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13 Low-cost Online Fundraising Ideas That Are Definitely Worth Running

By Colin Hunter

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The struggle to raise money for a good cause is a tale as old as time, but with the rise of the digital age there are new opportunities and strategies for fundraising. 

With most of us connected online and using various digital tools, fundraising has become more accessible and cost-effective. You no longer need a lot of money to raise funds. 

Today, we'll explore 13 low-cost online fundraising ideas that are easy on your budget and worth trying. Join us to learn how you can make the most of online tools to support your cause effectively!

1. Social Media Fundraising Campaigns

Social media fundraising campaigns are the easiest way to raise money online without spending a lot. 

With platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, nonprofits can quickly reach large audiences. You can choose between ongoing campaigns, which continuously engage followers and short-term campaigns that push for a lot of support quickly.

All you need is a creative idea and good storytelling. You can even use built-in tools like Facebook's donation buttons to make giving easy.

Fun Fact: 57% of people who watch nonprofit videos go on to donate. 55% of people who engage with nonprofits on Twitter take some sort of action. 30% of nonprofits use Instagram to raise money and awareness. In an average peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, 15-18% of donations come directly from Facebook. (Source)

It shows that social media isn't just about likes and shares—it's a real community ready to help. 

1.1 Sponsored Social Media Posts

While we're at it, let's explore more low-cost online fundraising ideas related to social media.

Sponsored social media posts involve partnering with influencers for brands to promote your cause. Instead of spending money on traditional ads, you collaborate with someone with a large, engaged following. 

It's a win-win situation. The influencer gets content, and your nonprofit reaches a new audience. Plus, it’s low cost. Many influencers are willing to work for a small fee or even for free if they believe in your cause.

In fact, these social media influencer strategies can be more powerful than ads because they're perceived as more authentic. About 9 out of 10 U.S. Americans follow influencers or content creators online, so you can definitely reach a big audience. (Source)

1.2 Social Media Takeover

A social media takeover is exactly how it sounds! It's when a person, usually someone famous or with a large following, runs your nonprofit's social media account for a day. This can grab a lot of attention and raise more funds.

The person uses their popularity to engage with your audience, share their personal stories related to your cause, and encourage donations.

How Nonprofits Can Use a Social Media Takeover to Raise Funds?

  1. Pick someone who cares about your cause and has a good number of followers. This could be a local celebrity, an influencer, or even someone an ambassador who supports your nonprofit.
  2. Work with your guest to create posts that highlight what your nonprofit does. You can share stories, host live Q&A sessions, and more.
  3. Let people know in advance who will be taking over your account and when. Use all your channels to spread the word.
  4. During the takeover, encourage your guest to interact with your audience. They can answer questions, thank followers for their support, and ask for donations.
  5. After the event, thank your guests and everyone who participated. Share how much you raised and what the funds will be used for.

Most social media platforms are free to use. Make sure you use them to their full potential. Paying for promotions may not be necessary. Make sure to reach out to potential guests who might be willing to help for free because they support your cause.

A social media takeover raises money, increases your visibility, and engages your community in a fun, interactive way.

2. Virtual Events and Galas

Virtual events and galas are online gatherings that unite people for a cause. 

Unlike traditional in-person events, these are hosted over the internet using various platforms that allow video streaming, live chats, and digital interactions. 

These events open up a whole new way for nonprofits to engage supporters and fundraise effectively without the geographical limitations of a physical venue.

Hosting a virtual event or gala is cost-effective because it cuts down on many of the expenses associated with physical events, such as venue rental, catering, and decorations. 

How Can BetterWorld Help Hosting Virtual Events?

Join 85,000+ Amazing Nonprofits, Organizations, and Fundraisers on BetterWorld.

BetterWorld provides a dynamic virtual event platform that keeps you and your donors perfectly connected, no matter their location. 

Here’s how BetterWorld can make your next virtual gala or event a success:

  1. Sell Tickets and Register Your Guests
    • Effortlessly sell tickets and manage guest registrations through our user-friendly online portal. Keep track of attendance and sales in one convenient place.
  2. Raise Money with Different Virtual Fundraising Methods
    • Silent Auctions: Enable participants to bid in a mobile-optimized silent auction environment.
    • Live Auctions: Maintain high energy with live, auctioneer-led bidding.
    • Raffles and Giveaways: Engage attendees with fair and automated selections for prizes.
    • Paddle Raise: Encourage donations at various levels with simple donation options.
    • Fund-a-Need: Clearly communicate specific needs to drive targeted giving.

You can also refer to this guide for more details on creating your online events

With BetterWorld, every participant can engage using their mobile devices, which improves the interactive experience and keeps everyone involved.

3. Wrap Up Your Virtual Event

After your event, use our automated checkout features to ensure smooth prize fulfillment for all participants.

Always 100% Free 

BetterWorld is committed to supporting nonprofits by offering our platform completely free. We believe in helping you make a positive impact without worrying about costs. 

Request a demo today and experience how easy and effective online fundraising can be!

3. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising connects the power of individual networks by empowering supporters to raise money for your cause. 

Each participant creates a personal fundraising page, shares it with friends, family, and social networks, and collects donations directly. 

This low-cost online fundraising approach works because it relies on the existing social networks of your supporters rather than requiring large upfront investments in event planning, venues, or marketing materials. 

Essentially, you're using digital tools to multiply your fundraising efforts through the power of community and connection, all with minimal expenses.

BetterWorld's Free Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

1. Create Your Campaign Page 

Getting your online peer-to-peer fundraising event up and running is simple with BetterWorld. 

Here’s a quick guide on how you can create your campaign with us. 

And, if that’s not enough, you can request a demo to explore how our comprehensive tools can take your fundraising to new heights or dive right in and set up your campaign. Start collecting donations in just a few minutes!

2. Let Donors Create Their Own Pages

The real strength of peer-to-peer fundraising lies in the personal networks of your participants. BetterWorld simplifies the process for each participant to sign up, create, and share their own customized fundraising pages instantly. 

This is team fundraising made easy and effective!

3. Receive Donations Quickly and Securely 

Donating through BetterWorld is simple and secure. After processing their donation, our system automatically sends out a receipt. 

Your organization receives all donations swiftly, typically a few days after the transactions.

And it's all FREE! 

4. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way for people to raise money online by asking a large number of people to contribute a small amount towards a goal. It's like gathering a big crowd where everyone chips in to help you reach your financial target.

Crowdfunding is cost-effective because it eliminates the need for event spaces, physical materials, and large marketing budgets. All you need is a compelling story, a clear goal, and an online platform to start receiving funds. 

With everyone pitching in a bit, you can raise funds without the hefty expenses of traditional fundraising methods.

Start Your Crowdfunding Today with BetterWorld! 5-Minute Set-Up

Jump into action and start accepting crowdfunding donations with BetterWorld in just five minutes! 

Our platform is designed to get your campaign running quickly and smoothly, letting you focus on spreading the word and reaching your targets.

Fun Fact: Campaigns that show a progress bar, like a fundraising thermometer, see an average increase in donations by 35%. (Source) And the best part? With BetterWorld's Crowdfunding software, you get this amazing feature at no extra cost! 

5. Email Fundraising

Email fundraising involves reaching out to potential donors through emails to support your cause. 

This method goes beyond simple donation requests by engaging recipients with compelling stories and updates that connect with their values and your organization's goals.

Email fundraising is budget-friendly because it uses digital communication. It allows you to connect with a large audience at a minimal cost, which makes it an excellent strategy for maximizing resources for various low-budget fundraising goals.

Tool to Improve Your Email Fundraising Efforts

Mailchimp

  • What It Offers: Mailchimp is a renowned email platform designed to help you create, send, and manage email campaigns effortlessly. It's perfect for building donor relationships and automating outreach.
  • Why It's Helpful: With analytics to see campaign success, Mailchimp enables you to refine your emails for better engagement. Additionally, Mailchimp supports nonprofit organizations by offering a 15% discount to verified nonprofits and charities.

6. Recurring Donation Drives

A recurring donation drive is an online fundraising strategy where donors sign up to give a set amount of money regularly—usually monthly or annually. 

Instead of making a one-time contribution, supporters commit to ongoing support, providing nonprofits with a steady, predictable income stream.

Let us help you raise more! Use BetterWorld’s free, easy fundraising tools!

  • Video Integration — boost the buzz around your online fundraising campaign

  • Time-saving – thoughtful automations save dozens of hours over your campaign 

  • One-Click Checkout — our system will automatically charge the lucky winner

  • Text Message Notifications — keep your bidders engaged with text message notifications

Start Your Fundraising Now!

Setting up a recurring donation drive involves a few simple steps:

  • Pick an online payment system that supports automated, recurring donations.
  • Offer different levels of recurring donations to suit various budgets.
  • Use email, social media, and your website to inform potential donors about the option to give regularly.
  • Set up automatic thank-you messages and updates to keep donors informed and engaged.

Recurring donation drives are easy on the wallet because they focus on retaining current donors, which is less expensive than acquiring new ones.

Fun Fact: In 2022, research showed that the average recurring donor contributed for about 8.08 years. It is much longer than non-recurring donors, who typically contributed for only 1.68 years. (Source)

7.  Webinars and Educational Talks

Webinars and educational talks are a great way to raise funds while providing valuable knowledge to your audience. You can spice it up by involving interactive elements like live polls and Q&A sessions to keep the audience engaged.

With these online events, you can invite experts to speak on various topics that match your nonprofit’s mission. 

Here’s why this is a low-cost online fundraising strategy:

  1. Minimal Setup Required

Unlike physical events, webinars don’t need a venue, which cuts down on rental costs. All you need is a stable internet connection and a platform like Zoom or Google Meet, which are often free.

2. Access to Experts

Many professionals are willing to speak for free or at a reduced fee to contribute to a good cause or gain exposure. 

3. Broad Reach

You can invite people from all over the world to join a webinar. Try to increase the potential number of participants and, therefore, the amount of donations your event can generate.

4. Recording Opportunities

You can record the session and offer it as a paid resource for those who missed the live event. Alternatively, you can upload it on YouTube to raise awareness and funds. 

Uploading to YouTube also allows you to reach a wider audience who can view the content at their convenience, and you can generate ongoing revenue through ads or donations linked directly from the video.

8. E-commerce Checkout Donations

E-commerce checkout donations are a clever way for nonprofits to raise money without much effort or expense. 

Here's how it works: You team up with online stores, and during the checkout process, customers can add a small donation to their total. 

Partnering with e-commerce platforms often comes with little to no initial investment. The setup usually involves just adding a donation option to the checkout process, which the store handles.

Instead of spending money to draw in donations, you use the store's existing customer base. These shoppers are already online and ready to make a purchase, which makes it easy to prompt them for a small additional donation.

Once set up, the donation process runs on autopilot. There's no need for continuous monitoring or adjustment.

Fun Fact: A recent survey conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York, revealed that 53% of Americans give impulsively to charities at the checkout. (Source)

9. Skill-based Workshops

Skill-based workshops are a creative and engaging way to raise funds while using the talents of people in your organization or volunteer group.

You can host online classes on various topics, such as photography, gardening, cooking, or resume writing. 

These sessions can be easily conducted over platforms like Zoom or Google Meet by charging a small fee.

Skill-based workshops are considered low-cost because they primarily utilize the skills and talents already present within your organization. Here’s why they make for an economical choice:

  • Conducting these workshops online eliminates the cost of renting a space, setting up, and managing physical resources.
  • Using the skills of your team members or volunteers means you don't need to hire external instructors.
  • Most workshops can be conducted with just a computer and internet connection, which most participants will already have.
  • Online platforms offer easy-to-use tools to set up, promote, and manage these events.

10. Podcast Series for a Cause

Launching a podcast series for a cause is a new way to engage with supporters and spread the word about your organization’s mission. 

You can create episodes that share impactful stories from the field, discuss the effects of your work, or feature interviews with experts. To support your fundraising, you can encourage listeners to donate by offering subscriptions or access to individual episodes. Here are some examples of nonprofit podcasts you can listen to.

Creating a podcast series is a budget-friendly fundraising option for several reasons:

  • Starting a podcast requires just basic recording equipment and editing software.
  • There are many platforms where you can host and distribute your podcast for free.
  • Use volunteers who are passionate about your cause to help with recording and production.
  • Promote your podcast through social media and your organization’s website, which are cost-effective channels.

Fun Fact: Podcasting has become a popular activity in the U.S. In 2006, only 22 percent of the adult population was aware of podcasts. By 2022, awareness had increased to almost 80 percent. 

Furthermore, nearly 70 million people listened to podcasts in 2023 alone. Projections suggest that the number of podcast listeners could reach over 110 million by 2029. (Source)

11. Merchandise Sales

Selling branded merchandise online is a classic method to raise funds and increase your brand's visibility. 

You can offer items like t-shirts, hats, or mugs with your organization’s logo or special messages that resonate with your supporters.

Merchandise sales can be a cost-effective fundraising strategy, especially when managed wisely:

  • Use print-on-demand services to produce merchandise only when it is ordered, which means you don't have to buy in bulk or manage inventory.
  • Set up an online shop on platforms that don't charge upfront fees.
  • Promote your merchandise using your existing social media channels and email lists to reduce marketing costs.

Growing E-commerce Market

The e-commerce market in the United States is growing rapidly. It is expected to increase by 60 million users, which is a 21.94 percent rise from 2024 to 2029. Exploring this expanding market provides a favorable opportunity for fundraising through online merchandise sales. (Source)

12. Virtual Tours

Virtual tours are perfect to show your supporters what their donations could achieve. You can use virtual tours to guide viewers through places that matter to your cause. 

For example, if you're raising money for animal shelters, you could create a virtual tour showing the day-to-day operations and the animals that benefit.

You can engage volunteers who are skilled in video editing or photography to help put together the tour. It will save costs and involve your community more deeply in the cause.

Throughout the virtual tour, make sure to include prompts for viewers to donate. You can use clickable links that take them directly to your donation page.

Get local businesses to sponsor your virtual tour. In return, their branding can be subtly integrated into the tour, such as a logo appearing on a corner of the video or a short message from the sponsor at the beginning or end.

Finally, the virtual tour can be linked to an online store where viewers can buy branded merchandise. 

13. Birthday Fundraiser

A birthday fundraiser is a popular way for nonprofits to encourage supporters to raise money around the time of their birthdays. 

Instead of receiving gifts, the birthday person asks friends and family to donate to a chosen cause.

How nonprofits can use Birthday Fundraisers to raise funds:

  1. Social Media Integration: Nonprofits can create easy-to-share links for birthday fundraisers that supporters can post directly on their social media pages. Your goal is to make it simple for friends and family to donate with just a few clicks.
  2. Customizable Pages: Allow supporters to personalize their fundraising pages. They can add photos, tell their personal connection to the cause, and set a fundraising goal. Personal stories increase engagement and donations.
  3. Acknowledgment and Rewards: Offer digital badges or certificates that supporters can earn and share on social media as they reach different donation milestones. Remember, motivation plays a big role in fundraising.

It's Time to Take Your Fundraising Online

Online fundraising has been gaining momentum for quite some time, and it's becoming clear that nonprofits need to adapt to keep their missions moving forward. 

With the digital world offering so many unique and low-cost opportunities to engage supporters, there’s no better time than now to explore these options.

As you consider these innovative fundraising ideas, don't forget that BetterWorld is here to support you every step of the way. Our online platform is designed to make your fundraising efforts as successful as possible. 

What’s even more exciting? If you’re worried about costs, remember that BetterWorld offers a free platform.

Contact us and see for yourself how BetterWorld can make a difference in your fundraising efforts. It’s time to take action and watch your community grow stronger with each donation.

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Colin Hunter
AUTHOR

About Colin Hunter

Colin Hunter is the cofounder of BetterWorld, where he leads initiatives to expand reach and impact. Previously, he cofounded and served as CEO of luxury custom menswear brand Alton Lane. Colin’s experience as a consultant with Bain & Company, working with Global 1000 companies, shaped his approach to leadership and growth. He holds a BA from the University of Virginia and studied in Oxford, England. Colin lives in Scottsville, Virginia with his wife and three daughters.

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