5 simple steps to revamp your fundraising strategy

Charitable giving rose by 4% in 2024, driven largely by individual donors who contributed more than corporations and foundations combined. 

Creating a fundraising plan helps you connect with these individuals, build relationships, and increase revenue to fuel your mission. Here’s how to refine your approach and inspire even greater giving.

Hone your fundraising strategic plan in 5 steps

Fundraising is essential for every nonprofit—not just those with a 501(c) attached. Whether you’re aiming to renovate an animal shelter, launch a new educational initiative, or fund transportation for your programming, follow these fundraising strategy tips to maximize your campaign’s impact! 

1. Look back to look forward

If this isn't your first fundraising campaign, start by reviewing past metrics. Analyze your fundraising from the previous year to see what worked (and what didn't), set realistic timelines and project plans, and decide which target to set as a fundraising goal.

Most importantly, looking back at past campaigns offers a starting point to build your donor prospect list. Research shows that most new donors make a second contribution within a year of their first gift—19% do so within the first three months. Try the following tactics to target (and motivate) individuals who donated last year:

• Ask loyal givers to join your squad 🙋 Do you have a list of fiercely loyal supporters? Ask them to join your peer-to-peer fundraising efforts so they can attract their friends and family to your cause.
• Use a CRM system 📊 Keep track of your donor's demographics, past contributions, contact information, and other important notes using a donor management CRM.

2. Update your online presence

Before launching your campaign, ensure your online presence is up to date. 75% of donors research online before deciding to give—so, make sure you have a strong digital footprint. This means updating your website, optimizing for mobile (since half of all nonprofit web traffic comes from mobile devices!), and choosing the right fundraising software. As you update your online platform, keep the following in mind:

• Leverage your giving platform 💻 Select a platform that integrates with time-saving accounting software (like QuickBooks), CRM (like Salesforce), or email automation tools (like Mailchimp).
• Keep information skimmable 💡 Use short sentences, bullet points, and eye-catching statistics. You could also include promotional videos, images, GIFs, progress bars, or livestreams to further enhance engagement. 

3. Amplify your message across all platforms

55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media go on to take some sort of action—whether that’s donating, volunteering, or sharing. 

Invest in your social media outreach strategy by including platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. However, different demographics prefer different platforms, so don’t overlook traditional communication methods like direct mail, cold calling, or an email campaign. 

Here are three tactics to improve your fundraising plan:

• Use one-click social sharing 📣 Make it easy for supporters to share your message with nonprofit marketing software that offers one-click social sharing across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp.
• Share your story via text 📳 Text messages have a 98% open rate, while the average open rate for email hovers around 20%. Connect with potential donors and improve donor retention by launching a text message campaign.
• Highlight your impact 🙌 Don’t be shy about showcasing your nonprofit’s achievements. Supporters appreciate knowing exactly where their money is going. With Givebutter’s giving hub, you can share your wins and accept donations all in one convenient location. 

4. Invite your audience to become advocates

A strong example of a fundraising strategy is one that strengthens your supporters' connection to your cause and aligns with what they care about—so go beyond simply asking for donations. 

Fundraising strategy starts with WHO and WHY, not WHAT and WHEN.

‍—Ariel Glassman, Founder & CEO, Common Great

Invite supporters to be part of your fundraising strategy team by promoting peer-to-peer fundraising, creating shareable social media posts, and highlighting volunteer opportunities. Here are some new ways to engage your audience:

• Encourage peer-to-peer messaging 🎙 Create a supporter feed to deepen your connection with your community. Major donors, potential supporters, and even your in-house staff can swap GIFs, encourage one another, and help you reach your goal. 
• Run a livestream 🎥 Livestream your event on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, or Zoom. Givebutter supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid fundraising events, so you can connect with donors wherever they are. 

5. Make giving easy

Make the giving part as easy as possible for your donors. In other words, set your nonprofit up to accept Venmo, checks, and credit cards. Accepting a variety of payments helps make your fundraising efforts more effective. 

Double-check that your fundraising platform supports the following payment processing options: 

• Create special promo codes 🎉 For event ticketing, promo codes can incentivize early registration and encourage supporters to invite a friend (or two!). If you run an annual fundraiser, an early bird promo can help boost next year’s retention rates. 
• Offer text-to-donate 📲 Make donating on the go a breeze. Within seconds, your audience can give via text using Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, which works well for several fundraising activities (imagine a car wash where you no longer have to accept cash payments!).

Fundraising strategy best practices

Regardless of your organization’s mission, vision, and size, there are several core components to a strong fundraising strategic plan:

• Set goals 🎯 Set SMART goals for your fundraising strategy. For example, are you hopeful your new nonprofit fundraising strategy will increase your donations by 30%? Make sure to clearly define your objectives so you can track success and adapt if needed. 
• Host events 🥳 Host face-to-face fundraising events to raise money and build community. With Givebutter, you even have auction management tools directly through your giving platform. 
• Keep your donors updated 🫶 Transparency is key to donor stewardship. Keep your donors informed with regular campaign updates and share how their support is advancing your mission. 
• Tell your story: Make your narrative the heart of your fundraising strategy. Why is work so important? Let your supporters know to foster a stronger connection with your mission. 

A strong fundraising campaign isn’t just about numbers; it’s about why people should care.

‍—Angie Drake, Co-Founder, NYAA Consulting

• Learn the donor life cycle framework 🕺 Utilize the donor life cycle framework to identify your target audience and the best prospects for donations. 
• Focus on communication 📝 Following nonprofit communication best practices will help launch your fundraising strategy to new heights.
• Always say thank you 💛  Thank your supporters immediately after they donate. Never miss a chance to say thank you by using automated workflows. 

Fundraising strategy examples to inspire your next campaign

Trinity Habitat for Humanity raises $100K+ with livestream and team fundraising

When COVID-19 threatened to halt homebuilding efforts, Trinity Habitat for Humanity quickly pivoted, launching the Habitat Builds Back emergency fundraising campaign. Their goal? To keep construction on track and provide families with the homes they desperately needed.

Through a livestream event and team fundraising, they not only met their goal but exceeded it—raising an incredible $100K+. 

Here’s what made their fundraising strategy so successful:

• Tapped into Giving Tuesday 📅  Trinity Habitat leveraged the momentum of Giving Tuesday, using it as the launch point for their ‘Giving Month.’ 
• Shared beneficiary stories 💬 Their fundraising page featured a compelling video of their previous beneficiaries. 
• Launched a livestream from their giving page 🔗 Trinity Habitat’s Givebutter fundraising page was the exclusive location for their livestream fundraiser, encouraging more giving and keeping donations streamlined.  

Junkyard Social Club surpassed its $45k goal with community-based crowdfunding

To bring their vision of an interactive museum to life, Junkyard Social Club turned to crowdfunding—a natural fit for their community-driven mission. Rather than casting a wide net, they focused on local supporters who would directly benefit from the space. Their strategy paid off, helping them exceed their $45K goal and raise over $50K!

Here’s what made their fundraising strategy so successful:

• Stayed local📍 Instead of launching a national campaign, Junkyard Social Club targeted their immediate community, rallying support from the people most invested in seeing the space thrive.
• Set specific goals 🎯 The campaign had a defined purpose—raising $40K to build a café within a specific timeframe—giving donors a tangible project to support.
• Offered realistic gifts 🎁 While their messaging emphasized community impact, they also provided realistic and desirable incentives for donors. Larger contributions unlocked perks like birthday party hosting, making it easy for supporters to feel valued while giving back.

Bring your new fundraising strategy to life with Givebutter

A strong fundraising strategy fuels your mission, engages your supporters, and drives lasting impact. But the right tools can make all the difference.

Givebutter simplifies fundraising with an all-in-one platform designed to help you connect with donors, create a customized fundraising page, and accept donations seamlessly—all while saving time and maximizing impact.

Givebutter has so many amazing features. And if you need help, their customer service is quick to respond and always has the answers you need. ‍

—Givebutter review, Willam W. 

With over 100 fundraising features at your fingertips, Givebutter was built to help organizations like yours. Ready to take your fundraising strategy to the next level?

‍Create your free Givebutter account today to start raising more funds.

Fundraising strategy for nonprofits FAQs 

What is a fundraising strategy?

A fundraising strategy is a structured plan that nonprofits use to raise money, engage donors, and maximize donations. An effective charity fundraising strategy includes goal setting, audience research, donor communication, and performance tracking to ensure long-term success.

How do you structure a fundraising strategy?

A fundraising strategy template is structured around clear SMART goals, audience research, and multi-channel engagement. Optimize your donation page for conversions, use a CRM system to track donors, and leverage social media, email, and events to maximize reach. Regularly analyze performance metrics and refine your approach to improve results.

How to create a strategic plan for fundraising?

To create an effective fundraising plan, start by analyzing past campaigns, setting measurable goals, and updating your online presence for mobile-friendliness and SEO. Use storytelling to engage donors, promote across social media, and implement text-to-donate and diverse payment options. Optimize for search intent by answering donor questions, using structured data, and incorporating relevant keywords throughout your content.