Everyone needs financial help every now and then. Maybe you are an aspiring musician planning to release your debut album, but you need a way to cover the recording costs. Or, perhaps you run a nonprofit animal shelter that requires urgent funding to care for an unexpected influx of animals into your facility.
Whether you’re looking to raise funds for personal expenses or a collective project, crowdfunding is one of the most accessible and powerful solutions for reaching your goal. Through crowdfunding, you can build a vast online community of support, tapping into the power of social networks to bring in donations.
In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to succeed with a crowdfunding campaign. Here is what we’ll cover:
With the right tools and approach, you can turn crowdfunding into a reliable, repeatable fundraising strategy to bring your goals to life.
What Is Crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is the practice of raising money from a large number of people to fund a goal or project. By harnessing the power of online communities and social media, these campaigns bring attention to and secure support for specific initiatives or financial needs—typically through many small donations that add up.
According to CAF’s World Giving Index, 4.3 billion people (or 73% of the world’s adult population) gave time, donated money, or helped someone they didn’t know at some point during the year. Crowdfunding campaigns allow individuals or organizations in need to directly reach those who have the means and willingness to help.
Crowdfunding is often confused with peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising since both involve raising money from a wide audience. However, the main difference is that crowdfunding deals with a single campaign and donation page, while P2P fundraising requires having other individuals set up fundraising pages and collect donations on your behalf. Since both strategies can be highly effective, some fundraising platforms come with tools that support crowdfunding and P2P campaigns.
Types of Crowdfunding
Depending on your fundraising needs and goals, there are three main types of crowdfunding campaigns you can launch:
Donation-based crowdfunding: People donate to your campaign without expecting or receiving anything in return. These donors are simply inspired by your cause, project, or story and want to help you succeed.
Equity-based crowdfunding: This type of crowdfunding is primarily suited for those running early-stage businesses that want to expand. Donors provide funding in exchange for shares in the company.
Rewards-based crowdfunding: People who contribute to your campaign receive rewards (such as branded merchandise) based on their donation amount. Or, you may provide them with the product or service they are supporting at the end of the campaign.
Some crowdfunding websites, such as GoFundMe, limit your crowdfunding to only donation-based campaigns. Other popular fundraising options, like Fundly, support donation-based crowdfunding and come with tools to add rewards to your campaign. This guide will primarily focus on donation-based crowdfunding, though many of the benefits and best practices will still apply to equity-based and rewards-based types.
Common Crowdfunding Use Cases
Crowdfunding is such a popular fundraising option because you can use it to raise money for virtually anything. For example:
Individuals can cover expenses related to medical treatment, memorial services, weddings, and trips.
Nonprofits can expand their programs, secure emergency resources, construct new buildings, and fund mission-related research.
Sports teamscan cover travel expenses, buy new uniforms or equipment, and refurbish facilities.
Schoolscan purchase new technology, upgrade learning resources, offer extracurricular activities, and provide scholarship opportunities.
Artists can produce albums, films, novels, stage productions, and games.
Churches can fund mission trips, renovate buildings, host special events, and organize youth group activities.
The Eta Xi Alumni Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that knocked its latest crowdfunding campaign out of the park. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the nonprofit launched a fundraiser to support its mission of helping Black students achieve their higher education goals. Using Fundly’s platform, the campaign exceeded its goal of $113,000 by over $10,000!
How Crowdfunding Works
How do you go from identifying a fundraising need to receiving donations from an online community? The process is relatively simple:
Choose a crowdfunding website. Research the top crowdfunding options for hosting your campaign. Some charge a percentage of the funds you raise, while others have no platform fees. Consider how user-friendly the platform is and look for the specific features that will support your fundraising approach. For example, you might want a platform that enables P2P fundraising or allows you to offer rewards to donors.
Set up your crowdfunding campaign. Create your campaign page by adding an attention-grabbing title and description. Outline your fundraising goal and the duration of your campaign. Then, incorporate authentic images and videos that help potential donors emotionally connect to your campaign.
Spread the word about your campaign. Inform and inspire people to support your fundraiser by sharing it through email and social media. Many crowdfunding websites have built-in tools to make this step easy. Post regular updates on your page to keep the momentum going.
Track your fundraising progress. Your crowdfunding website should provide real-time data on your campaign’s performance, including page views and donations received. Some fundraising platforms, like Fundly, have a heat map tool that allows you to see where your donors are geographically located to help you tailor your outreach.
Thank donors for their support. Even if your donors don’t expect anything in return, you should still express your appreciation for each individual contribution. Your crowdfunding tools will automatically send a receipt to each donor, but you can (and should!) go above and beyond by adding a sincere, personalized message that addresses each recipient by name.
If you run into any questions or issues during your crowdfunding process, contact your platform’s support team for assistance.
What Are the Benefits of Crowdfunding?
While there are many online fundraising opportunities available, these benefits of crowdfunding make it stand out for both individuals and nonprofits:
Access to a wide audience: Research shows that 62% of donors who give to crowdfunding campaigns are new to crowdfunding. Rather than appealing to the same people over and over, you can reach a global audience and expand your donor base through social sharing.
Easy setup process: The best crowdfunding websites charge no upfront fees for launching a campaign. They come with user-friendly tools that allow you to customize your fundraising page to your liking and start collecting funds in minutes.
Community building: Crowdfunding brings people together under one common cause, helping them find a sense of belonging online as they work together toward a shared goal—helping your fundraiser succeed.
Quick payout: Most crowdfunding platforms take no longer than one week to transfer donations into your bank account. Especially if you’re in urgent need of funding, crowdfunding makes it quick to launch and reap the rewards of your fundraising efforts.
Ultimately, crowdfunding puts you in charge of your fundraising journey. You can decide how you want to present your story, interact with donors, and put your funds to use.
Popular Crowdfunding Websites
Before you jump into the crowdfunding process, you must first establish a strong foundation for your fundraising success by finding the right tools for your needs.
Note that some crowdfunding websites have an “All or Nothing” (AoN) approach, which means you can only receive the funds you earn if you meet your fundraising goal by the deadline. “Keep it All” (KiA) websites, on the other hand, allow you to collect however much you earn regardless of whether you meet your fundraising goal.
Some of the best-known AoN and KiA platforms include:
Fundly
With its versatile tools, Fundly has helped individuals and organizations around the world raise more than $330 million. Whether you need financial support for personal medical expenses or a nonprofit project, this fundraising platform makes it easy to create a personalized campaign page and spread the word.
With Fundly’s 0% platform fees and “Keep it All” fundraising approach, you can start collecting donations in minutes. All you have to do is:
Sign up for a free account.
Fill out your campaign details.
Customize your fundraising page.
Set up a Stripe account.
Promote your campaign.
Start raising money!
Fundly stands out as a leading fundraising tool because of its comprehensive features, which go beyond standard donation-based crowdfunding. You can build branded, mobile-friendly fundraising pages, set giving levels and incentives, promote your campaign across social media, manage events, and more—all directly on the platform.
While Fundly charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30, this is the standard credit card processing fee for most fundraising platforms. It typically takes only 1-2 days to transfer the donations you earn into your bank account, which is generally faster than other websites like GoFundMe.
Note: Fundly is not intended for business start-ups.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms for creative projects, from comics to fashion to video games. Some of Kickstarter’s notable features include:
Pre-launch page editor
Rewards tab and tiers
Backer survey builder to collect key details
Project dashboard
However, the platform’s “All-or-Nothing” model means that you won’t receive any funding if you don’t reach your goal during the campaign duration (which can be up to 60 days).
Piggybackr
If you’re fundraising for a school sports team, club, or classroom, Piggybackr is specially built for your crowdfunding needs. The platform is designed to be safe for children under 13, who can:
Set up a personalized fundraising page.
Invite team members for peer-to-peer fundraising.
Track emails and other promotions.
Raise team funds that are deposited in a single account.
While Piggybackr has no signup fee, it does charge a 4.0% platform fee in addition to processing fees. However, you have the option to allow donors to cover this cost.
Experiment
Experiment is a crowdfunding platform intended solely for science-related projects. Once you’ve defined your project, collected peer endorsements, and received approval from an Experiment staff member, you can start raising funds from the community. Anyone can launch a project on the platform, as long as you can share the progress and results of your findings with backers.
Like Kickstarter, Experiment has an “All-or-Nothing” model, which means you must reach your funding target by the deadline to receive the money raised.
Best Practices for Crowdfunding Campaigns
After you’ve decided on the right crowdfunding platform for your campaign, follow these best practices to maximize your fundraising results:
Tell your story. With so many campaigns out there, how do you convince donors to support yours? The answer is simple: Convey your story. People who resonate with your fundraising goal will naturally contribute to and share your campaign with others. At the same time, keep your messaging clear and concise—projects that raise the most money have an average of 300-500 words in the description.
Focus on the impact of donations. Highlight what donors will help you accomplish by contributing to your campaign. For example, a wildlife rehabilitation center might share that every $50 will feed an animal for a month, and every $200 covers an x-ray for a wounded animal in need.
Post regular updates. Since crowdfunding campaigns count on the contributions of many donors toward a fundraising goal, keep them posted on your collective progress. Share milestones, such as reaching your halfway mark, to give donors a chance to celebrate and keep the ball rolling.
Add giving incentives. If you are raising money for an artistic project, sports team, or upcoming trip, giving incentives can significantly boost engagement with your crowdfunding campaign. Set different incentives for different giving levels. For example, if you are raising money for your school band, a $50 donation might come with discounted tickets, while a $100 donation might come with discounted tickets and a concert recording.
After a successful campaign, always remember to express your gratitude to donors. Even if you implemented giving incentives, reach out with thoughtful and personalized messages to demonstrate how much you value each individual contribution. Doing so helps you build stronger connections with donors and retain their support for future crowdfunding campaigns.
Wrapping Up: Building on Your Crowdfunding Momentum
Thanks to the internet, people are more connected than ever before. Whether you need to raise funds in response to a natural disaster or are hoping to bring an art project to life, you’re bound to find generous donors eager to support your goals.
Crowdfunding allows you to tap into the power of a vast online community that can help you power significant change in the world. By updating and engaging regularly with this community, you can nurture lasting relationships that you can count on for years to come.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into crowdfunding and maximizing your fundraising potential, check out these additional resources:
https://blog.fundly.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Crowdfunding_Feature.png6101600Scoti Hahnhttps://fundly.com/assets/logos/v2/fundly_logo_with_text_181_50.pngScoti Hahn2025-02-18 00:00:192025-03-11 10:44:57What Is Crowdfunding? A Quick Start Guide to Raising Money
Whether you’re raising money to fund a nonprofit initiative, support students at your school, or cover a personal expense, an online fundraiser can be an effective way to reach your goal. But first, you need to find the right fundraising website to support your campaign.
Fundly and GoFundMe are some of the most popular choices for fundraising platforms around the world. To help you decide between the two, we’ll provide a detailed rundown of Fundly vs. GoFundMe. Here’s what we’ll cover:
Finding the right platform for your fundraising needs is essential to maximizing the funds you earn. Consider details such as features, fees, and support to select the one that checks all of your boxes.
Top Features of Fundly vs. GoFundMe
Successful fundraising requires more than putting up a donation page and waiting for donations to come in. Marketing, donor engagement, and analytics are critical for reaching a broad audience, inspiring people to support your campaign, and improving your strategy for future fundraising efforts.
Fundly
Fundly is designed for all types of campaigns, from nonprofit disaster relief to sports team fundraising. Across these initiatives, the platform has helped raise more than $330 million so far! It provides complete flexibility in building your campaign page, allowing you to effortlessly incorporate your brand elements, images, videos, and messaging.
Beyond this customization, Fundly’s comprehensive and innovative features include:
Mobile-friendly tools and pages. Design eye-catching fundraising pages that donors can access and contribute to directly on their phones. Plus, you can easily manage your campaign, send emails, and post updates on the go from your own mobile device.
Giving levels. Encourage more donations by creating multiple giving levels with custom incentives. For example, you could send donors a sticker for every $15 donation and a free t-shirt for every $50 donation.
Peer-to-peer fundraising. Turn fundraising into a team effort. Expand your reach by having supporters create individual donation pages to share with their friends and family.
Event management. Seamlessly host an event alongside your fundraising campaign by setting up a dedicated event page with details such as time, location, and sponsors. Fundly’s integration with Eventbrite allows you to sell registration tickets and provide waivers for participants to fill out through the platform.
Performance analytics. Access real-time data on campaign updates, page views, donations received, and other key metrics. Use heat maps to find out where your donors are geographically located.
Plus, with Fundly’s social media integrations, you can add your donation form directly onto Facebook to automatically collect donations on the platform. Additional integrations with the NonProfitEasy CRM, Double the Donation’s matching gift search tool, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and other popular solutions allow you to extend your fundraising capabilities further.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is most popular for personal donation campaigns, from covering medical bills to raising money for a wedding. It does support fundraising for charities and businesses as well, though. The platform comes with simple, easy-to-use features such as:
Team fundraising. Add friends and family to help manage your campaign. These individuals can post updates, view your fundraising progress, and thank donors.
Photos and videos. To help communicate your campaign’s story, incorporate photos or YouTube videos across your fundraising page, as part of your description or as an update.
Individual donor recognition. Send a privately emailed “thank you” to each donor by clicking their name in the centralized Donations tab and typing out a message.
Social sharing buttons. Use “share” buttons to share your fundraiser link on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
A mobile app. By downloading the GoFundMe app, you can set up a fundraiser, upload images, and track donations through your phone.
While GoFundMe does not integrate with NonProfitEasy or Mailchimp, it does integrate with GivePanel, allowing you to manage your entire campaign through that fundraising platform.
Fundly and GoFundMe Platform Fees
Before choosing a fundraising website to raise funds on, you first need to consider the associated fees and payment models.
For instance, some platforms take an “All or Nothing” (AoN) approach, meaning you won’t receive the donations you collect unless you reach your fundraising goal by the deadline. “Keep it All” (KiA) fundraising platforms, however, allow you to withdraw however much you raise, regardless of whether you hit your goal.
Fundly
There are no upfront costs or hidden fees associated with starting a fundraiser on Fundly. In fact, Fundly has 0% platform fees and does not take any percentage of the donations your campaign earns. Plus, since Fundly is a KiA fundraising platform, you are guaranteed to receive the money you raise, no matter if you meet your fundraising goal.
To cover secure credit card processing, Fundly’s payment partner, Stripe, has a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30.
GoFundMe
It’s free to start a GoFundMe fundraiser. Like Fundly, this platform is KiA and allows you to keep all of the funds you earn even if you do not reach your fundraising goal before the deadline.
While GoFundMe does not have a platform fee, it automatically deducts a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation to cover the costs of credit and debit charges. If donors want to provide ongoing support to your campaign with monthly donations, they must pay a recurring fee of 5% per donation.
Setting Up a Fundraiser on Fundly vs. GoFundMe
From your first to tenth fundraising campaign, you need the set-up process to be as simple and streamlined as possible. The easier it is to launch a fundraiser, the sooner you can start raising money for your goal.
Fundly
Fundly supports fundraising in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, and Mexico. The process of starting and customizing your fundraiser involves a few quick steps:
Fill out your campaign details, including a title, fundraising goal, duration, and story.
Add your branding elements, photos, and videos to help donors connect with your campaign.
Set up a Stripe account and link your bank details so you can withdraw the funds you earn.
Share your campaign using Fundly’s email templates and social media tools.
Start raising, and encourage donors to spread the word to friends and family, asking them to donate.
You can set your withdrawal schedule to daily, weekly, or monthly. It will typically take a day or two for Stripe to transfer the funds to your account.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe only supports nonprofit fundraising campaigns in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Canada. Whether you are launching a personal or nonprofit fundraiser, the process looks something like this:
Follow online prompts to add campaign details, such as your location, the purpose of your fundraiser, and how much you want to raise.
Set up a GoFundMe account.
Add a cover photo or video that illustrates your fundraising goal.
Write your fundraising story and choose a title.
Share your campaign on social media and in person.
Add your bank information to start receiving funds.
It can take three to seven business days to set up and verify an initial bank transfer for your campaign. After your first transfer, it will take two to five business days for funds to be deposited into your account after leaving GoFundMe.
Fundly and GoFundMe Customer Support
You want your fundraising campaign to run smoothly from start to finish. When deciding between GoFundMe vs. Fundly, consider the customer support and educational resources each platform has to offer to help make this possible.
Fundly
The Fundly Support Center is a one-stop resource for answering frequently asked questions related to campaign creation, fund disbursement, and donations. If you encounter any specific questions or issues not covered in the Support Center, you can fill out a convenient online form or email the Fundly team directly.
Additionally, Fundly has a dedicated blog that provides tips, insights, and best practices to help you maximize your fundraising results. It covers topics ranging from securing donations from companies to planning an engaging campaign for Giving Tuesday.
GoFundMe
Similar to Fundly, GoFundMe has a Help Center that provides guidance on areas such as running a fundraiser, transferring funds, and configuring account settings. Plus, there is a HelperBot that you can chat with. If it cannot answer your questions, it will connect you to the Customer Care team.
The GoFundMe blog primarily compiles tips for individual fundraisers, exploring niche concepts such as the cost of a heart transplant and financial resources for single parents.
Key Takeaways: What’s the Difference Between Fundly & GoFundMe?
While both Fundly and GoFundMe can equip you with the tools to launch a successful campaign, there are a few key differences that can influence whether you hit or exceed your fundraising goals.
Fundly
As one of the top GoFundMe alternatives for nonprofits, individuals, and other fundraising organizations, Fundly is the ideal platform if you want to:
Create a highly customizable fundraising page that makes your campaign stand out.
Engage more donors with events, incentives, and targeted messaging.
Track data from your campaigns to raise more in the future.
Fundly allows you to take your campaign beyond basic fundraising, with options for donors to contribute anonymously and opt into monthly gifts.
GoFundMe
As a popular fundraising website, GoFundMe is a good choice if you are looking to:
Create a simple, personal fundraiser with a quick and easy set-up process.
Manage your entire campaign all in one downloadable app.
Access customer support via a chatbot that responds instantly.
On GoFundMe, you can build a basic, functional fundraising page in minutes to start engaging your audience.
Choosing the Best Fundraising Platform for Your Goals
The fundraising platform you select will set the stage for your entire campaign. Carefully consider your goals and needs when making your choice. If you need a little more help deciding between Fundly vs. GoFundMe, explore user reviews online and consider asking peers with fundraising experience if they have any recommendations.
It’s completely free to get started on Fundly—try it out for yourself to see how you can make the most of the platform’s capabilities to make your next fundraising campaign an astounding success!
Want to explore more tips and ideas to boost your fundraising? Check out these additional resources:
https://blog.fundly.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fundly-vs-GoFundMe_Feature.png6101600Scoti Hahnhttps://fundly.com/assets/logos/v2/fundly_logo_with_text_181_50.pngScoti Hahn2025-01-20 06:28:572025-01-20 06:28:57Fundly vs. GoFundMe: Which Platform Is Best For You?
Crowdfunding is a popular fundraising strategy for almost any goal, from covering medical expenses to jump-starting an artistic project. Before you can start rallying your community and raising funds for your cause, however, you need to use the right tools to launch an attention-grabbing campaign and facilitate donations.
In this guide, we’ll walk through 30+ of the top crowdfunding websites available to help you find the best fit for your needs. We’ve divided up the list based on the type of campaigns each site is most suited for:
While there are many worthy options to choose from, the ideal platform for your crowdfunding campaign will depend on your specific goal, budget, and target audience. Before we begin exploring these platforms, let’s first discuss a few strategies for selecting one for your campaign.
Comparing Crowdfunding Sites: How to Choose the Right Fit
When you think of crowdfunding websites, a common one that pops to mind might be GoFundMe—but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for every campaign. In fact, there are plenty of alternatives that might be better suited for your goals, especially if you want to appeal to a niche audience and inspire more lasting support for your cause.
Keep these considerations in mind when assessing potential crowdfunding platforms for your campaign:
Eligible countries: Ensure that the website supports fundraising in your country. Some options only allow crowdfunding in the U.S. and Canada, which means that your campaign is less likely to gather global support if that is your goal.
Fundraising approach: Some crowdfunding websites have a “Keep it All” (KiA) approach, which means you’ll receive the funds you raise regardless of whether you meet your fundraising goal. Others, however, have an “All or Nothing” (AoN) approach, which means you won’t get any funds unless you hit your goal before the deadline.
Payment timing: Look into how long it takes for you to receive your campaign’s funds. Some crowdfunding platforms will automatically transfer funds to your bank account, while others have a verification process that can lead to delays. Opt for a shorter turnaround time, especially if you’re fundraising for something urgent.
Customer support: Check whether the website has a Help Center, support email, or online request for assistance. Having these resources on hand can be essential for troubleshooting any campaign issues and ensuring that donors have a smooth experience supporting your fundraising efforts.
Fees: Many crowdfunding platforms charge a percentage of the overall funds you collect, while others have no platform fees. You’ll typically have to pay a transaction fee for credit card processing even on free sites, though some websites give donors the option to cover this fee as part of their donation to your campaign.
Use these key points, along with any specific features you want, to inform your crowdfunding platform research. If you need more guidance, check out our FAQ section to read more about the benefits of crowdfunding campaigns and what basic tools you’ll need to get started.
Top Crowdfunding Websites for Individuals and Nonprofits
1. Fundly
Fundly’s crowdfunding platform allows individuals and organizations to raise money for nearly any cause, project, or event. Fundly is a “Keep It All” (KiA) platform, which means that fundraisers can keep whatever donations they receive (minus a platform fee of 4.9% and a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $.30/transaction).
Here are a few ways this crowdfunding website stands out:
The platform is user-friendly, with a blog-like feel.
You can brand each fundraising page with your organization’s colors and logo.
It’s easy to add images, videos, and personal stories.
You can share your campaign via email, Facebook, and X.
An automated fundraising thermometer displays real-time progress and inspires more donations.
Fundly’s versatile and easy-to-use platform makes it a top pick for any type of crowdfunding campaign. Plus, their support team is always available to answer any questions!
GoGetFunding is a popular crowdfunding website dedicated to effective fundraising for personal causes. Since its inception in 2011, this platform has raised millions of dollars for all sorts of campaigns, including medical, travel, community, and charity needs.
GoGetFunding is a top choice for crowdfunding because:
Pages are simple to set up on the intuitive platform.
There are only four easy steps to complete before launching your fundraising page.
You can accept donations immediately with credit, debit, and PayPal.
GoGetFunding also provides fundraisers with personal fundraising coaches to help guide them through the crowdfunding process.
3. Rally.org
Rally.org is one of the most user-friendly fundraising platforms for individuals, groups, and charitable causes. Fundraisers can launch their campaigns in minutes and create inspiring, high-end designs with no technical expertise required. Then, donors can start giving immediately.
Here is why Rally.org is a top crowdfunding choice:
You can create a fundraising website in only three easy steps.
Robust social sharing capabilities make it easy to spread the word via email, Facebook, X, and more.
There are no time limits to crowdfunding campaigns.
Rally.org offers a highly secure payment processing system for credit and debit payments. Plus, a crowdfunding page is free to set up on their site, with a 5% platform and 2.9% + 30 cents credit card fees for each donation.
4. GoFundMe
GoFundMe is one of the biggest names in the crowdfunding space. Its online tools have helped numerous individuals and groups collect funding for a wide range of needs, including medical, emergency, memorial, education, and more.
This crowdfunding website makes it easy to:
Accept gifts
Process transitions
Thank donors
Withdraw funds
GoFundMe employs a number of special assistants (called Customer Happiness Agents) who assist fundraisers in maximizing their success and troubleshooting the fundraising platform.
5. Classy
Classy is a powerful crowdfunding platform that helps nonprofits worldwide raise meaningful funds. Its customizable, conversion-optimized campaigns can help you get the most out of your crowdfunding efforts.
This crowdfunding platform is a noteworthy option for nonprofits because:
Campaigns are mobile-optimized, making it easy for donors to give from anywhere.
You can showcase matching opportunities that inspire more generosity.
Intuitive analytics and reporting allow you to track your campaign from start to finish.
Classy is a great choice for nonprofits interested in running large campaigns that require comprehensive solutions. Its impressive tech stack will help you scale your donor base and empower your supporters.
6. Fundrazr
FundRazr is a crowdfunding website with ready-built social integrations, options for quickly and easily uploading images and videos, and a dedicated fundraising support team.
With this crowdfunding platform, you can:
Reduce fundraising costs
Turn supporters into fundraisers
Run multiple campaigns on a single website
Securely receive contributions directly into your account
FundRazr lets nonprofits create a crowdfunding campaign in minutes, share the campaign via social media once it’s live, and receive contributions immediately.
7. GiveSendGo
GiveSendGo is a crowdfunding platform that focuses on funding mission trips but can also be used to cover medical expenses, business ventures, charitable needs, and more.
Especially if you’re fundraising for a religious group, GiveSendGo is an ideal option because:
It’s 100% free, while other crowdfunding sites typically take 4-10% of donations.
The platform is backed by voluntary donations, so it doesn’t charge a commission from your hard-earned funds.
There is a Prayer Wall on the website that adds a sense of community and belonging to your crowdfunding campaign.
GiveSendGo even donates 10% of the donations it receives to campaigns on its website. It has so much faith in the individuals and organizations that use its crowdfunding website that it supports them personally!
8. We Raise
The We Raise Foundation helps organizations and individuals raise funds for youth programs, community projects, and other mission-driven activities. Depending on the organizer’s needs, crowdfunding projects can range from less than $1,000 to more than $50,000.
Here are a few reasons why We Raise is a top crowdfunding website:
You can keep all of the money you earn, regardless of whether you reach your intended goal.
We Raise encourages donors to cover processing fees themselves so your project earns 100% of the proceeds.
Fundraisers receive a coached crowdfunding experience, complete with campaign materials, a marketing plan, and a fundraising plan.
We Raise empowers its users to share their stories because it finds that donors contribute more when they connect with a crowdfunding project’s blog posts, pictures, and videos.
9. mycause
It’s free to start a crowdfunding campaign with mycause, an Australian-based platform. Individuals can raise money for any cause, whether it’s for personal medical expenses, adoption fees, scientific research, or something else.
mycause is a particularly compelling crowdfunding option for Australian-based fundraisers due to its:
Email, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Pinterest sharing options
Easy fundraising page set-up, which takes only five minutes
Ability to accept payment methods such as credit, debit, PayPal, and ApplePay
If you’re looking for a beautiful crowdfunding website to raise money for any personal need in Australia, mycause is a great option.
10. WayGiver
WayGiver is a Christian crowdfunding website dedicated to providing individuals, churches, and ministries with the tools they need to fund religious causes. Common examples of campaigns on this platform include fundraising for mission trips, ministry programs, sabbaticals, service projects, and more.
WayGiver’s fundraising process is intuitive and simple:
Create a free online campaign page.
Promote your campaign on social media and other digital channels.
Have gifts automatically transferred to your bank account.
Because WayGiver is specific to Christian needs and ministry opportunities, this crowdfunding platform offers a fantastic way for fundraisers to connect with like-minded individuals who are eager to support their efforts.
Best Crowdfunding Sites for Education
11. DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose is designed to help teachers and public schools raise money for supplies, classroom materials, and other education-related items. When a crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal, DonorsChoose sends materials directly to the school.
Here are a few reasons why DonorsChoose stands out as a crowdfunding website for education:
Fundraisers don’t have to worry about shopping since DonorsChoose purchases all requested items when the project is funded.
Every donor receives an automatic thank-you message and impact report.
Donors can opt into monthly donations and handpick projects to support every month.
This platform subtracts a $30 fee from each crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of its unique process. DonorsChoose is a highly specific crowdfunding platform, but if you’re a teacher who needs school supplies, it may be the perfect fit for you.
12. GiveCampus
GiveCampus is a platform built specifically for educational crowdfunding. It allows schools, student organizations, and other campus community members to source ideas and launch crowdfunding campaigns to fund their projects.
Some of this crowdfunding website’s standout features include:
Forms for sourcing crowdfunding ideas from your school community
Automated confirmation emails and gift receipts
Tailored matches and challenges to boost giving
To use GiveCampus, schools need to subscribe to a platform plan, which starts as low as $1,000 a year.
13. Piggybackr
Piggybackr is a crowdfunding website that is designed to be safe for children under 13. Students, parents, and school groups can all launch a crowdfunding campaign to fund their specific goals.
Here are some of the reasons why Piggybackr is a top crowdfunding option for education:
No signup fee
Built-in email tools and social media sharing
Ability to create a personalized page in less than three minutes
Piggybackr currently only supports campaigns in the U.S. and Canada. To get started, all you have to do is sign up with an email and set up your fundraiser.
14. StartSomeGood
StartSomeGood calls itself “The Crowdfunding Platform for Changemakers” and aims to help world-changing projects succeed. In fact, their website is used exclusively for social change initiatives such as education and other nonprofit causes.
StartSomeGood supports the campaigns on its platform by:
Providing monthly webinars to share expert fundraising tips.
Offering multiple support options based on your level of crowdfunding knowledge.
Including a variety of social sharing buttons on each crowdfunding page.
StartSomeGood is a great choice for social change initiatives like schools that require some extra help during setup. With their team’s personalized feedback, your organization will receive the advice it needs to make your campaign stand out from the crowd.
Crowdfunding Websites for Business
15. Wefunder
Wefunder’s goal is to connect investors with founders and startups they believe in. As they explain on their website, “Everyone has their personal motivations for investing in startups, but ours is to support founders we believe in, pursuing a vision we care about, with a good chance of earning a return should that vision transform into reality.” If you’re looking to fund a startup business, this platform is a great place to start.
Wefunder is a top crowdfunding option for businesses because it:
Is the largest business-funding portal based on dollars raised, companies funded, and its network of investors.
Provides a detailed Fundraising Playbook that helps startups catch the attention of investors.
Has a community of 1.59+ million investors to promote your business to.
Wefunder is a great solution for startups looking to turn potential customers into stakeholders with true connections to the business. This site also has the added bonus of being willing to do all the grunt work of fundraising, so you, the founders, can focus on what is important for your business.
16. StartEngine
StartEngine is a leading equity crowdfunding platform with an emphasis on venture capital and angel investing. Previously known as SeedInvest, StartEngine’s equity crowdfunding platform is now able to offer the option for investors to grow more startup investing access. The website has collectively raised $1.2 billion so far, with 90% of startups reaching their minimum funding goal.
This platform offers a simplified lending and crowdfunding process, pairing eager startups with willing investors to create effective and long-term partnerships:
Businesses complete a streamlined application with basic information about their company and finances.
StartEngine screens applications to determine which businesses are a good fit for the platform.
Upon approval, investors start funding the businesses, providing them with the revenue they need to grow and thrive.
StartEngine boasts a rapidly growing network of more than 500,000 personal investors. With the help of investors, they aim to raise $10 billion for companies by 2029.
17. Fundable
Fundable’s slogan says it all: “Now anyone can fund your business.” In its first year, this platform generated $80+ million in funding commitments, and the crowdfunding website continues to develop today. To create a campaign, startups choose between the rewards option (funds in exchange for product sales) and the equity option (funding from accredited investors).
Providing marketing outreach templates to promote each campaign.
Offering a guided option in which the Fundable team handles creating the campaign for you.
Allowing you to make your campaign private to only accredited investors.
Fundable works with thousands of investors who might be the right backers for your up-and-coming business. And once you sign up, their investor database is immediately available for you to browse. It’s an online solution to the funding problem that many startups face.
18. IFundWomen
IFundWomen is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs fund their startups, receive coaching, and make connections. The website summarizes its overall mission: “For women who have big ideas, we’re here to make them happen.”
Crowdfunding tools, along with a free eCourse and bi-weekly webinars.
Various grants they can apply to.
Expert coaching through the Crowdfunding Queen Accelerator program.
IFundWomen is one of the best equity crowdfunding websites for women-owned companies looking for sufficient funding to get started. By partnering with this platform, women can bring their business visions to life with the help of eager investors who want to fund up-and-coming businesses like theirs.
19. Republic
Republic is a private investing platform that makes it easy for businesses to engage in community fundraising to power their growth and thrive. The website has a 90% success rate for companies looking to expand their audience and sell more of their products or services.
Republic helps businesses raise money by:
Allowing them to create a teaser page in minutes.
Providing full-service marketing solutions to spread the word.
Connecting their fundraising efforts with a global investor community of 300+ million.
Plus, Republic has an in-house investor relations team that supports businesses in managing their relationships, providing campaign updates, and ultimately developing a loyal base of supporters to rely on.
20. Crowdcube
Crowdcube is a European equity crowdfunding site that offers startups the tools they need to secure funding, as well as the opportunities individual investors are seeking. Its focus is on accessible, affordable, and rewarding investments.
With Crowdcube, you can access the following key features:
New investment opportunities added weekly
Full pitch pages and videos from startups
A post-funding support community
Crowdcube is all about making investing accessible, affordable, and rewarding by enabling everyday individuals to invest alongside professionals and venture capital firms. This way, startups, early-stage, and growth-stage businesses can secure funding, and investors can gain a stake in companies they previously wouldn’t have had access to.
21. Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is a UK-based crowdfunding website that aims to help individuals and groups connect with supporters to fund their community projects, businesses, sports teams, personal causes, and charities. Crowdfunder gives fundraisers the ability to raise money via its intuitive and simple crowdfunding site.
Some of Crowdfunder’s top tools and features include:
Potential match funding
Online raffles
A Knowledge Hub with live webinars and tips
Crowdfunder is a leader in personal and team crowdfunding. It’s a great pick for UK-based individuals looking for an innovative and effective path to funding.
Crowdfunding Sites for Creative Projects
22. Kickstarter
Kickstarter is one of the most recognizable names in crowdfunding, helping thousands of creative fundraisers earn money for projects related to the arts. Kickstarter does not allow fundraising for charity organizations, and fundraisers cannot offer monetary incentives.
Kickstarter’s crowdfunding website stands out because:
It’s made for artists, designers, musicians, and other creatives.
You can create campaigns in categories ranging from Comics & Illustration to Design & Tech.
It provides a Creator Handbook for setting up your project campaign.
Kickstarter is a major power player in the creative project fundraising world for a reason—it’s run with creative thinkers and innovators in mind! Just remember that they practice the “All or Nothing” method, meaning if you don’t reach your goal, you don’t keep any of the money you’ve raised.
23. Indiegogo
Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform for creative individuals with great ideas. Fundraisers first create a “Coming Soon” page to promote their campaign. Once they’ve generated enough engagement around their idea, they can start raising money for it. After the project has been successfully funded, the organizer can sell their product in the Indiegogo marketplace.
Indiegogo provides two crowdfunding models:
Flexible funding: Keep whatever you raise, whether you hit your goal or not.
Fixed funding: Keep the funding you receive only if you meet your goal by a certain deadline.
Indiegogo is one of the leading crowdfunding platforms for creative projects. They also have a separate platform, Generosity, that can be used to raise money for charitable causes and events.
24. Patreon
Patreon is a unique subscription-based crowdfunding website that brands itself as “the best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income and connections.” With bronze, silver, and gold membership tiers, supporters can choose the amount they give monthly based on the perks and incentives creators offer at each level.
The crowdfunding website supports creators with features such as:
Membership options for reliable revenue
Online store and product pages
Community feeds and group chats
Patreon’s crowdfunding model is slightly different from that of a typical crowdfunding platform—it relies on monthly membership fees to sustain creators and fund their work. This way, creators and fundraisers can receive a recurring stream of income rather than one-time gifts.
25. Pozible
Pozible uses its global reach to crowdfund for various creative endeavors. From comic books and plays to art exhibits and films, Pozible helps individuals raise money for the artistic and creative projects they care about.
Pozible helps you raise more through crowdfunding with:
Highly customizable campaign pages with descriptions, images, videos, and a public funding target.
Reward options, such as experiences or physical items, to incentivize donations.
Real-time analytics that provide insights into your crowdfunding performance.
With fundraisers in more than 100 countries, Pozible is a smart global crowdfunding platform for creative individuals. If you need help funding a creative or artistic project, look to Pozible for help!
Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms
26. RealtyMogul
RealtyMogul allows investors to participate in various pre-vetted commercial real estate investment opportunities. The platform’s real estate professionals review each property, along with its business plan, to ensure that investors can confidently meet their financial goals.
This real estate crowdfunding website provides investment opportunities for the following property types:
Multifamily
Retail
Office
Industrial
Plus, RealtyMogul has a dedicated Investor Relations team that is available to answer any questions related to the platform.
27. Fundrise
Fundrise is a leading real estate investment platform that allows people to participate in high-quality real estate investment opportunities at a low cost. The platform currently manages more than $7 billion of real estate across the country.
Here are a few reasons why Fundrise is a top real estate crowdfunding website:
Investors can create an account, choose a portfolio strategy, and start investing in less than five minutes.
Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18 can invest with no accreditation required.
Fundrise charges 0.15% in annual advisory fees but no performance fees.
Also, as a new offering, Fundrise now gives people the chance to invest in a portfolio of leading private technology companies before their stock market launch.
28. CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet is a real estate crowdfunding website that provides direct access to commercial real estate opportunities. So far, people have invested over $4.3 billion in more than 790 projects on the platform.
CrowdStreet stands out because:
The Investment Team conducts a thorough screening of every real estate project.
The platform provides a 24/7 Investor Dashboard for managing all investment activities.
Investors can choose to receive payment through ongoing cash distribution or a share of the property’s final sale price.
However, it’s important to note that only accredited investors can use the CrowdStreet Marketplace, which means investors must meet certain requirements before they can participate.
Bonus Crowdfunding Tools to Raise More
29. Double the Donation
Double the Donation is a matching gift database that nonprofits can use to double (or even triple) their crowdfunding revenue. Using Double the Donation, supporters can look up their employer’s name to learn about their company’s matching gift program and determine their eligibility.
The software allows you to raise more from crowdfunding donations by:
Embedding a search tool into your donation page to help donors determine their eligibility for matching gifts.
Integrating with crowdfunding websites like Fundly to identify whether donors are match-eligible.
Automatically following up with donors who may be eligible for matching gifts.
With all of the new donors you’ll bring in with your crowdfunding campaign, you’ll want to encourage them to complete a matching gift request as soon as possible to maximize their donations!
30. Bonfire
Bonfire combines classic t-shirt sales with the power of modern online fundraising to create a unique crowdfunding experience. Fundraisers can create custom t-shirts in various styles and sell their products on their personal crowdfunding campaign pages. Campaign organizers can even set their own selling price to have full control over their fundraising potential.
With Bonfire, you can:
Use a user-friendly t-shirt builder to create designs that represent your cause in minutes.
Set up a free online store for fundraising.
Accept additional donations on top of t-shirt sales.
If you want to add a unique twist to your crowdfunding campaign, try starting a Bonfire campaign. You can raise money and awareness for your cause by creating awesome-looking t-shirts for your supporters to wear for years to come.
31. ABC Fundraising
ABC Fundraising lets individuals and organizations raise money by selling various products such as candles, popcorn, discount cards, and even holiday merchandise. Creating a product fundraising campaign is free and painless because their team does all the heavy lifting, including designing, creating, and distributing your merchandise.
ABC Fundraising helps you boost the funds you earn from crowdfunding with a:
Huge variety of products to sell.
Fundraising thermometer widget to install on your website.
Free fundraising digital info-kit with FAQs and more.
ABC Fundraising is known for its successful fundraisers hosted by schools and churches, although organizations of all shapes and sizes are welcome to participate. Your supporters will love receiving memorable, branded merchandise while giving to a good cause.
Crowdfunding Websites: FAQs
What are the benefits of crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding offers numerous benefits by providing an efficient and effective way to build capital. Around $17.2 billion dollars in crowdfunding money is raised annually in North America! For startups, crowdfunding offers an opportunity to get their ideas up and running quickly without a financial ceiling.
For nonprofits, crowdfunding places your organization in the spotlight and gives it a meaningful opportunity to market your mission. Whether you plan on using it to power your capital campaigns, awareness days, or disaster relief efforts, it’s an incredibly powerful resource to boost your revenue.
What can you do with crowdfunding?
There are several ways you can use crowdfunding, here a few examples:
The opportunities are endless, just be sure to add relatable stories and engaging images to capture your campaign and inspire donors to give.
What should you look for in a crowdfunding website?
The top crowdfunding websites consolidate all the tools you need for a compelling campaign right on the platform. Some basic features you should prioritize include:
Website and social integrations. It should be easy to embed a donation form directly on your website and share it on social media. Doing so can maximize your campaign’s reach and allow donors to give in the ways they find most convenient.
Giving levels and incentives. You should be able to add suggested giving levels to help donors decide how much they want to contribute to your campaign. You can even inspire more donations by adding incentives to each level, such as branded t-shirts for every donor who gives at least $75 to your cause.
Peer-to-peer fundraising. Look for a crowdfunding platform that allows you to harness the power of your community with peer-to-peer fundraising. Organize fundraising teams where each participant promotes their donation page to their friends and family to reach a wider audience and raise more.
Event management. Hosting an in-person or virtual event can boost engagement with your crowdfunding campaign and bring your community closer together. Some crowdfunding websites come with event tools that make it easy for you to create registration forms, manage sponsors, and plan a seamless event experience.
Data analytics. By actively monitoring your crowdfunding campaign’s performance, you can identify how well you’re engaging donors and where you can make adjustments to improve. Look for a platform with built-in data analytics tools that allow you to track your page visitors, donor trends, and more in real time.
Explore the crowdfunding websites you’re considering, such as Fundly or GoFundMe, to find past and ongoing campaigns similar to what you’re planning. See how they’re performing and engaging their audience to get a better idea of how well your campaign will do on the platform.
Using Crowdfunding Websites to Power Your Fundraising
Whether you’re in the market for a creative breakthrough or educational leg-up, crowdfunding websites can support your efforts. Start your selection process by finalizing your campaign goals, researching your budget, and comparing your options. Then, look into other third-party reviews to solidify your choice’s reputation, track record, and fee structure. This way, you can be sure you’ve selected the right one for your project.
For more ideas and tips to inspire your fundraising, check out these additional resources:
https://blog.fundly.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Crowdfunding-Websites_Feature.png6101600Scoti Hahnhttps://fundly.com/assets/logos/v2/fundly_logo_with_text_181_50.pngScoti Hahn2024-10-16 09:00:232025-03-12 07:28:04Comparing 30+ of the Best Crowdfunding Websites in 2024
Whether you’re a nonprofit fundraising for a new program or an individual collecting donations for a business idea, there is a platform out there to support your goal. One of the most widely known websites is GoFundMe, but it may not have everything to suit your specific needs.
Fortunately, there are many popular GoFundMe alternatives that provide all the must-have fundraising features in addition to specialized tools that can enhance your campaign. To help you find your ideal fundraising platform, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top GoFundMe alternatives for you to explore.
But first, let’s go into more detail about why you should consider choosing an alternative to GoFundMe’s popular website.
Why Look for GoFundMe Alternatives?
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows users to collect donations for a variety of purposes, from medical emergencies to nonprofit campaigns. However, some downsides that come with the fundraising platform include:
Limited countries eligible for fundraising. Currently, GoFundMe supports fundraising in only 20 countries, meaning that fundraisers in ineligible countries cannot start a campaign on the platform.
Limited customer support. GoFundMe does not have a customer service number that you can call for immediate assistance.
Payment delays. GoFundMe has a verification process for individual fundraisers that may take up to 10 business days or longer. Then, depending on the payment processor, payments can take between 7 to 30 days before they’re available for use. Compared to other platforms, this is a lengthy turnaround time.
Top GoFundMe Alternatives
If you’re looking for a fundraising platform with more engaging and convenient features, check out some of the popular GoFundMe alternatives on our list.
Fundly’s crowdfunding platform allows individuals (and nonprofits!) to raise money for nearly any cause, project, or event without raising requirements or start-up fees.
Fundly is a “Keep It All” (KiA) platform. This means fundraisers don’t have to reach their goal to receive the money they raise. Whatever donations they receive, they keep (minus any standard fees).
Fundly’s versatile fundraising tools equip fundraisers with beautiful, fully customized crowdfunding campaign pages. This platform enables users to tell campaign stories, post updates, add photos and videos, and share their page across social media.
For example, Dos Velos Images ‘Saving Lives 1 Click at a Time’ is a successful fundraising campaign hosted on Fundly. Thanks to its highly visible share buttons and the ability to add multiple explanatory videos to convey the campaign’s purpose, the campaign was easy to share across social media and build support.
Pricing
Fundly has a 0% platform fee. Our payment partner, Stripe has a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 for credit card processing.
Platform Design: Designed specifically with nonprofits in mind. The platform’s interface, features, and functionalities all cater to the needs and goals of nonprofits.
CRM Integration: Fundly provides CRM integration which allows nonprofits to manage donors, communications, and campaigns in a central location
Extra Features: Fundly has dedicated nonprofit-centric features such as giving levels which allow organizers to offer physical rewards based on donation amounts. It also partners with VolunteerEasy, a platform that helps nonprofits connect with passionate supporters.
GoFundMe
Platform Design: Versatile, but initially designed with just individuals in mind rather than for nonprofit campaigns
CRM Integration: GoFundMe can integrate with a variety of CRMs, but does not have its own dedicated CRM for nonprofits.
Extra Features: GoFundMe has a feature that lets you explore local fundraisers to see how people in your community are fundraising for inspiration.
Although GoFundMe does offer nifty features, Fundly’s platform can help nonprofits go further in the long run. Its customizable campaign pages and network nonprofit-specific tools can help you fuel your organization’s mission.
2. Double the Donation: Platform to Extend Fundraising Impact
The Basics
Double the Donation is one of the most valuable services available to nonprofits. This fundraising platform helps nonprofit organizations easily raise more money by enabling your donors to submit employee matching gift requests.
It’s important to note that Double the Donation is not a crowdfunding tool like GoFundMe. It’s included on this list because it’s a valuable matching gift service integrated into nearly every GoFundMe alternative.
If you’re a nonprofit with a large number of donors that give either directly through your organization’s website or through a GoFundMe-like tool, you should check out Double the Donation’s services.
Pricing
Double the Donation’s pricing options range depending on the size of your organization. You can contact the Double the Donation team to get a quote for your specific organization’s needs.
3. Bonfire: The Best T-Shirt Fundraising Website
The Basics
Bonfire enables organizations to raise money and spread awareness for causes by selling high-quality t-shirts to their donors!
Fundraisers can design their own custom t-shirts in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a graphic design whiz to create awesome products. With Bonfire’s simple t-shirt design tool, anyone can be a pro at making high-quality apparel.
Not only can you sell branded t-shirts, but Bonfire also lets you additional donations on top of what you sell. More ways to give means more donations toward your fundraising efforts!
Pricing
Bonfire charges a low base price for each of its products. To calculate your price, you’ll need to subtract the base price from your sales to determine your fundraising profits. Take advantage of their price calculator tool for the best estimate. For additional donations, Bonfire only charges an 8% fee.
4. Indiegogo: GoFundMe Alternative for Innovators
The Basics
Indiegogo is a fundraising platform that enables individuals to raise money for any kind of innovative personal project, including films, product improvements, technological inventions, and more.
Indiegogo is recognized for hosting endeavors before they hit the mainstream. New projects are launched on their site every day, creating an active community where your project can go big.
Tap into a creative community of imaginative tech and innovation to earn exposure for your projects and start raising funds!
Pricing
Indiegogo’s service charges a platform fee of 5% of all funds raised and a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
5. Classy: Fundraising Platform for Larger Nonprofits
The Basics
Classy’s crowdfunding platform can be the driving force behind any crowdfunding initiative, whether it’s Giving Tuesday, recurring giving programs, capital campaigns, or any other fundraiser.
Use Classy to build unique and evergreen microsites for your supporters, allowing them to get involved with your mission.
Pricing
Contact Classy to get a custom price for your specific nonprofit size and endeavor.
6. Kickstarter: GoFundMe Alternative for Creative Projects
The Basics
Kickstarter is one of the world’s largest fundraising tools for bringing creative projects to life. Fundraisers can receive backing from donors throughout their process and share their final projects on their personalized Kickstarter pages.
Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing model, so fundraisers only receive funding if they meet their goals. This can be a strong motivator for both fundraisers and supporters to raise funds before time runs out.
Pricing
Kickstarter collects 5% of total funding for completed projects, as well as a payment processing fee of 3% + $.20 per pledge.
7. Patreon: Best Fundraising Site for Recurring Support
The Basics
If your team’s goal is to fund a long-term creative endeavor, Patreon is for you. Patreon’s crowdfunding platform hosts projects that rely on constant, modest donations.
Essentially, it’s a subscription model of fundraising rather than a traditional donation-based crowdfunding process. Your fans subscribe to a monthly membership to access exclusive content, sneak peeks of upcoming projects, and whatever else you want to share with them.
Pricing
It’s completely free to get started with Patreon. Once your organization begins earning funds, a small percentage plus an industry-standard payment processing rate from your patrons is taken out depending on which of the three packages you choose.
8. GiveSendGo: Best Platform for Faith-Based Fundraising
The Basics
GiveSendGo is an excellent option for faith-based organizations and churches. With this tool, your team can fund anything from mission projects to personal campaigns. GiveSendGo will help you raise money for your Christian endeavor by providing fundraising tools that cater specifically to churches and faith-based organizations.
Plus, GiveSendGo shows users appreciation by gifting 10% of the donations raised by the site overall to active campaigns.
Pricing
GiveSendGo doesn’t charge a platform fee but has a third-party processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction made.
9. FundRazr: GoFundMe Alternative for Specific Wishlists
The Basics
If your group is fundraising for a specific wish list of items to drive your mission forward, consider using Fundrazr. Fundrazr helps nonprofits obtain specific lists of items by launching easy-to-create crowdfunding projects.
Before using Fundrazr, determine what items your nonprofit organization would like to acquire. For example, a school might need a list of sports equipment. With Fundrazr, your team will be able to easily communicate your needs to supporters and contact contributors with announcements, thank-you letters, and updates, all from one centralized hub.
Pricing
Get started for free with Fundrazr’s platform. All you need to do is fill out this information form for a personalized experience and pricing.
10. ArtistShare: Best Fundraising Site for Musicians
The Basics
ArtistShare is a fully managed services suite that is known as the Internet’s first rewards-based crowdfunding site. This service provides musicians with multiple services to successfully start their careers in the industry.
With this platform, artists can receive not only funds but also professional project consultation, marketing tips, product manufacturing and fulfillment, and much more.
With these tools, you’ll be able to kickstart your music career with the help of dedicated supporters.
Pricing
ArtistShare is currently by invitation only. Check out their page for more details on getting involved.
11. GiveCampus: Best Platform for Educational Fundraising
The Basics
GiveCampus is a premiere fundraising platform for nonprofit educational Institutions launched in 2015 with a mission to “increase the quality, affordability, and accessibility of education”. It has facilitated more than $3 billion in charitable giving to colleges, universities, and K12 schools.
GiveCampus’ digital fundraising and volunteer management platform allows for schools to more effectively engage donors through its tailored giving experiences. Additionally, the platform provides real-time reporting, appeal-tracking, and analytics, so your team can easily understand its current performance.
Pricing
GiveCampus offers plans starting as low as $1,000 per year based on your platform needs. You can book a demo to learn how GiveCampus can help you streamline your fundraising workflows.
12. Kiva: Best Fundraising Site for Microlending
The Basics
With Kiva, your supporters can lend as little as $25, and as much as they please to support your cause. This platform works successfully when you attract attention to your Kiva campaign through your marketing outreach methods.
Then, your supporters can lend you money to support your mission. Once your team is able, they repay the donor when funds are available. With a few simple steps, you’ll have the funds to get started with your next endeavor. It’s that simple!
Pricing
With Kiva’s platform, your team can borrow up to $15,000 at 0% interest over 36 months. Here’s where to apply to get started with your Kiva crowdfunding project.
13. Experiment: GoFundMe Alternative for Scientific Research
The Basics
From biology to paleontology to physics, Experiment’s crowdfunding platform helps raise money for science-related projects. Your supporters can stay updated on your progress with both lab note updates and your own fundraising page.
Here’s how it works: Once your team defines a research goal and gains colleague endorsement, you’ll be reviewed by the Experiment team for approval. Then, you’ll be granted access to your fundraising page, allowing you to get started sharing it with your supporters. When your goal is reached, your team receives the funds raised.
Pricing
Experiment is an all-or-nothing model, which incentivizes hosts to raise their funds by the end of the timeline. Once the goal is hit, your team is charged 8% platform fees + 2.9% + 30¢ in payment processing fees.
14. Onevest: GoFundMe Alternative for Entrepreneurs
The Basics
Onevest’s crowdfunding tool helps investors, entrepreneurs, and organizations seeking resources for starting their business endeavors. This tool can benefit anyone from new entrepreneurs, to seasoned investors looking to grow their portfolios with the help of their supporters.
This platform is unique because it offers specific project advisor support, as well as access to the CoFoundersLab Learning Center for users looking to maximize their impact with money raised.
Pricing
Discover your pricing options with Onevest by reaching out for a cofounder or team support through their website.
15. Snowball: Best Platform for Mobile Fundraising
The Basics
With Snowball’s fundraising platform, you can tap into the popularity of mobile phones by creating compelling, mobile-optimized campaign pages. Whether you’re launching a nonprofit capital campaign or collecting funds alongside a fundraising event, Snowball has the tools to streamline your efforts.
On your campaign page, you can add custom fields, a fundraising thermometer, and recurring giving options. Plus, you can simplify giving on the go by setting up text-to-give.
Pricing
Snowball has a free Essential plan that comes with a mobile donation page, recurring donation capabilities, and basic event registration—though there is a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee.
For more advanced plans starting at $549 a year, you can tap into more features such as text-to-give, after-hours customer support, auction management, and more.
https://blog.fundly.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GoFundMe-Alternatives_Feature.jpg14002200Scoti Hahnhttps://fundly.com/assets/logos/v2/fundly_logo_with_text_181_50.pngScoti Hahn2024-08-01 07:54:302025-03-12 07:29:54GoFundMe Alternatives: 15 Best Fundraising Platforms to Use
Your nonprofit’s donors lead busy lives—managing their careers, maintaining social relationships, and pursuing their personal goals. Because of this, it can be challenging to keep them continually involved in all that you’re doing to fulfill your mission. That’s why Giving Tuesday is such an important time for any nonprofit, no matter your size or cause.
Established as a global generosity movement, Giving Tuesday is a day that’s all about making a difference. In this guide, we’ll discuss everything your nonprofit needs to know to make the most of this powerful opportunity, including:
With enough preparation, your nonprofit can turn these 24 hours into a springboard for increased donations, stronger donor relationships, and greater awareness for your cause.
Giving Tuesday: FAQs
Ready to become a Giving Tuesday expert? Start by exploring these frequently asked questions to set your team up for success:
What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity that takes place every Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. It’s a chance for nonprofits, businesses, and individual people to come together and contribute however they can toward making the world a better place.
Since its inception, Giving Tuesday has raised more than $13 billion for nonprofits. Last year, in the U.S. alone, 34 million people participated in Giving Tuesday, contributing a total of $3.1 billion to charitable causes. Now, nearly 100 countries have launched national movements on this day.
Who can participate in Giving Tuesday?
Anyone can participate in Giving Tuesday. For example:
Individuals can donate, make in-kind gifts, participate in community service projects, and spread the word about causes they care about.
Nonprofits can raise funds, acquire new donors, build community partnerships, and spread awareness of their missions.
Companies can give to nonprofits, plan team volunteering activities, organize donation drives, and match the donations their employees make.
Grantmakers can issue challenge grants, sponsor nonprofit events, and host capacity-building workshops.
Your nonprofit can even take this opportunity to collaborate with other nonprofits that have missions and values that align with your own. In doing so, you can broaden your reach and amplify your impact together.
How does Giving Tuesday benefit nonprofits?
Giving Tuesday taps into a global pool of donors, volunteers, advocates, and sponsors for more than just a single day. Donor acquisition growth rates are 4.4 times higher on Giving Tuesday than at any other time of the year, and about 40% of these donors give again the following year.
Plus, since Giving Tuesday only lasts 24 hours, the urgency can inspire some donors who may have been on the fence to take action.
How to Prepare for a Giving Tuesday Campaign
Since Giving Tuesday is such a fast-paced day for nonprofits, you need to build a strong plan to ensure that everything runs smoothly and successfully. Use these basic steps to prepare for your next campaign:
Assess your past performance. If you’ve participated in Giving Tuesday before, take a look at what you did well and what you can improve on. Consider metrics such as the total funds you raised and the number of new donors you acquired. Ideally, you should be able to refine your strategies to boost your results year after year.
Set a goal and budget. Decide on a goal that’s specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). This framework can help you set reasonable and actionable expectations for your campaign. Then, evaluate the resources you have available to outline a budget for your team to work with.
Create your Giving Tuesday content. Design eye-catching images, collect testimonials, prepare your donation page, and nail down your campaign messaging. Aim to present a cohesive image of your nonprofit across all of your content.
Be sure to promote your Giving Tuesday campaign at least a month before the actual day to put it on your community’s radar and build excitement.
Top Giving Tuesday Ideas to Raise More
There are countless possibilities for raising funds on Giving Tuesday. If you’re not sure how to best engage your donors this time around, explore our list of the top fundraising ideas for Giving Tuesday:
A crowdfunding campaign is perfect for harnessing Giving Tuesday’s wide reach to bring in a lot of donations from around the world. To get started, all you need to do is follow these easy steps:
Set up a crowdfunding page. Start by choosing a crowdfunding platform with low processing fees and a “Keep it All” model that ensures you can receive all the funds you earn regardless of whether you reach your fundraising goal before the deadline. Then, create your page by uploading images, adding giving levels, and telling your story.
Promote your campaign. Share your crowdfunding page in your email newsletter, social media posts, website, and blog articles to maximize awareness both leading up to and on Giving Tuesday. Follow up with updates on your fundraising progress throughout the day to keep the momentum going and inspire more people to help you reach your goal.
Thank all of your donors. Whenever someone makes a gift, promptly thank them for their support. The more valued they feel, the more likely they’ll be to share your campaign with their friends and family, spreading their passion and dedication to your mission.
Throughout your campaign, keep an eye on the number of donors, average gift amount, and page traffic source to get an idea of how well you’re doing. For example, suppose you notice that many donors reach your crowdfunding page through Instagram. In that case, you might decide to post more interactive updates on that particular platform since it’s bringing you the most traffic.
Fundly: The Top Crowdfunding Platform for Giving Tuesday
There are several crowdfunding platforms that can support your Giving Tuesday fundraising, from Fundly to GoFundMe. To make your campaign especially engaging, look for one with a comprehensive set of tools and features that allow you to go beyond creating a simple crowdfunding page.
Fundly, in particular, is the top crowdfunding platform for Giving Tuesday due to the following benefits:
Instant fundraising. It only takes minutes to start collecting donations with Fundly, making it a quick and easy fundraising idea for Giving Tuesday.
Risk-free. When you create a free crowdfunding campaign, you won’t pay anything until you receive your first donation.
Low fees. Fundly has a 0% platform fee and only charges the traditional credit card processing fee that all crowdfunding websites charge.
Deep social integration. Fundly’s social media integrations make it easy for supporters to share your campaign with their networks. Plus, any updates you make on your page will automatically be posted to your connected social media accounts.
Personalization. Unlike other crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe, Fundly fundraising pages can be completely customized. Change the color scheme, add your logo, and make your page unique to your cause.
Setting up a crowdfunding campaign on Fundly is easy for both tech-savvy and new fundraisers alike. However, if you run into any questions, Fundly has a full support team that’s always available to help.
Example of a Successful Giving Tuesday Crowdfunding Campaign
The Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP) is a nonprofit dedicated to appealing court decisions on behalf of domestic violence survivors. The organization created a crowdfunding campaign on Giving Tuesday so that they could continue to provide their services for free. A generous donor even agreed to match all donations made to the page.
By including powerful images, a detailed description, and various giving levels, the campaign managed to raise over $10,000 more than its fundraising goal.
2. Matching Gifts
Matching gifts on Giving Tuesday is a win-win-win situation for everyone involved. As corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes a higher priority among companies around the world, there are more and more opportunities to make your donors’ dollars go further. Many companies will match the donations their employees make to nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio or higher, though 78% of donors are unaware if their employer has a matching gift program.
Start by spreading awareness and encouraging donors to check their eligibility on Giving Tuesday. On your campaign page and in your other marketing materials, share a brief description of matching gifts and how they work.
You can even arrange for a one-time matching gift partnership with a company that is drawn to your nonprofit’s cause and shares your values. They can agree to match all the donations you receive on Giving Tuesday while you boost their brand awareness by including their name and logo on your various Giving Tuesday marketing materials.
3. Fundraising eCards
Giving Tuesday is all about connecting as many people to your cause as possible within a short timeframe. By creating fundraising eCards, you can both collect donations to support your mission and encourage donors to help you spread the word by sending them to other people in their network.
Set up special Giving Tuesday eCards by:
Choosing a user-friendly eCard platform.
Creating eye-catching designs with your nonprofit’s colors and logo.
Uploading the eCards to your website or online store.
Even after Giving Tuesday is over, you can continue raising funds by coming up with new designs for birthday wishes, holiday greetings, event invitations, and more.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Loyal supporters are a great asset to your fundraising efforts! That’s why you should plan a peer-to-peer campaign to coincide with Giving Tuesday. By leveraging your supporters’ networks, you can reach even more donors. Plus, adding a competitive component to your campaign will motivate your fundraisers to reach their goals.
Just because supporters are asking for contributions doesn’t mean you don’t have a role to play. Ensure that your fundraisers are equipped with all the resources they need and don’t forget to welcome new donors to your organization’s family.
5. Walk-a-thon
Giving Tuesday falls after Thanksgiving, which means many of your supporters might love a chance to get active and work off that turkey—for a good cause, of course! Plan a walk-a-thon event in your local community to take place on the morning of Giving Tuesday.
Advertise your event as family-friendly so that supporters of all ages can attend. You can even give your walk a fun theme that relates to the season or your cause. Walkathons allow for plenty of creativity, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
6. Pledge Campaign
Giving Tuesday can provide a sense of urgency that inspires many people to take action and donate to your nonprofit. To maximize engagement with your campaign, consider accepting pledges. Those who can’t give now can simply pledge to donate a certain amount at a later time.
Following Giving Tuesday, be sure to send timely reminders to fulfill pledges. Reach out through each donor’s preferred communication method to ensure that they don’t miss your messages. Provide an update on the impact of all the funds you’ve managed to raise so far and highlight what you can continue to accomplish with pledged funds.
7. Recurring Giving
Your nonprofit should plan to keep its donors engaged long after Giving Tuesday is over. By launching and promoting a recurring giving program, you can make it easy for them to contribute regularly to your mission.
Your Giving Tuesday donation page should make it easy to opt into recurring gifts. Be sure to specify what certain gift amounts—such as monthly donations of $10, $25, and $50—will help you achieve, so donors can better visualize their impact. Once they’ve joined, your recurring donors should be able to change their giving frequency, update their payment method, and opt out at any time.
8. Silent Auction
The excitement of Giving Tuesday pairs well with a silent auction. Not only will donors be motivated to support your cause, but they’ll also jump at the chance to receive an awesome gift.
Silent auctions require a lot of planning, including procuring unique or rare items and experiences as well as recruiting volunteers to assist donors with checking in and placing bids. If you’re interested in organizing one, you’ll need to prepare well in advance.
9. T-Shirt Fundraising
T-shirts are universal, so they’re the perfect fundraising product for your Giving Tuesday efforts. Find an online retailer that lets you design professional-quality t-shirts in a variety of styles. Don’t forget to include your nonprofit’s logo or name on your shirts!
If you sell your shirts ahead of Giving Tuesday, encourage supporters to snap a picture of them wearing their beautiful new tees and post it using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. Their online promotion will get the word out about your organization and might even inspire their followers to buy a shirt too.
10. Branded Merchandise Sales
There’s no better motivator than receiving a cool, useful product from your favorite nonprofit. To boost your Giving Tuesday, you can sell branded merchandise. This is a great way to promote your cause after the giving day because every time your donors wear your products, they’ll be marketing your organization to everyone who sees them.
To sell branded merchandise, you’ll need to find a wholesale provider where you can design and purchase your items in bulk. You can sell your merchandise at your Giving Tuesday event or on your nonprofit’s website.
11. Text-to-Give
Many organizations already use text-to-give as a means to accept donations for Giving Tuesday—and for good reason! Text giving is a convenient way for donors to give because they can do it anytime they have their phones handy.
Look for a text-to-give provider that is secure and makes donating easy for your supporters.
12. Facebook Fundraiser
Facebook is the world’s most popular social media platform, with over three billion active users around the world. Because of this, it can be a highly effective tool for both building excitement for Giving Tuesday and raising funds on the day itself.
By signing up for Facebook’s fundraising tools, your nonprofit can launch fundraisers directly on the platform itself, accept tax-deductible donations, and track metrics such as the number of donations you’ve earned over a certain period of time. Plus, anyone on Facebook can create their own fundraiser on behalf of your nonprofit. You can use Messenger to share tips and templates with these dedicated supporters to boost their success on Giving Tuesday.
13. In-Kind Donations
Some people may not have the means to make a substantial monetary gift to your nonprofit on Giving Tuesday. However, there are many other ways they can contribute to your mission, such as through in-kind donations.
Leading up to Giving Tuesday, make a list of any items or services that might be useful to your nonprofit. Then, share it on your website and other communication platforms. For example, an animal rescue might ask for donations of pet beds, treats, toys, and cleaning supplies. Or, it might benefit from a graphic designer’s pro bono services to create compelling marketing materials for Giving Tuesday and the year-end fundraising season.
14. Volunteer Grants
Volunteers already commit their time, skills, and energy to your organizations, but there’s a way to deepen their impact even further. Many companies, in addition to matching gifts, have a volunteer grant program through which they donate to the nonprofits their employees regularly volunteer with.
80% of these companies give between $8-$15 per hour volunteered. However, it’s important to note that some programs have a minimum number of hours that an employee has to volunteer before they qualify for a volunteer grant. While it might not be feasible to ask your supporters to fulfill all of these hours on Giving Tuesday, use this opportunity to remind long-time volunteers to check their eligibility and recruit new volunteers who want to make more of an impact.
15. Balloon Raffle
All you need for a balloon raffle are balloons, raffle tickets, and a prize for the winner. Supporters can pay $1 to pop a balloon and receive a ticket. Near the end of your event, you can announce the winner.
Generally, balloon raffles are effective when combined with other fundraising events like a family fun day, ice cream social, or fundraising picnic when you have a lot of supporters in one location. If you plan on hosting an event on Giving Tuesday, consider organizing a balloon raffle to raise even more funds.
16. Restaurant Partnership
Who doesn’t love good food? And supporting a good cause while having a good meal makes everyone happy! That’s why partnering with a local restaurant is a great way to supercharge your fundraising on Giving Tuesday.
Here’s how it works: ask a local restaurant, coffee shop, or bar to donate a percentage of the night’s funds to your cause. In return, you’ll promote the business and encourage donors to come dine there. Not only will donors enjoy a great meal, but they’ll also leave happy, knowing that they supported a good cause.
17. Family Fun Day
Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity to bring your supporters together to raise money and awareness for your cause with a family-friendly event. A family fun day is an event that involves games and activities that the whole family can enjoy!
Charge an admission fee to enter the festivities and sell concessions to raise money. Remember to schedule some time during the event to let donors know why you’re raising funds.
18. Karaoke Night
Who can resist a night filled with fun and singing? Karaoke is an event that lets everyone—no matter what age—join in on the fun. For your event, you’ll need karaoke equipment, but before you go out and buy your own, see if you can rent what you need.
Host your karaoke event at night on Giving Tuesday to help you finish the day off strong. And remember, during the event, let people know why you’re raising funds and thank them for their support.
19. Viral Video Challenge
Over 17 million people uploaded a video for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, making it a prime example of how you can raise money with a fun interactive video. Before Giving Tuesday, you can create your own video challenge and ask supporters to donate and upload a video of themselves completing your challenge.
People will be curious to see where the video originated from and you’ll raise a ton of money for your cause on Giving Tuesday.
20. Ink Your Supporters
A fun way to raise awareness for your cause? Give your donors temporary tattoos with your organization’s logo! When a supporter contributes, they can take a photo with the tattoo and post it to their social media accounts with #GivingTuesday.
When other people see the posts, they’ll be curious to learn more about your crowdfunding campaign and donate to your cause.
21. Themed Party
Giving Tuesday primarily lives online, but you can bring the fun to the real world by hosting a themed fundraising event. Make your theme relevant to your nonprofit’s cause. For example, if you’re an animal rights organization, encourage guests to bring their furry friends. If you’re a food bank, cater your event with health-conscious (and yummy!) dishes prepared by your staff.
No matter what theme you go with, make sure to include a photo booth at your event so that guests can commemorate their Giving Tuesday fun and share their experience with friends online.
22. Virtual Tour
Your nonprofit’s supporters may be located all over the country or even the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t provide them with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your everyday impact. Consider live-streaming a virtual tour of your facilities on Giving Tuesday, complete with interviews with your staff members and beneficiaries.
During the tour, keep participants engaged by sharing polls, providing a live chat option, and answering any questions they may have. In addition to charging a registration fee for the tour, you can encourage more support by providing a donation link that’s easy to access at all times. Once the tour is over, you can upload it onto your website for those who weren’t able to attend during that specific time.
23. Charity Concert
At the end of the day, remember that Giving Tuesday is a celebration. Bring your nonprofit’s community together for a night of musical entertainment by hosting a charity concert. Plan ahead by choosing a suitable venue and reaching out to local artists who may be willing to perform for free or for a reduced price. You can even seek out corporate sponsors who could cover some of your event’s costs.
Encourage people to purchase tickets to your Giving Tuesday concert by setting up an easy registration page and offering early bird discounts. Consider providing a virtual, live-streamed option for people who won’t be able to attend in person.
24. Trivia Night
Hosting a trivia night is a Giving Tuesday fundraising idea that’s bound to attract supporters who love a little friendly competition. You can either poll potential attendees to decide on a theme or come up with questions related to your cause. For example, a nonprofit that’s dedicated to marine conservation might plan a “Sea Life” trivia night for Giving Tuesday.
Ask participants to pay an entry fee to sign up as an individual or a team. Consider conducting it all online so more people can get involved and come up with some prize ideas—such as gift cards or branded t-shirts—to encourage competitors to do their best.
Giving Tuesday Tips to Boost Engagement
Now that you have an assortment of compelling Giving Tuesday ideas at your fingertips, keep the following tips in mind to maximize your results:
1. Use compelling visuals.
To stand out on Giving Tuesday, you need to make your fundraising page and marketing materials pop. Incorporate eye-catching visuals that will attract donors’ attention and help them develop emotional ties to your cause. For example, consider sharing:
Before-and-after images that illustrate your nonprofit’s impact.
Infographics with statistics related to your cause.
Behind-the-scenes videos of your daily work.
Snapshots of your staff, beneficiaries, or volunteers.
Before sharing any names or pictures of people, be sure to obtain their permission first. By respecting their comfort levels and preferences, you can deepen your nonprofit’s relationships with them over time.
2. Tell engaging stories.
A concise, captivating, and error-free message can do more than just tell donors about your cause. Telling a story gives you the chance to share the impact that your donors’ support will have. For instance, consider sharing:
A day in the life of a staff member.
An individual beneficiary’s success story.
A key volunteer’s contributions and why they got involved.
When people have a better understanding of your cause and why it’s important, they’ll be more likely to contribute to your Giving Tuesday campaign.
3. Include attention-grabbing calls to action.
In all of your Giving Tuesday communications, make it clear exactly how people can support your nonprofit. Include a clear, attention-grabbing call to action (CTA) on your social media posts, email newsletters, and website pages. Encourage more people to click through by:
Keeping them short and straightforward.
Making them stand out visually.
Adding words like “Make a Difference Today” or “Get Involved Now” to add urgency.
While you might want people to learn more about your mission, make a donation, and volunteer on Giving Tuesday, avoid including multiple CTAs in the same message so supporters always know exactly what next step you’d like them to take.
4. Share frequent Giving Tuesday updates.
Throughout the day, keep donors informed about your fundraising progress. Let them know when you hit milestones, highlight key contributors, and emphasize what you’re trying to accomplish with the donations you earn. In doing so, you can keep them involved and encourage them to spread the word to their friends and family.
In each of your updates, use donor-centric language to make supporters feel like true partners in your nonprofit’s impact. For example, you might say something like: “Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we’re halfway to reaching our fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday! This is another huge win for our community, and we look forward to all the new vegetable beds we’ll be able to add to our community garden.”
5. Optimize your donation page.
To provide your donors with a streamlined giving experience on Giving Tuesday, take the time to optimize your donation page. Be sure to:
Incorporate your nonprofit’s logo and colors across the page.
Make the page mobile-responsive.
Add alternative text to images to improve accessibility.
Share suggested giving amounts.
Include a fundraising thermometer to build excitement.
You can even conduct A/B tests by testing two versions of your donation page, varying a single element such as images or suggested giving amounts, to make additional improvements to your giving process.
6. Provide various payment options.
Your nonprofit can secure even more gifts during Giving Tuesday by accepting a variety of payment options on your donation page. Donors have differing preferences when it comes to how they make purchases and transactions, so consider allowing payment methods such as:
Checks
Credit and debit cards
Venmo
Cryptocurrency
Donor-advised funds
According to The Giving Block, over $2 billion in cryptocurrency is estimated to have been donated as of January 2024. Staying on top of these trends and learning how to better appeal to your donors can position your nonprofit as a forward-thinking organization in its community.
7. Communicate through multiple channels.
When asking for donations on Giving Tuesday, don’t limit your appeals to just one or two platforms. Depending on their interests and habits, people have different preferences when it comes to how they would like to hear news about your nonprofit. Be sure to promote your Giving Tuesday campaign through:
Your website
Social media
Email
Direct Mail
You can even segment your donor database according to communication preference to enhance the effectiveness of the messages you send.
8. Encourage user-generated content.
Producing high-quality, consistent, and engaging marketing materials for Giving Tuesday takes a lot of effort. Fortunately, you don’t have to leave it all up to your nonprofit’s team. Boost your reach and engagement during Giving Tuesday by encouraging user-generated content from your supporters.
Consider creating a campaign-related hashtag specific to your nonprofit and asking your supporters to use it when posting content related to your mission. Then, host photo contests or invite people to share stories about their personal connections with your cause. Don’t forget to express your appreciation for these users by shouting them out on social media or even entering them into a raffle to win branded merchandise from your nonprofit.
9. Promote your advocacy activities.
With so much buzz and excitement surrounding Giving Tuesday, take the opportunity to call attention to your nonprofit’s advocacy efforts. Inform your supporters about policy issues related to your cause and encourage them to get involved by:
Signing a petition.
Attending a virtual rally.
Messaging legislators on social media.
Use metrics such as the number of petition signatures you collect to assess how many people are engaging in your advocacy activities throughout the day.
10. Seek influencer partnerships.
Influencers can shine a much larger spotlight on your nonprofit during Giving Tuesday. Of all the nonprofits surveyed by M+R, about half of them are working with influencers to expand their reach and visibility. To tap into more potential donors for your fundraising campaign through influencer partnerships, keep the following tips in mind:
Find influencers in spaces relevant to your nonprofit’s mission or cause.
Provide influencers with all the background information they need to know about your organization and your Giving Tuesday campaign.
Share compelling images and messaging templates for influencers to use.
To build partnerships that last beyond Giving Tuesday, remember to follow up and thank each influencer for lending their voice to your mission, both publicly and privately.
11. Express your appreciation.
Since Giving Tuesday takes place every year, this means your nonprofit has the chance to improve its fundraising and engagement results over time. To build on each year’s support, develop a thorough appreciation plan for everyone who contributes to your campaign. While 55% of U.S. donors prefer to be thanked for their gifts via email, this doesn’t mean you can’t vary your strategies. Consider:
Sending thank-you eCards.
Producing an appreciation video.
Spotlighting key donors on social media.
Hosting a dedicated appreciation event.
Creating a digital donor wall.
Additionally, you can send out surveys to your donors and volunteers to collect feedback on their Giving Tuesday experience with your nonprofit. Based on their input, you can adjust your approach for even better results next year.
Wrapping Up: Making the Most of Your Giving Tuesday Ideas
Giving Tuesday is one day that can make a lasting impact on your nonprofit and those you serve. After each campaign, regroup with your team and assess your performance. Note your total amount raised, average donation size, donor retention rate, and other relevant metrics to serve as a benchmark for your future fundraising efforts.
With a mindset for improvement and the right fundraising tools at your side, you’ll be well on your way to planning a Giving Tuesday campaign that your supporters can’t wait to get involved in.
For more tips and best practices to hone your fundraising strategy year-round, check out these additional resources:
