaningful support for the cause.
How to get started
- Get local businesses involved to provide sponsorships or prizes. Incentivizing for top scorers and performers will increase the excitement and draw a larger crowd.
- Select an array of games to cater to a broader crowd. Drawing in many people for a single match might take much work. Arranging for various games (like family games and RPG single-player games) will get more attention.
Pro tip
Most online gaming apps have intuitive features that allow people to play with each other from anywhere. However, ensure that a staff member or volunteer facilitates and manages each game.
How Boston Children’s Hospital raised over $14,000 with a game night tournament
Boston Children’s Hospital has raised over $14,000 with the Big Family Game Night tournament.
The Boston Children’s Hospital invited participants to challenge friends and family to different kinds of games. They could do this over a video call or an online gaming app. Upon registration, participants were asked to make donations (whatever they could).
The organization also shared impact stories to remind them why their participation was vital and appreciated.
Now that you’re armed with great online fundraising ideas…
With so many exciting and innovative ways to fundraise online, making a significant impact is easier than ever.
Whether hosting a virtual auction, partnering with celebrities for unique experiences, or running a text-to-donate campaign, there’s something for every cause and budget. The key is to keep it engaging, stay authentic, and make sure you connect with your supporters personally.
