Digital Fundraising in 2026: Our Top 6 Trends and Recommendations

Smaller, community-based organizations, such as schools, sports teams, churches, and booster clubs, often have a unique advantage in digital fundraising. With fewer layers and closer-knit communities, they can adopt new tools and trends more quickly, meeting supporters where they already spend their time and money.

Below, we're sharing the top digital fundraising industry trends and opportunities that can pay off for you big time in 2026.

1. Use AI for efficiency vs. replacement

You guessed it—in 2026, artificial intelligence is expected to remain a major trend in digital fundraising.

AI brings both hesitation and opportunity. Today, nonprofit leaders are using AI for everyday tasks, such as drafting and editing correspondence, or writing donor appeals and thank-you notes. It's even been tested to autonomously run a fundraiser from start to finish. You can also use AI to help you understand what connects and what doesn’t connect with your supporters. 

If AI isn't part of your workflow yet, consider using it to help with: 

• Routine tasks related to donation, database, and project management
• Data analytics to understand, target, and suggest messages for past and current donors
• Early drafts of marketing ideas and copy, sponsor pitches, and other text
• Research on potential sponsors and donors

That said, a thoughtful approach is necessary; over-reliance on AI can dilute the human connection. Use AI to improve efficiencies, and when AI is used to draft correspondence, always review and personalize it to ensure authenticity remains intact.

2. Prioritize mobile-first experiences 

Mobile-first experiences are no longer optional in 2026. With younger audiences primarily engaging through their phones, organizations that prioritize mobile accessibility are removing friction and making it easier for supporters to participate.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure your communications are mobile-first:

• Optimize your website(s) and payment portals for mobile devices
• Send text notifications and reminders related to fundraising events, campaigns, and news
• Use QR codes to link to mobile donation pages or accounts

Next, lead with mobile-first fundraising opportunities, such as: 

• Text-to-donate campaigns
• RaiseRight: Use the app to earn money on gift card purchases and online shopping, or discover local restaurants with earning opportunities
• Mobile payments and purchasing (i.e., mobile wallets, PayPal, Venmo) for things like tickets, donations, and general transactions 
• Dedicated fundraising and crowdfunding apps

3. Take advantage of the rise in volunteerism

According to joint research by the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, volunteering is returning to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, virtual volunteering is gaining traction, with approximately 18% of volunteers serving fully or partially online.

What does this mean for your organization? With more people willing to give their time but needing flexibility, you can create digital-first opportunities that make it easy to get involved without heavy time commitments.

Instead of relying solely on in-person help, look for low-lift, flexible ways supporters can contribute digitally, such as:

• Encouraging volunteers to participate in passive, mobile-first fundraisers like RaiseRight
• Drafting email newsletters or social media posts to promote fundraisers
• Managing or updating the organization's website, event pages, or Facebook group
• Assisting with basic fundraising coordination tasks, such as tracking participation or sharing reminders

By offering more accessible, behind-the-scenes ways to help, you can tap into a broader pool of volunteers and reduce burnout without asking folks for more time than they can realistically give.

4. Focus on storytelling

Storytelling has become a popular buzzword for marketing professionals across industries. Fortunately, nonprofits and community groups have a built-in advantage over for-profit entities in this area. After all, at the heart of every nonprofit and community organization is a mission around improvement and collaboration to support a worthy cause. 

Ultimately, this means you can find and share real-life stories about the individuals your organization serves or promotes. 

Wondering why storytelling is a critical digital trend? Compelling stories cut through the "look at me!" clutter of social media platforms and online footprints. On top of that, stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone. This is because they emotionally interpret the facts and data presented in annual reports and summaries. 

"Storytelling can give your organization an incredible advantage," says Michelle Leung, Content Marketing Manager at RaiseRight. "When you tell a meaningful story, you’re not just asking for support—you’re giving your audience a reason to care deeply and take action."

So, in 2026, focus on storytelling in: 

• Social media posts and campaigns
• Short-form video clips
• Direct fundraising appeals
• Sponsor pitches

5. Turn online shopping into fundraising opportunities

Did you know? Over 2.77 billion people made online purchases in 2025—that's one-third of the world's population! 

This suggests an opportunity to incorporate shopping-based fundraising programs, such as RaiseRight, into online purchasing behavior.

"Fundraising works best when it integrates naturally into people’s lives," says Billy Lawler, Senior Product Marketing Manager at RaiseRight. "Online shopping is already a part of everyday routines, making it an ideal strategy to drive consistent earnings for organizations."

When supporters shop online through RaiseRight, a percentage of their purchases streams directly back to the organization. Smaller organizations can profit from RaiseRight’s online shopping fundraising for several reasons:

• There's no cost to the user, as the earnings come directly from the brand 
• It's simple and easy to implement 
• The program can remain in place year-round, supporting ongoing earnings
• It blends well with other fundraising methods that require members' time or money

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6. Modify your social media strategy 

One of the easiest (and free) ways to strengthen your digital fundraising efforts in 2026 is to rethink how you use social media.

Many organizations still treat social platforms as a bulletin board, posting event reminders or recaps after the fact. While this helps with awareness and engagement, it rarely drives real fundraising results.

"What you really want to drive on social is participation, donations, and community buy-in," says RaiseRight Social Media Manager, Tori Moore. To turn social media into a stronger fundraising tool, she recommends making these three small but impactful changes:

• Choose platforms strategically. Focus on the channels where your parents and community members are already active, instead of trying to be everywhere at once.

• Create reusable templates. Use tools like Canva to build consistent, recognizable post templates that are easy to update and save time in the long run.

• Post with purpose and repeat key messages. Don't be afraid to reshare important fundraising posts, since not everyone will see them the first time.