5 Tips for Successful Fundraising This Year (2024)

Your school, sports team, nonprofit, or church likely has major fundraising goals to hit this year. In today’s world, successful fundraising requires adaptability, innovation, and an understanding of emerging trends. Additionally, ever-evolving digital advancements, donor behaviors, and societal needs will impact how you manage fundraising in 2024. 

Fortunately, there are new methods you can pursue — ways to fundraise virtually, without the need to go door-to-door and sell goods.

If you’re searching for some of the most efficient fundraising methods for 2024, look no further. Below are our top five tips for effective fundraising this year.

Tip 1: Organize a Year-Round Gift Card Fundraiser

Gift card fundraising via RaiseRight is one of the most effective, modern ways to raise money for your organization.

This fundraising method is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Even better? You don’t have to sell products or services that fundraiser participants may not be interested in. Instead, you sell gift cards for brands they already know and support. 

It works like this: 

1. Enroll your organization for free
   
   
2. Add fundraiser participants to your RaiseRight program, and encourage them to purchase gift cards. A percentage of every gift card purchase goes directly back to your organization (anywhere from 1 to 20%). With hundreds of brands to choose from, there’s something for everyone!
   
   
3. Participants can spend their gift cards on whatever they like: gas, groceries, food, entertainment, travel, and more.

That’s it!

RaiseRight allows you to instantly earn money for your organization — just through routine shopping. In other words, you don’t have to spend money to earn money. It’s a win-win for you and your fundraiser participants!

Tip 2: Explore Virtual Options

Following the pandemic, virtual events have become more common and a much easier sell. They allow your customers to participate, donate, and engage socially with your organization and the larger community, all from the comfort of home. 

The options for at-home fundraising events are endless, from a virtual workout class or a Zoom cooking class to a streamed film festival. Plus, virtual events are often more convenient for full-time workers who may not want to or can commute to an in-person event. 

Tip 3: Host a Silent Auction

Silent auctions have always been a popular fundraising method, and now, they can even be conducted online using virtual auction software.

When planning your silent auction, consider collecting items from various local donors so that there’ll be something for everyone to bid on. Not to mention, you’ll support local businesses in the process.

Interestingly, studies show that second-price auctions, where the highest bidder wins but only has to pay $0.01 more than the second-highest bid, are more lucrative than standard silent auctions. By discouraging overspending, your organization can create higher demand for your items and allow bidders to strategically anticipate one another’s bids. 

Tip 4: Tap Into Your Network of Peers

“Peer-to-peer” fundraisers are an easy way to tap into the network of each member of your organization and maximize donations.

Typically, peer-to-peer fundraisers involve an event like a 5k run or walk, a head-shaving event, or a dance marathon in which members of your organization pledge to participate. 

Peers will then choose to sponsor each participant, typically through an online crowdfunding page.

If your organization normally hosts peer-to-peer fundraising events (or wants to organize a cost-effective one like a 5k run or walk-a-thon), crowdfunding can be an easy way to maximize profits. 

Peer-to-peer fundraisers are easy to “sell” since sponsors can eagerly support their friends in their noble efforts. They also help build community and can earn your organization some publicity.

Plus, online crowdfunding is a simple way to spread the word about your organization quickly, and studies show that taking the opportunity to share your organization’s story through elements like a pitch video can increase profits four-fold. 

Tip 5: Offer Discount Cards

Selling discount cards for local businesses is a classic fundraising method that’s still effective in 2024 — and can be done with a modern twist.

In the age of QR codes and online membership programs, selling virtual discount cards is now an option. And, when your donors can buy your virtual product from their phones and use it to shop at their favorite local boutiques and restaurants, it’s hard to say no. 

While discount card fundraising won’t be quite as lucrative as gift card fundraising (as discount cards typically come with expiration dates and limitations on sale items), they still provide a logistically simple way to raise money for your organization. 

Pro-tip: Consider combining a discount card or coupon book fundraiser with RaiseRight gift cards to double down on your earnings. 

Add Gift Card Fundraising to Your 2024 Strategy

This year, ensure success for your fundraising efforts by partnering with RaiseRight to organize an “always on” gift card fundraiser.

We highly recommend combining gift card fundraising with other strategies that work for your organization, so you can maximize funds all year long.