Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits: Resources to Help Your Cause

Fundraising is the lifeblood of nonprofits — without it, missions stall, programs shrink, and communities lose vital support. Yet, 47% of nonprofit leaders cited donor acquisition as their biggest challenge in the 2024 Nonprofit Leadership Impact Study. The good news? Creative fundraising ideas for nonprofits can transform a struggling organization into a thriving one. With the right strategies and resources, everyone from seasoned nonprofit leaders to passionate volunteers can help their causes succeed.

Why Fundraising Matters for Nonprofits

Fundraising isn’t just about money — it’s about impact. It fuels programs, supports staff, and enables nonprofits to respond to community needs. A single successful campaign can build a school, fund life-saving research, or provide meals for thousands.

For example, Wayside Waifs, a local no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City, MO, raised almost $189,000 with their 2024 Strut with Your Mutt event. Stories such as these highlight the power of effective fundraising.

Yet, every year many nonprofits struggle to meet their fundraising goals. The key to overcoming this challenge? Creativity, strategy, and the right resources.

Insights into Fundraising Challenges and Opportunities

How can nonprofits identify which fundraising strategies work best? This is where analyzing trends and data can be immensely valuable. Understanding current fundraising challenges and opportunities can help nonprofits make informed decisions and tailor their approach for better results.

The 2024 Fundraising Outlook Report by OneCause provides useful insights into the current state of nonprofit fundraising. Consider the following:

• Donor Retention Challenges: Nonprofits retained just 42% of donors from 2022 to 2023, highlighting the need for stronger donor engagement strategies.
• Event Fundraising Growth: 68% of nonprofits reported that events are their most effective fundraising strategy, with hybrid events (in-person and virtual) seeing the highest success rates.
• Digital Donations on the Rise: Online giving grew by 9% in 2023, with 35% of donors preferring to give through digital platforms.
• Recurring Giving Growth: Monthly giving programs increased by 11% in 2023, showing the promise of building sustainable revenue streams.
• Donor Fatigue Concerns: 57% of nonprofits expressed concerns about donor fatigue, emphasizing the need for creative and diversified fundraising approaches.
• Impact of Storytelling: Nonprofits that shared impact stories saw a 20% increase in donor retention and a 15% increase in average gift size.

These insights underscore the importance of adapting to donor preferences and learning how technology can boost a nonprofit’s ability to compete in the fundraising landscape.

Traditional Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits

Traditional fundraising methods often prove effective, especially when appropriately tailored to the targeted audience. Tried and true ideas include:

Direct Mail Campaigns

Personalized letters, postcards, and brochures can resonate with many potential donors. A well-crafted appeal through a direct mail campaign can inspire supporters to give generously. For example, a 2025 report on direct mail shows that these campaigns boast a 4.9% response rate for prospect lists and 9% for house lists, far exceeding email marketing’s average response rate of 1%.

Compelling direct mail campaigns focus on storytelling, personalization, and clear calls to action.

Grant Writing

Publicly or privately funded grants can provide substantial support for specific programs or general operations, often with fewer restrictions than other forms of fundraising. However, the grant application process can be competitive and time-consuming. Successful grant applications require thorough research, clear articulation of the organization’s mission, and detailed project plans that demonstrate measurable outcomes.

To increase the chances of success, nonprofits can use resources such as Candid’s grant-writing guide, which provides insights into finding the right grant opportunities and tips for writing persuasive proposals.

Charity Auctions

Charity auctions are a powerful way to engage donors and generate substantial funds in a single event. Whether it’s a silent, live, or online auction, these events appeal to a broad range of supporters. Organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of America frequently use auctions to fundraise, offering items like signed memorabilia and exclusive experiences that draw high levels of interest.

The key to a successful auction is securing exciting, unique items that inspire competitive bidding. Nonprofits can collaborate with local businesses to offer one-of-a-kind experiences, such as private dinners with renowned chefs or behind-the-scenes tours of popular venues, making the auction even more appealing to attendees.

Corporate Sponsorship

Corporate sponsorships offer nonprofits another opportunity to secure funding. Companies are often eager to partner with nonprofits that align with their values, as these partnerships give businesses positive visibility and demonstrate corporate social responsibility.

Nonprofits can approach potential corporate sponsors by highlighting how a partnership can benefit both parties. This could include suggesting co-branded marketing campaigns, sponsored events that showcase the corporation, or even employee volunteer opportunities.

The home-building nonprofit Habitat for Humanity frequently partners with Lowe’s, for example, where the company provides both financial support and hands-on assistance in house construction.

To maximize the chances of securing corporate sponsorships, nonprofits can research companies that share similar goals and missions, and tailor their proposals to the company’s priorities.

Partnering with Local Businesses

Nonprofits can strengthen their community ties and raise funds by partnering with local businesses. These partnerships often take the form of sponsorships, in-kind donations, or collaborative fundraising events.

For example, a nonprofit might work with a local restaurant to host a “dine and donate” night where a portion of the evening’s sales goes to the nonprofit. Alternatively, local businesses may donate products and services for auctions or raffles.

These collaborations not only raise money but also enhance the nonprofit’s visibility in the community, attracting new donors and supporters.

Digital Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits

Online strategies have become key to nonprofit fundraising efforts. These methods help organizations reach broader audiences and engage donors who might not attend physical events.

Social Media Campaigns

Social media campaigns are useful tools for nonprofits in their fundraising efforts. They allow organizations to share stories, videos, and testimonials that emotionally connect with potential donors.

One of the most successful social media-driven events is #GivingTuesday, a global movement that encourages people to give back on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. In 2024, the campaign raised a record-breaking $3.6 billion worldwide.

Nonprofits can capitalize on global movements like this by using relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience. To boost engagement, nonprofits can focus on sharing behind-the-scenes content, success stories, and impact-driven posts that illustrate the difference donors can make.

Donation Apps

With more donors looking for convenience, nonprofits can increase contributions by using mobile-friendly donation platforms. Tools such as PayPal Giving Fund and Donorbox allow donors to give easily through secure methods, whether they are making a one-time donation or signing up for a recurring gift.

These apps also integrate well with nonprofit websites, allowing for a seamless donation experience across multiple devices. Offering diverse ways to give ensures nonprofits can cater to the preferences of their supporters, further expanding fundraising reach.

Crowdfunding

Another powerful digital fundraising method is crowdfunding, where nonprofits rally support for specific causes or projects through platforms such as GoFundMe and Kickstarter. These campaigns tap into the power of peer-to-peer fundraising and can expand a nonprofit’s reach, with supporters spreading the word about nonprofits across their networks.

Successful crowdfunding campaigns often feature compelling stories, clear financial goals, and regular updates, allowing donors to feel more connected to the cause. The viral nature of crowdfunding can result in widespread visibility and increased donations.

Text-to-Give Campaigns

Text-to-give is a simple yet highly effective fundraising method that allows donors to give with just a few taps on their phones. By sending out mass texts with a dedicated number or link through one of many text-to-give platforms, nonprofits make it easy for supporters to donate at the moment.

Virtual Fundraising Events

From virtual galas to live-streamed auctions to fitness challenges, virtual fundraising has gained popularity and proved successful as well. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for example, raised $14 million through their virtual St. Jude Walk/Run in 2022

Nonprofits can use tools such as Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube to host interactive events, with features such as live donation tracking and real-time chats that help create a sense of community. Hybrid events that combine in-person and virtual elements are also growing in popularity and allow nonprofits to reach even larger audiences.

Resources for Nonprofit Fundraising

To elevate fundraising efforts, organizations can tap into these trusted resources:

• NonProfit PRO delivers actionable insights on fundraising, management, and strategy through its platform, which also includes a daily newsletter, podcasts, and webinars on industry trends and best practices.
• Candid Learning offers free courses, guides, and templates on fundraising strategies, grant writing, and nonprofit management.
• Bonterra Fundraising Essentials provides tools for online fundraising, donor management, and email marketing.
• Classy, a platform from GoFundMe for peer-to-peer and event fundraising, also offers an “Inspiration Hub” with real-world campaign examples and research on donation trends.
• The Fundraising Authority features articles, guides, and step-by-step strategies for nonprofit fundraising.
• Google Ad Grants provides free advertising for nonprofits to promote their campaigns.
• The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is a leading source of data and research on the nonprofit sector.
• Nonprofit Tech for Good offers insights on digital fundraising, social media strategies, and nonprofit technology trends.
• Bloomerang is a donor management platform with free resources on donor retention.
• CauseVox provides guides, templates, and case studies for crowdfunding and peer-to-peer campaigns.
• The Nonprofit Sector in the United States: A Resource Guide is a list of recommended books on fundraising and grant writing compiled by the Library of Congress.
• GrantWatch provides a directory that helps nonprofits find grants that match their mission.
• Candid’s Foundation Directory offers tools and databases for researching and applying for nonprofit grants.

Make a Lasting Impact with Fundraising that Works

Fundraising is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and have an abiding impact. From traditional methods such as charity auctions to innovative approaches like virtual reality fundraisers, there’s no shortage of fundraising ideas for nonprofits.

With creativity, technology, and community spirit, nonprofits can overcome their funding challenges and raise the money needed to realize their missions.