What is a virtual fundraising event?

A virtual fundraising event is an online event that replaces or supplements an in-person gathering. Examples include online auctions, virtual galas streamed over video, online trivia nights, virtual 5K runs, and livestreamed benefit concerts. Virtual events reduce overhead, expand reach beyond your local area, and can be recorded for later viewing. Bid to Care's online auction platform is designed to power virtual fundraising events.

Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas: 25+ Proven Strategies for 2025

Q: What are the best fundraising ideas for nonprofits?

The best fundraising ideas for nonprofits combine broad reach with low overhead. Top performers include online charity auctions, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, virtual galas, matching gift drives, monthly giving programs, and crowdfunding campaigns. Online auctions are particularly effective because they engage supporters interactively, reach beyond your local area, and often raise more than passive donation drives.

Q: How can a small nonprofit raise money?

Small nonprofits can raise significant funds with limited resources by leveraging online tools. An online auction through a platform like Bid to Care requires no venue or auctioneer and can be run from a laptop. Other low-cost options include peer-to-peer campaigns where supporters fundraise on your behalf, social media challenges, email appeals with a compelling story, and partnerships with local businesses for percentage-of-sales events.

Q: What fundraiser raises the most money?

Charity auctions and gala events typically raise the most money per event because they combine multiple revenue streams: ticket sales, item bids, donations, and sponsorships. Online auctions extend this by reaching bidders who cannot attend in person. Peer-to-peer campaigns can raise large totals over time by mobilizing many supporters to fundraise simultaneously. The best approach depends on your audience and resources.

Q: How do I fundraise online?

To fundraise online, choose a platform that fits your format (an auction platform like Bid to Care for auctions, a crowdfunding site for donation drives, or a peer-to-peer platform for supporter-led campaigns). Create a compelling campaign page with your story and goal. Promote it via email, social media, and text. Thank donors promptly and share progress updates to maintain momentum.

Every nonprofit faces the same fundamental challenge: turning the goodwill of supporters into the funds needed to fulfill the mission. The good news is that there are more ways to fundraise today than ever before, and technology has dramatically lowered the barrier to running professional, engaging campaigns even with a small team and a modest budget. This guide presents more than twenty-five proven fundraising ideas, organized by type, with honest assessments of what each one requires and what it can raise.

Online Auctions \u2014 The Top Performer

Online charity auctions are among the most effective fundraisers available to nonprofits today. They combine the interactive excitement of bidding with the broad reach of the internet, and they generate revenue from items that were donated at no cost to the organization. An online auction through a platform like Bid to Care can be set up in under an hour, run from a laptop or phone, and reach supporters across the country \u2014 all without renting a venue, hiring an auctioneer, or printing bid sheets.

What makes online auctions particularly powerful is their flexibility. You can run a fast live auction with one-minute timers for a high-energy virtual event, a week-long silent auction that builds momentum over time, or a hybrid that does both. The platform handles sign-in, bid tracking, countdown timers, and winner announcements automatically. For nonprofits new to online auctions, Bid to Care's built-in AI assistant helps both organizers and bidders with instant answers. Contact Ivan DeLeon at (502) 999-3354 to get started.

Why online auctions lead

Online auctions engage supporters actively rather than passively, reach beyond your local area, turn donated items into revenue at no cost, and create a competitive dynamic that consistently drives final bids above expectations. They are the centerpiece of many of the most successful nonprofit fundraising programs.

Event-Based Fundraisers

Virtual gala: A streamed evening event with a keynote, entertainment, and an embedded online auction. Combines the emotional impact of storytelling with the revenue of auction bidding.
Hybrid event: An in-person gala with an online auction running alongside it, so remote supporters can participate in real time via Bid to Care's Cross-Network Mode.
Trivia night: A low-cost, high-fun event (in person or online) where teams pay an entry fee and compete. Add a silent auction or raffle for extra revenue.
Benefit concert: Local musicians perform for a cause, with ticket sales and donations supporting the nonprofit. Can be livestreamed for broader reach.
Themed dinner or wine tasting: A ticketed food or drink event with a silent auction component. Local restaurants and wineries often donate food and beverages.

Peer-to-Peer and Crowdfunding

Peer-to-peer campaign: Supporters create personal fundraising pages and solicit donations from their networks. Multiplies your reach through your community's connections.
Birthday or milestone fundraisers: Supporters donate their birthday or personal milestone to your cause, asking friends to give instead of gifts.
Crowdfunding campaign: A time-limited drive with a specific goal and compelling story, promoted through email and social media.
Walk-a-thon or virtual 5K: Participants gather pledges per mile or flat donations. Virtual versions let people participate from anywhere.
Read-a-thon: Students or community members gather pledges for books read. Popular for schools and literacy nonprofits.

Recurring and Sustained Revenue

Monthly giving program: Recurring monthly donations provide predictable revenue. Offer tiers with recognition (e.g., a newsletter or impact updates).
Matching gift drive: A major donor matches all contributions during a set period, doubling the impact and creating urgency.
Corporate sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor events, programs, or auction items in exchange for recognition. Often underutilized by small nonprofits.
Percentage-of-sales nights: Restaurants and retailers donate a percentage of sales on a designated night. No cost to the nonprofit and easy to promote.
Planned giving and legacy program: Encourage supporters to include the nonprofit in their estate plans. Builds long-term sustainability.

Product and Service Fundraisers

Merchandise sales: Branded t-shirts, tote bags, and mugs. Print-on-demand services eliminate inventory costs.
Bake sale or craft fair: Community members donate homemade goods or crafts. Low overhead, high community engagement.
Car wash or service day: Volunteers provide a service for donations. Classic, reliable, and great for youth groups.
Rent-a-volunteer: Supporters "hire" volunteers for yard work, moving help, or handyman tasks, with proceeds going to the nonprofit.

Digital and Social Media Fundraisers

Social media challenge: A viral challenge (think ice bucket) that combines awareness with donations. Hard to predict but powerful when it works.
Livestream fundraiser: A livestreamed event on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch with real-time donation goals and on-screen recognition.
Email appeal with impact story: A well-crafted email telling the story of someone your organization helped, with a clear call to donate. Consistently effective.
Text-to-give campaign: Supporters text a keyword to a number to make a quick donation. Great for events and spontaneous giving.

Which Fundraiser Should You Choose?

The right fundraiser depends on your audience, your resources, and your goal. If you want the highest revenue per event with manageable overhead, an online auction is hard to beat. If you want to build a committed base of supporters over time, a monthly giving program is the foundation. If you want to mobilize your community and multiply your reach, peer-to-peer campaigns are the answer. Most successful nonprofits use a mix \u2014 an annual online auction as the headline event, supplemented by monthly giving, peer-to-peer campaigns, and smaller events throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best fundraising ideas for nonprofits?

Top performers include online charity auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, virtual galas, matching gift drives, monthly giving programs, and crowdfunding. Online auctions are especially effective because they engage supporters interactively and reach beyond your local area.

How can a small nonprofit raise money?

Small nonprofits can raise significant funds by leveraging online tools. An online auction through Bid to Care requires no venue or auctioneer. Other low-cost options include peer-to-peer campaigns, social media challenges, email appeals, and business partnership nights.

What fundraiser raises the most money?

Charity auctions and gala events typically raise the most per event because they combine ticket sales, bids, donations, and sponsorships. Online auctions extend this by reaching remote bidders. Peer-to-peer campaigns can raise large totals over time by mobilizing many supporters.

How do I fundraise online?

Choose a platform that fits your format, create a compelling campaign page with your story and goal, promote it via email and social media, thank donors promptly, and share progress updates. Bid to Care powers online auction fundraisers specifically built for nonprofits.

25+ Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas That Work in 2025