In-person fundraising galas are the norm again, but there’s a big reason not to neglect your online fundraising tools. Online fundraising is one of the most important aspects of raising money for your non profit organization — and it isn’t going anywhere soon.  

Just take a look at the statistics. Online giving rose 21% percent in 2020, while overall giving increased just 2%. Donors like the ease of online giving and the variety of ways to interact with your cause. Creating a comprehensive approach to online fundraising is key to keeping those donations coming in after your in-person event (and before).

Here are a few virtual fundraising ideas to inspire you and digital tools to help you get started: 

Benefits of virtual fundraising

Virtual fundraising is an increasingly popular way to raise money for your cause. Fundraising ideas have evolved over the years, and virtual fundraisers are no exception! These are just a few benefits of bringing your fundraising efforts to the digital world. 

• Your fundraiser will reach a wider audience.
• You can receive donations from anywhere in the world.
• Fundraise 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Your donation page is always working for you. Fundraising campaigns can last much longer than a single event or gala — no need to limit your fundraiser to a single day.
• It’s cost-effective since you don’t need to rent large venues and hire staff, which means more money for your organization to make a difference.   
• It’s eco-friendly! No need to print flyers or banners — just promote your fundraiser online and let the donations come in. 

Virtual fundraising ideas

From virtual 5Ks and marathons, to online silent auctions and sponsored activities, virtual fundraising ideas can help you reach your goals faster and easier than ever before. With the power of technology, you can easily get your message out to a global audience and keep track of donations along the way — no matter where they come from! So why wait? Start exploring virtual fundraising ideas today and see how easy it can be to make a difference.

Live stream auction

One of the most popular virtual fundraising ideas is an online auction where you host a live-streamed event and ask donors to place bids on items they’d like to buy. You can partner with local businesses or even national companies, who donate items for the bidding process. It’s also easy to set up an entry fee for participating in the auction, which can help generate extra funds for your cause. 

Virtual gala fundraising ideas

Another virtual fundraising idea is to host a virtual gala with an entry fee and a suggested donation amount. During the event, you could live-stream music performances or interactive games (such as trivia) and showcase stories of individuals impacted by your nonprofit’s work.  

Virtual happy hour 

People love getting together with friends and having a good time. Why not offer a virtual happy hour for your supporters with a fee to pay? Invite guests to bring their own beverages and snacks (or order from a local restaurant) and enjoy an evening of virtual entertainment.

Virtual 5K

Organizing a virtual 5K is an easy way to generate donations and create a sense of community. Set up a registration fee, then encourage runners to spread the word, participate in challenges, and take pictures with their running buddies!  Virtual running events are much easier to organize than large in-person events, so you don’t have to worry about all the logistics that come with hosting a physical event. 

Peer-to-peer virtual fundraisers

Another great way to fundraise virtually is through peer-to-peer fundraising. This type of fundraiser allows your supporters to create their own fundraising pages and share them with their networks, to raise money for your organization. With this type of fundraiser, you can tap into the power of social media and leverage your supporter’s networks to increase your fundraising efforts. 

Virtual concert

Hosting virtual concerts is one of the best ways to virtually fundraise — musicians can donate their talents, and it’s a great way to fill seats and raise money for your cause! Plus, you can easily spread the word about your upcoming virtual concert on social media to help draw a larger audience. 

Crowdfunding fundraising idea

Crowdfunding is one of the most popular virtual fundraising ideas — it’s also become part of the lexicon in recent years. Fundraisers set a goal and solicit small donations from many individuals to achieve that target. Platforms like MaxGiving make it easier for nonprofits to create, manage and promote crowdfunding campaigns through social media and email marketing. 

Tools to help your virtual fundraiser succeed

With online fundraising tools, you can easily track and collect donations in real-time, set up automated follow-up emails to thank your donors, and more. Plus, there are various tools designed specifically for virtual fundraisers, such as silent auction platforms or donation forms for easy collection of pledges. 

Whether you’re planning a virtual event or just looking for new ways to raise money, online fundraising tools can help make your efforts more successful. Start exploring these tools today and see how they can help you reach your goals. 

Matching gifts

Matching gifts are a great way to encourage more donations and generate more funds for your organization. Research suggests that when donors know that a matching gift is available, revenue increases by as much as 19%! 

With matching gifts, donors can double (or sometimes triple!) the impact of their donation when they donate through a company’s program. Many companies have matching gift programs, so be sure to research which ones apply to your organization.

Fundraising webpage

No virtual fundraiser is complete without an online fundraising webpage where potential donors can learn more about your cause and donate easily. Fundraising platforms like MaxGiving make it easy to set up a website for your virtual event, as well as manage donations and track progress towards your goal. 

Plus, MaxGiving supports mobile payments — meaning donors can donate quickly and securely from their phones. According to research from 2021, an estimated 20% of online donations were made using a mobile device. Seamless mobile integration is one of the most powerful online fundraising tools to keep donors engaged. 

Read more about choosing a virtual event fundraising platform here.

Social media 

Social media is a great way to promote your virtual fundraiser and spread the word about your cause. Leverage your networks to help ensure people are aware of the event, including using hashtags to get more visibility. 

Email campaign

Another great tool for virtual fundraising is an email campaign. Use email automation tools to send out regular updates about your virtual event. Make sure to include a link to your fundraising page and encourage people to donate or promote the fundraiser on their own social media accounts. 

According to the Global Trends in Giving Report, 26% of online donors say that email is the tool that most inspires them to give, while 63% say that hearing about how their donation makes a difference in an email newsletter is what motivates them to give again. Clearly, email is one of the most powerful tools for fundraising. Growing and communicating with your email list is a great way to garner loyal supporters. 

Guest management

Make sure to plan ahead when it comes to managing guests at your virtual event. A nonprofit fundraising tool like MaxGiving makes it easy to track RSVPs and send out regular updates about the fundraising progress, as well as thank-you notes and other relevant information. 

With MaxGiving, you can easily create a registration form for people to sign up and send out automated emails to remind them of the event. This software also helps you manage donor information like contact details, giving histories, and even pledge reminders. 

Video appeals 

Video appeals are an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to virtual fundraising. People are much more likely to donate if they can see and hear the stories of those impacted by your cause — so consider creating a video appeal that will resonate with potential donors. 

Online donation forms

Online donation forms are a great way to collect donations for your virtual fundraiser — and MaxGiving makes it easy to set up and manage your own donation forms. Plus, you can add in recurring giving options so that donors can easily make monthly or yearly donations. This helps ensure consistent funding for your nonprofit’s work. 

Donation tracking 

Donation tracking is a must-have tool for any virtual fundraiser. With this tool, you can monitor incoming donations in real-time and track their progress — which helps you to know when you’ve hit your goal. This way, you can also keep donors updated on how their contributions are making a difference. 

Tech support

Ensuring your virtual fundraiser runs smoothly is key to success. Make sure you have tech support available at all times, in case something goes wrong or if donors have questions about their donation process.  MaxGiving provides round-the-clock technical assistance so that you can run a successful virtual fundraiser with ease. 

By utilizing the power of virtual fundraising, you can reach more donors and maximize your impact. Get creative with your ideas and use technology to make your fundraiser a success! With these virtual fundraising ideas and helpful tools from MaxGiving, you’ll be able to bring in more donations and continue making an impact for years to come. Contact us to start your free demo!