Social media fundraising: 3 proven tips to raise more

Social media offers a huge fundraising opportunity: 55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media take action. But simply posting a donation link isn’t enough to drive results.

With fierce competition for attention and ever-changing algorithms, it’s easy for your message to get lost. This guide covers best practices, messaging tactics, and campaign ideas to help you cut through the noise and turn social engagement into real donations.

How to create a social media fundraising strategy 

Ready to raise money and awareness online? Start off on the right foot with these social media fundraising tactics.

1. Focus on the platforms your supporters love 💛

When it comes to fundraising on social media, it’s better to focus your efforts on the platform where your supporters are most active—whether it’s Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or another channel—rather than trying to perform well on every social media site.

👋 For social media newbies: If you’re in the early stages of your campaign or don’t have a following yet, you can craft an initial fundraising social media strategy based on which demographics prefer each platform.

🏆 For social media pros: If your social media strategy is more established, use analytics tools to regularly assess your performance—track which platforms have the most followers, which types of posts drive donations, and where engagement is highest. These insights will help you make data-driven decisions about where to focus your resources.

2. Balance donation requests with great content ⚖️

Social media users expect captivating narratives, facts, testimonials, images, videos, and fun challenges—not constant requests to donate or buy tickets. 

To get the most out of your social media fundraising efforts, aim for a balance of eye-catching content and strategic fundraising appeals. A great rule of thumb is the 70-20-10 principle:

• 70% of the time: Share content that highlights your campaign or brand, attracts people to your cause, and informs or excites your audience.
• 20% of the time: Share content from external sources, such as educational institutions, other nonprofit organizations, and people who benefit from your cause.
• 10% of the time: Share promotional content, like requests to donate, buy a ticket, or join your monthly giving program.

More to explore

Discover the complete social media for nonprofits guide →

3. Put your supporters in the driver’s seat 🚗

One of the biggest benefits of social media fundraising is tapping into a network of real, connected people. So, don’t just share your story—empower your social media followers to take an active role in your strategy.

Create fundraisers, programs, and resources that leverage the fun, community-based nature of social media. Here are some of the most effective tools and ideas:

• Peer-to-peer fundraising 👯 Supporters can create personal fundraising pages and collect donations on behalf of your cause (think birthday fundraisers or marathon pledges!).
• Brand ambassadors 📣 Assemble your top supporters—the ones who always like, share, and comment on your posts—and invite them to become stewards of your cause. 
• Crowdfunding 💸 Launch a crowdfunding campaign and encourage your supporters to share the campaign page on social media to expand your reach.

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of social media fundraising, let’s explore actionable ways to bring these ideas to life.

8 creative social media fundraising ideas 

We’ve rounded up a quick list of fundraising social media posts and campaigns designed to drive engagement, build off trending topics, and bring more eyes to your donation page.

1. Host a livestream or virtual event 👀

While in-person events are still popular, livestreaming has really taken off. Try hosting an expert webinar, gaming tournament, speed dating night, movie online auction, or virtual happy hour.

2. Jump on a trending hashtag 👻

Hashtags clue you into emerging trends, making it easier to join the conversation, introduce your cause to new donors, and raise funds. Just make sure your message and call-to-action are relevant to the hashtag so people aren’t confused by your post.

3. Kick off a social media challenge 💥

Ever heard of the #IceBucketChallenge? The wacky, ice-cold dare raised over $115 million in 2014 and became a global phenomenon. Ask your followers to do something funny, challenging, or unexpected, post evidence to social media, and tag their friends to participate and donate. Don’t forget to create a unique hashtag to boost visibility!

4. Partner with a social media influencer 📣

Ask celebrities, influencers, and experts to donate, match contributions, promote your fundraiser, or spread the word. You can even arrange a social media takeover, where your cause temporarily “takes over” their profile, updating their cover photo, profile picture, and posts to showcase your organization’s mission.

5. Slide into the DMs 💬

While social media helps share your message with a large audience, it’s hard to beat a personalized, one-on-one request. If you have the resources, send direct messages (DMs) to each potential donor on your social media channels.

6. Hold a photo or video contest 📷

Call for photo and video submissions, then have people donate on your campaign page to vote for their favorites. A contest can quickly boost organic engagement (likes, comments, shares), and the visual element helps your fundraiser stand out in crowded news feeds. 

7. Set up donation matching 👥

Matching gifts double or even triple your funds without increasing your workload or online fundraising costs. On social media, a donation match adds credibility to your campaign and provides a boost if donations start to lag.

8. Integrate with an all-in-one fundraising platform 🧈

One of the best ways to nail your social media fundraising is by using a platform that helps you do it all—from creating donation pages to showcasing them on social media.

With peer-to-peer fundraising, social media-style supporter feeds, popular payment methods, and so much more, Givebutter is the highest-rated platform for changemakers looking to supercharge their social media campaigns.

I love how easy Givebutter is to use! Setup is hassle-free, obtaining your funds at the end is also relatively easy, and it is easy to share on social media. -Givebutter review, Emily G.

3 social media fundraising post examples 

Need some inspiration? Check out these social media fundraising examples from real nonprofits around the globe.

1. Comic Relief

Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign dedicated to ending child poverty. Launched by the charity Comic Relief, the campaign raises money through entertainment, comedy, and community-driven fundraising efforts—funding programs that provide food, shelter, education, and healthcare for children in need.

In this Instagram post, Comic Relief features a video with two prominent celebrities, notifying supporters of their upcoming campaign and directing them to the link in their bio for more information about how to get involved. It’s a great example of how to leverage social media for charity events!

2. The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth under 25.

This nonprofit does some wonderful social media fundraising! For example, this Facebook post invites supporters to start birthday fundraisers, one of the best ways to drive donations on the platform.

3. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving individual rights and liberties.

In addition to running events and accepting online donations, they also raise funds through merchandise sales—as shown in this Instagram post—to support their cause.

4. The Journey

The Journey, a video series by charity: water, has racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Each video takes viewers to the countries where their clean water donations are making a difference.

Make your fundraising successful and social with Givebutter

Figuring out a social media fundraising strategy can feel daunting, but with the right steps, tips, and tools, your nonprofit can start fundraising on social media in no time!

With Givebutter, your nonprofit can handle all of its fundraising in one place—from setting up peer-to-peer campaigns to donation management and integrating with top social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Ready to make your social media and fundraising stand out? Sign up for Givebutter today!

Nonprofit social media fundraising FAQs 

What is social media fundraising?

Social media fundraising involves using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) to raise money for a cause or nonprofit. It typically includes posting donation requests, sharing success stories, running online fundraising campaigns, and using features like donation buttons or peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage followers to contribute.

Which social media is best for fundraising?

The best platform to use depends on your audience and campaign type, but here are some general recommendations:

• Facebook: Excellent for broad reach, event promotion, and peer-to-peer fundraising with features like the “Donate” button.
• Instagram: Great for visual storytelling and using features like Instagram Stories or posts with links to donation pages.
• X: Best for quick updates, leveraging hashtags, and expanding reach.
• LinkedIn: Ideal for professional networks and corporate giving.
• TikTok: A top choice for creative campaigns targeting younger audiences.

Is social media effective for fundraising?

Yes, social media can be very effective for fundraising. In fact, 59% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media donate money.

How to achieve fundraising success on social media?

To achieve success with social media fundraising, follow these best practices:

• Set clear fundraising goals: Define what you want to achieve, such as a specific dollar amount or a target number of donors.
• Tell compelling stories: Share impact-driven stories about how donations will be used to affect change.
• Create shareable content: Use high-quality visuals, videos, and graphics to make your campaign posts stand out.
• Use hashtags and challenges: Encourage followers to get involved and spread awareness with trending hashtags or viral challenges.
• Post frequently: Maintain a steady presence to keep your audience engaged and remind them to donate.
• Engage with donors: Respond to comments, thank donors publicly, and share progress updates to keep your community engaged long-term.