Does your non-profit want to make a bigger difference? A great way to do that is by mastering digital fundraising for non-profits. In short, this just means using the internet to get donations. While it might sound complicated, it’s really about connecting with people who care about your work. This guide will show you how, step by step. Consequently, you’ll have a clear plan that gets you real results and helps you grow your mission. At C.U.N.Y. Digital, we believe every non-profit deserves the best tools to succeed.

Step 1: Make Your Website a Donation Magnet

To begin, think of your website as your online home. It’s the first place people go to learn about you. If it’s confusing or slow, people will leave. On the other hand, if it’s friendly and easy to use, they’ll want to stick around and support you. Therefore, a great non-profit web design is your most important fundraising tool.

Make Your “Donate” Button Impossible to Miss

This is the most important rule! Your “Donate” button should be a superstar on your website. Specifically, it needs to be big, bright, and on every single page. Most people look for it in the top right corner, so that’s the best place for it. In other words, don’t make them hunt for it, or they’ll give up.

Your Website MUST Work on Phones

More than half of the people who visit your site will be on their phones. For this reason, if they have to pinch and zoom to read things, they’ll get frustrated and leave. Your website needs to look amazing on every device, from a giant desktop monitor to a small smartphone. This is called responsive design, and it’s absolutely essential for getting online donations.

Create a Simple, Fast, and Secure Donation Form

Someone has decided to give you their hard-earned money. Therefore, don’t make them regret it! The moment they click “Donate,” the process should be smooth as butter. A great donation platform is built around a short and simple form.

Is your website not bringing in the donations you need? That’s our specialty. Let’s chat about a website design that actually works for your non-profit.

Step 2: Tell Stories That Touch People’s Hearts

People give to people, not to numbers. The best way to get donations is by telling powerful stories that show the real, human impact of your work. In fact, this is your brand strategy in action—it’s how you connect your mission to people’s emotions and turn them into loyal supporters.

Find Your “Hero” Story and Tell It Well

Don’t just say you helped 1,000 kids last year. Instead, tell the story of one kid. What was their name? What was their life like before they found your program? Furthermore, how did your non-profit, with the help of donors, change their life for the better? A single, powerful story is more memorable than any statistic. Use real photos and short videos to bring these stories to life. A 60-second video can have a massive impact.

Share Your Stories Everywhere with a Content Plan

Your amazing stories need to be shared! A good content strategy means you have a plan for what to post and when, so you’re not scrambling for ideas.

• Start a Blog: First, a blog is perfect for sharing longer stories. Write about your successes, the challenges you face, and the people you help. This shows you’re an expert and builds trust.
• Use Email Marketing: In addition, sending regular emails keeps your supporters in the loop. Share a new story each month. Email marketing for non-profits is one of the best ways to build strong, lasting relationships.
• Be Active on Social Media: Finally, post short videos, happy photos, and quick updates. Ask questions and talk to your followers. Good social media management builds an online community of people who cheer you on.

“A good story can do what a spreadsheet can’t: it can make someone feel something. And that feeling is what inspires them to give.”

Step 3: Run Fun and Exciting Fundraising Campaigns

A fundraising campaign is a special, focused event where you ask for donations for a specific reason. It’s a great way to get people excited and involved, and it creates a sense of urgency that encourages people to give *now*.

Plan Your Campaign for Success

Every good fundraising campaign has a clear goal. For example, “We need to raise $5,000 by the end of the month to buy new books for our after-school program.” A clear, specific goal makes it easy for people to understand how their money will help. Consequently, you should create a special page on your website just for the campaign, with a video, a story, and a big donation form.

Turn Your Supporters into Fundraisers

One of the best ways to get new donors is through your current supporters. This is called peer-to-peer fundraising. It’s a bit like a walk-a-thon, but online. Ask your biggest fans to create their own fundraising pages and share them with their friends and family. Ultimately, it’s like having a whole team of people asking for donations for you! Make it easy for them by giving them pictures and sample text.

Step 4: See What’s Working (and Do More of It!)

How do you know if your online fundraising is working? You look at the numbers! Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. In fact, a little bit of data can help you make smart choices and raise even more money. This is where a good CRM integration can be a huge help, by keeping all your donor data in one place.

Watch Your Website Traffic with Google Analytics

A free tool called Google Analytics can tell you a lot about your website. For example, it shows you how many people are visiting, which pages they like the most, and—most importantly—how many people are actually completing a donation. Watching these numbers helps you see what’s popular so you can create more of what people love.

Use the Google Ad Grant to Get Free Advertising

Did you know that most non-profits can get $10,000 in free advertising from Google every single month? It’s called the Google Ad Grant. You can use it to run ads that appear at the top of Google search results. This is an amazing way to find new supporters who are searching for causes like yours. While managing the grant can be tricky, it’s one of the most powerful tools available.

Don’t Be Afraid to Test Your Ideas

The best fundraisers are always learning. Therefore, don’t be afraid to try new things! You can test two different headlines on your donation page or two different pictures in a social media post to see which one gets a better response. This is called A/B testing, and it’s a great way to learn what your audience likes. The more you test, the better you’ll get at raising money online.

Building a great digital fundraising program takes time, but by following these steps, you can create a powerful engine for good. In conclusion, start with a great website, tell amazing stories, run exciting campaigns, and always be willing to learn and improve. Your mission is worth it.