Time-Saving Fundraising Tools for Your Nonprofit Organization

Fundraising is a necessity for almost every nonprofit. Whether you are a senior center, healthcare organization, or other community service agency, you need to raise money to be able to support your mission. With limited staff and resources, however, managing fundraising efforts can be time consuming and overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a variety of time-saving tools available to help streamline fundraising efforts, increase efficiency, and maximize impact.

Step 1: Plan Your Communication

When planning a fundraising event or initiative, you're going to need to spread the word. Make sure your communications include:

• Your organization’s name.
• The dates of your fundraiser.
• Details about the initiative. For example: is it a raffle? Are you accepting donations online or only in person? Etc.
• How, specifically, to donate. 
• Any website links for more information. 

Step 2: Determine Your Channels

At minimum, we suggest the following ways to reach your community about any fundraising you’re doing.

• Your Newsletter – Your print and digital newsletter is one of the most important places to publish information about fundraisers! If you don’t have a regular newsletter going out to your members and community yet, we’ve got you covered. Check out our print and digital newsletter services and the options we have to cover your newsletter costs with local ads! 

• Flyers & Posters – Printing advertising for your fundraiser and distributing it around your building or neighborhood is also key! We have a guide to creating successful flyers help you get started. 

• Social Media – Don’t forget to use your digital flyer and post it on your socal media profiles! Encourage your followers to repost it onto their own social profiles, too, for maximum exposure. 

• Website – It is becoming the gold standard these days to have a landing page specifically for your fundraiser on your website. Even better if you can put a banner or image advertising it on your homepage. If you’re already scratching your head about how to do this part, we have you covered! Start with our article about web design basics for community organizations or hop over to our web services page and learn more about WeConnect, and how easy it is for organizations like yours to build and maintain their websites with updates for fundraising and more! 

• Member Emails – Don’t forget to send out an email update to your members with all of the information and links necessary for them to participate in your fundraiser too! Consider including your flyer and a link to your fundraiser’s landing page! 

Step 3: Find the Right Fundraising Tools

Here are some time-saving fundraising tools your nonprofit organization might want to explore:

•  Online Donation Platforms
  One of the most important tools for any nonprofit is an easy-to-use online donation platform. These allow nonprofits to accept donations quickly, securely, and conveniently. With an online donation page, supporters can donate at any time without the need for in-person interaction. Tools like Donorbox and GiveWP allow nonprofits to set up customizable donation forms, integrate with websites, and automate receipts. These platforms also offer features such as donor tracking and reporting, which can help streamline data management.
  
  
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platforms
  Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising is a powerful way to expand your reach by encouraging your supporters to fundraise on your behalf. It’s often referred to as crowdfunding. Done properly, this approach to raising funds can provide a boost to your bottom line. Tools like Classy, GoFundMe, and RallyUp offer nonprofit organizations with the infrastructure to create custom fundraising pages. These platforms allow supporters to create their own fundraising campaigns, set goals, and share them with their networks. 
  
  
• Fundraising Event Management Software
  Eventbrite, GiveSmart, and OneCause are popular tools that streamline event registration, ticketing, and payment processing. They also offer features such as mobile bidding for auctions and automated email confirmations, reducing the manual work involved in event planning.
  
  In addition, event management software also allows you to track attendee data, send reminders, and provide real-time updates on event progress. For virtual events, tools like Zoom and RingCentral can integrate with your event management platform to simplify registration and ensure a seamless experience for attendees.
  
  
• CRM & Donor Management Software
  Managing donor relationships is another key to successful fundraising, and a robust customer relationship management (CRM) system can save your team hours of work. Tools like Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, and Salesforce for Nonprofits help nonprofits track donor information, giving history, and engagement. These systems also automate thank-you emails, donation receipts, and reminders for follow-up communications.
  
  
• Grant Management Tools
  For many nonprofits, grants are a significant source of funding. Grant writing can be a time-intensive process, but tools like GrantHub, Foundant, and Instrumentl can streamline the research and application process. They can help nonprofits identify potential grant opportunities, manage deadlines, and track submission progress.

With the right tools and thoughtful planning, fundraising can be fun! Start small, stay organized, and lean into the resources outlined here that can save you time and stress. Your mission matters — we hope this helps!