Technological advances and changing times have made it necessary for nonprofits and organizations everywhere to develop dynamic online fundraising strategies to find success. Online giving grew 21 percent in 2020, and it continues to grow substantially year after year. 

In addition to its convenience and low cost, online fundraising is ideal for organizations and nonprofits who are looking to easily expand their reach. And with the ups and downs of the pandemic, online fundraising has the additional benefit of keeping your supporters safe while they stay engaged with fundraising. If you’re struggling to grow your online fundraising strategy, here are a few online fundraising ideas you can implement. 

Online fundraising campaigns 

Organizing a simple online campaign can help you raise a significant amount of money for your organization. With an online donation form, your supporters can go to your website and give money whenever they feel like it. If you want to mix things up and drive even more donations, run a creative campaign. For example, on your organization’s anniversary, set up an online donation form where donors can donate specific amounts based on significant dates related to your nonprofit, such as the anniversary of your organization’s founding. You can also set up an online donation form for giving days like Giving Tuesday or smaller initiatives, as well as for emergency fundraisers when your community is facing hardships. 

Virtual and hybrid events 

Just because you’re fundraising online doesn’t mean you can’t host your favorite fundraising events! Take your most anticipated fundraising events of the year online in a virtual or hybrid event format. Not only does making your event virtual help you to expand your nonprofit’s reach, but you’ll also make participation far more convenient for your supporters. From cooking classes to movie viewing parties, organizing a virtual event can be as simple as setting up a livestream where all your supporters can tune in. 

Peer-to-peer events are a great option for virtual events. If you can’t gather all of your supporters together for a 5K or walk-a-thon, have people participate by running or walking in their neighborhoods or local parks and uploading pictures and their running or walking statistics on social media or their personal fundraising pages. 

If your organization loves hosting auctions, it’s easy to make them virtual events. With the right auction software, you can set up a dynamic auction website where your supporters can bid on items on their smartphones or computers from anywhere in the world. Make sure you show off your items with pictures and videos on your social media channels and website in the weeks leading up to your event to drum up excitement. Organize some programming, set up a livestream to provide some entertainment throughout the night, and let the bidding commence! 

Email marketing campaigns 

One of the best ways to reach your supporters is through a message in their email inbox. With an email marketing campaign, you’ll see a much higher return on investment than with any other marketing channel. Organizations see about a 40 dollar return for every one dollar spent on email marketing. 

The most effective way to execute an email marketing campaign is by using donor data to target specific donor segments with different tailored messages. If your donor base is receiving tons of emails that don’t seem relevant to them, they’re more likely to unsubscribe from your email communications. Segment your donors by using information like demographic data, interaction history, and past donations. You may end up with a lot of segmentation, but that’s okay! When you get specific, you’ll likely find more fundraising success. 

Social media campaigns 

Social media has made it easier than ever for nonprofits to raise awareness and money for their missions with proven results. In 2020, social media posts were the #1 drivers of charitable giving. The power that social media has to make raising money easier is so great that many social media platforms have launched their own fundraising tools to make it easy to donate without having to interrupt your scrolling. You’ll have to get a little creative to raise money on social media, but the opportunities are endless. 

With social media challenges, you can get your donors engaged and expand your reach by having them tag their network in to participate as well. A great example of a successful social media challenge is City Year Philadelphia’s Red Jacket Challenge. To raise awareness and bring in donations for their cause, they asked their supporters to wear City Year t-shirts or anything red and post photos to their social media accounts with a predetermined hashtag. 



As online fundraising continues to rise in popularity, you’ll find that there’s virtually no end to the ways you can creatively raise money online. With these ideas in your back pocket, you can plan a variety of dynamic and engaging online fundraising campaigns to support your mission. 

Looking for more resources to add to your online fundraising toolbox? Check out these links. 

• 65+ Fundraising Ideas That Will Rock Your Next Campaign 
• Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Busy Person’s Guide to Crushing 2021 Goals  
• Online Fundraising Platforms: 12 Questions Before You Buy  
  

About the Author

Tiara Stephan

Tiara is a writer by trade and a passionate supporter of nonprofits by nature. When she's not typing away at her keyboard for hours, you can find her dancing (if you can call it that) at concerts, drinking copious amounts of English Breakfast Tea, and daydreaming about traveling the world.