This guide will cover the fundamentals of fundraising campaigns.

The Fundamentals of Fundraising Campaign Planning: A Guide

/in , , /by

Picture this: your nonprofit is getting ready for the end-of-year giving season. To capitalize on your donors’ charitable spirits, you’ve optimized your donation page, gotten your social media in tip-top shape, but something is still missing. You quickly realize that you need to design an engaging year-end fundraising campaign that draws donors into your mission, but you’re not quite sure how.

Brainstorming and planning a compelling fundraising campaign at any time of the year can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re working with a limited budget and small team. However, with the right strategies and tech stack, your nonprofit can pull off a donor-centric campaign that will meet (and even exceed!) your fundraising goals.

Follow these expert steps to put together a winning fundraising campaign:

  1. Set clear goals
  2. Craft your messaging
  3. Invest in the right software

A successful fundraising campaign can help your nonprofit establish a reliable donation pipeline, reach new audiences, and foster stronger relationships with donors. Before you can tap into these key benefits, you’ll need to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan. Let’s begin.

1. Set clear goals

To give your nonprofit direction as you plan your fundraising campaign and foster accountability across your team, you need to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals. Using this goal setting framework will help you create a clear picture of what you want to achieve from your fundraiser and how you will achieve it.

For example, let’s say one of your nonprofit’s primary goals is to expand your reach and attract new donors. Here’s what this goal could look like as a SMART goal:

  • Specific: Our nonprofit will lead a robust nonprofit marketing strategy to get the word out about our fundraising campaign to new audiences. Specifically, we’ll post on social media three times a week to promote our fundraising campaign or event, share deadlines, and communicate our goal. Plus, we’ll host exciting social media contests and pair our social media posts with relevant hashtags to reach new audiences.
  • Measurable: Our goal is to increase our donor acquisition rate by 10%.
  • Attainable: When we started to produce more engaging social media content on a once-a-week basis, we were able to increase our donor acquisition rate by 5%. A 10% boost in our donor acquisition rate therefore seems within our grasp, especially since we’ll be regularly creating social media content tailored to our target audience.
  • Relevant: Increasing our donor acquisition rate helps to expand our donor base and moves us closer to reaching our fundraising goal. With a strong stewardship plan, we can push these donors up the giving pyramid towards more frequent and higher-impact gifts.
  • Time-bound: We will begin generating social media content about our upcoming campaign two weeks before it starts and aim to achieve a 10% increase in donor acquisition by the campaign’s conclusion. We’ll hold a check-in meeting to assess our progress at the halfway point of our campaign.

Make sure to lay out the timeline for your campaign and identify the point-people who will be in charge of leading your different projects—from generating your marketing materials to executing your donor recognition strategy. This will help to rally your team around your goals and ensure everyone has a clear understanding of their roles.

Your goals will also help you pinpoint the right type of fundraising campaign for your nonprofit. For example, if your goal is to expand your network of donors, a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign can be the perfect way to attract new supporters and strengthen relationships with existing ones.

Or, maybe your nonprofit is looking for a way to increase visibility around the problem you’re tackling, making an awareness campaign a great option. Aligning your goals with the right type of fundraising campaign will make it more likely that you’ll see them through.

2. Craft your messaging

Once you’ve mapped out what kind of fundraising campaign you’ll host and you’ve determined your SMART goals, it’s time to craft your campaign messaging. Your marketing and communication strategy will play a huge role in the success of your fundraising campaign, so it’s critical that you develop compelling messaging that will inspire supporters to give.

Use these tips to create the right messaging for your campaign:

  • Infuse your branding: Your branding communicates who you are to new supporters and what your organization stands for. Plus, attaching your branding to your campaign helps to boost trust and show that this campaign is being hosted by your organization. The OneCause guide to nonprofit marketing plans explains that your nonprofit needs to use both your verbal and visual branding elements when promoting your upcoming campaigns. Your verbal branding refers to the way you describe your mission and your tone, while your visual branding (such as your color scheme and logo) makes your messaging more lively to engage with. Refer to your branding guidelines so your campaign messaging is consistent with the rest of your nonprofit’s communications.
  • Leverage storytelling: Storytelling can help you emotionally connect with supporters and demonstrate how donations will drive tangible change in your community. For example, an animal welfare organization might tell the story of a dog from a hoarding incident that they successfully rehabilitated and rehomed. End your story by explaining how the donations from your fundraising campaign will enable your organization to help even more people (or animals) in your community.
  • Create a clear call to action: Supporters will wonder how they can get involved in your campaign, whether by creating their own personal fundraising page, donating, or signing a petition. Clearly define the next step supporters should take and provide relevant links so they can act on your requests with ease. You should also create a sense of urgency by using time-bound language, such as saying “Donate by midnight to have your gift matched!” This will increase the likelihood that supporters will act on your requests as soon as they read them.
  • Align your messaging across different platforms: A multichannel marketing strategy helps you create multiple touchpoints with supporters, keeping your campaign top of mind. Ensure your fundraising communications across different platforms maintain your core messaging and branding so supporters have a clear understanding of your campaign’s purpose and how to help.

As you craft your messaging, remember to consider your target audience’s interests and values so you can frame your communications to them. This way, your calls to action will be more likely to resonate with donors and prompt giving.

3. Invest in the right software

Rather than haphazardly piecemealing multiple fundraising tools together, work with an all-in-one fundraising solution to manage your campaign. A comprehensive fundraising platform will provide your nonprofit with everything it needs to plan and execute fundraisers of all types and formats.

Invest in a platform with the following key features:

  • Online fundraising: Your software should empower your nonprofit to create and customize online donation forms, develop a branded fundraising microsite in just moments, and drive giving with built-in gamification tools. Backed by these features, you can create a seamless online giving experience that will allow donors to give to your campaign anywhere and anytime.
  • Event management: To maximize your fundraising campaign’s engagement, you might pair it with an exciting in-person, online, or hybrid event. Look for a fundraising solution that helps your nonprofit host live-streams with ease, manage RSVPs, and facilitate simple event check-in and out with mobile tools.
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising: Thinking of handing the fundraising reins over to your loyal supporters? Re:Charity’s guide to fundraising software recommends investing in a solution that empowers supporters to easily create their own personal fundraising pages (customized to their preferences) and share them widely online using social media integrations.
  • Text-to-give: With people on their phones more than ever before, you need a way to break through the noise online and reach your supporters directly with your fundraising requests and updates. Leverage a fundraising solution with text-to-give capabilities so you can capture donations year-round and keep donors tapped into your organization.
  • Auction management tools: Ending your fundraising campaign with an auction is a great way to create an unforgettable donor experience and bring in significant funds. Your software should come with auction features like mobile bidding, leadership scoreboards, real-time analytics, and more to take your auctions up a notch.

Investing in a sound fundraising platform might sound costly, but the right solution will provide value to your organization year over year, earning you a high ROI. Do your research to find a comprehensive platform suited to your nonprofit’s needs.

Running a well-designed fundraising campaign doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips will provide your organization with the necessary foundation to bring your campaign to life, but make sure to regularly assess your fundraising progress and make changes to your strategy as needed to maximize your funding. Once your campaign concludes, remember to thank your donors so you can retain their support for your next fundraiser.

This guide explores how schools can create winning strategies to combine matching gifts and higher education and examples of successful initiatives.

How to Win With Matching Gifts And Higher Education: A Guide

/in , /by

If you work for a higher education institution, you know that marketing your mission is essential to bring in generous donations that fund your school. But did you know you could maximize existing donations through corporate matching gifts?

To pair matching gifts and higher education, you need an actionable plan. That’s where this guide comes in. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Double (and even triple!) your donors’ generous contributions to maximize funding for your institution. Let’s dive in to learn how!

Click this graphic to learn more about how nonprofit marketing can help pair matching gifts and higher education.

How to Get Started With Matching Gifts for Higher Education

When it comes to minimum or maximum gift amounts, gift ratios, and all other matching gift logistics, you might think everything is determined by the donor and their employer. Think again! Your school can pave the way to accepting matching gifts by following these five steps:

This image shows the five steps to launching a matching gift program at a higher education institution.

1. Get your team on board with matching gifts.

Before you can effectively promote matching gifts to your institution’s donors, it’s important to build a solid internal foundation, starting with your fundraising and development team members! Prepare your team for matching gifts by:

  • Presenting all the details: Host a meeting about matching gift fundraising. Explain what it is, the most effective way to implement matching gift fundraising, and how it will help your school achieve its goals.
  • Providing team-wide training: Teach the team how to raise matching gifts and how the new initiative will be incorporated into their roles.
  • Incorporating matching gifts into onboarding: Once your existing team is up-to-date, implement matching gifts training into the onboarding process for new team members as a part of your updated processes.

When you set apart time for team-wide training on matching gifts, you’ll help everyone see the enormous potential of the initiative.

2. Set Your Goals

HubSpot’s goal-setting guide highlights a study that shows that 76% of people who write down their goals and make a list of goal-driven actions achieve what they set out to do. Craft a plan that details your matching gift revenue goals for the year, how you’re going to meet those goals and stay on track, and any deadlines you’ll want to meet in the process.

Consider the SMART goal framework to craft well-thought-out and detailed objectives to follow:

  • Specific: What exactly are you looking to achieve?
  • Measurable: What number would designate success?
  • Attainable: How realistic is your goal?
  • Relevant: How is your goal related to the initiative?
  • Time-bound: What is the deadline for reaching your goal?

For example, “Our matching gifts goal is to collect $10,000 in completed company matches by the end of 2022.” With tangible objectives in place, your team is in a better position to actively work toward those goals.

3. Collect Donor Information

When it comes to matching gifts for higher education and otherwise, donor information is critical. Let’s say you’re performing prospect research to find major donors for your university. As you do this research, include a matching gift specification to target alumni working for companies with matching gift programs. You might look for:

This graphic shows what institutions of higher education should look for when conducting prospect research to identify matching gift opportunities.

  • Employer information: What companies do your prospective donors work for? Do these companies offer matching gift programs?
  • Giving history: Consider your engagement with the alumni who work at companies with matching gift programs. Have these alumni donated to your institution before? If so, how much and how often do they give?
  • Campus involvement: Categorize alumni by their activities during their time as a student. Were they involved in any clubs or activities that might point to an affinity for your school’s mission?

Thorough donor research enables your team to locate high-value matching gift opportunities and leverage an informed perspective of your donor’s capacity to give.

To take your donor research to the next level, request employer appends. For higher ed universities especially, employer appends can be helpful to determine graduation year, email address, or any other missing data that would inform you of your donor’s matching gift eligibility and donation history.

4. Promote the Opportunity

Next, tell people about the opportunity to give! After collecting information about your donors, use a donor database to track all the details you’ve collected. Then, you can segment your communications to ensure different groups of people receive relevant communications.

Whether you’re reaching out to new alumni, older alumni, small- or large-dollar amount donors, or donors who work for top matching gift companies, every message should be different. Consider incorporating the following details into your communications to make personalize your messaging:

  • The donor’s name (or preferred nickname)
  • Their previous engagement or most recent donations
  • Information about their employer’s specific matching gift program guidelines

Sending your donors highly personalized outreach is an effective way to encourage them to participate in their employer’s matching gift program. After all, when you customize your communications to individual donors and create targeted campaigns, you’re more likely to find higher engagement and response rates from your donor pool.

Learn more about fundraiser promotion from Getting Attention’s newsletter!

5. Follow Up

After promoting your matching gift initiative, donations should start rolling in. Following up with donors is important for supporter engagement and capturing as many donations as possible, so you should consider it another step in the matching gift process!

Your donors want to know your institution appreciates their gift and that you value them as a supporter, alumni, or whatever their relationship may be. Here are a few keys ways you can do this:

  • Thank your donors for the initial donation. This might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Thank your donors immediately for their donations. Email is the quickest and most efficient way to do this, but you can also send a printed letter in addition to the initial email confirmation, depending on their donation level and your institution’s budget.
  • Thank your donors for submitting a match request. If you’ve been tracking which donors submit a match request to their employer (which you should be!), make sure you thank them for getting the matching process started. This is a huge step they’ve taken to make their donation go twice as far, so showing your appreciation is crucial.
  • Thank your donors after the company match has been received. Once the company’s matching donation has come through, you owe it to your donors to update them and thank them once again. Let them know their donation has gone twice as far and how much of a difference this has made for your school. This also serves as a point of reference for them so they understand how long the process actually takes.

On the other hand, some people will look into matching gifts and fail to follow through with a donation. Your school can seamlessly reach out to these potential donors and follow up through a matching gifts automation platform.

360MatchPro by Double the Donation’s automated platform tracks matching gift submissions from start to finish. When donors give a gift on your donation form, the platform determines their eligibility for a matching gift using the information they provided. If it finds a link between a donor and a matching gift program, it will trigger a follow-up email to the donor explaining how they can submit a match request.

You’ll be able to choose how often follow-up emails go out and easily track any incomplete matches. That way, your team will be able to spend more time on high-value matching gift opportunities and see more requests through to completion.

How to Promote Matching Gifts and Higher Education

According to Double the Donation’s matching gift statistics, 84% of donors say they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered—but 78% of donors don’t know if their company offers a matching gift program! That’s why promoting matching gifts and program basics is extremely important.

Your key audience: alumni donors. If you’re keeping tabs on the employment statuses of your students after graduation, you already have a robust database of potential donors. Plus, those with a connection to your school and its mission will be more motivated to give.

How can you promote matching gifts to alumni donors? Here are a few ideas:

This graphic shows the four channels higher education institutions can use to promote matching gifts.

  • Email communications. Whether you’re sending out an email to thank a donor for their specific gift or sending out an alumni newsletter, it’s important to include information about matching gifts to raise awareness about this giving opportunity.
  • Text messages. For a more personal outreach method (and to guarantee your message will be seen), send a direct text message. This is a great channel to use when bringing up matching gifts since everyone checks their text messages! Plus, matching gifts are so easy to explain, you can grab people’s attention with just one, short text.
  • Direct mail. You likely already send direct mail to students and alumni, so it should be easy to incorporate matching gifts into this communication channel! Include a flyer within your other mailings or send out a postcard that specifically highlights matching gift opportunities.
  • Website. Your website is the hub for all information about your school and various fundraising initiatives. For matching gifts specifically, it might also host your donation form or auto-submission tool. Set up a dedicated matching gifts page to prominently feature matching gifts on your institution’s website.

As an added bonus, you can use other marketing techniques to promote information about your matching gift initiative. For example, promote your landing page on Google to help alumni stumble upon it, even if they’re searching for something else! If search engine marketing (SEM) is the route you want to go, check out Google’s grant program for educational institutions.

Click this graphic to learn how to promote matching gifts and higher education through search engine marketing.

Be sure to demonstrate the impact donations and matching gifts will have on your school. This means specifically noting what certain dollar amounts will go toward.

For example, will $200 go toward new books for the school library? Will $500 go toward establishing a new student scholarship fund? Associating dollar amounts with a tangible item will encourage more donations, which could then be amplified by a company match!

Matching Gift Tools For Your School

Setting goals, promoting matching gifts, and every other step of starting a matching gift initiative can actually become easier if you invest in matching gift software for your school. The right tools will streamline the entire matching gift process from start to finish.

How? Matching gift software gives you direct access to a matching gift database, which offers information on thousands of companies with matching gift programs. Here’s how it works:

This graphic shows what a matching gift database looks like on the website of a higher education institution.

The software’s company name search tool can be embedded anywhere on your website. It allows donors to quickly look up their company’s matching gift program without needing to ask their HR departments or look it up on their own (or even more importantly, without leaving your website).

After making their search, the tool will immediately populate with essential info about the company’s program, such as:

  • Employee eligibility
  • Nonprofit eligibility
  • Minimum and maximum match amounts
  • Match ratios

It will also typically include a link to the company’s matching gift forms so your donors can fill out the match request right then and there. Immediacy is important—donors are most engaged with your school as they’re donating, so offering them a direct link to the necessary forms at that moment will result in more completed match requests.

5 Higher Education Institutions That Mastered Matching Gift Initiatives

Everyone prefers different learning styles, from auditory resources to hands-on learning experiences. If you’re a visual learner, we’ve compiled a list of matching gift initiative examples—that way, you can look at universities that did it well and understand how they succeeded!

These five universities exemplify effective fundraising through matching gifts by utilizing:

This image shows the shared elements of the matching gift initiatives of the five higher education institutions discussed in the text below.

  • University branding
  • Easily accessible navigation
  • Matching gift information
  • Matching gift submission options
  • Company search tool
  • Extra contact information

These five institutions mastered their website’s matching gifts pages and even leveraged other digital marketing channels to draw attention to their matching gift initiatives. Let’s take a look at each one in closer detail!

1. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia made our list because its dedicated matching gifts page offers both educational and actionable information to encourage donors to submit a match request. Here are the top things to note about their page:

  • It’s easily accessible: Users can find UGA’s matching gifts page from the navigation bar (How to Give → Matching Gifts), even if they weren’t looking for it.
  • It’s visually appealing: The page immediately captures attention with a graphic that illustrates how matching gifts can maximize impact.
  • It leverages a company name search tool: UGA has embedded a company name search tool from Double the Donation, which makes it easy for donors to find the information they need about their employer’s matching gift program.
  • It’s informative: UGA’s matching gift page outlines simple instructions for submitting a matching gift, as well as a contact form for any additional questions. They also list some top providers who match donations and matching gift contact information for anyone with questions.

However, UGA’s matching gift efforts aren’t just limited to this page. They’ve also embedded the same matching gift search tool into their donation form, and the tool is branded to match the rest of their page.

UGA sends out automated emails once a match-eligible donor has submitted their donation. This email identifies the donor’s employer and offers direct links to start the matching gift submission process and indicate their status. Additional information about their employer’s matching gift program is listed in the email, as well.

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon offers actionable verbiage and options to encourage donors to match their gifts through their employers. Their matching gifts page is easily accessible from their “Give” page (Ways to Make Your Gift → Matching Gifts). It offers:

  • Brief but useful information about matching gifts, along with instructions on how to submit a matching gift directly to the university or process it online.
  • An embedded search tool (also from Double the Donation), automatically pulls up company names and information once the donor starts typing in it.
  • Contact information, including a phone number, email address, and mailing address, for those who have questions and want to reach out to CMU’s Gift Administration office

But again, the matching gift information isn’t limited to this page. On CMU’s donation form, there’s a checkbox where donors can indicate “My company will match my gift.” If selected, an option to search for the donor’s employer pops up along with the company name search tool.

Carnegie Mellon does an exemplary job of educating their donors and web visitors about matching gifts and guiding them through the process.

3. Utah Valley University

Another great example of a higher ed institution that puts matching gifts front and center during their cultivation and donation process is Utah Valley University. Here’s what their matching gifts page does well:

  • It’s easily accessible from the menu of their main Institutional Advancement page (Ways to Give → Matching Gifts).
  • It provides matching gift basics, including a brief but precise description of what matching gifts are and how donors can search for their company to determine their own eligibility.
  • It includes a company name search tool donors can use to look up their employer’s program.
  • It makes additional help easy to find by displaying the name and contact information of the Director of Annual Giving.

For supporters who are ready to make a donation, UVU offers the same search tool on their donation page. The tool matches the rest of the form and helps donors find their company guidelines on a subsequent page:

UVU also sends out automated emails to donors who have been identified as match eligible. This email identifies:

  • The donor’s employer
  • The steps they can follow to submit a match request
  • Additional contact information
  • Extra information about the specific company’s guidelines

UVU offers numerous ways for donors to learn about matching gifts through multiple channels, as well as provides actionable tools donors can use to submit their match requests.

4. Syracuse University

As soon as donors land on Syracuse University’s matching gifts page, they’re greeted with helpful information about corporate matching gifts and a company name search tool. The page’s top benefits include:

  • Straightforward instructions: Donors can follow the brief and easy instructions on the page to search for their company and click on the appropriate button to submit a match, if they’re eligible.
  • Notable branding: Every element is branded to match the university’s colors, creating a consistent experience for donors and a visually appealing page and form.
  • Prominent call-to-action: To get visitors started on the donation process, the page urges donors to “Give now!” with a prominent button that leads them straight to the donation form.

Syracuse also sends out automated emails to match-eligible individuals who have completed a donation. The emails include specific information about the employer’s matching gift guidelines, including their:

  • Match ratio
  • Minimum and maximum match amounts
  • Employee eligibility
  • Deadlines

Syracuse does an excellent job maintaining a consistent brand, communicating with donors, and guiding them through the matching gift process.

5. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan’s matching gift page can be accessed from the navigation bar of the university’s philanthropy website (Giving → Make an Impact → Matching Gifts). From there, the page offers information about different ways to submit a matching gift request:

  • Use their embedded company name search tool. Donors can read the step-by-step instructions on the page before using the search tool and beginning the gift process.
  • Reach out to the employer directly. The page notes that donors can contact their employer’s human resources department to learn about the company’s matching gift program and the procedures for making a gift.
  • Contact the university. Donors can direct their matching gift questions to the university via email, phone number, or direct mail.

The University of Michigan offers substantial information to its supporters to ensure they understand what matching gifts are, how to determine their eligibility, and what steps they can take to submit a match request.

Additional Matching Gifts and Higher Education Resources

The learning process is never over! If you’re part of a higher education institution and you’re looking for ways to boost your fundraising efforts (with matching gifts or other strategies), check out the following resources:

Click this graphic to learn more about online marketing to promote matching gifts and higher education.

In this article, you’ll learn about 20 festive Christmas fundraising ideas to earn more for your cause this holiday season.

20 Christmas Fundraising Ideas to Ring in the Holiday Season

/in /by

With 30% of annual giving occurring in December, it’s not surprising that the holiday season is also the ultimate nonprofit fundraising season. People feel inclined to give back to their favorite causes during the holidays, and nonprofits should lean into that giving spirit to maximize their fundraising results.

However, there are so many nonprofits for donors to choose from. How do you make yours stand out and capture the attention of potential donors?

When you implement Christmas-specific fundraising ideas, you make holiday giving fun. There’s no better way to entice people to give during the holiday season than to give your fundraising efforts a little Christmas spin. Let’s walk through 20 Christmas fundraising ideas so your nonprofit can engage donors and earn more this holiday season.Click through to check out our recommended holiday eCard software provider and jumpstart your Christmas fundraising.

1. Christmas eCards

Christmas cards are a classic way to spread holiday cheer with family and friends. What if you could make Christmas cards more convenient and use them to encourage holiday giving?

Enter Christmas eCards. With eCards, people can connect with their loved ones—no matter where they are—with the click of a button. Your nonprofit can use dedicated holiday eCard software to create Christmas eCards and sell them on your website to raise money for your cause. Then, donors can add personalized messages and share their eCards. This image shows an example of a Christmas eCard used for a fundraiser.

Another way to fundraise with Christmas eCards is to offer them as tribute gifts. Donors can contribute to your nonprofit in honor of a loved one and send them an eCard detailing the donation and your cause. In that case, eCards act as Christmas cards and presents, spreading double the holiday cheer.

If you’re curious about what a Christmas eCard fundraising campaign looks like in action, eCardWidget provides a few examples from organizations like UnitingWorld and Habitat for Humanity South Africa.

Check Out More Example of Christmas eCard Campaigns!

2. Christmas Auction

Another Christmas fundraising idea is hosting a Christmas auction. This type of fundraiser is very versatile because you can pair it with other fundraising methods. For example, if you’re hosting a Christmas party or other holiday-themed event, you can include an auction as part of the festivities.

Plus, auctions are a great way to not only earn money for your cause but also offer donors something in return for their contributions. Include an array of holiday-themed items, such as wreaths, ornaments, sweaters, gift baskets, gift cards, and holiday event tickets.

To offset the costs of procuring items, reach out to local businesses to obtain corporate sponsorships. Then, companies can donate items to be auctioned off to your supporters. In exchange, you can promote these businesses on all marketing materials, including your website, newsletter, and social media pages.

3. Holiday Matching Gift Campaign

What could be better than a fundraising idea that comes at no additional cost to donors but has the potential to double—or even triple—your fundraising revenue? When you promote matching gifts, you make it more likely that donors will submit matching gift requests to their employers in an effort to double the impact of their donations for your cause.

While you may already advertise matching gift opportunities to your donors, doing so during the holiday season when giving is at an all-time high can be an effective way to raise even more. Since the matching gift process almost exclusively occurs online, leverage a digital fundraising campaign to promote matching gifts, using methods such as social media, Google Ads, and email.

To facilitate the matching gift process, consider using matching gift software. Double the Donation’s guide to matching gift software vendors explains that since many donors don’t know if they’re eligible for matching gifts, they don’t fill out matching gift requests, leaving extra money on the table that nonprofits could benefit from.

When you implement matching gift software, donors can check their matching gift eligibility and send matching gift requests right from your donation page, guaranteeing you’ll receive the associated company matches.

4. Christmas Cookie Exchange

Nothing screams Christmas joy like Christmas cookies. Host a Christmas cookie exchange to get your supporters’ creative juices flowing and bring your community together this holiday season.

Charge participants a small fee for entry. Then, all you’ll have to provide is a space for people to exchange cookies! This type of fundraiser is an easy and fun way to engage donors and their families during the holiday season.

You can raise even more with your Christmas cookie exchange by:

  • Selling cookie dough. For supporters who want to participate but aren’t the best bakers out there, make it easy by selling pre-portioned packages or tubs of cookie dough. That way, you can earn even more for your cause and increase engagement rates.
  • Turning it into a cookie-a-thon. If you want to bring out your supporters’ competitive sides, transform your Christmas cookie exchange into a cookie-a-thon. During a cookie-a-thon, participants can obtain pledges for the number of cookies they bake during the event. Then, those funds will go back to your organization. After the cookie-a-thon, participants can opt-in to share their cookies during your Christmas cookie exchange.
  • Hosting a cookie-eating contest. Don’t know what to do with all those cookies after your Christmas cookie exchange? Host a cookie-eating contest! You can charge participants a small fee to enter and provide a prize to whoever can eat a certain amount of cookies the fastest.

No matter whether you host a traditional Christmas cookie exchange or combine it with other Christmas fundraising ideas, you’re sure to entice your supporters with the prospect of enjoying a treat and contributing to your cause at the same time.

5. Tree Decorating Contest

When you think of Christmas, the traditional Christmas tree likely comes to mind. There are so many different ways you can incorporate a tree decorating contest into your holiday season fundraising strategy.

One option is to have supporters team up to decorate and pay an entry fee to participate. If your nonprofit has the means, you can provide each team with a tree or work with a local Christmas tree farm to offer trees to your supporters.This image shows kids decorating a Christmas tree.

If you want to host your tree decorating contest virtually, you can have supporters pay a small fee and submit pictures of their decorated trees from home. This way, you can reach a wider audience and encourage anyone who’s confident in their home’s tree decorations to join in on the fun.

In order to judge the entries, have members of your staff evaluate trees based on their creativity, festivity, and overall quality. To earn even more from this fundraiser, you can have supporters pay a small fee to vote on their favorite entry and determine the winner that way.

6. Holiday 5K

Get your supporters active this holiday season with a festive 5K. Have runners pay an entry fee so you can raise money for your cause.

It’s easy to host a 5K—all you have to do is secure space for the course. Then, you can focus on making the run fun and filled with holiday cheer!

For example, you can encourage participants to dress up in holiday attire. From Santa suits to ugly sweaters, there are a variety of ways participants can dress according to the theme.

As a final touch, sell Christmas-themed branded merchandise. Consider offering t-shirts to commemorate the event and other smaller items such as mugs and stickers. That way, you can raise even more for your cause.

7. Online Shopping Fundraiser

What’s better than a fundraiser that doesn’t require supporters to contribute any additional money to your nonprofit? Online shopping fundraisers allow your supporters to give back to your cause while they purchase holiday gifts for their loved ones.

Check out how an online shopping fundraiser works:

  1. Supporters download an online shopping fundraiser app or browser extension.
  2. Then, supporters shop online using the app or browser extension.
  3. Supporters choose their nonprofit of choice, and a percentage of their purchases goes toward a worthy cause!

To facilitate this fundraiser, your nonprofit can partner with a provider like ShopRaise so your organization can be included in online shopping fundraiser apps. As a result, you’ll also have access to metrics about which supporters have used the app and how much they’ve contributed through their holiday shopping.

8. Polar Plunge

Challenge your supporters to a frigid polar plunge! For this fundraiser, supporters jump into a cold body of water to raise money for your nonprofit. They collect pledges from family and friends ahead of time, encouraging them to brave the cold for your cause.

When it comes to a polar plunge, safety is key. Here are some steps you can take to ensure all participants stay safe at your event:

  1. Have participants sign waivers when registering for the event.
  2. Hire EMTs and lifeguards to attend the event in case of emergency.
  3. Provide towels and blankets for participants after they take the plunge.

With safety precautions in place, you’re equipped to host a polar plunge event that brings out the daredevil in your participants and raises funds for your nonprofit.

9. Gingerbread House Contest

Inspire a little healthy competition among your supporters with a gingerbread house contest. Participants can pay a small fee for entry. Then, it’s time to get creative!

Work with a local bakery to provide participants with gingerbread and a variety of decorating supplies. Supporters of all ages can create their ideal gingerbread house and enter it into the running.

Then, have your staff and supporters vote on their gingerbread house of choice. You can even open up the contest to your social media followers to include a wider audience.

10. Breakfast with Santa

Family holiday fun awaits with a breakfast with Santa event. Invite your supporters to a festive holiday breakfast featuring special guest, Santa. Charge supporters an entry fee to attend.

Make the breakfast element easy by offering pancakes and waffles. That way, all you’ll have to do is buy pancake mix and ask your supporters to lend their griddles of waffle makers. If you want to provide a wider variety of food options, consider partnering with a local restaurant or catering company.This image shows a stack of pancakes decorated to look like Santa.Don’t forget about the guest of honor! Have a member of your staff dress up as Santa and engage with families at the event. Then, you can feature pictures of Santa and your supporters on your social media to ring in the holiday season.

11. Christmas Text-to-Give

Take advantage of the giving season with a text-to-give campaign. You can make it easy for people to lend their support by offering the option to contribute right from their phones.

Choose a holiday-related keyword for supporters to text to a designated number. Then, they’ll be directed to your donation page where they can make a contribution.

For optimal success, make sure your donation page is mobile-friendly. Adjusting text size and image formatting can make your page more accessible, allowing more people to lend their support.

12. Holiday Gala

A holiday gala is a great way to gather your community together during the holiday season. Sell tickets for the event on your website and entice people to attend by offering sneak peeks on your social media.

Reach out to restaurants and catering companies to see if they’d be willing to cater the event. That way, you can provide a delicious dinner to your supporters at little to no cost to your organization.

Holiday galas also present an opportunity to look back at your successes from the past year. Create a slideshow that highlights your accomplishments and thanks attendees for their continued support.

13. In-Kind Donation Drive

Chances are that your beneficiaries could benefit from certain items in addition to typical donations. Encourage your donors to show their support in a different way with an in-kind donation drive.

Make a list of items your supporters can contribute. For example, an animal shelter may accept pet food, leashes, and bowls whereas a homeless shelter may look for holiday gifts, personal care items, and clothing for their residents.

Ensure it’s clear where supporters can drop off their contributions. You may create a festive donation box with wrapping paper and put it in a visible location outside your organization’s headquarters or in the building.

14. Holiday Movie Night

One of the easiest ways to fundraise during the holiday season is with a movie night. All your organization has to do is sell tickets and provide a space to show the movie!

To engage your supporters, have them vote on which holiday movie they’d like to see. You can even turn the event into a holiday movie marathon by showing multiple festive movies back to back.This image shows a family watching a Christmas movie.Earn even more from your holiday movie night by selling snacks and drinks to enjoy. Ask your supporters if any of them have a popcorn machine they’d be willing to lend for the event. Then, you’ll really create an authentic movie theater atmosphere!

15. Ice Skating Event

Skate the night away at an ice skating fundraiser! Get in touch with your local ice rink to see if they’re willing to host a proceeds night. That way, a percentage of your supporters’ ice skating entry fees can go toward your cause.

To give this wintry event a holiday touch, consider selling hot chocolate or Christmas cookies for skaters to enjoy when they get off the rink. Just make sure to check that the rink allows outside organizations to sell items at their venue.

16. Christmas Bingo

Add a Christmas spin to the classic bingo fundraiser. Make this family-friendly activity suitable for the holidays by using Christmas-themed bingo boards, playing Christmas music, and giving away Christmas-themed prizes to the winners.

To make the event profitable, sell tickets for entry or depending on how many rounds people play. You can raise additional funds by adding a raffle or silent auction to your event.

17. Holiday Candy Grams

Allow your supporters to sweeten up their loved ones’ holiday seasons by selling holiday candy grams. Provide candy and paper for personalized notes, and you’re good to go!

From candy canes to peppermint bark, there is a variety of fun holiday-themed candy you can use for your candy gram fundraiser. Spread awareness of the event by promoting it on social media and allowing non-local supporters to purchase candy grams on your website. You can even have people send their candy grams with a festive eCard in lieu of a physical note.

18. Holiday Lights Festival

Want to provide a magical experience for your supporters? Transform your nonprofit’s facility into a winter wonderland! Depending on the size and nature of your building, you can create an indoor or drive-by lights display that gets your supporters into the holiday spirit.This image shows a house decorated with Christmas lights.

Collect donations before supporters view the display. You can earn more from the event by selling holiday treats, such as hot chocolate and candy canes, for people to enjoy as they experience the display.

19. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

A Christmas scavenger hunt can get supporters of all ages excited about the holiday season. Hide Christmas-related items around your facility. Charge participants for entry, and whoever finds all the items first wins a prize!

You can also open up the scavenger hunt to people outside of your local area. Create an online version of the scavenger hunt by allowing supporters to send in pictures of the items on your list. Then, you can post the winning entry on social media.

20. Gratefulness Challenge

The true essence of the holiday season is being grateful for everything you have. Inspire supporters to share what they’re grateful for with a social media challenge. In December, you can encourage supporters to post a photo of something they’re grateful for, such as loved ones or pets.

Raise funds with a gratefulness challenge by having participants share a link to your donation page. They can contextualize their post for supporters by explaining the challenge in the caption and how their support can help your nonprofit propel its mission forward.

Your supporters can amplify their impact by tagging friends and family members and encouraging them to participate in the challenge as well.

Wrapping Up & Additional Resources

The holiday season is all about three things: friends, family, and fun. Let your Christmas fundraising campaign reflect what this time of year truly stands for.

Provide opportunities for donors to participate in fundraising with their loved ones and support your organization in a way that also gets them excited about the holiday season. That way, everyone can enjoy the fundraising process and ultimately help your organization meet its year-end fundraising goals.

Looking for more fundraising resources? Check out these articles: