How to Raise Money for Fundraising Events Without Asking? (2024)

Fundraising events pose a distinct challenge for charitable giving. Receiving donations is quite a task without a call to action (CTA). Fundraising teams often use aggressive CTA signs to generate funds, frustrating supporters.

This is why maintaining professionalism while asking for donations is a nonprofit challenge.

To make things easier for nonprofits, this article offers tips on raising funds for fundraisers without asking for money.

Use Social Media to Tell a Good Story

When it comes to social media, the skill of storytelling has gained a new stage because it instantly grabs the audience's attention and connects with them.

It is a powerful platform to share real-life stories about your fundraising cause and connect with potential donors.

The purpose of storytelling is to:

• Invoke genuine empathy in the hearts of the viewers
• Draw people in emotionally, engaging them beyond a simple donation
• Provide insights to the donors and show their efforts create an impact
• Highlight how each contribution makes an actual difference

The pointers for great storytelling are:

• Well-crafted posts showcasing the lives you impacted
• Heartwarming videos showcasing the story of a person whose life changed through donations
• Impactful visuals and photographs

All of the above allow nonprofits to establish an authentic bond between the donors and the cause and build credibility leading to more donations. Plus, there are 302.35 million social media users in the US, which increases the chances of reaching a wider audience.

Host Online Challenges and Contests

Amidst all the interactive online fundraisers, hosting challenges and contests is an engaging way to generate funds.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok serve as great spaces with a wide reach to hold innovative challenges.

Nonprofits can use the human yearning for accomplishment by organizing contests and challenges.

You can host a variety of contests or come up with creative tasks by inviting participants to participate in return for a small payment or suggested donation.

Here are some creative virtual contest ideas:

• Painting competition
• Virtual Karaoke
• Virtual race
• Pop quiz
• Dance contest

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a perfect case in point, with millions globally involved. Participants contributed to the cause and engaged with it dynamically and memorably.

This interactive approach provided a shared experience where donors actively supported a fundraising cause.

Collaborate with Influencers

Social media influencers have revolutionized marketing through their remarkable capability to diffuse messages and increase awareness. These influencers could serve as a link between an organization and a prospective audience.

Therefore, joining forces with influencers is a valuable technique to:

• Share awareness about your fundraising purpose
• Create trust and credibility among donors
• Expand the audience reach

Choosing influencers whose values closely match your fundraising cause is necessary to ensure an authentic partnership. Influencers who express their support for a cause they are passionate about tend to receive higher engagement from their followers, leading to greater awareness and contributions.

Host Donation-Based Workshops for Community Engagement

Donation-based workshops are a brilliant way to gather donations. Fundraisers can provide valuable training material during their workshops for a small fee, thereby collecting funds for a cause.

Workshops are an ideal platform for individuals looking to gain knowledge and information. This is why an exchange of value deepens the audience's connection with the nonprofit organization and its cause.

Moreover, workshops create an opportunity for direct interaction and engagement, creating a small community among the participants. The result is a stronger sense of belonging for donors, leading to better experiences and long-term commitment.

You can hold workshops for the following activities:

• Clay molds
• Jewelry making
• Candle Making
• Dance lessons
• Painting

Organize Community Cleanups

Community cleanups can also help you raise funds and drive the community together.

Community cleanups also highlight the power of unity in making a positive impact. Participants experience the change that can occur when a group comes together for a shared purpose.

This sense of accomplishment and brotherhood fosters a deeper connection with the cause and the organization behind it.

Partner with Local Businesses for Percentage-Based Fundraisers

Fundraisers based on percentages are a collaborative way of fundraising that connects philanthropy and local businesses.

When local businesses and nonprofits collaborate, they may agree on a percentage-based donation whereby a portion of sales is donated to a specific cause. The involved parties stand to gain from this scenario in equal measure.

Nonprofit organizations can benefit from the advantage of accessing the existing clientele of local businesses while, at the same time, local businesses can improve their brand image. This makes supporting the cause as easy as a person’s daily activities, such as shopping or dining.

Host Silent Auctions Using BetterWorld

Silent auctions can be engaging and fun while serving as a competitive fundraiser. Technological advancements have taken this classic activity to an entirely new level.

Digital platforms such as BetterWorld have introduced an innovative digital solution for silent auctions, removing physical barriers and simplifying participation significantly.

The attractive part of a silent auction is the competitiveness and the desire to acquire unique items and experiences while contributing to a cause.

Silent auctions can include items like:

• Art pieces
• Ancient Cutlery
• Adventurous experiences such as a weekend getaway to Miami
• Autographed merch of famous artists

The online platform transforms this process into a virtual experience, allowing bidders to engage and contribute from the comfort of their own homes.

In these unique silent auctions, supporters walk away with actual items and the satisfaction of knowing they have played a part in making a difference.

Plan Recycling Drives and Donation Drop-offs

Recycling drives are gaining popularity due to increasing awareness of pollution and the environment. It's an excellent method to procure funds for your organization's objective while contributing positively to the environment.

Promote recycling initiatives and donation depots, prompting individuals to contribute their recyclable materials. This material can be anything from bottles and clothing to electronics and household goods.

Do Crowdfunding Campaigns with Unique Incentives

Crowdfunding is becoming a big deal, so you need to develop new campaigns with good incentives. You can motivate people to donate to your campaign by offering incentives or rewards. The only way for them to get these rewards is by meeting the donation-based fundraising goal.

Donating for you can be a win-win situation!

If donors donate a little, send them a thank you card.

If they donate more, make it worth their while by giving away cool branded t-shirts.

Thinking outside the box and incorporating creative incentives into your crowdfunding campaigns. This will help you attract more participants and potential donors.

Set Up Donation Stations at Community Events

Setting up donation stations at local community events, such as fun fairs, markets, or festivals, allows organizations to establish a direct connection and engage potential donors.

Donation stations highlight the essence of the cause through visual displays, success stories, and interactive presentations. You can inform about the goals of your organization and the success stories of your organization.

A lot of people who get inspired would end up donating then and there.

Sell Merchandise

Each donor supports the cause they care about through a medium that is most convenient for them as some prefer online donations as the best way to give. In contrast, others prefer volunteering or taking part in virtual challenges.

Just like that, many people prefer to receive something in return for their contribution.

This is where merchandise fundraising comes in. Selling merchandise for fundraising allows your donors to donate, and in return, they receive a new t-shirt, sweatshirt, or any other type of apparel.

Branded merchandise is also an excellent means to raise awareness because this transforms supporters into walking billboards, sparking conversations and raising awareness about the fundraiser’s mission.

Explore Matching Gift Programs

Look into matching gift program opportunities by studying your donor’s infographics.

What are matching gift programs? It's a type of philanthropy in which businesses financially match the donations made by their employees to nonprofit organizations.

When an employee donates, they request a matching gift from their organization, which then makes a matching donation. These organizations usually match donations at a 1:1 ratio or sometimes even more.

This is a great way for nonprofit organizations to turn small donations into big contributions. Moreover, this also encourages a culture of giving back to society within workplaces.

Collaborate on Co-Branded Initiatives

Collaboration with local businesses on co-branded initiatives can offer several benefits to your organization, along with raising funds.

Your non-profit can seek funding for its services and events through this collaboration and increased awareness of its mission, brand solidification, more volunteers, and long-term donors.

These benefits include wider reach, exposure to new audiences, and increased traffic toward your campaigns. The key is to find a company that matches your mission; therefore, conduct thorough research through their websites.

Share Success Stories and Outcomes

People mostly want to donate to a cause they know is making an impact. The best way to inspire these people is through your success stories and outcomes.

Have you ever heard a heart-touching story and noticed its immediate effect on you? Human minds tend to play out the whole story in their minds, which is why they feel strongly for the people involved in the story.

When they listen to the stories, they imagine themselves in that place and feel empathy which instantly drives them to donate more. This is the impact of success stories; people want to see impact and outcomes driven by their contributions.

Leverage this tool and share your success stories to help build emotional connections between your donors and those impacted. Give your donors an insight into the lives of the people their contributions changed.

Telling your donors where their money goes will make it feel real for them and inspire them to give more in the future. Focus on the points highlighting your fundraiser’s success and let the results speak for themselves.

Appreciate Your Donors

A nonprofit is nothing without its donors. Donors are the ones who make any nonprofit organization’s mission a reality. They did the campaigns, and events, and donated to meet the fundraising goals.

This is why it is important to show appreciation to them for their hard work and dedication. Thanking your donors is the best strategy to retain your donors over time. This helps them feel included and appreciated.

Saying a small thank you through emails, and thank you postcards is necessary for their long-term support and contributions to your organization.

You can appreciate your donors in the following ways:

• Thank you letters
• Follow up calls
• Email appreciation
• Appreciation gifts or goodie bags
• Event invites or dinner outings
• Coupons or discounts

Conclusion

You don't always have to include a CTA to raise donations, which may end up chasing away your supporters. Effective fundraising is all about simple and innovative strategies and powerful tools that help you easily inspire supporters to donate.

Raising money for fundraisers can feel intimidating sometimes, but it does have to be since many people are willing to support your cause. All you have to do is find the key medium to attract them.

As discussed in this article, create different opportunities and mediums for your donors and supporters to give in ways that they feel easy and secure with.

If you want to amplify your fundraising impact, sign up on BetterWorld today.