Have you ever believed something that wasn’t true? According to Forbes, there is a direct connection between what you think and the outcome of your work. In other words, you’re lowering your results if you aren’t believing the right thing. This sentiment rings true in the world of small business fundraising.

In small business circles, there are a lot of opinions stating that fundraising is not a viable strategy. However, organizations that don’t take advantage of it will likely face missed opportunities, limited funding, and overall restricted growth. In fact, as a critical source of sustainable funding, fundraising just might be the key to your small business goals.

In this guide, we’ll dispel common small business fundraising myths that can quickly steal your potential and replace them with updated realities to inform your fundraising efforts. Let’s begin.

Myth: Fundraising is only for nonprofits.

The term “fundraising” is most commonly used in nonprofit fundraising. So, it’s no surprise that many believe fundraising is off-limits for small businesses. However, this belief is simply not true.

Reality: Fundraising is not limited to nonprofits, as small businesses can also benefit from fundraising for capital growth, expansion, product development, or other business projects.

As an example, let’s explore how a new gym might use fundraising to hit its business objectives:

  • Facility expansion and upgrades: As a gym grows in popularity, additional fundraising dollars could be used to open new locations, hire more experienced trainers, or invest in new equipment. Finding support for new gyms to get their feet off the ground is essential.
  • Marketing and promotion: It’s always nice to have extra wiggle room in your small business marketing budget. For gyms, they can spend fundraising dollars to plan community outreach programs or fund eye-catching outdoor campaigns to spread awareness.
  • Member incentives: If your business has a membership program, you know that member perks are a primary driver for member acquisition and retention. A gym can use fundraising to increase membership and become more competitive.

Fundraising can diversify your organization’s revenue streams to give you an extra leg up on your competition. Accessing additional funds can be a game changer, especially if you’re just entering the small business market.

Myth: Fundraising is too complicated and time-consuming.

If fundraising feels like too much trouble, there is a good chance you’re thinking about it in the wrong light. Fundraising can be easy to conquer if you delegate responsibilities, choose proven methods, and set realistic goals.

Reality: Although fundraising does require planning, the right tools and strategy make it a valuable addition to your business development.

Fundraising can quickly become too complicated if you dive in without a plan and a proven method. For inspiration, here are some top fundraising strategies that are easy to pull off:

  • Crowdfunding: Online crowdfunding is a reliable way to market your business and raise funds. According to NXUnite’s guide to crowdfunding, you could look into either reward-based or investment-based crowdfunding. For reward-based crowdfunding, companies could use a platform like Kickstarter to send supporters something in return for their support. On the other hand, investment-based crowdfunding involves selling a part of your business in exchange for funds.
  • Grant research: For startups, especially, grant research is a worthwhile fundraising strategy. Resources like The U.S. Small Business Association and Google for Startups offer valuable grant opportunities. For example, Google’s program provides funding for every stage of your development with its “start, build, and grow” opportunities.
  • Fundraising web store: For an easy fundraising solution, host a fundraising web store to sell branded merchandise. Select an easy-to-use platform that will enable you to easily stock your store, price your products, and streamline the checkout process. If your business is newer, a fundraising web store offers the additional perk of spreading your visual brand.

Don’t overlook more traditional fundraising options either. Walk-a-thons, auctions, and other virtual events can offer a high ROI.

There are other creative options your organization can explore as well. For instance, did you know you get paid to repurpose your used running shoes to earn cash? Simply partner with a sneaker recycling provider like Sneakers4Good. Then, collect gently worn used or new sneakers and running shoes from your team, ship your sneakers to the provider’s warehouse, and receive a check. Your sneakers are then repurposed to fuel micro-enterprises within developing countries.

Myth: Fundraising is all about revenue and persuasion.

Another common fundraising misconception is that small business fundraising is about persuasion and revenue generation. Although making monetary requests is part of fundraising, it’s not the only facet of a productive fundraising strategy.

Reality: Successful fundraising is built on trust, authenticity, and connection between the fundraiser and donors or investors. Fundraising goes beyond monetary requests and creates meaningful relationships based on shared values.

There is a lot more that goes into fundraising than simply persuading supporters. Refining your communication and creating a connection is essential to build their trust. You might use these tips as a starting point:

  • Network: Strong relationships take time to build. Be sure to connect with your supporter community and offer them more opportunities to get to know your business. For example, you might host a pop shop for others to learn about your business, ask questions, or sign up.
  • Support others: A great way to earn trust and support is by rallying around a cause your community cares about. Research your community’s needs and look for ways you can enhance your current company practices to support them. For instance, you might offer a corporate matching gift program for your employees.
  • Maintain transparency: Be transparent in communicating how your organization will use any raised funds. Once supporters have backed your cause, regularly update them to share their impact. Doing so will foster trust and credibility with all of your stakeholders.
  • Share online: Build up your online presence by posting regularly on social media. Share a behind-the-scenes look into your business and allow others to get to know your everyday schedule. You could even host a giveaway to boost engagement. Through digital marketing campaigns like these, your audience will be more familiar with you before you start your fundraising efforts.

Link to your website for others to learn more about your organization. This way, they can better understand who you are and why your fundraising efforts matter.

That said, conduct a website audit to ensure your website is accessible and informative. Make sure users can easily navigate pages and get an accurate sense of your organization.


Fundraising for your small business does not need to be intimidating. You’ll see results faster,by connecting with your target supporter groups and choosing lucrative fundraising options. Be open to combining fundraising options as well. For example, you could apply for grants to cover a new facility and host a community fundraising event to cover additional costs.

As a nonprofit dedicated to animal welfare, your cause is noble and important. However, without proper funding, it can be difficult to better the lives of animals in need.

That’s where donors come in. Individuals who are willing and able to give are the key to any nonprofit’s success. But how do you find these donors and convince them to support your specific cause?

In this guide, we’ll explore five strategies for reaching donors who are passionate about animal-related missions like yours. Whether you run an animal shelter, rescue group, or rehabilitation center, these insights will help you secure the funding the animals in your care deserve. Let’s get started!

1. Build an Engaging Online Presence

Having a strong online presence allows you to expand your nonprofit’s reach and attract donors who may not have previously been aware of your work.

To get started, create a digital marketing strategy that includes the following channels:

  • Social media: Social media is ideal for sharing heartwarming rescue images, behind-the-scenes videos, and important updates. To increase visibility, NXUnite recommends reaching out to influencers in the space and asking them to share your content with their networks.
  • Website: Your nonprofit’s website should have a user-friendly design and provide valuable information about your mission, programs, and impact. It should also feature a designated donation page where visitors can lend their support.
  • Email: Use email newsletters to regularly communicate with supporters, sharing updates on rescued animals, success stories, upcoming events, and donation appeals. Use compelling subject lines to stand out from the crowd and improve your open rates.

If your marketing team is spread thin, consider using a tool like Gingr’s pet business software to automate outreach. With their easy-to-use tools, you can spend less time managing menial tasks like personalizing and sending emails, and more time focusing on what matters most: the animals.

2. Cultivate Relationships with Existing Donors

Your existing donors are the backbone of your organization. Show them that their support is valued through:

  • Personalized communications: Send personalized thank-you letters or emails that acknowledge their support and provide specific updates on the impact of their donations. For example, you might say, “Thanks in part to your $50 contribution, Maisy the beagle is now wagging her tail again.”
  • Donor stewardship events: Organize exclusive events such as donor appreciation dinners, behind-the-scenes tours of your facilities, and special meet-and-greets with rescued animals. These events allow donors to connect with your nonprofit’s mission, staff, and other supporters, fostering a greater sense of belonging.
  • Impact reporting: Provide financial reports, progress reports, or impact stories that highlight the tangible outcomes made possible through donations. This demonstrates accountability and builds trust, helping reinforce donors’ belief in your work.

When donors are made to feel involved through efforts like these, they are more likely to continue their support and advocate on your behalf.

3. Host Community-Wide Fundraising Events

If you’re looking to bring people together in support of your cause, consider hosting a community-wide fundraising event. Events are an opportunity to network and showcase your value to businesses, donors, and key stakeholders in the area.

Here are some popular animal-related fundraising events to guide your planning process:

  • Bark in the Park: Organize a dog-friendly event at a local park or outdoor space. For a registration fee, donors can participate in fun activities like a dog walkathon, pet costume contest, or agility demonstration.
  • Paws for a Cause Gala: Host an elegant fundraising gala that celebrates your organization’s mission. To generate revenue, the event could feature an auction with pet-themed items and live entertainment.
  • Pet Adoption Fair: Collaborate with other local animal shelters and rescue organizations to organize a pet adoption fair. Set up booths where attendees can donate and adopt animals in need of a forever home.

Regardless of the event you choose, be sure to thank donors for their support, attendance, and commitment to your cause. Doing so will cultivate meaningful relationships that last long after the event ends.

4. Leverage Corporate Sponsorships

Corporate sponsorships are partnerships between a nonprofit and a company, in which the company provides financial support in exchange for benefits like increased brand exposure and positive public relations.

To ensure your partnerships are a success, follow these steps:

  • Network. Attend networking events, industry conferences, or corporate social responsibility forums to connect with potential partners. Introduce them to your mission and explain your need for a sponsor.
  • Target businesses with similar values to your own. Reach out to businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility and have a natural connection to animal welfare. For instance, if you run an animal shelter, a dog boarding business would be an ideal match, since you share similar target audiences and services.
  • Create a compelling proposal. Explain how the partnership will be a mutually beneficial venture. For instance, let’s say you’re asking a dog boarding business to donate to your upcoming fundraising campaign. In return, you will shout out the business on social media and mention them in a speech at your next event, thereby introducing the business to a new client base.

After securing a corporate sponsor, maintain open communication throughout the partnership, providing regular updates on the impact of their investment and seeking feedback on how the partnership can continue to be beneficial for both parties. Additionally, ask the sponsor to share your information with their employees and clients, as they may also be eager to give.

5. Use the Google Ad Grant

The Google Ad Grant provides eligible nonprofits with $10,000 in monthly ad credits to promote their websites through Google Ads. When you create a Google Ad, your organization appears at the top of the search engine results page for your chosen keyword, encouraging interested users to get involved.

If your organization is eligible, it’s easy to apply for the program. Once Google accepts your application, you’ll be able to market your nonprofit and reach new donors by following these tips:

  • Choose relevant keywords. The funds you receive through the Google Ad Grant go towards bidding on keywords. These are words that users interested in your cause may search for, and by bidding on them, you can show up first for relevant searches. For example, your organization may choose “animal shelter donations” or “animal rescue group contributions” in order for potential donors to find your site.
  • Include a call to action. When people see your Google Ads, make it clear what action you’d like them to take. In this case, it’s donating to your cause. Include “Donate Now!” or “Help An Animal In Need Today!” in the copy of your Google Ad to encourage people to contribute.
  • Measure your success. The Google Ad Grant program gives you access to Google Analytics, where you can track your campaign success. See how many conversions, or donations, your ads inspired, and take note of which campaigns performed best so you know which keywords and copy to focus on for next time.

Adding the Google Ad Grant to your donor outreach strategy comes at no additional cost to your organization and can help you gain new support. If you’d like help applying for or managing your Google Ad Grant, consider reaching out to a Google Ad Grant agency.


By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to effectively connect with donors. Remember to always stay true to your organization’s values, maintain transparency with your supporters, and continuously seek out new opportunities for engagement. With persistence, you can build a strong donor base and make a meaningful difference in the world of animal welfare.

A fundraising auction has many moving parts—soliciting items, sending invitations, and finding a venue are just a few tasks on your planning committee’s to-do list. However, one item on your list merits your full attention: pricing.

Pricing is at the heart of a productive auction fundraiser. You could procure all the best items for your audience, but you won’t reach your fundraising potential if you don’t price them correctly. To really make a difference, you need to know how to set competitive but fair starting bids and bid increments. In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to:

Auction pricing can vary depending on the number and type of items you procure. To solicit items effectively, make sure you leave plenty of time to research potential donors and send donation request letters. Doing so will allow you to procure a range of enticing, high-value items. With this in mind, let’s jump in!

Determine Fair Market Value

Fair Market Value (FMV) refers to an item’s retail price or list value. It’s your “source of truth” for setting starting bids and bid increments. It should also be well-documented so item donors can accurately claim their tax deductions. SchoolAuction.net’s silent auction item pricing guide suggests consulting the following resources in addition to researching the standard retail price to compare FMV:

  • Item donors: Reach out to item donors to understand their evaluation of the item’s FMV. Weigh their opinion the most heavily, as pricing their item correctly is one way to recognize them for their generosity. This is especially important for intangible items.
  • eBay or Amazon: For items donated anonymously or for ones that have an unknown FMV, research sites like eBay or Amazon for an estimate of the item’s listing price.
  • Previous auction data: Attend auctions or look into previous auction data to get a second opinion for any item prices you’re unsure about.

Bear in mind that most auctions have a combination of tangible and intangible items. The above sources work well for tangible items. However, intangible items, such as experiences or celebrity meet-and-greets, require additional research. Look into your audience’s demographics, preferences, and interests. How highly would they value this intangible item? When in doubt, ask them, or reference previous auction data to see how well similar intangible items performed in years past.

Set Starting Bids

After you’ve identified an FMV for each item, use this information to finalize your starting bids. As a general rule of thumb, set starting bids at 30-50% FMV to keep bidders invested without devaluing your items. The starting bid range is wide to accommodate the various types of auction items you’ve procured.

For instance, starting bids for items with the most bidding interest, such as a lakehouse getaway package, should be set closer to 30-40% FMV. Starting bids for lower-end or repeated items should be set closer to 50% FMV because if you think people may not be excited about an item, you’ll want to cover your bases as the chance for sustained, competitive bidding is lower.

To determine which items offer the highest revenue potential, refer to these sources:

  • Audience demographics and preferences: Consult your guest list to take note of the type of attendees you’ll have. Consider how they would value your items. For example, an audience of school parents will most likely value childcare services more highly than an audience of retirees. To go even further, NPOInfo’s guide to donor data management suggests digging deeper into your attendees’ average income and employment.
  • Audience interests: Discover what sort of activities or hobbies your audience members enjoy most. How do they spend their free time? An audience of avid golfers will most likely value a new golf club set more highly than a prized painting.
  • Item’s perceived specialness: Determine which factors could have the most sway in persuading attendees to bid. If your item is a pair of AirPods, for instance, is it the newest model? Or, maybe you’ve procured a one-of-a-kind, hand-made pottery piece.

Be sure to optimize your display for high-value items. For example, to show off any experiences such as a beach getaway, you’ll want to exhibit alluring photos of the exact location. Or, if you’re auctioning off concert tickets, let bidders see the concert venue, artist, and seat location. Capturing photos of your item will allow bidders to better visualize its value.

Set Bid Increments

To set the right bidding pace, set bid increments at 10-15% FMV. To determine where your bid increments should land, consider these factors:

  • Bidder feedback and fellow fundraiser support: Seek input from previous auction attendees and bidders to inform your bid increment strategy. You can also ask for advice from other seasoned auction fundraisers to guide your decision-making process.
  • Auction dynamics: Auction time limits, audience size, and item number are all factors that can weigh in on your bid increment strategy. If you have limited time available and a large number of items, it may make more sense to set higher bid increments.
  • High-value items: For items with a somewhat higher FMV, consider keeping the bid increments closer to 10% to inspire more competitive bidding. Conversely, for your top few FMV items, set the bidding increments closer to 15% to maximize your auction revenue.

Sometimes a Buy-it-Now option makes the most sense for your top item. It’s a way for bidders to secure their favorite item and skip the bidding process altogether. You can set a Buy-it-Now price at 150-200% FMV as traditional bidding should never exceed it. Use this option sparingly—an item with a Buy-it-Now price should not be used for unique and appealing items as traditional bidding wars will likely drive up the price more.

Use The Right Tools to Manage Bids

Keeping track of starting bids and bid increments is much easier with the right tools at hand. Customizable auction software can help you execute your online, in-person, or virtual auction with ease. When searching for the right auction software, look for features like:

  • Built-in bid calculations enable fundraisers to enter the FMV for each item and set starting bids and bid increments without having to calculate each by hand.
  • Outbid notifications motivate guests to increase their bids for high-ticket items as well as make sure they don’t miss out on their top items.
  • Online pre-bidding allows attendees to place bids prior to the event and can get the auction hype going in advance.
  • Mobile bidding lets attendees conveniently place bids through their phones. This feature eliminates the need for bid sheets and encourages a quicker bidding pace.
  • Virtual bidding enables virtual attendees to bid, chat, and live stream on a single screen. This makes the virtual bidding experience more interactive.

To get the most value from your software, research additional features that will streamline your event planning, execution, and follow-up. Features like auction item catalogs and procurement tracking can help you arrange your event while sponsorship displays and thank-you notes can help you finish the event well.


As you finalize your starting bids and bid increments, remember that attendees may not view the event the same way as you do. They are most likely eager to participate in an exciting auction experience rather than set on placing an exact number of bids. Therefore, it can be helpful to take a step back and remind bidders of why their contributions matter. Use storytelling tactics to help attendees visualize where their funds are going and how their auction participation will make a difference.

It’s no secret that fundraising allows nonprofits to operate day-to-day and make a difference in the community. However, for your nonprofit to thrive, the key is fundraising sustainably.

To achieve financial sustainability, your organization needs to focus not only on maximizing the amount of funding you bring in but also on bringing in several different types of donations. While fundraising events and year-end giving campaigns still have their place, diversifying your revenue streams helps ensure that you’ll have enough funding all year long.

To help you get started, here are five ongoing fundraisers your nonprofit can use to diversify its revenue:

  1. Online Shopping Fundraisers
  2. Gift Card Fundraising
  3. Charity eCards
  4. Matching Gifts
  5. Search Ad Grants Programs

In addition to providing your organization with year-round donations, these fundraisers can engage your supporters in new, creative ways. Making it easy to give again and again helps improve your donor retention rate, which also contributes to financial sustainability. Let’s dive in!

1. Online Shopping Fundraisers

Online shopping fundraisers allow supporters to give back to organizations and causes they care about while making everyday purchases online. You might have heard of the AmazonSmile program, which ran on this model until its discontinuation in early 2023. However, there are alternative fundraising programs your organization can sign up for that provide more flexibility and higher commission rates than AmazonSmile did.

ShopRaise’s guide to shopping for a cause explains how your nonprofit can get started with an online shopping fundraiser in three easy steps:

  1. Partner with an online shopping fundraiser platform. This platform includes both a free internal-facing fundraising dashboard for your organization and a supporter-facing app that provides access to a wide network of retailers. Your shopping platform’s team will guide you through a simple onboarding process and answer any questions you may have during setup.
  2. Spread the word. Marketing is essential to a successful online shopping fundraiser. Your supporters will need instructions on how to get started and regular reminders to continue participating. The platform you partner with may be able to help with this step by creating branded landing pages, email templates, flyers, and other marketing materials for your organization.
  3. Track your results. You’ll be able to view real-time data on your fundraiser, allowing you to thank top supporters individually and hone your marketing strategy over time. To protect shoppers’ privacy, your organization will see just their names and overall fundraising totals—only the supporter will know exactly what they purchased.

During your online shopping fundraiser, your supporters can choose to shop at any participating retailer. They’ll pay the same prices they would normally and have access to all applicable discounts. The only difference is that they’ll use the fundraising platform’s app or browser extension when making their purchases. Over time, the small contributions from an online shopping fundraiser will add up to make a significant difference for your organization.

2. Gift Card Fundraising

Another way supporters can contribute to your nonprofit by making everyday purchases is through gift card fundraising. Similarly to an online shopping fundraiser, your organization partners with a fundraising platform that offers a variety of digital gift cards. Once supporters purchase these cards and have them delivered to their inboxes, they can forward the email to a loved one as a gift. A portion of each gift card sale goes back to your organization when the supporter purchases it.

You’ll get the most traction from gift card fundraising if you launch in either November (in advance of the December holiday season) or April (to prepare for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, peak wedding season, and school graduations). However, it’s best to leave your fundraiser open year-round so supporters can continue to purchase birthday gifts. While fundraising gift cards can be used for either online or in-person purchases, a digital delivery method provides maximum convenience for both your organization and your supporters.

3. Charity eCards

Online greeting cards help personalize the giving experience for supporters, deepening their connection with your organization. You can customize a variety of donation eCards for different occasions, from birthdays to holidays to awareness days related to your nonprofit’s mission.

There are three main ways to incorporate eCards into your organization’s donation processes:

  1. Create an integrated donation form that allows supporters to send an eCard to a friend or family member as an incentive for donating.
  2. Embed a widget into your donation confirmation page to provide the post-contribution option of sending an eCard.
  3. Add eCards to your nonprofit’s existing online merchandise store.

No matter which option you choose, consider marketing your charity eCards alongside a gift card fundraiser. This way, supporters can send an eCard and a gift card to their loved ones at the same time, all while contributing to a good cause!

4. Matching Gifts

Matching gifts allow your organization to double many donations you already receive. When a supporter who works for a business with a matching gift program donates to your nonprofit and submits a match request, their employer will also contribute, usually matching the original gift at a 1:1 ratio.

According to 360MatchPro’s matching gift statistics, more than 26 million people work for businesses with matching gift programs, and 84% of donors say they’re more likely to donate if they know their gift will be matched. However, it’s estimated that up to $7 billion in matching funds goes unclaimed each year, mainly because many donors don’t know they’re eligible.

Your organization can help solve this problem and maximize your matching gift revenue in two ways. First, embed a matching gift tool directly into your online donation form so donors can quickly check their eligibility. Some of these tools also have auto-submission features, allowing supporters to submit match requests simply by entering their work email address. Second, actively promote matching gifts across all of your marketing channels to remind donors to request that all of their contributions be matched.

5. Search Ad Grants Programs

Although search ad grants programs aren’t fundraisers in the traditional sense, they can help offset marketing costs for your nonprofit. When you apply and are approved for one of these programs, your organization receives a monthly stipend for advertising on search engines. You can then use these marketing grants to support your existing fundraising efforts by driving traffic to your online donation page, event registration forms, and other key pages on your website.

The Google Ad Grants program is the most well-known of these programs. Your organization can apply for it in five easy steps:

  1. Confirm that your organization meets the Google Grant eligibility requirements.
  2. Register with TechSoup (if you haven’t done so already).
  3. Create a Google for Nonprofits Account and wait a few days for it to be approved.
  4. Prepare your website according to Google’s website policy checklist.
  5. Submit your grant application through your approved Google for Nonprofits account.

In addition to the Google Ad Grants program, Microsoft offers search ad grants through their Ads for Social Impact program. To secure this grant, your organization just needs to register for Microsoft for Nonprofits and complete the Microsoft Ad Grants application. Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to place ads across all Microsoft-owned and operated websites to boost supporter conversions.

As your nonprofit goes about its day-to-day operations, there may be times when unexpected costs arise or your fundraising campaigns fall short of their goals for reasons beyond your control. When this happens, having diversified revenue streams can help your organization maintain financial stability. Additionally, since nonprofit donations tend to peak at the end of the year and die down during the summer, running ongoing fundraisers can help you maintain momentum during slower times of the year.

For most associations, membership dues keep the organization up and running. Because members must renew their memberships each year to remain active and retain access to benefits, this is a fairly reliable stream of revenue for associations. Since strong, consistent membership is key to growing your association, it’s important to satisfy and engage members to motivate them to renew.

However, relying too heavily on dues to fuel your association can put pressure on staff to retain and recruit as many new members as possible. While staff should strive to retain and grow your membership base, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the demand to constantly reach new members to remain profitable. To relieve some of this pressure, consider further diversifying your revenue beyond membership dues.

While associations have relied primarily on dues, times are changing and revenue diversification is essential. In a 2016 study by ASAE, the organization found that on average, dues only make up 30% of total revenue for professional associations. In this guide, we’ll explore the following types of non-dues revenue streams and how you can implement them:

Remember that while your organization’s finances are important, members’ experiences should take first priority. To smoothly integrate these new revenue opportunities, consider combining your new revenue opportunities with members’ experiences through meaningful storytelling to promote the revenue streams. For example, you might feature a testimonial from a member who completed a course offered by your association and subsequently got a promotion using the new skills she learned.

To get started, let’s explore how conferences and special events can become valuable additional revenue streams.

Conferences and Special Events

For many associations, an annual conference or event is what their members look forward to each year. These events provide many benefits to members, such as networking opportunities, educational sessions and keynote presentations, and interactive workshops where they can learn new skills. They even have non-financial benefits for your association like assisting with new member outreach and supporting relationships with influential exhibitors and sponsors in your field.

Conferences also have clear financial benefits because attendees typically have to purchase tickets to enter—they might even purchase merchandise or food while at the conference. Additionally, any exhibitors at the conference will need to pay for their booth.

If your association doesn’t currently host a yearly conference (or is looking for ways to improve its events), follow these tips:

  • Use event planning software. Choose association management software (AMS) that offers helpful event management features. For instance, your software should automate conference communications, offer an eCommerce platform where members can purchase tickets, and have a mobile app that will help attendees navigate the event. Fonteva’s guide to Salesforce for associations recommends choosing a solution that integrates with your existing tech stack so all event data will flow seamlessly into your existing reports.
  • Market the event in advance. The key to profiting from a conference is attracting enough attendees and exhibitors. To reach these organizations and individuals, you’ll need to promote the event via association meetings, emails, newsletters, social media, and more. Make sure to reach out to your audience through the communication channels they prefer and use often.
  • Choose a flexible event format. If you run a large, multi-chapter association or your conference is well-known in your field, it’s possible that not every interested individual will be able to attend in person. To accommodate potential attendees who may not be able to travel and attend physically, offer a hybrid event. This way, those who wish to attend in person can, and other registrants have the option to tune in from their homes or offices.

While an event does require some upfront costs and planning, it can be a large source of revenue for your association. To make sure your organization profits from the conference, carefully budget during the planning process, place effort into event promotion, and implement constructive feedback and suggestions into future events.

Continued Learning Courses

One reason many members join associations is to learn new skills and information. While covering new topics during meetings or hosting monthly educational sessions is a good starting point, offer members the chance to go deeper with educational courses.

Host these courses on your association website or learning management system and sell access to them on your eCommerce site. Morweb’s membership website guide recommends keeping these resources behind a paywall that members have to log into to access.

Some common ways to structure these learning opportunities include creating:

  • A series of video lectures or presentations
  • Interactive microcredential courses
  • Written guides in a PDF or eBook format
  • Mentorships or coaching sessions
  • Discussion-based courses (e.g., members enrolled in the course read an article each week and meet to discuss it)

If your organization is smaller or doesn’t currently have the resources to build a full course, don’t shy away from offering other educational resources. For example, you might record and compile a series of webinars given about a specific topic and sell access to the series to members.

Merchandise

Selling merchandise is an easy way to passively generate revenue. Once you complete the initial preparation steps, your staff won’t need to put in much additional time or effort into this revenue stream. All your association will need to do is:

  1. Design the merchandise. Make sure it includes your association’s name and branding.
  2. Stock up on inventory for members to purchase.
  3. List each item on the eCommerce website powered by your association management platform.

To boost your sales, take advantage of opportunities to promote your merchandise. Conferences are a great time to sell special t-shirts, hats, or bags that attendees can take home as a souvenir. Additionally, you might offer sales around special occasions such as Black Friday or offer discount codes to new members to motivate them to browse your e-store.

Fundraisers

Fundraisers are exceptional for generating additional funding for specific programs, events, or valuable member perks. For example, maybe you need to fundraise in order to support your mentorship program that connects members with college students looking for guidance. Or, maybe your association wants to partner with a local nonprofit to raise money for both causes.

While often necessary, it can be difficult to motivate members to participate in fundraisers when they are already paying membership fees. Try out these strategies to inspire their support:

  • Be clear about the fundraiser’s purpose. Address any confusion about why you are fundraising at the beginning of the campaign. Because members already pay membership fees, they might feel more comfortable donating if they know there is a specific reason for the fundraiser. Be as detailed as you can to paint a picture of how their support will benefit the association (e.g., “With your support, we can book an industry celebrity to speak at our yearly banquet.”).
  • Tailor your fundraising asks. When you reach out to members for donations, make sure to personalize your messages. Start by greeting them by name and explicitly naming any support they’ve given in the past. If they are a long-term member, acknowledge their years of membership. Create email segments that group donors by their level of involvement or the relationship with your association to ensure you ask for appropriate amounts.
  • Have a stewardship plan ready. When a member decides to make a generous gift to your association, be ready to recognize this generosity. You might send donation eCards to members who donate to thank them for their support or even offer exclusive perks. When members see that you value their support (and that donating is rewarded with prizes and recognition), they’ll be more likely to donate again in the future.

When planning your fundraiser, utilize fundraising features in your AMS. These features will help you track fundraising progress, send donation receipts, and identify top donors. If your current solution lacks these capabilities, consider upgrading to a more comprehensive solution.


As you introduce these new revenue streams, remember to remain cognizant of things like donor or consumer fatigue. To avoid turning members off to these opportunities, make sure any new revenue stream you introduce will directly benefit members—and make sure those benefits are clearly communicated. Then, by the time renewal letters go out, members will be excited to renew and enjoy your organization’s new offerings.

On average, working adults receive 120 emails a day. That means that each time your nonprofit sends an email, it’s competing with over a hundred other messages vying for each supporter’s attention.

In these crowded inboxes, how do you make your emails stand out? Once they do catch your recipients’ attention, how do you lead supporters from email to your website to take action?

Optimizing the donor journey from email to your donation page will increase conversion rates and build stronger supporter relationships in the process. When you make it easy for supporters to donate, you’ll give donors a better online experience and increase the chances they’ll give again. We’ll discuss these four tips for how to do just that:

  1. Make every email actionable.
  2. Design landing pages that hold donors’ attention.
  3. Simplify your donation page.
  4. Ensure consistency throughout the donor journey.

Soliciting donations from email isn’t just about having the right marketing strategy. Every step a donor takes, from clicking a link and arriving on your nonprofit’s website to filling out your donation form, needs to be cohesive and well thought out. Let’s start with the email itself.

1. Make every email actionable.

When crafting emails, focus on what will compel supporters to visit your website and take the next step. Not every email needs to be a donation appeal to lead donors to your giving page. Simply guide readers toward your website, then let your website do the rest of the work.

Optimize the following aspects of your emails to gently nudge donors toward your website:

  • Subject lines: 64% of people decide whether to open or delete an email based solely on the subject line. Make your subject lines more compelling by personalizing them with donors’ names and conveying urgency. For example, the subject line “Jim, you still have 24 hours left to give the gift of sight” is more actionable than “Join Our Eyeglass Gifting Campaign.”
  • Content: Supporters shouldn’t have to spend a long time reading your emails. Craft short but engaging messages that use storytelling techniques to inspire readers to dive deeper by visiting your website.
  • Links: Depending on the content of an email, you could link to blog posts, campaign pages, volunteer signups, or directly to your donation page. Any link that leads readers to your website helps, but make sure the text clearly tells supporters where the link will take them. Linking your donation page over the text “Breanna’s story,” for example, could be confusing and misleading.
  • CTAs: Calls to action, or CTAs, are vital for nonprofit emails. These are the buttons, text, or images that ask readers to click to donate, sign a petition, or take another next step. Improve your CTAs by keeping them short, straightforward, and clearly actionable.

To check the effectiveness of these strategies, analyze your emails’ click-through rate (CTR). Determine which types of content and CTAs drive the most engagement from your audience, and use similar content for future emails.

2. Design landing pages that hold donors’ attention.

Once a donor clicks a link in your email and arrives on your website, you need to encourage them to stay on the site and explore your content.

For example, let’s say you sent an email about an upcoming fundraising gala and linked to an event registration page. There are plenty of aspects of this page you can optimize to not only get users to sign up for the gala, but also stay on your website.

When designing landing pages using your organization’s website builder, make sure they include:

  • Compelling visuals: Images, graphics, and videos often hold users’ attention better than text alone. Plus, photos of your beneficiaries, volunteers, or staff help build an emotional connection with supporters. On your gala landing page, you might include a photo of last year’s attendees or an infographic showing how much the previous gala raised for your cause.
  • Relevant content: The information, images, and links on a landing page should all be relevant to your audience and their interests. If you know your supporters will be most excited about the auction portion of your gala, for example, your landing page could provide a sneak peek of a few high-profile auction items.
  • Optimized UX: User experience (UX) refers to how easily visitors can navigate your website. Negative UX, such as a long page loading time or buttons that aren’t clickable, can cause supporters to leave your website quickly. Avoid this by testing each landing page to ensure everything appears and works properly on desktop and mobile versions.

Every landing page should also have a clear pathway to your donation page. This is commonly done by creating a universal banner that lives at the top of every page of your website and features a large “Donate” button.

One way to make this design process easier is to use a website template that was created with nonprofits in mind. Morweb lists the top nonprofit website templates you should consider, many of which include built-in donation buttons or embedded donation forms. Using templates like these can help you streamline the donor journey without spending too much staff time on technical details.

3. Simplify your donation page.

Imagine that a supporter visited your event registration page and can’t attend the gala, but wants to donate. They click the prominent “Donate” button at the top of the signup page and arrive on your donation page. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, but your work isn’t done yet.

Plenty of roadblocks can stop someone from completing an online donation. If the page doesn’t load fast enough, if there are too many prompts, or if anything on the page is confusing, donors might exit the page. Simplifying your donation page and only asking for necessary information gives donors a better experience and increases the likelihood of completed gifts.

Use these tips to simplify your donation page:

  • Limit form fields to include only straightforward, necessary questions.
  • Ensure your donation form is accessible on mobile devices.
  • Include suggested donation amounts so donors can quickly choose a popular donation size.
  • Test load times using Google Lighthouse and follow the recommended steps to improve your page’s speed.

Be sure to monitor your donation form’s bounce rate to see how many supporters aren’t completing their donations, then analyze why that may be happening. Make adjustments as needed, or send out a survey to donors asking for their opinions on the page.

4. Ensure visual consistency throughout the donor journey.

NXUnite’s biggest nonprofit web design tip is to ensure brand consistency across every page on your site. But don’t stop at your website — this brand consistency should extend to your emails, social media graphics, and every communication you send to supporters.

To ensure donors have a cohesive experience of your nonprofit throughout the entire journey from email to website to donation page, visual consistency is key. Specifically, the following branding and design elements should stay consistent across all website pages and messages:

  • Logo
  • Color scheme
  • Typography
  • Image style
  • Tone and messaging

Your website builder should allow you to easily customize branding elements across your entire site. There are plenty of email tools and templates that allow for quick brand customization, as well. Just remember to update all of your website pages and marketing collateral when you make any branding changes.

These tips will help you provide donors with a better overall online experience, leading to higher conversion rates and improved retention. Focus on reducing the number of steps donors need to take and making it easy for them to take action. Update your email and web design strategy as you identify areas of improvement, and don’t be afraid to ask for input from your internal and external stakeholders.

When it comes to auctions, the items your nonprofit procures can make or break your fundraising success. To maximize your event’s potential, your items need to be unique, high-value, and appealing to your specific supporter base.

One effective way to showcase your nonprofit’s auction items is to design a catalog. By listing all of the available prizes in a single booklet, along with additional information about your fundraiser and organization, your auction catalog can serve as both a marketing tool and a guide to the auction event itself.

To design an auction catalog for your nonprofit’s next event, try the following five strategies:

  1. Understand When to Create an Auction Catalog
  2. Incorporate Your Nonprofit’s Branding
  3. Write Item Descriptions With Your Audience in Mind
  4. Acknowledge Your Event Sponsors
  5. Develop Digital and Print Versions of Your Catalog

While some nonprofits pay professional graphic designers to produce their auction catalogs, it’s possible to make one yourself with the right tools and a little creativity. There are plenty of templates available online which you can customize to meet your organization’s needs, no matter your level of design experience. Let’s dive in!

1. Understand When to Create an Auction Catalog

Although creating a high-quality auction catalog isn’t as difficult as it might seem, it still requires an investment of time and effort. So, it isn’t necessary to make one for every auction your nonprofit might host.

According to the fundraising experts at Winspire, auction catalogs are best suited to in-person live auctions. These auctions tend to feature fewer items than silent or virtual auctions, and the list is finalized further in advance, giving you the time to create a catalog that include all of the items you’ll feature.

Attendees at an in-person silent auction are most engaged when they’re actively browsing the tables instead of reading a booklet, and it’s easier for virtual auction participants to view items directly in your event software rather than going back and forth between the platform and a catalog. For an in-person live auction, however, it’s helpful for participants to read through a guide to the event and choose the items they’re interested in before the intense bidding process begins.

The silent and virtual auction alternative to a live auction catalog is well-designed bid sheets. Above the space where participants write their bids and contact information, include a creative title, description, and photo of each silent auction item on the corresponding sheet to catch supporters’ attention.

2. Incorporate Your Nonprofit’s Branding

Branding makes your nonprofit recognizable and memorable for supporters, and it helps maintain consistency across various marketing materials. Your auction catalog is no exception. As you design the booklet, make sure it accurately reflects your nonprofit’s brand.

Kwala’s guide to nonprofit branding lists several essential brand aspects to incorporate into your auction catalog, including:

  • Your organization’s name and logoEspecially for newer supporters, these elements provide a first impression of who your nonprofit is and what you stand for, so they should appear on the cover page of your auction catalog.
  • A consistent color scheme. Make sure the text colors in the booklet contrast adequately with their background colors to improve readability.
  • Interesting but legible typography. Add visual variety to your catalog by choosing two fonts—one for headings and one for body text—that complement each other. However, to avoid a cluttered look, it’s best not to use more than three different typefaces. Also, make sure to choose typefaces that are easy to read, even for titles and other aspects of your catalog where you might want to add a visual flair.

Additionally, consider writing a few sentences in the booklet detailing your organization’s mission and how you plan to use the funding you bring in from the auction. This way, supporters can feel confident that their event contributions will further a good cause.

3. Write Item Descriptions With Your Audience in Mind

Your auction catalog should contain enough information to be a useful resource for event participants, but not so much that it could become overwhelming. In most cases, a total of 12-15 live auction items allows you to keep both the catalog and the event itself to a reasonable length.

As you describe each item in the catalog, consider your supporters’ perspective by following these tips:

  • Group the items into relevant categories. To appeal to different supporters’ interests, organize the catalog so they can easily find what they want to bid on. You might include categories such as travel, food and beverages, arts and entertainment, and family-friendly prizes.
  • Keep your descriptions concise. You’ll want to fit a maximum of two to three item descriptions on each page. Make them easy to skim by keeping paragraphs short and using bullet points when possible.
  • Mention any item restrictions. If concert tickets are only valid for certain dates or a vacation package limits the winner’s choice of airline, let supporters know in the catalog so they can make an informed decision about whether to bid on the item.

Next to each item description, include a related image—either a photo of the physical item or something related to the experience you’re auctioning off, like a picture of the destination the winner of a vacation package would travel to. This not only makes your catalog design more aesthetically pleasing but also gets supporters excited about bidding on each item.

4. Acknowledge Your Event Sponsors

Many fundraising events, including auctions, can benefit from corporate sponsorships. Some businesses may be willing to support your event through financial contributions, while others will provide auction items at a reduced cost or as in-kind donations.

However, for a partnership between a business and a nonprofit to succeed, it needs to be mutually beneficial. Your sponsorship requests should clearly state that in return for your corporate partner’s contributions, they’ll receive free publicity from your organization. The easiest way to do this is to include your sponsors’ names and logos in your event marketing materials—including your auction catalog.

If a business donated a specific auction item, include a brief acknowledgment under its description, such as “This item was contributed by [sponsor name]” accompanied by the business’s logo. Then, add a page listing all of your financial sponsors with a title like “Thank You to Our Event Sponsors” to show your gratitude and honor your agreement.

5. Develop Digital and Print Versions of Your Catalog

Make sure your auction catalog is finalized well in advance of your event, so you can both convert it to a PDF and send it to a print shop to make physical copies. There are two main reasons for this, and the first is convenience. During your auction, participants can choose whether they’d prefer to look through the print booklet or download the digital version on their smartphones.

The other reason is to improve your event marketing strategy, as aligning your online and offline efforts allows you to reach more supporters. Include a print catalog with any event invitations you send by mail, and link to the PDF on your nonprofit’s website and in emails to give supporters a sneak peek of your auction items.


An auction catalog is an essential tool for the success of any in-person live auction events your nonprofit may host. Well-written item descriptions convince supporters to bid on your high-value items, and incorporating your nonprofit’s branding into both the print and digital versions of your booklet helps align your catalog with your other marketing efforts. Plus, it’s a great place to thank the sponsors who made your event possible.

After your auction, revisit your catalog to evaluate its strengths and areas for improvement. As with any marketing strategy, time and practice will help each auction catalog you make turn out better than the last.

As a nonprofit professional, you know how easy it is to get caught up in fundraising numbers, whether you’ve spent hours working to secure one major gift or months trying to reach a campaign goal. Of course, the financial well-being of your organization is critically important, but sometimes, well-intentioned nonprofits can fall into the trap of focusing so much on dollars and cents that they neglect important relationship-building opportunities.

The good news is that there are many simple ways to strengthen relationships with your supporters, including using your website. Use your website to recognize your organization’s supporters and thank them for how they’ve contributed to your cause. Doing so will not only make your donors, volunteers, and sponsors feel great about their contributions so far, but will also help transform them into lifelong supporters as your recognition efforts encourage further involvement.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with these four quick tips for recognizing your supporters on your website:

  1. Create a virtual donor wall.
  2. Spotlight volunteer contributions on your blog.
  3. Include sponsor information on your site.
  4. Embed your social media feeds on your website.

Even organizations with the best websites can struggle to know where to begin when it comes to using their sites as a recognition tool. But with a little guidance, you’ll soon be well on your way to fostering long-lasting relationships with the people who want to see your mission succeed. Let’s dive in!

1. Create a virtual donor wall.

You’ve likely heard of a physical donor wall being used as a recognition tool (or your organization may have constructed its own!), but virtual donor walls are a little different. These donor “walls” are available to view on your nonprofit’s website and feature the names of your organization’s donors. And, with the virtual format, it comes with the following benefits:

  • Affordable for organizations of all sizes to create
  • Easy to update
  • Can be used for online marketing efforts
  • Can easily feature your nonprofit’s branding

To create a virtual donor wall, set up a new page on your website that includes a short introduction thanking donors for their contributions and links to your donation page to encourage additional gifts. Below this introduction, list your donors’ names. This page could be live in a Support or Ways to Give section on your website or be a floating page.

You may be wondering, “Who should I feature on my virtual donor wall?” Traditionally, donor walls are used to honor donors who give major contributions, such as loyal board members or donors who give to a capital campaign. However, with the flexibility and affordability of a virtual donor wall, you can feature anyone you’d like on your wall. You could even divide your donor wall page into sections based on different tiers or donation size ranges.

However, some donors may not want to be recognized for their contributions in such a public and visible way. Make sure that you ask permission before including an individual’s name on the virtual donor wall!

2. Spotlight volunteer contributions on your blog.

Your blog can be a powerful tool for giving shout-outs to your supporters, especially your volunteers! You can spotlight individual volunteers or your entire program, whatever you feel would resonate most with your audience.

Here are some content ideas you can include in volunteer recognition blog posts that will really help them pop:

  • Interviews: Make your volunteers’ voices heard through your blog posts by interviewing them. For example, you might interview the volunteer who’s been working with your organization the longest. Not only would their story send a great message to the volunteer about how much you appreciate their efforts, but it would also inspire other volunteers to keep up their great work.
  • Quick Metrics: You may want to report to your community on the effectiveness of your volunteer program using numbers, like the number of volunteer hours that have been logged over the last six months, the number of students your volunteers have tutored, or the weight of the clothing they collected at your recent clothing drive. Go the extra mile in sharing these metrics by communicating them visually through infographics or graphs.
  • Event Recaps: If you have an event that is powered by your volunteers, consider recapping it on your blog. Detail the types of roles and responsibilities they took on and explain how their work made your event possible.

You can bring any of these types of blog posts to life by incorporating high-quality photos of your volunteer(s). Pictures are a great way to show what your volunteers look like in action and can be a useful tool for capturing the memories made in your volunteer program. You can incorporate images into the body of your blog posts or post entire galleries. Whatever your vision is, remember to ask your volunteers for permission to take and share photos before doing so.

3. Include sponsor information on your site.

Your nonprofit likely thanks its corporate sponsors in a variety of ways, whether you include their logos on your volunteer t-shirts or thank them by name during your events. But you can also take your sponsor appreciation strategy up a notch by including your sponsors’ information on your website.

For example, you might create a dedicated “Sponsors” or “Community Partners” page on your site that includes information like:

  • Brand names
  • Logos
  • Website links
  • Sponsorship tier

You might also write a paragraph or two about how each sponsor has contributed to your cause and what makes your partnership with them unique and valuable.

Additionally, a little extra free advertising can go a long way in showing sponsors your gratitude. Consider incorporating advertisements for your sponsors into your written content or creating pop-ups on certain pages that lead to your sponsors’ websites.

4. Add social media sharing buttons on your website.

According to Cornershop Creative’s nonprofit web design guide, it’s best practice to incorporate social sharing buttons onto your organization’s website. By doing so, you can encourage your supporters—whether they’re donors, volunteers, or sponsors—to share the recognition they receive on your website with their personal networks.

When your supporters share your virtual donor wall, volunteer-focused blog posts, or sponsor-specific content, they’ll get a boost from their family, friends, and colleagues that like and comment on the post, further reinforcing the value of their contributions to your nonprofit. They may even inspire others to join them in their work to support your nonprofit’s cause!


Your nonprofit’s website can be a great place to recognize your supporters and support the work you’re already doing to strengthen relationships with them. Use these tips to get started with turning your website into a recognition tool, but to take things to the next level, consider working with a nonprofit web design company like Cornershop Creative to give your efforts an edge. You’ve got this!

You’ve set a date and booked a golf facility—now it’s time to get people on the green! A well-crafted, personalized invitation is a great way to rally your donors, constituents, volunteers, and partners to attend. Personalizing your invitations is a great marketing tactic that not only garners the recipient’s attention but makes them feel valued. After all, wouldn’t you rather open a letter addressed to you rather than something vague, like “valued supporter”?

According to GolfStatus, the average golfer’s annual income is near twice that of the average American, which makes them prime candidates for donors. Because the golfer donor is such a valuable audience segment, inviting them in the most personal way possible makes them more inclined to participate or donate to your event. Here are seven tips to effective golf fundraiser invitations.

1. Segment your audience.

Your organization likely has a great base of contacts to invite to your charity golf tournament. Start by segmenting your recipients by your chosen criteria to tailor your messaging to appeal to each audience segment. You can segment by:

  • Age or gender
  • Past event participation
  • Giving history
  • Volunteer history
  • Interest in a particular program or outreach effort
  • Geographic location
  • Job title or organization

It’s important to note that to create these segments for targeted messaging, it’s important to collect as much information about your contacts as possible. If you haven’t done this in the past, now’s the time to start! You can better understand your audience by conducting surveys, hosting focus groups, tracking email opens and clicks, or using social media to gather insights.

2. Determine how you’ll reach supporters.

A mix of approaches is likely to yield the best results in inviting people to play in, sponsor, or donate to your golf fundraiser. Email, direct mail, in-app messaging, social media, are all possibilities to include in your marketing mix.

According to Double the Donation, email fundraising has the highest ROI of any fundraising communication method. It’s effective in reaching a wide audience with less time and expense, and it can be scheduled to send at certain dates or times with calls-to-action specific to an audience segment. Craft clickable and compelling subject lines that capture the recipients attention so they open and act on the invitation. Use humor, wit, or creative wordplay to increase open rates, such as:

  • Swing into Action: Join Us for Our Annual Golf Fundraiser
  • Fore! Get Ready for a Hole-in-One Experience
  • Hit the Green and Support Our Cause
  • Tee Up for a Great Cause: You’re Invited to Our Golf Fundraiser

Relevant emojis can also be used sparingly as well as personalized greetings by using merge tags to make the email stand out in your recipient’s inbox.

Don’t underestimate the power of direct mail invitations. Make these printed pieces attractive, personal, branded, and compel the recipient to open it instead of tossing it straight into the recycle bin. Think about creating a custom envelope that bears your email subject line to create a cohesive campaign and pique the recipient’s interest. Or send a simple save-the-date postcard ahead of the formal invitation to get it on golfer and sponsor radars as soon as possible.

3. Personalize the invitation’s message.

Adding a layer of personalization to your invitation makes your donors feel even more seen by your nonprofit. This can be as simple as customizing the email or letter for each audience segment or any of the following creative approaches:

  • Send a personalized video via email or text. Record a video from event organizers, nonprofit beneficiaries, or volunteers thanking the recipient for their past support and inviting them to attend the golf event. Add a personal touch by mentioning something specific to the recipient, such as their favorite golf course or a recent accomplishment.
  • Include a small personalized gift. Show the recipient how much you value their support and involvement with a gift that plays to their interests or the type of event, such as a golf ball, can cooler, or set of tees bearing your organization or tournament’s logo along with a handwritten note. Tap your planning team, board of directors, or volunteers to help write these notes.
  • Create a custom invitation package for major donors. Because this is more time and cost-intensive, it’s best to save this approach for major supporters. Design a special invitation that’s customized to the recipient, such as their name or photo, as well as event details and program highlights. You might also hand-deliver the package to the recipient’s home or office for an extra touch.
  • Combine printed and digital formats. Use QR codes in printed pieces to link folks directly to the event registration website or to a personalized video that invites them to support the event.

However you choose to personalize your invitations, your message should resonate with the recipient in some way. Whether you cater to their specific interests or past involvement with the organization, a personalized ask is more likely to get a response.

4. Keep it clear and concise.

No one wants to read a wall of text in an email or letter and will fast-track your invitation right to the trash. Keep your copy brief, concise, and to the point. Use bullet points to break up text and complement text with graphics, photos, or infographics.

For example, instead of detailing everything about your event in the invitation, write a brief description and supplement it with photos from last year’s golf fundraiser. Link out to a photo album or the event website where folks can find out more about the event, what you’re raising money for, and the itinerary for the day.

5. Make them want to get involved.

Above all, your invitation should make recipients want to play in the golf event or support it in some way. Highlight elements that make it fun and exciting, specifics about the program or effort the tournament will raise funds for, and components that make it special. If you’re hosting a hole-in-one contest, raffle, or silent auction, talk up the prizes they could win. If you’re live-scoring the tournament, you could also invite people to follow along with the live leaderboards and follow certain teams (these are also a great chance to ask folks to donate to the event). If you have other games, entertainment, or demonstrations on the course, be sure to feature these in your invitations. Another idea is to create videos of your unique golf tournament fundraising ideas in action.

6. Include a call-to-action.

However you invite people to your golf fundraiser, it should be actionable. Email invitations should include a direct link to where they can register, purchase add-ons, make a donation, or purchase a sponsorship as soon as they hear about the event. Printed and mailed invitations should include a QR code that links to the same event website. Forcing people to fill out a paper form, write a check, find a stamp, and drop it in the mail creates barriers to participating. Make it simple!

Create urgency by offering early bird registration rates, offering an exclusive offer for a certain number of golfers or teams (such as a free t-shirt, gift certificate from a sponsor, or sleeve of golf balls), or limiting your tournament’s field.

7. Follow up after the tournament.

Keep the conversation going after the tournament. At a bare minimum, send recognition letters to all attendees. For major donors and sponsors, send handwritten thank you notes that help build and strengthen the relationship. Think creatively about how to keep these folks engaged with your organization, such as making check-in phone calls, inviting them for coffee or lunch, a round of golf, or a tour of your offices.

Wrapping up

You can adapt this road map for golf tournament invitations to your nonprofit’s needs and capabilities. The goal is to create invitations that compel people to play in, sponsor, or donate to your charity golf tournament, so use these tips and best practices to make your next golf event a success.

Charity eCards offer a unique take on fundraising and marketing. By sending an eCard, a donor can send well wishes to a loved one for a special occasion while also supporting a charitable cause. Not to mention, directly expressing their appreciation for your cause can help spread the word about your mission, making an even stronger impact as their loved ones explore your work.

With a strong digital greeting card collection, any nonprofit can take the online space by storm and make a name for itself. From celebrating holidays to thanking someone, donors can send cards every day, so your team can offer them year-round. Between selling them and letting donors give any amount they want, you have plenty of options for how you offer digital cards to supporters.

While there are plenty of effective tools out there, not every eCard creation platform is created equally, though. As our preferred tool, eCardWidget offers everything you need to design and sell greeting cards online. they make it incredibly simple to understand how to sell greeting cards online. We’ll specifically look at the options this platform offers, so you can get a good sense of how charity eCards can fit into your existing marketing and fundraising strategies. Here’s what we’ll cover:

At Fundraising Letters, we’re fanatics of effective supporter engagement and recognition. We believe that with charity eCards, you can bring an interactive element to your online presence that deepens audience engagement and takes brand loyalty to new heights. Whether you want to sell greeting cards as individual products or let donors choose any donation amount, you’ll be ready to go by the end of this article!
Create and sell charity eCards online with our recommended platform, eCardWidget.

Learn the fundamentals of charity eCards before creating yours.

The Basics of Selling Greeting Cards Online

If you’re new to the idea of selling cards for charity, it doesn’t hurt to go over the basics! Let’s walk through a few common questions that your team might have as you get up and running. In no time, you’ll fully understand the fundamentals of how to sell greeting cards online for your cause.

Is selling greeting cards online profitable?

Yes, selling cards for charity can be a valid revenue stream for your cause. So long as you’re backed by a strong array of charity eCards, you can sell plenty to make up for eCard platform fees.

Compared to printed cards, offering cards digitally is much more cost-effective since it eliminates the need for printing and shipping. Plus, the immediate delivery makes them an easy sell for donors looking to celebrate an occasion or send well wishes to someone.

When you offer them for all sorts of occasions, your donors can conveniently support you throughout the year. Donors can even give to your cause in someone’s name as a way to celebrate a birthday or other gift-giving occasion. Then, they can send an eCard branded to the charity letting the honoree know.

What is the best way to sell greeting cards online?

The exact method you use to sell eCards for charity is entirely up to your organization, but you have a few options. To start, we recommend choosing an eCard platform that’s tailored to nonprofits. For example, eCardWidget offers out-of-the-box donation features and also integrates with several popular fundraising tools like DonorPerfect and Shopify.

With these options, you might:

  • Add the cards directly to your nonprofit’s website, where donors can give in exchange for charity eCards.
  • Sell them as fundraising products in your Shopify store.

We’ll explore the technical side of these approaches later on. For now, just know you should choose the sales channel that works best for your organization. If you already have a highly-visited eStore, sell the cards as products in your fundraising store. If you want to use them to optimize the donation experience, offer them on your website.

No matter your approach, maximize your sales potential by promoting them across different channels, like email and social media. In no time, you’ll start selling greeting cards to supporters!

How do I price charity eCards?

Charity eCards typically have low overhead costs, so you can really offer them for any price and still make a profit. Your pricing can vary depending on factors such as the cost of producing each eCard and the demand for each one. Here are a few approaches you can take to price your cards:

  • Set a fixed price. You can set the same price for all of them, regardless of the design. We recommend somewhere between $1-$25 so that they’re affordable yet still able to make a difference.
  • Use a tiered pricing model. Offer different designs for different prices. More intricate designs or more popular cards can go for higher prices.
  • Offer them in exchange for any donation amount. This approach relies on donors to choose their own prices. If you use this method, add suggested donation amounts to give donors a frame of reference for how much to give.

Use these pricing strategies when selling cards for charity.

No matter how much you charge, remember that the primary goal of charity eCards is to raise awareness. Raising some extra funds is just a bonus! Therefore, your pricing strategy should strike a balance between generating revenue and making the eCards accessible to a wider audience.


Sell charity eCards by integrating them into the donation process.

Charity eCard Flow 1) Integrated Donation Forms

As fundraisers, we’re always searching for new ways to optimize the giving experience. What better way is there to do that than by offering incentives for donating?

With your eCard platform, you might be able to integrate eCards into your online giving experience. As explained in our donation eCards guide, here’s how the process works:

  1. The donor selects their preferred eCard, adds the recipient’s contact information, chooses a donation amount, and fills out their payment details.
  2. Upon submission, the donation goes to the nonprofit.
  3. The donor’s loved one receives the eCard with a personalized message.

Some platforms even allow senders to select different platforms to send an eCard. Donors can send the cards via email, social media, or text message, depending on the options you enable. Requesting donations will be much simpler when you provide unique incentives and flexible sending options.

An Example of This Approach in Action

Curious how selling greeting cards for your charity would fold into your donation process? Here’s a real-world example from The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County.

When determining how to sell greeting cards online, consider integrating charity eCards into the donation process.

As part of their Valentine’s Day campaign, they offered a collection of charity eCards stylized with furry pets and witty animal puns. They hosted the cards on an individual page on their site. Upon selecting their preferred card, donors were met with a pop-up screen where they could fill out contact information, add a personal message, select a donation amount, and provide their payment details.

Notice how The Humane Society included suggested donation amounts. The widget preselected the $10 amount, but donors could change it to give $25, $50, $100, or a custom amount that fit their budget.


You can offer charity eCards to donors on your donation confirmation page.

Charity eCard Flow 2) Post-Donation

Offering charity eCards post-donation is another popular strategy. Embed the widget into your donation completion page. Then, whenever donors give, the widget will appear on the donation confirmation page.

While you can promote the reward before someone donates, it can be a fun surprise for donors if they don’t know they’ll receive an eCard until it pops up on the confirmation page.

From here, donors can choose their favorite options, fill out each recipient’s contact information, add personalized messages, and click “send.”

When using this method, offer a few different card designs. For instance, you might create some centered around the cause. Then donors can send them to as many loved ones as they want, challenging others also to give.

An Example of This Approach in Action

Offering eCards post-donation is likely the easiest option. All you really have to do is embed the widget into your existing donation confirmation page.

Offer charity eCards on your donation confirmation page like this example.

As shown above, Maryland Food Bank took this approach for tribute donations. Notice how they offered a collection of cards alongside some instructions for sending one.

The options included:

  • An in-honor-of donation eCard
  • A sympathy charity eCard to express condolences
  • A birthday card
  • A wedding congratulatory card

Each card design lends itself well to tribute donations. Donors can give in the honoree’s name and send a personalized eCard letting them know.

No matter how much someone donates, they can choose one of these options. Remember, allowing donors to pay any amount makes charity eCards much more accessible, allowing you to capitalize on the marketing power of digital cards.


To sell greeting cards online, we recommend adding your charity eCards as products in your online store.

Charity eCard Flow 3) Fundraising Products

If your nonprofit runs an eStore, charity eCards are the perfect addition to your branded merchandise. When selling cards as products in your online store, there are two options to choose from, including:

  • Customize the eCard before purchasing. Enable donors to personalize their eCard and add it to their cart before checkout. That way, they’ll know exactly what they’re buying.
  • Customize the eCard post-purchase. Someone will add the card to their cart and complete the buying process. Then, after purchase, the widget appear on the confirmation page, enabling customers to send eCards with personalized messages.

Our recommended provider eCardWidget offers integrations with tools like Shopify. That way, you can add your cards directly to your store. As soon as you finalize your designs, you’ll be able to sell greeting cards online and choose whichever selling option works best for your cause.

An Example of This Approach in Action

Let’s take a look at how you can sell cards for charity as fundraising products. The example below depicts an order confirmation page with a Father’s Day card.

When debating how to sell greeting cards online, consider adding them to your Shopify store.

After purchasing an eCard, a donor would be met with the widget on the order confirmation page. From here, they could personalize and send it to their loved ones.

For this approach, we recommend offering an array of cards to cover all sorts of holidays and special occasions like birthdays. That way, you can continue selling them as fundraising products year-round for an affordable price.


Beyond selling cards for charity, you have a few options for using charity eCards.

Other Ways to Use Charity eCards

One of the best parts of charity eCards is their versatility. While learning how to sell greeting cards online is a smart strategy, you can also take other approaches to increase donor engagement.

When you get creative with your approach, you can use charity eCards to:

  • Spread awareness. Cause awareness is one of the leading benefits of charity eCards. Double the Donation’s guide to charity eCards explains to use eCards to amplify your mission during cause awareness days, weeks, and months. For example, environmental organizations can encourage donors to send cards for Earth Day, while mental health organizations can boost awareness during Suicide Prevention Week and World Mental Health Day.
  • Recognize supporters. Just as much as they enjoy sending charity eCards, donors and volunteers will love receiving a thank-you card from your team. Recognize your committed supporters by crafting a visually-engaging eCard alongside a short personalized thank-you letter.
  • Challenge others to give. Create challenge cards that donors can send directly to their friends or post on social media, encouraging others to give and acting as a form of peer-to-peer fundraising. They can personalize a message to explain why the cause is important and why their loved ones should donate.

Here are a few use cases for charity eCards, including selling them and using them for donor recognition.

From showing volunteer recognition to sharing your cause, you’re not limited to selling cards to supporters. In fact, there are plenty of ways you can use personalized greeting cards to grow donor engagement. It’s up to your team to figure out how! These options are just our top recommendations.

Check out these additional resources to create effective charity eCards.

Wrapping Up

With some creative thinking, your options for your charity eCards are limitless! Whether you want to sell them or integrate them into the donation process, figure out which flow works best for your team.

Remember, not every eCard platform offers these options. That’s why we recommend eCardWidget. Not only will you gain access to intuitive eCard design tools, but you can also sell your cards through the different methods we covered in this post.

Now that you know how to sell greeting cards online, it’s time to get started. Start designing cards for every occasion, from celebrating birthdays and holidays to expressing get-well-soon wishes.

As you get started, check out some of these resources:

Use eCardWidget to create and sell your charity eCards.