Fundraising Advice & Strategies | Givergy Blog Page 8

Examples of Nonprofit Fundraising Events + Best Practices

Posted on July 31, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Imagine a local literacy nonprofit struggling to fund its after-school programs. Grant applications are drying up, and the board is hesitant about dipping further into reserves. But instead of scaling back, the staff organizes a community “Books & Brews” night at a neighborhood brewery. They invite a local author, host a book raffle to generate more revenue, line up book-themed trivia, and sell personalized bookmarks made by the kids they serve.

The result? A packed house, new monthly donors, strengthened connections between supporters and the kids they serve, and enough raised to fund their programs for the next quarter.

Nonprofit fundraising events do more than fill temporary budget needs—they energize your base, elevate your mission, and create touchpoints that turn one-time donors into loyal advocates. In this guide, we’ll explore leading event ideas, tips for planning and executing them, and how you can replicate their impact for your own cause.

FAQs About Nonprofit Event Planning

What’s the best time of year to host a nonprofit event? Spring and fall are typically ideal for in-person events due to favorable weather and fewer conflicts with major holidays. However, timing should also align with your donor base’s availability and the nature of your event.
How much lead time should you plan for? For large events like galas or tournaments, begin fundraising event planning 6-12 months in advance. Smaller events may need 3-4 months of preparation. Always include buffer time for promotion and vendor coordination.
How do you know if your event was successful? Measure success by assessing a combination of financial, attendance, engagement (e.g., social shares or post-event surveys), and donor retention metrics following the event.
What’s the average cost to host an event? Costs vary widely by event type. Galas may cost tens of thousands, while digital events can be executed for under $1,000. Create a detailed budget that includes venue, marketing, food, software, and staff time.
What’s a hybrid event, and should I consider one? A hybrid event blends in-person and digital fundraising experiences. This format can expand your reach, improve accessibility, and mitigate risks tied to weather or illness-related cancellations. Many of these fundraising events are in-person but can be paired with digital components to maximize participation and fundraising success!

Best for Major Gift Fundraising: Gala Dinners

Gala dinners remain a staple for nonprofits across different niches, sizes, and sectors. Successful galas often combine formal dining with emotional storytelling and recognition of major donors. A well-executed gala elevates an organization’s brand and can become a yearly landmark event.

Pro-Tips for Making Your Gala Unforgettable:

Use a professional emcee or local celebrity. Their presence adds credibility and keeps the program engaging and on schedule.
Consider working with a professional. For more involved events like these, Orr Group suggests working with a fundraising event professional who can provide guidance on best practices and handle fundraising and production logistics to take the heavy lifting off your plate.
Segment invites to focus on major and recurring donors. Tailored messaging helps demonstrate appreciation and reinforces donor value.
Offer a matching challenge during the “fund-a-need” portion. This strategy can create urgency and significantly boost donor participation rates.

Best for Engaging Corporate Sponsors: Charity Golf Tournament

Charity golf tournaments combine relaxed socializing with competitive fun, making them ideal for cultivating relationships with mid-level and major donors. Since golfers tend to have a higher net worth than the average person, golf tournaments offer many opportunities to connect with affluent donors. Not only does this help individual fundraising outcomes, but it can also attract sponsors who want to make connections with lucrative potential clients.

Pro-tips for Making Your Charity Golf Tournament a Hole-in-One:

Offer tiered sponsorship packages for local businesses. Every business has different budgets for sponsorships, so offer a wide variety. Diverse sponsorship levels encourage broader participation and can help you build connections, especially with beloved local businesses.
Choose an entertaining theme. A themed event helps you stand out from other organizations and appeal to different audiences. Be creative when choosing themes while keeping your audience in mind—for instance, a tournament with a kiddie round would only work well for family-friendly events.
Plan extra side activities, like hole-in-one contests. Add-ons create additional revenue opportunities and keep attendees engaged throughout the event.
Provide golf-related swag bags and thank-you gifts to enhance the experience. According to GolfStatus’ guide to golf tournament gift ideas, themed swag can boost goodwill and leave a lasting impression.

Best for Extended Engagement: Long-Term Themed Campaigns

Not every event needs to be one-and-done. Themed fundraising campaigns (such as a “30 Days of Giving” or “Summer of Service”) that last multiple days or weeks can keep donors engaged longer and create multiple touchpoints, ultimately strengthening their investment in your cause.

Pro-tips for Running a Long-Term Campaign That Sticks:

Use email, SMS, and social media for cross-channel promotion. Coordinated messaging across platforms ensures consistent branding and broader reach.
Highlight different stories or sub-causes daily. This variety keeps content fresh and offers supporters multiple reasons to stay involved.
Add a gamification layer to the campaign. You’ll need to take extra steps to maintain momentum throughout a longer campaign. Friendly competition can keep donors engaged and motivate them to give more or more often. For instance, you might offer a donor leaderboards or goal thermometers that update in real time.

Best for Budget-Friendly Fundraising: Digital Events

Fundraising success isn’t limited to ballrooms and golf courses. Virtual events—from livestream telethons to online trivia nights—have become essential tools for nonprofits looking to reach wider audiences and lower logistical barriers. These digital gatherings also give organizations a chance to experiment with creative formats, whether it’s a virtual art auction or a panel of guest speakers sharing impact stories.

Pro-tips for Making Your Digital Event Feel Anything But Distant:

Evoke emotion whenever possible. It can be challenging to evoke emotions through a screen. Increase connection by hiring a high-energy host, highlighting pre-recorded mission marketing spots, and shouting out people you serve.
Open up a live chat or moderated Q&A. This interactive idea helps guests feel like they’re part of the action, not just watching from the sidelines.
Keep the momentum going post-event. After the event, repurpose your event content to secure easy wins for continued engagement. For example, slice up your footage into highlight reels and donor thank-you posts for social media.

Wrapping Up

Event-based fundraising remains vital for nonprofit visibility and revenue. As you start considering which events to offer, remember that each format offers lessons that any nonprofit can adopt. Regardless of the event theme, the most successful ones:

Align closely with the organization’s brand and audience
Use storytelling to resonate emotionally
Incorporate digital tools to improve efficiency and reach

By learning from standout event examples—whether digital, themed, or traditional—you can craft memorable experiences that resonate with donors and drive better fundraising outcomes for your mission.

Planning an Animal Charity Event: 4 Tips for Success

Posted on June 20, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

In 2024, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered animal shelters in the United States. The average time these animals spent in shelters before being adopted increased compared to previous years. This only worsens the overcrowding problem many shelters face, underscoring the need for more funding, increased volunteer support, and expanded facilities.

As a nonprofit professional in the animal welfare sector, you likely already leverage digital fundraising and communications to attract and engage supporters. But are you connecting with those supporters face-to-face, too? While planning fundraising events can be more resource-intensive on the front end, it enables you to connect with your community, get animals in your facility adopted, and cultivate loyal relationships.

This guide explores tips for organizing animal charity events and creating memorable in-person experiences from limited time and resources.

Set Clear Goals for the Event

Setting a clear goal forces you to focus all of your efforts toward one defined outcome rather than splitting your attention between several objectives. This way, you’re much more likely to achieve or make progress toward key priorities.

The first step to setting a goal is to define the broader purpose of the event. Is it to raise money, grow your digital presence, or bring awareness to your cause? Once you’ve identified this central purpose, set your goal using the SMART goal framework. In other words, your goal should be specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound.

For example, if you are planning a charity auction, your SMART goal might be to:

“Raise $10,000 through the auction event by procuring at least 50 auction items for bidding and attracting at least 200 attendees via online channels before the event date in 6 weeks.”

Use this goal to guide all of the following event-planning processes, including your marketing strategy. Shape your nonprofit marketing plan for the event around that central theme, confirming that each message and strategy brings you closer to the finish line.

Choose an Engaging Event Idea

To inspire supporters to attend the event, you’ll need to choose a unique fundraising idea, especially if you’re located in a saturated area like a large city. If you don’t have any ideas yet, pull inspiration from this mini list of fundraising event ideas:

Pet fashion show: Have pet owners dress up their pets in creative outfits for a chance to win prizes. Consider adding a special segment to highlight adoptable pets, having your emcee describe cute facts or stories about each animal.
Pet-friendly brewery crawl: Partner with local pet-friendly bars and breweries to coordinate the event, sell wristbands to attendees that they can use to get specialty drinks, and invite their pets to come along.
Four-legged 5K: Organize a traditional charity race with one small twist: pet owners can complete it with their four-legged companions!
Puppy or kitten yoga: Host a yoga class at your facility or partner with a local studio. During the session, allow adoptable puppies, kittens, or senior pets to roam around and sit or nap where they please.

If you feel drawn to more classic ideas, simply add a fun twist that will entice potential attendees to register. Let’s say you want to hold a raffle. You might promote fun raffle basket ideas designed for pet owners, like a Char-Cat-erie Basket, Puppy Parent Basket, or a Crazy Cat Lady Basket.

Offset Event Costs with Corporate Social Responsibility Programs

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company’s efforts to contribute to social good and improve society. Connecting with businesses that offer CSR programs allows your organization to secure much-needed financial and volunteer support.

As Double the Donation explains, there are three common CSR programs to look out for:

Corporate grants: Corporations offer monetary grants to nonprofits with shared values. Typically, the nonprofits must undergo an application process.
- How this could benefit your event: Use the grant to cover event expenses or scale up the event.
Volunteer grants: Companies provide grants to the organizations their employees regularly volunteer with based on verified volunteer hours.
- How this could benefit your event: Use grant funding to assist with event costs and spread awareness of these programs to encourage volunteer participation at the event.
Matching gifts: Companies match the donations their employees make to qualifying nonprofit organizations, typically at a 1:1 ratio. This can transform a $50 donation into $100 at no extra cost to the donor.
- How this could benefit your event: Educate supporters about matching gifts and provide instructions for submitting requests. They’ll be encouraged to donate knowing that their contribution could be doubled.

Many companies also offer corporate sponsorships in which they provide financial support, products, or services for events in exchange for brand exposure and marketing opportunities. So, you might feature the company’s logo on event signage and marketing materials in exchange for financial support.

In addition to financial and volunteer support, partnering with for-profit organizations can bring new perspectives and expertise to your organization. For example, maybe you partner with a dog daycare business, and, after discussing your struggles with capacity management, they recommend an effective kennel management tool.

Create a Strategic Marketing Campaign

Often, nonprofit event success is determined by the final fundraising revenue and attendance rate. But you can’t boost either of these metrics without a well-planned marketing strategy. Follow these steps from Gingr’s marketing guide to promote your event:

Define your niche and unique value proposition (UVP). Your nonprofit should already have defined each of these elements, and you’ll need to determine how to weave them into event promotions. Additionally, consider identifying your event’s UVP, or the thing that makes it stand out from other fundraisers.
Identify and research your audience. Conduct research to better understand your target audience. Dig into demographic data, pet ownership information, personal connections to your cause, and giving capacity and affinity.
Create campaign content. This is the creative phase of your campaign, during which you’ll draft marketing copy, gather photos and testimonials, and create custom graphics to promote the event.
Select marketing channels. Using insights from your audience research, determine the best channels to use to reach them.
Track results, iterate, and improve. Track performance metrics that align with your goals for the marketing campaign and event overall. Don’t just determine whether you met those goals—identify your most successful strategies and areas for improvement.

This process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance marketing tasks, event planning, and your nonprofit’s daily operations. Make sure you’re using marketing tools that can automate repetitive tasks and target specific audience segments with personalized messages to enhance your campaigns.

If your animal welfare organization is feeling overworked, overcrowded, or even burned out, hosting a fundraising event might feel out of reach. However, your nonprofit can plan successful, engaging events with limited time and resources. These events could be the beginning of new donor relationships, adoption journeys, and memories that your supporters will look back on fondly each time they think of your organization.

21 Silent Auction Basket Ideas That Actually Raise More

Posted on May 23, 2025September 18, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Silent auctions are one of the most effective and popular ways to raise funds at events of all kinds. When thoughtfully designed, they do more than generate revenue — they engage donors and create memorable experiences. The key is curating auction baskets that not only look appealing but also spark competition.

If you’re planning a gala, a school fundraiser, or a community event, these 21 silent auction basket ideas are designed to excite your audience and boost your bidding activity.

What Is a Silent Auction?

A silent auction is a type of fundraising event where guests place bids on items without the help of a live auctioneer. Bidders usually use mobile devices or paper sheets to submit their offers. The process is more relaxed, allowing guests to browse and bid throughout the evening. At the end of the auction, the highest bidder for each item wins. It’s a great way to build excitement and drive donations without disrupting the flow of your event.

What Makes a Great Silent Auction Basket?

The best auction baskets are those that are both appealing and accessible. They should offer clear value, be easy to understand at a glance, and feel like something bidders would be excited to win. Keep the following in mind:

Choose themes that tell a story or offer an experience.
Combine items to increase the overall value of each basket.
Think about your audience and what they’ll find exciting or useful.
Present each basket attractively to catch people’s attention.

Once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to get creative by trying out the following 21 silent auction basket ideas:

Wine & Cheese Night

Pair red and white wines with artisan cheeses, crackers, and wine glasses.

Self-Care Spa Day

Include bath salts, candles, face masks, and a voucher for a local massage or facial.

Family Game Night

Pack it with classic board games, popcorn, snacks, and a cosy blanket.

Date Night In

Add a takeaway gift card, wine, a movie voucher, and conversation starters.

Adventure Outdoors

Combine trail snacks, a reusable bottle, a local map, and an experience voucher.

Coffee Lover’s Basket

Feature premium beans, a French press or pour-over kit, and café vouchers.

Pet Pamper Pack

Fill it with toys, treats, grooming supplies, and a pet spa voucher.

Barbecue Essentials

Offer sauces, grilling tools, spice rubs, and a gift card to a local butcher.

Fitness & Wellness Kit

Include resistance bands, a yoga mat, water bottle, and fitness class passes.

Gourmet Food Hamper

Create a high-end pantry with oils, jams, pasta, and a luxury chocolate bar.

Weekend Getaway

Bundle a hotel stay or Airbnb voucher with travel-sized toiletries and local guides.

Cocktail Crafting Kit

Add spirits, mixers, a shaker, recipe cards, and glassware.

Bookworm Basket

Offer bestselling books, a bookshop gift card, bookmarks, and a soft throw.

Afternoon Tea at Home

Include a selection of teas, scones, jam, and teacups.

Kids’ Creative Corner

Fill it with paints, markers, colouring books, and simple DIY crafts.

Local Business Love

Showcase products from local makers, such as candles, soaps, and baked goods.

Baking Bonanza

Pack in cookie mixes, measuring cups, a mixing bowl, and a cookbook.

Backyard Movie Night

Add fairy lights, popcorn, outdoor cushions, and a film streaming voucher.

Seasonal Basket

Design baskets that match the time of year, like beach gear in summer or festive treats in winter.

Arts & Culture Pack

Include museum or theatre tickets, along with snacks and drinks to enjoy pre-show.

Ultimate Relaxation

Offer an eye mask, herbal teas, a luxury candle, and lavender pillow spray.

Ready to Raise More?

Creating baskets that capture attention and inspire bidding is a great way to boost your silent auction’s success. With a bit of creativity and a clear focus on your audience, your auction can drive real impact.

If you’re ready to take your fundraising to the next level, we’re here to help.

👉 Get started with Givergy today

55 Raffle Item Ideas for Adults That Everyone Will Want to Win

Posted on May 16, 2025October 6, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Looking to spice up your next fundraiser, gala, or community event? Whether you’re organizing a charity raffle, corporate function, or just a fun get-together, the right raffle prizes can make all the difference. Below is a curated list of 55 adult-friendly raffle item ideas, grouped into categories to make planning a breeze. Each prize idea is exciting, engaging, and sure to attract attention. Without repeating what everyone else is doing.

What Makes a Great Raffle Prize?

A great raffle prize should instantly grab attention and spark excitement. It should feel like a real win. It should be something your audience genuinely wants or wouldn’t usually splurge on themselves. Undoubtedly, the most successful prizes are tailored to the interests and lifestyle of your attendees, whether that means a luxury spa day, a quirky DIY kit, or a practical tech gadget.

Creativity also goes a long way; bundling related items into themed packages often makes a prize feel more valuable and engaging than a single item alone. And while big-ticket items are fantastic, even smaller prizes can be memorable when they’re thoughtful, well-presented, and a little unexpected.

Now, let’s dive in.

Experience-Based Raffle Prizes

Discover some of the best raffle prizes for adults who crave unforgettable experiences and unique getaways.

Weekend Getaway Package
Escape the routine with a two-night stay in a cozy cabin, stylish city loft, or beachside retreat where rest and adventure come together.
Spa Day for Two
Spend a blissful day wrapped in robes with massages, facials, steam rooms, and soothing music to melt the stress away.
Wine Tasting Tour
Enjoy a guided experience at a local vineyard with delicious sips, expertly paired cheeses, and scenic surroundings perfect for relaxing.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Float peacefully above the landscape as you watch the sunrise or sunset from a colourful hot air balloon in the sky.
Private Chef Dinner
Turn your home into a gourmet restaurant as a chef prepares a custom multi-course meal while you enjoy every luxurious bite.
Helicopter City Tour
Soar above your city and take in iconic landmarks from a thrilling, sky-high point of view that makes any day feel extraordinary.
Sunset Cruise
Sail into the evening with drinks, snacks, and golden light reflecting on the water for a romantic and unforgettable experience.
Indoor Skydiving Experience
Feel the adrenaline of skydiving without jumping from a plane by catching air in a powerful, vertical wind tunnel.
Glamping Weekend
Camp in comfort with plush bedding, twinkling lights, and gourmet snacks, all while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.
Axe Throwing Night for Four
Compete with friends in an energetic night of axe throwing, cheering, and maybe discovering a new favourite hobby.

Food & Beverage-Themed Prizes

From gourmet bundles to mixology kits, these tasty prize ideas are perfect for food lovers.

Gourmet Food Basket
Indulge in a luxurious collection of artisan cheeses, gourmet chocolates, specialty snacks, and handcrafted goodies.
Craft Beer Subscription
Explore new breweries and flavours each month with a rotating selection of regional or international craft beers delivered to your door.
Coffee Lover’s Kit
Elevate your daily brew with premium coffee beans, a French press, flavour syrups, and mugs that make each sip special.
Cooking Class for Two
Learn from a pro and create something delicious together, whether it’s handmade pasta, sushi, or desserts that wow.
Year of Pizza
Enjoy one pizza every month from a beloved local pizzeria, turning every 30 days into a personal celebration.
Wine and Charcuterie Night Kit
Host an elegant evening with a curated wine, savoury meats, rich cheeses, and everything you need for the perfect grazing board.
Cocktail Mixing Set
Become a home mixologist with stylish bar tools, artisan mixers, and recipes for drinks that impress every guest.
BBQ Master’s Set
Get grilling with top-notch tools, smoky rubs, bold sauces, and a gift card for high-quality meats.
Farm-to-Table Produce Subscription
Receive fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms to enjoy healthy meals with unbeatable flavour.
Fancy Cake or Dessert Delivery
Surprise your sweet tooth with decadent cakes, pastries, or cookies delivered on demand for any occasion.

Tech & Gadget Raffle Prizes

Level up your raffle ideas with high-demand tech prizes that offer both fun and functionality.

Smart Speaker
Control your day with music, weather updates, reminders, and smart home features using just your voice.
Portable Projector
Transform any space into a movie theatre with a compact projector perfect for backyard nights or cozy indoor marathons.
Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker
Stay connected and motivated with a sleek wearable that tracks your steps, workouts, and heart rate with ease.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Immerse yourself in music or find your focus with headphones that block out distractions and deliver rich, clear sound.
Phone Sanitizer and Wireless Charger Combo
Charge your phone while keeping it clean with a device that combines convenience and peace of mind.
Kindle or E-Reader
Take your library anywhere with a lightweight e-reader that’s perfect for beach days, travel, or late-night reading.
Mini Espresso Machine
Brew barista-quality coffee at home with a compact machine that starts your mornings off strong and delicious.
Action Camera
Capture your adventures hands-free with a rugged, go-anywhere camera built for movement, fun, and memories.
Streaming Service Subscription (1 Year)
Binge your favourite shows, movies, or documentaries with a full year of access to a popular streaming platform.
Smart Home Lighting Kit
Set the perfect vibe in every room with lights you can control by app or voice, including colour options for every mood.

Home & Lifestyle Gifts

Bring inspiration, comfort, and creativity into any space with stylish lifestyle raffle prizes.

Interior Design Consultation
Get expert advice to refresh your space with tips on layout, colour palettes, and decor that fits your personal style.
Houseplant Subscription Box
Receive a new leafy companion each month and grow your own indoor jungle, one pot at a time.
High-End Candle Set
Fill your home with luxurious scents from beautifully crafted candles that bring calm, warmth, and ambiance to any room.
DIY Home Decor Kit
Create a one-of-a-kind piece for your space with a hands-on craft project that blends fun and flair.
Cozy Throw Blanket and Book Bundle
Curl up with a plush blanket, a captivating novel, and everything you need for a perfect night of relaxation.
Wine Fridge
Keep your favourite bottles at the perfect temperature with a sleek and stylish fridge built for wine lovers.
Personal Organizer Session
Declutter with the help of a professional who knows how to turn chaos into calm and make your space more functional.
Home Massage Gun
Relieve sore muscles and enjoy deep relaxation with a powerful massage tool perfect for post-workout recovery or everyday comfort.
Custom Pet Portrait
Celebrate your furry friend with a custom piece of artwork that adds personality and charm to your walls.
Gardening Starter Kit
Grow your own herbs, flowers, or vegetables with seeds, tools, and instructions that make getting started simple and fun.

Entertainment & Group Fun

Encouraging donors to laugh, bond and share memories with their favourite people is always a winner.

Game Night Basket
Host the ultimate game night with a collection of party games, snacks, and accessories that bring everyone to the table.
Escape Room Experience
Gather your team and dive into a thrilling, puzzle-solving adventure that puts your wits and teamwork to the test.
Comedy Club Tickets
Enjoy a night of live laughter with tickets to a local comedy show where the only rule is to have fun.
Karaoke Machine
Turn any gathering into a sing-along extravaganza with a machine that brings the spotlight to your living room.
Paint and Sip Night for Two
Get creative while you sip your favourite drink, guided through a painting session that’s equal parts relaxing and fun.
Movie Night in a Box
Everything you need for a blockbuster night, including popcorn, snacks, a projector rental, and streaming credit.
Museum or Aquarium Membership
Enjoy a full year of discovery with unlimited access to fascinating exhibits, interactive displays, and cultural experiences.
Concert or Theater Tickets
Experience the thrill of live entertainment with tickets to a show, play, or concert that leaves you inspired.
Trivia Night Package
Host your own quiz night with ready-to-go questions, scorecards, and quirky prizes that turn friendly competition into a blast.
Local Sports Game Tickets
Cheer on your favourite team in person with seats to a local game filled with action, snacks, and team spirit.

High-End Prizes

Impress your audience with luxury raffle prize ideas that feel exclusive, indulgent, and unforgettable.

Designer Handbag or Wallet
Make a bold fashion statement with a high-end accessory that combines elegance, function, and timeless style.
Luxury Watch
Add a touch of sophistication to any outfit with a beautifully crafted watch that blends precision with flair.
Airline Gift Card
Give the gift of adventure with flight credit that lets the winner choose their own dream destination.
Jewellery Box with Surprise Contents
Open a gorgeous jewellery case to discover a dazzling mystery piece that adds sparkle to any outfit.
High-End Fitness Package
Transform your routine with premium fitness gear, personal training sessions, and a membership that fuels motivation.

What’s Next?

With the right raffle prizes, your event can go from good to unforgettable and Givergy can help you get there. Our auction item catalogues are exclusive, and handpicked to help nonprofits raise more at events and during online campaigns. Get in touch to talk to one of our expert team about how we can support your next fundraiser.

20 School Fundraising Ideas That Make a Big Impact

Posted on March 21, 2025September 18, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Raising money for your school shouldn’t feel like a chore—it should feel like an opportunity to bring your community together for a common goal. Whether you’re aiming to fund new equipment, extra-curricular activities, or facility improvements, great fundraising ideas can create excitement and drive results.

At Givergy, we support schools with digital tools that make fundraising simple, engaging, and more effective. Here are 20 fun, easy-to-implement school fundraising ideas to get your next campaign off the ground.

🎟 1. Host a Digital Raffle

Move beyond paper tickets and bring your raffle online. From tech gadgets to local business vouchers, raffles are quick to set up and offer great return.

Bonus Tip: Use Givergy’s prize draw tools to manage entries and draw winners seamlessly.

🎨 2. Student Art Auction

Celebrate student creativity by turning artwork into auction items. Host an in-person gallery or showcase online to engage extended families.

🎬 3. Family Movie Night

Set up a projector in the school hall or playground and sell tickets to a cozy film night. Add snacks and blankets for a truly memorable event.

🚶‍♀️ 4. Sponsored Walk or Fun Run

Encourage healthy activity and raise money at the same time. Students gather pledges and families cheer them on as they complete laps or challenges.

🍰 5. Bake Sale (With a Twist!)

Put a new spin on the classic bake sale. Try themes like “Bake Off Showdown” or “Teacher’s Challenge” to boost excitement.

📚 6. Read-a-thon

Encourage literacy and raise funds by having students log reading hours in exchange for sponsorships.

🛍 7. Pop-Up Market

Transform the school hall into a market for handmade crafts, second-hand books, and local vendor stalls.

📸 8. School Calendar or Photo Book Sale

Use photos from school events to create a keepsake calendar or yearbook and sell to families and staff.

💃 9. School Disco

Bring the party to your school with a themed disco. Sell tickets, snacks, and glow-in-the-dark accessories.

🧠 10. Quiz Night

Host a trivia night for parents and staff. Charge team entry fees and offer prizes for the winners.

🎁 11. Holiday Gift Wrapping Station

Set up a gift-wrapping booth at school or a local mall during the festive season. Ask for donations in return for beautifully wrapped gifts.

☕ 12. Coffee Morning for Parents

Invite parents to a relaxed social morning with coffee, tea, and homemade treats. Use it as an opportunity to raise funds and build community.

🎭 13. Talent Show

Let students showcase their talents with a live or virtual performance. Sell tickets and involve local judges for an added edge.

📦 14. Mystery Box Fundraiser

Ask local businesses to donate small items and bundle them into mystery prize boxes. Sell boxes for a flat rate and let the surprise drive sales.

🧽 15. Car Wash Day

Organize a car wash staffed by student volunteers. Set up in the school car park and promote it locally.

🏆 16. House Competition Fundraiser

Inspire some friendly competition between school houses or classes. See who can raise the most and reward with a trophy or special privilege.

📦 17. Uniform Exchange or Sale

Host a second-hand uniform sale—parents can donate outgrown items and purchase what they need at low cost while supporting the school.

🌱 18. Plant or Seedling Sale

Encourage sustainability and fundraising with a plant sale. Students can grow seedlings in class and sell them at a school fair.

🛒 19. Cashback Shopping Programs

💡 20. Online Auction

Create an exciting digital auction featuring donated items, school experiences (like “Principal for a Day”), or themed baskets.

Pro Tip: Givergy’s silent auction tools make it easy to host a professional, engaging online auction that attracts bids from beyond your local area.

Why Schools Love Givergy

Our platform offers everything schools need to run successful fundraising campaigns—from ticketing and auctions to raffles and real-time donor tracking. Givergy’s intuitive technology is designed to maximize participation, increase donations, and reduce admin.

✔ Easy-to-use tools for busy school teams
✔ Mobile-optimized for parents on the go
✔ Real-time tracking and reporting
✔ Trusted by schools, charities, and nonprofits around the world

Ready to power your next school fundraiser? Get started with Givergy today!

25 Simple Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits: Creative Ways to Engage Your Community

Posted on March 14, 2025September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Successful online fundraising is at the heart of every nonprofit’s mission. Finding the best online fundraising ideas that keep donors engaged can be a challenge, but with the right approach, your nonprofit can stand out and maximize donations. But with so many organizations competing for donor attention, finding original, engaging, and easy-to-implement ideas is crucial.

At Givergy, we specialize in online fundraising by offering innovative digital solutions for silent auctions, raffles, and virtual events. If you’re searching for the best online fundraising ideas, this guide will provide inspiration for engaging and effective ways to raise money. Whether you’re planning a live event or an online campaign, these 25 unique fundraising ideas will help your nonprofit raise more while strengthening community engagement.

Exciting Silent Auction Ideas to Wow Your Supporters

Silent auctions are a fantastic way to create excitement while raising significant funds. Here are five high-impact and unique auction ideas:

Ultimate Staycation Experience

Instead of a traditional weekend getaway, offer a curated staycation package. Include a boutique hotel stay, dinner at a top-rated local restaurant, a spa day, and a personalized city tour.

Private Dining & Movie Night

Auction an exclusive at-home chef-cooked dinner experience followed by a private outdoor movie screening, complete with a projector, popcorn, and cozy blankets.

‘Adopt-a-Star’ & Planetarium Tour

Give the winner the chance to name a star, paired with a guided planetarium tour or private astronomy session for a unique, educational experience.

Behind-the-Scenes Sports Access

Offer an exclusive locker room tour, training session, or VIP tickets for a local sports team, giving fans an inside look at their favourite teams.

Hot Air Balloon or Helicopter Adventure

Provide an unforgettable experience with aerial sightseeing tours, ideal for thrill-seekers and those looking for a unique perspective on their city.

Creative Raffle Ideas That Keep Supporters Coming Back

Raffles create excitement and encourage broader participation. Here are five standout raffle ideas:

Mystery Travel Adventure

Partner with a travel agency to offer a mystery weekend trip, where the winner only learns their destination right before departure!

Ultimate VIP Concert or Festival Passes

Offer backstage passes or front-row tickets to a major concert, festival, or theatre production to make your raffle highly desirable.

Subscription Box for a Year

A year-long subscription to a popular service (meal kits, wine clubs, book boxes, or wellness products) ensures ongoing enjoyment for the winner.

‘Bucket List’ Experience

Secure a unique adventure, such as a scuba diving lesson, skydiving session, race car driving, or horseback riding tour, to appeal to adventure lovers.

Personalized VIP Shopping Spree

Provide a personal stylist and shopping experience at a luxury department store, complete with a generous gift card.

Quick & Fun Fundraising Ideas to Boost Donations

Need quick and simple fundraising events? These 15 creative ideas will help you get started:

Virtual Quiz Night

Host a themed trivia event and charge entry fees. Engage attendees with fun categories like pop culture, sports, or nonprofit-specific topics.

Community Yard Sale

Ask supporters to donate unwanted items and host a charity yard sale. This raises funds while promoting sustainability.

Home or Office Cleaning Services

Partner with a cleaning company to offer professional services as a raffle or auction prize.

DIY Craft Workshops

Host a creative workshop (painting, pottery, or candle-making) where attendees pay to participate and take home their creations.

Fitness Challenge Event

Encourage supporters to raise funds through sponsored physical challenges such as running, cycling, or obstacle races.

Community Fun Day

Organize games, food stalls, and entertainment to bring people together while raising funds.

Photography Sessions

Offer professional photoshoots for families or individuals as auction or raffle items.

Outdoor Movie Night

Set up a large screen in a park, charge entry fees, and sell concessions to maximize revenue.

Holiday Gift-Wrapping Station

Provide gift-wrapping services at shopping malls during the festive season in exchange for donations.

Crowdfunding Campaign

Launch an online crowdfunding campaign for specific projects and share compelling stories to drive donations.

Bake Sale

A timeless favourite, selling homemade baked goods is a simple yet effective fundraising method.

Skill-Sharing Workshops

Bring in experts to teach valuable skills like social media marketing, photography, or personal finance in exchange for donations.

Charity Car Wash

Recruit volunteers and set up a car wash event where all proceeds go to your nonprofit.

Local Celebrity Meet-and-Greet

Offer fans the chance to meet a local influencer, sports star, or celebrity through an auction or raffle.

Charity Concert or Talent Show

Organize a live performance showcasing local artists and sell tickets to boost fundraising.

Why choose Givergy as your fundraising partner?

Givergy makes fundraising effortless with an innovative digital platform that helps nonprofits maximize donations while engaging supporters. Whether you’re hosting a silent auction, a raffle, or a virtual event, our tools provide:

✔ Easy participation – Mobile bidding, online donations, and user-friendly ticketing options.

✔ Greater reach – Expand fundraising efforts beyond local communities through digital solutions.

✔ Seamless management – Handle ticketing, payment processing, and donor engagement in one place.

✔ Higher revenue – Proven strategies and support to help nonprofits raise more.

With over $1 billion raised globally, Givergy has helped countless organizations implement the best online fundraising ideas to achieve their goals. Our platform ensures seamless online fundraising experiences, making it easier than ever to engage donors and maximize contributions. Get started today and take your fundraising efforts to the next level!

9 Simple Fundraising Ideas for Sports Clubs

Posted on March 7, 2025September 18, 2025 by Jordan Morris

Keeping a sports club running requires dedication, teamwork, and consistent financial support. Whether you need funds for new equipment, travel expenses, or facility improvements, a successful sports club fundraiser can make a significant impact. However, with limited time and resources, finding the right fundraising strategy can be challenging.

At Givergy, we’re here to help reduce the stress of that challenge and in this guide, we outline 10 simple and effective ways your sports club can raise funds while engaging your community and supporters.

Organize a Sponsored Fitness Challenge

Encourage members or supporters to participate in a sponsored fitness challenge such as a marathon, cycle race, or obstacle course. Participants can collect pledges based on their performance, making it a competitive and rewarding way to generate funds. With the rise of social media-driven content, fitness challenges have proven to be highly effective in engaging supporters. You don’t have to do something as extreme as running the length of Africa but physically exerting challenges do tend to engage wider audiences!

To maximize your fundraising success, set a clear challenge goal and promote it as often as possible through club newsletters and your social media networks. Offering small rewards to the best fundraiser or introducing leaderboards can further boost participation and add to the friendly competition – which is always helpful for raising more!

How Givergy Can Help: Givergy’s online fundraising pages allow participants to create personal donation pages, track progress, and share their efforts with potential sponsors, all in one platform!

Host an Online Auction

Silent auctions are a fantastic way to raise funds while engaging supporters. Unlike live auctions, silent auctions allow participants to place bids at their own pace, often via digital platforms. For an online auction to be most effective it’s vital your items appeal to your audience. Items such as signed memorabilia, exclusive experiences, and high-value merchandise tend to attract more interest and higher bids – but only if they’re relevant to your crowd.

How Givergy Can Help: Givergy’s online auction platform makes it easy to run live or silent auctions, allowing supporters to bid from anywhere at any time.

Launch a Crowdfunding Campaign

If your club requires funds for a specific project, like new training gear or facility upgrades, a crowdfunding campaign can generate widespread support from members, families, and the local community. Transparency and storytelling play a key role in crowdfunding success, you must explain why the funds are needed and how they will be used. Sharing consistent progress update will help keep your supporters in the loop.

Encourage supporters to share the campaign widely. Offering incentives, such as club-branded merchandise or experience-based rewards, can further motivate donations. A dedicated campaign page with real-time progress tracking helps keep momentum going.

Run a Raffle Event

Raffles remain one of the most effective and engaging fundraising methods for sports clubs. By securing high-value prizes from local businesses or sponsors, you can encourage more ticket sales. Digital raffles provide a seamless way to manage ticket distribution and sales while reaching a broader audience beyond in-person events. To increase participation, consider bundling tickets at discounted rates or offering multiple chances to win.

How Givergy Can Help: Our digital raffle feature allows clubs to manage online ticket sales efficiently while ensuring compliance with raffle regulations. With automated tracking and secure payment processing, clubs can maximize participation and revenue.

Organize a Virtual Quiz Night

A sports-themed quiz night is a fantastic way to engage fans and players while raising funds through entry fees. Adding friendly competition and prizes makes it even more exciting.

To make it a hit, create a mix of general knowledge and sports-related questions. Consider partnering with a local sports personality to host the event for added credibility and appeal. A well-organized ticketing system helps manage registrations and payments efficiently.

Sell Club Merchandise Online

Selling branded gear like t-shirts, water bottles, or hoodies strengthens club identity while generating revenue. Items with strong branding and practical use tend to sell well.

To optimize sales, use an online storefront with easy order processing and multiple payment options. Promoting merchandise through social media and at club events increases visibility.

Host a Community Fun Day

A community fun day is an excellent opportunity to bring people together while raising funds for your sports club. By incorporating activities such as friendly tournaments, skill challenges, food stalls, and live entertainment, you can create a festive atmosphere that attracts families and local businesses. Selling tickets in advance and offering sponsorship opportunities can further enhance your fundraising potential.

How Givergy Can Help: Our ticketing and payment processing solutions allow clubs to manage entry fees, register participants, and track attendance with ease. By integrating online ticket sales, clubs can streamline operations and boost pre-event revenue. Find out more about our event solutions here.

Offer Coaching Clinics or Training Sessions

Hosting training sessions or clinics with professional coaches can attract participants while raising funds for your club. Charging a participation fee provides a valuable skill-building opportunity for attendees while supporting club finances.

For better engagement, target different skill levels and age groups. Offering small-group or one-on-one coaching sessions at a premium can help maximize revenue.

Partner with Local Businesses for Sponsorships

Local businesses are often willing to sponsor sports clubs in exchange for advertising opportunities. Sponsorship packages can include branding on uniforms, event banners, or social media promotion, providing mutual benefits for both parties.

Approach potential sponsors with a clear proposal outlining the exposure they will receive. Offering tiered sponsorship levels can make the opportunity accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Why Choose Givergy for Your Sports Club Fundraiser?

Givergy provides award-winning fundraising technology designed to make fundraising easier and more impactful for sports clubs. Whether you’re hosting an event, selling merchandise, or running an online campaign, we offer tools that help you:

✔ Boost participation – With user-friendly online platforms for bidding, donations, and ticketing.

✔ Reach a wider audience – Expand fundraising beyond local supporters with digital solutions.

✔ Simplify management – Automate ticketing, payments, and donor tracking.

✔ Maximize revenue – Proven fundraising solutions that increase donations and engagement.

With over $1 billion raised globally, Givergy is a trusted partner for sports clubs seeking vital funding. Ready to take your fundraising to the next level? Contact us today and start planning your next successful sports club fundraiser!

How to Host a Movie Screening Fundraiser for Schools

Posted on March 7, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

There’s no better way to unite your school community while raising funds than an event. However, your fundraising team may struggle to develop unique event ideas that parents, students, and teachers will love.

Look no further than a movie screening fundraiser! School community members of all ages will enjoy watching a movie together to benefit your cause. This guide will walk you through the process of hosting a movie screening fundraiser step by step so you can easily execute your own.

Determine the logistics.

Straighten out your event’s logistics first before diving into the fundraising process. That way, you can lay a strong foundation and understand exactly what your event will look like. This process will include:

Selecting a date and time. You’ll likely want to host your movie screening fundraiser at night or on a weekend to maximize attendance. Make sure the date doesn’t conflict with any major holidays or other community events, and finalize it far enough in advance that school families will be available.
Finding a venue. Many schools use their auditoriums or gyms for large events because they’re large, low-cost spaces. If you’re hosting your movie screening fundraiser outside, you can use a projector and sheet.
Choosing a movie. Have students vote on the movie they’d like to watch. Select a few family-friendly options to choose from, and spread awareness of the winner to stir up excitement.

Your staff is likely busy with daily tasks and may not have time to manage event logistics independently. ABC Fundraising’s school fundraiser guide recommends forming a parent event committee to streamline this process and gather parent input on your efforts.

Establish a fundraising goal.

Next, develop a fundraising goal to focus your efforts and let your community know what their funds will go toward. Using the SMART goal framework ensures your goals are actionable and trackable so you can easily measure progress and evaluate your success. Here’s an example of what the SMART goal framework looks like in action:

Specific: Clarify exactly what you’re raising money for and how you will do so. For example, you may run a movie screening fundraiser to start a tennis club, purchase new art supplies, or expand your school building.
Measurable: Link your goal to a specific dollar amount to hold your team accountable and motivate people to contribute.
Achievable: Your fundraising goal should be reasonable based on past fundraising results. For instance, if you raised $2,000 during your last fundraising event, you may strive to raise $2,500 to challenge your team while staying realistic.
Relevant: Ensure your fundraising goal is relevant to your overarching mission. As long as you’re raising money to make your school a better place, your goal will fulfill this category.
Time-Bound: Assign a timeline to your goal. Since you’re hosting an event, the date of the movie screening fundraiser will likely mark the end of your campaign.

Altogether, your SMART goal may look like this: “Our school will run a movie screening fundraiser to raise money for our new tennis club that will encourage our students to become more active. We aim to raise $2,500 in the two months leading up to the event.”

Recruit volunteers.

Call upon parents and community members to power your event. Better Impact’s volunteer management guide recommends doing the following to streamline the recruitment process:

Write clear role descriptions. List the responsibilities involved in different roles. For example, you may have a ticket sales and check-in role responsible for verifying online ticket purchases and selling in-person tickets, a concessions role responsible for selling snacks and drinks, and a clean-up crew role responsible for ensuring the space is spotless at the end of the event.
Create online application forms. Simplify volunteer sign-up with streamlined digital forms that collect contact information, relevant skills, and availability. Ensure this information flows easily into your constituent relationship management platform (CRM) for easier management.
Promote opportunities across multiple channels. Spread the word about your volunteer openings via your website, social media, email, and volunteer matching platforms. Attach your team’s contact information so interested community members can reach out with any questions.

Once you’ve recruited volunteers, host an orientation session that clarifies how the event will work, what volunteers will be responsible for, and how long they’re expected to be at the fundraiser.

Promote the event.

The more you publicize your event, the more tickets you’ll sell. Get your school community involved by promoting your event on various channels, including:

School website. Add the movie screening fundraiser to your school calendar, and create an announcement on the site that lets parents know about the event. Consider developing a fundraising event page to feature information about past and upcoming events.
Newsletter. If your newsletter features an important dates section, include your movie screening fundraiser so families can mark their calendars. As the event gets closer, give updates, such as how much money you’ve raised and how many days are left until event day, to excite your school community.
Social media. Develop graphics that students and parents can share across social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Emphasize what information they should include in their captions, such as the event’s date and time, ticket sales link, and what money will go toward. Make it even easier by including a caption template.
Flyers. While digital marketing strategies have a wider reach, flyers are still reliable for promoting fundraising events within your community. Use a graphic design platform to brand the flyers to your school and post them in high-traffic areas like your local library or cafe.

Event marketing is a great way to involve students in your fundraiser planning. Have younger students write letters to their families inviting them to the event, and work with older students to create and post social media graphics.

Develop additional revenue streams.

Maximize funds by generating additional revenue streams for your event. During your movie screening fundraiser, you may do the following to reach and exceed your fundraising goal:

Sell concessions. What screams a movie screening more than candy and popcorn? Sell snacks and drinks like a real movie theater to create a more immersive experience and generate more revenue simultaneously.
Incorporate a discount card fundraiser. Running a discount card fundraiser involves working with a product fundraising company to develop physical cards that feature discounts for local businesses. Then, you can sell these cards at your event to support your community and school.
Host a silent auction. Gather auction items and set them up outside the movie venue for parents to bid on. To stay on theme, consider throwing in some movie-related items like a streaming service subscription, movie theatre rewards program membership, and a concessions basket.

In addition to these fundraising ideas, you may also collect general donations during ticket sales and the event to further maximize funds. Use a fundraising thermometer to let families know how close you are to your fundraising goal and urge them to contribute just a bit more to push you over the finish line.

Finally, at the end of your movie screening fundraiser, thank attendees for coming and inform them of their impact. Evaluate your event’s success by tracking the revenue you raised through different sources and turnout. It’s a good idea at the end of your fundraiser to survey attendees to gather their feedback. This learning loop will then help you improve your next community event.

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Whether it’s selling tickets, or hosting a silent auction or raffle, Givergy has helped thousands of nonprofits worldwide raise more at their events and online. To contact one of our experts to talk about your fundraising plans today, click here!

4 Exciting Digital Fundraising Trends To Embrace This Year

Posted on February 28, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jordan Morris

The way you raise money for your organization is constantly evolving. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional bake sales or high-end galas to achieve your funding goals (though these fun events definitely have a place in a well-rounded fundraising strategy!). Nowadays, the name of the game is digital fundraising.

Also referred to as online or virtual fundraising, digital fundraising uses online technology to raise money for a specific cause. According to Cornershop Creative, there are several benefits to embracing digital fundraising, such as saving money on traditional fundraising costs, getting a rapid response in times of crisis or extreme need, and expanding engagement beyond geographical borders.

If you’re ready to experience these benefits, you first need to understand the current digital fundraising trends that are turning donors’ heads and getting them excited about making a difference. Get started by reviewing our roundup of tried-and-true trends that you can use in 2025!

1. Mobile-First Fundraising

Mobile-first fundraising allows you to meet your donors where they’re at—their smartphones! After all, the Pew Research Center reports that 91% of Americans own a smartphone. Further, Americans spend an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes daily on their phones.

This is good news for your organization—if you can learn how to grab your supporters’ attention through mobile fundraising, you can connect with them regularly and raise more money and awareness for your work.

Here are some strategies to increase your chances of securing donations from smartphone users:

Optimize and maintain your donation page with mobile devices in mind. Your online donation page is where all the action happens with mobile-first fundraising, so ensure you’re prepared for mobile visitors. The page should be responsive, meaning it adjusts automatically to different screen sizes. Also, make sure the page loads quickly and elements like forms, buttons, and images are easy to navigate.

Design a text-to-give campaign. With this type of fundraiser, your organization sets up a mobile donation number and shares a special keyword with its supporters. When they text that keyword to the donation number, they’ll be prompted to follow a link to make a donation. Ensure the keyword you pick is easy to remember and type out. For instance, “Give4CancerResearch” is easier to remember than a long scramble of random numbers and letters.
Allow supporters to participate in events from their phones. Consider hosting virtual events that supporters can participate in from wherever they are. For example, with an auction, you can use online auction software to allow donors to bid from their mobile phones and notify them when they’ve been outbid. You can also use livestream technology to interact with mobile participants.

2. Matching Gifts

Many fundraisers find it challenging to balance the need to raise more money for their causes while being mindful of how often they ask donors to give. Donor fatigue is a real issue that can quickly become an insurmountable challenge for organizations that fail to find the right balance.

Matching gifts offers a creative—and lucrative—digital fundraising solution for organizations and donors alike. Through this form of corporate philanthropy, donors’ employers financially match donations donors make to your organization.

Here’s how the process works:

A donor gives to your organization.
The donor checks their corporate matching gift eligibility using a matching gifts database on your organization’s website.
After confirming that their employer offers matching gifts, the donor fills out any necessary online forms provided by the database tool to kickstart the matching process.
The donor’s employer reviews the forms and confirms the donation with the nonprofit.
The company sends the nonprofit a donation.

Every company’s matching gift program will look a little different. Employers have different rules for what types of nonprofits they’ll match gifts for, the types of employees eligible to use the programs (for example, full-time employees versus part-time employees), and the ratio at which they match gifts. Most companies will match at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio, but some will offer a 3:1 ratio!

Here’s an example to illustrate what matching gifts can do for your organization: Say Shayla, an employee at Deloitte, gives $50 to your nonprofit. She finds out she’s eligible for a 1:1 donation match and submits the required paperwork to the company. A few days later, your organization receives a check for $50 from Deloitte. The matched gift has essentially doubled the amount and impact of Shayla’s gift without requiring her to reach back into her wallet!

To take full advantage of matching gifts, you need to market them effectively. Create a page on your organization’s website that explains the process, and encourage donors to check their eligibility when you promote your digital fundraising campaigns. You can even shout out donors who take advantage of matching gifts on your blog to inspire others to do the same.

3. Recurring Giving Programs

A steady source of revenue is essential for sustainable, long-term success. This is best achieved by tapping into multiple streams of fundraising dollars all at once, and one of the most popular digital types is a recurring giving program.

With recurring giving programs, donors can opt into giving your organization a set amount of money each month. And though this typically means donors give a smaller amount of money each time they donate, that amount adds up over time. According to Double the Donation, the average monthly gift is $24, which results in an annual donation total of $288. This is actually more than the average one-time donation amount of $115!

To set up a recurring giving program, revisit your online donation page. Offer an option on the page to turn a one-time gift into a recurring gift. This will allow your donors to “set and forget” their donations so that they’re billed monthly and don’t have to take any further action.

Also, consider creating a recurring giving society to build a community around your program. You can offer recurring donors perks like exclusive newsletters or early access to event tickets, which will help them feel seen and valued for their consistent contributions.

From time to time, you should also check in with your recurring donors to ensure their giving details, such as payment information, contact information, and giving amounts, are current. This can serve as a great touchpoint for encouraging donors to level up their giving or just to say thank you for all their support!

4. AI-Powered Donor Engagement

By now, your organization has at least heard about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in nonprofit fundraising and marketing strategies. Or, maybe you’ve even tried out some popular AI tools like ChatGPT yourself! After all, research shows that nonprofits are embracing AI faster than for-profit organizations.

There’s no doubt that AI is here to stay, so whatever your level of adoption has been so far, consider strengthening your digital fundraising efforts by embracing it further. One of the best places to start is using AI for donor engagement.

Two types of AI can help you connect with your donors and pave the way for better fundraising results:

Generative AI, which creates original content, such as copy, images and video.
- Examples: ChatGPT, which offers written responses to user prompts, and DALL-E, which can create original images based on user prompts

Predictive AI, which analyzes data and offers predictions or recommendations based on that data.
- Examples: AI features in your CRM that allow for marketing automation or donor segmentation

Predictive AI tools can help you better understand who your donors are, what they value, and how best to reach out to them. Some tools can even recommend how big of a donation to ask for, when to ask for it, and how.

Generative AI tools are best for helping you shape your messaging, whether you need to write personalized fundraising appeals for a dozen major donors or create a series of Facebook posts for an upcoming fundraising event.

A word to the wise: While these AI tools offer nearly endless possibilities for improving your donor engagement strategies on a vast scale, proceed with care and apply a critical eye to any output an AI tool provides you with. You know your organization and its community best! Plus, the human touch is always going to be an important part of fundraising, even in digital spaces, and your donors deserve messages and experiences that feel personal and genuine.

Digital fundraising is the new frontier for any type of organization that relies on fundraising. And by staying up to date on digital fundraising trends like the ones described above, you can ensure that your future fundraising campaigns are primed to help you achieve your goals and build relationships with those who support you.

8 Top Fundraising Secrets from Cure Cancer Australia’s CEO Nikki Kinloch

Posted on February 14, 2025September 20, 2025 by Jordan Morris

In one of our earlier episodes of The Secret Guide to Fundraising, we had the privilege of speaking with Nicky Kinlock, the CEO of Cure Cancer Australia. Since stepping into her role in 2018, she has driven extraordinary growth, with new donor numbers increasing by 158% and repeat donors surging by 441%. With her background in business and fintech, she has transformed traditional charity operations through innovative, forward-thinking strategies that have paved the way for fundraising success. Below, we break down her key learnings into top fundraising tips for anyone looking to achieve fundraising success and grow their fundraising efforts.

Embrace Adaptability and Pilot New Ideas Gradually

“If you have an organisation that’s not set up for big change, then just do it in small steps. Progress is progress, full stop.”

In a constantly shifting environment, the ability to adapt is crucial for fundraising success. Nicky stresses that when introducing new initiatives, it’s essential to start small, learn from each pilot, and then scale up gradually. This approach not only minimizes risks but also helps you fine-tune your strategies based on real-world feedback. By controlling costs and managing uncertainty, you create a solid foundation for growing fundraising efforts.

This top fundraising tip—starting with small, manageable pilots—has been instrumental in nurturing innovative projects while ensuring that the charity remains agile and responsive to change.

Cultivate a Fintech Mindset in a Traditional Setting

“I always now say that I work for a 57-year-old charity, but we have got a fintech mindset.”

Even in a longstanding charity, adopting a fintech mindset can revolutionize your approach to fundraising. Nicky’s ability to challenge conventional methods by integrating modern, technology-driven strategies has been a game changer. This fresh perspective attracts new donors and injects energy into the organization, making it easier to achieve fundraising success.

By embracing innovation, you set the stage for growing fundraising efforts that keep pace with evolving donor expectations and digital trends.

Expand Your Reach to Diverse Communities

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.”

Reaching out to diverse communities is essential for maximizing fundraising success. Nicky emphasized that a charity’s mission should be inclusive, extending beyond major cities to embrace regional and rural donors. With a nationwide approach, organizations can engage supporters from every corner, ensuring that the benefits of their work reach all affected communities.

This approach not only broadens your donor base but also reinforces the idea that fundraising efforts must be as diverse as the communities they serve, driving long-term growth.

Leverage New Channels and Let Data Guide Your Strategy

“Something that we are doing—and will continue to do—is to be data-led. Listen to your customers, read the data, and let it guide your decisions.”

Innovation in fundraising extends far beyond traditional events. Nicky’s success includes tapping into emerging channels such as gaming and streaming, platforms that allow charities to reach audiences that were previously untapped. Alongside embracing new channels, letting data drive your decisions is critical for optimizing campaigns. By analyzing donor behaviour, open rates, and engagement metrics, you can continuously refine your strategy for growing fundraising success.

This combined approach is a top fundraising tip for anyone looking to integrate modern technology and analytics into their fundraising strategies.

Top Tip: Listen to Cure Cancer AU’s former head of Gaming and Streaming on how the organisation started raising money from gaming.

Build a Supportive Board and Collaborative Team

“I was very lucky. The board said, ‘Yes, this is what we want. We want innovation.'”

No charity can achieve fundraising success without the right support network. Nicky attributes much of her accomplishments to a board that embraces innovation and a team that is willing to disrupt established norms. When your organization’s leadership and team are aligned with a forward-thinking vision, even the most ambitious projects become attainable.

This collaborative spirit is a top fundraising tip for growing fundraising initiatives—ensuring that everyone, from board members to frontline staff, contributes to the collective vision.

Personalize Donor Communications for Greater Impact

“If you’re interested in brain cancer, we will be sending you updates on brain cancer research. If you’re interested in lung cancer, we’ll invite you to a lunch and learn with one of our researchers.”

Engaging donors on a personal level is key to building strong, lasting relationships that drive fundraising success. Nicky’s strategy involves customizing communications to align with individual donor interests, whether that means providing updates on specific cancer research areas or inviting donors to tailored events. This personalized approach not only makes donors feel valued but also encourages repeat support and long-term commitment.

By directly addressing donor interests, you create a more engaging experience—one of the top fundraising tips for growing fundraising efforts and deepening donor loyalty.

Top Tip: Use automated messaging with the Givergy platform to ensure your guests are always informed.

Invest Strategically for Exponential Returns

“Any expenditure, anything new needs to be reviewed, challenged, and tested. There’s a very strong case that you need to spend some money to make money.”

Every innovative initiative requires careful evaluation to ensure that investments yield significant returns. Nicky explains that a calculated investment approach is necessary to drive fundraising success. By rigorously reviewing new projects and ensuring that expenditures are justified, you set the stage for exponential growth. This strategy is particularly effective when you focus on long-term benefits over short-term gains.

This top fundraising tip encourages organizations to view investments in innovation as a pathway to growing fundraising and achieving greater impact.

Ask Directly to Build Strong Donor Relationships

“Just ask them. Just ask them why they care, and they will tell you.”

Sometimes, the simplest methods yield the best results. Nicky advocates for direct engagement—asking donors why they care about the cause and what motivates their contributions. This honest, straightforward approach not only provides valuable insights but also strengthens the connection between donors and the charity, driving both retention and growth in fundraising.

By engaging in open dialogue, you foster a community of informed, passionate supporters—a top fundraising tip that is essential for sustained fundraising success.

Nicky Kinlock’s leadership at Cure Cancer Australia demonstrates that combining innovation, technology, and personalized donor engagement transforms a charity’s trajectory.

To learn more and speak to us about your fundraising ambitions, click here.