5 examples of digital fundraising campaigns to get you inspired

So you're not a tech genius because you don't devour software bugs at breakfast or dream about HTML coding. That doesn't mean you can't create a fantastic online fundraising campaign for your organization.

Running an internet fundraiser campaign may appear to be difficult, but it does not have to be. You can simply put up a successful fundraising campaign with the correct approach and resources, saving yourself hassles (as well as time and money) in the process.

What is online fundraising?

Online fundraising allows nonprofit groups to obtain cash and support over the Internet. Approximately 85 percent of Americans own a smartphone with an Internet connection. Virtual fundraising is the most efficient and successful approach for NGOs to directly connect and engage their target audiences today, with so many people spending so much time online. Online fundraising, with the correct tools and methods, enables contributors to easily locate and securely contribute to the causes that are most important to them.

5 digital fundraising campaigns to get you inspired

Now that you're up to speed, let's look at some of the best online fundraising concepts. Because online fundraising is intrinsically reliant on technology, after all, you're fundraising online critical it's to select the appropriate idea, as well as the correct tools.

1. Custom form

Every effective online fundraising approach begins with a digital donation form that includes personalized fields and an appealing design. These features enable your nonprofit to increase engagement so that supporters are inspired to give and exchange useful information.

You may design your online donation form to reflect your brand and achieve your goals with the correct virtual fundraising tools.

Encourage large donations and long-term support by including suggested donation quantities and a recurring, monthly gift option.

Custom fields for additional information, such as a phone number or mailing address, are used to collect key data.

Change the font to match the typeface on other pages of your website to provide a consistent brand experience.

When a contributor clicks the submit button, redirect them to a personalized thank-you page and send them an automatic, personalized email. Give contributors the option of covering the modest processing charge so that all proceeds go to your charity.

Accept credit card and ACH (bank transfer) payments, among others, using secure payment processing. Insert your form into your online fundraising platform. If supporters are redirected to a third-party website, they may not trust it and will frequently cancel their gift.

Finally, we advocate an all-in-one solution that allows you to execute all of the aforementioned duties for the best outcomes in any online fundraising effort. Every effective online fundraising campaign begins with a simple donation form.

2. Peer-to-peer fundraising

Speaking of peer-to-peer fundraising, it's one of our favorite and most successful online fundraising tactics.

A nonprofit organization uses peer-to-peer fundraising to ask its supporters to fundraise on its behalf. Because it uses the power of social proof, it is one of the most effective virtual fundraising strategies.

But what exactly is social proof? In a nutshell, social proof is the premise that people change their behavior to replicate what others are doing. People who are unfamiliar with your organization will feel compelled to donate to your cause if they witness their peers doing so.

You've probably come across one of these campaigns. Peer-to-peer campaigning is used by a variety of mission-based groups, and yours can, too!

To help you get started, here's a step-by-step guide to establishing a campaign:

Step 1: Establish your campaign's overall fundraising target.

Step 2: Create the main page for your peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.

Step 3: Recruit passionate volunteer fundraisers to develop their unique campaign pages.

Step 4: Train your online fundraising team on how to administer their campaign pages efficiently.

Step 5: Keep track of and report on donations from each campaign.

Peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives have the potential to significantly extend your donor network and bring in more donations without incurring additional costs. Your organization can continue to communicate its story, but your fundraisers can also share their connections, which can emphasize the importance of your work and enhance the amount of money you get.

3. Online giving days

Giving days are ideal for getting traction and raising awareness for your cause. Simply explained, giving days are time-based fundraising challenges that aim to raise a specified amount of money in 24 hours. Because these initiatives leverage the power of social sharing, they are more likely to gain traction when planned alongside a peer-to-peer or crowdfunding effort.

You've probably come across one of these internet initiatives at some point, most notably #GivingTuesday. While this virtual giving day is held on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving each year, a second day, #GivingTuesdayNow, was formed to fight the harmful impacts of COVID-19 on the nonprofit sector.

Taking occurred in May 2020, the PayPal community raised over $65 million on #GivingTuesdayNow, which was an incredible 43 percent greater than the previous 7 days before it, demonstrating that it produced a surge in donating despite the epidemic.

Given the impact that this innovative internet fundraising strategy may have, it's evident that time-based campaigns are extremely effective for nonprofit fundraising. As you prepare for your online giving day, keep the following suggestions in mind:

• For prospects to appreciate the long-term value of supporting your mission, emphasize your organization's durability.

• In every marketing outreach activity, direct consumers to your optimized donation website so that supporters aren't forced to find it on their own.

• Highlight ways for people to participate, such as signing up for your newsletter or promoting your online campaign on social media.

• Incorporate appealing photographs and videos that highlight the value of your goal and touch the hearts of your donors.

Overall, the accelerated schedule instills a sense of urgency in supporters, encouraging them to act quickly so that they do not lose out on the opportunity. An online giving day is bound to raise some funds for your mission as long as your online donation page is ready to go!

4. Mobile responsive giving

A mobile-responsive page is meant to look and function well on all devices by automatically changing the screen size on which it is viewed.

Some of the benefits of mobile-responsive gifting include:

• Increasing the number of donations. Don't be concerned about donors leaving the page due to bad formatting or incomprehensible text.

• Donations can be made from any device. Your donors will be able to quickly navigate the page and make a donation from any device when you use fully-responsive donation forms.

• You may access your dashboard from any device. Donors aren't the only ones that benefit from mobile responsiveness. You can view your administration dashboards on mobile devices with a mobile-responsive platform. As a result, you will be able to manage your campaign while on the road!

Every day, an increasing number of donors use their mobile devices to access your donation pages. As a result, because mobile devices account for 51% of all nonprofit website traffic, you must incorporate mobile responsiveness into your contribution sites.

Prospects will struggle to connect with your form if it is not responsive, making the process more onerous and increasing the probability that they may abandon their donations. Make sure contributors can contribute whenever inspiration strikes, no matter what device they're using.

5. Text messaging

How often do you observe individuals checking their smartphones, even if only for a few seconds? How frequently do you check yours? Phone use has become ingrained in our daily lives. Cell phones are now owned by 97 percent of Americans. Text messaging is one of the most effective and immediate ways to reach your contributors because phones are virtually always in our pockets.

You can do the following with the right text messaging tools:

• To collect donations, customize text codes and answers. Send your donors a text message with a personalized link to your donation page, where they may donate directly to your cause.

• Combine SMS messages with internet campaigns.

• Consider combining your text messaging platform into a virtual campaign to make donations more convenient.

• Increase involvement in peer-to-peer fundraising. Instruct your constituents on how to easily construct their internet fundraising pages. Send them directly to the sign-up page via text messaging to offer a streamlined experience.

Text messaging is an excellent way to contact donors, and when used properly, it may help you get the most out of your online fundraising expenditures. The possibilities are endless!

Wrapping up

Following these virtual fundraising ideas, and recommendations can assist in propelling your online fundraising efforts forward and solidifying your cash stream for long-term financial viability.

Furthermore, you will not only make things easy for your donors but also for your employees. As you make decisions, such as selecting a campaign or creating a style guide, solicit feedback from stakeholders throughout your business. They'll be your best resource for determining what works and what doesn't.

We built and support a powerful, easy, and practical online fundraising platform that is free for nonprofits and intuitively easy to use for donors.