How to fundraise for endangered animal nonprofits

Fundraising for nonprofits that protect endangered species is crucial to sustaining their lifesaving work and safeguarding animals for future generations. To fundraise successfully, organizations must make an emotional connection with potential supporters, highlighting the vital work they’re doing and how donations will help make a difference. GoFundMe is a safe, trusted, user-friendly platform where supporters can donate securely and with confidence. Our fundraising tools help organizers leverage marketing channels such as social media and email to reach a broad network. 

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How to raise money for a nonprofit saving endangered animals?

GoFundMe is an effective fundraising platform to raise money for a nonprofit saving endangered animals because it’s secure, easy to use, and shareable.

It allows organizers to fundraise on behalf of a registered nonprofit organization and easily transfer these funds. It also allows individuals to donate directly to nonprofits registered on the platform.

What are the first steps to take before launching your fundraiser?

Before launching a fundraiser on GoFundMe, it’s essential to lay a strong foundation with the following key first steps. 

• Defining your mission and goals – Outline exactly what you want to achieve and why it matters. Then start plotting how you’ll get there. Work out a budget for your mission, decide on a feasible timeline, and set a fundraising goal. Doing this early on helps everyone stay focused and keeps your supporters on side.
• Identifying your target audience — Ask yourself, who is most likely to support your cause? Depending on the details of your mission, it could be animal lovers, conservation groups, or local communities—or a combination of all three. Tailor your messaging to them and find the right channels to reach them.
• Choosing the right nonprofit partner – Do your research to find a partner that aligns with your core values and mission. The best partnerships are mutually beneficial, so consider what you offer each other. Ideally, your nonprofit partner will help bring credibility to your fundraiser and help you be successful.

How can you use GoFundMe to support a conservation nonprofit?

You can use GoFundMe to support a conservation nonprofit by creating a powerful fundraiser that connects with potential supporters, using visuals to strengthen your message, and linking to a listed nonprofit organization for credibility.

• Setting up your GoFundMe fundraiser step-by-step — Create an account on GoFundMe, select the nonprofit you’re supporting (if listed on the platform), set a fundraising goal, and write your fundraising page.
• Writing a compelling fundraiser story — Write a heartfelt appeal to explain the situation, how the nonprofit organization helps address the issue, and how donations can make an impact. It can help to break down exactly how funds will be used, with suggested donation amounts. For example, ‘$100 will help re-home an orangutan’.
• Using visuals to strengthen your message — Use photos and videos to make your fundraiser more impactful. This could be images of endangered species provided by your nonprofit partner, or if you have any personal photos of the animals, use those.

What types of fundraisers work well for endangered animal nonprofits?

When it comes to endangered animal nonprofits, certain types of fundraisers resonate more deeply with supporters.

• Urgent response fundraisers — Fundraisers requiring immediate action can be particularly effective when it comes to raising money. The sense of urgency makes people donate quickly and generously to help protect endangered species. Fundraisers of this type include issues such as habitat destruction, anti-poaching, or natural disasters.
• Ongoing preservation efforts — These fundraisers focus on long-term projects such as species protection and habitat conservation. These issues challenge organizers to think creatively when it comes to outreach and asking for donations. You can still tap into a sense of urgency with regular updates about how the situation is progressing.
• Adoption, sanctuary, and rehabilitation initiatives – These fundraisers allow organizers to pull on the heartstrings by offering a personal connection to the endangered animals, such as an opportunity to “adopt” an animal or visit a sanctuary. 

How can you promote your fundraising campaign effectively?

You can promote a GoFundMe fundraiser using a mix of industry-leading fundraising tools and strategies.

• Leveraging social media platforms — Sharing your fundraiser is easy with GoFundMe, thanks to its suite of built-in social sharing tools. Once your fundraiser is set up, use the share buttons on your GoFundMe dashboard to post to social media platforms. You can easily customize each post with a personal message. Remember to encourage loved ones and your network of supporters to also share the fundraiser on social media.
• Creating shareable updates and graphics — You can easily create and customize engaging graphics using GoFundMe Pro, our platform for nonprofits. Upload your brand kit with logos and colour palette to make sure there is consistency across your assets. If you don’t have access to GoFundMe Pro, you can explore using Canva, too.
• Partnering with micro-influencers and local organizations — If you want to reach potential supporters authentically and organically, consider partnerships. Micro-influencers have small but highly-engaged audiences who trust their recommendations, whereas local organizations have built long-standing relationships with their supporters around shared values and missions. By collaborating with these partners, you’ll increase visibility, build trust, and drive engagement.

What offline methods can complement online fundraising?

Even though your fundraiser is online, offline methods can still be highly effective and complementary to your efforts.

• Organizing community events — Connecting with the local community through events is a great way to raise awareness and funds. Through events such as walks, cleanups, and trivia nights, you can meet people in person to discuss the importance of your cause and why fundraising matters. This could help drive more donations.
• Hosting educational workshops or panel discussions — Informative events allow you to rally support through education and awareness raising. Remember to provide a way for attendees to donate, either through selling tickets, having a donation table, or providing QR codes linking to your fundraiser page.
• Collaborating with schools or local businesses — Finding like-minded partners is essential for reaching new audiences and drumming up support for your cause. Schools are brilliant partners because students can help fundraise on your behalf, along with their parents and educators.

How to raise money as an individual for endangered species preservation?

You can raise money for endangered species as an individual on GoFundMe. The platform offers a secure, trusted, and effective environment to support a good cause.

What should individuals know before fundraising for wildlife preservation?

Before you start fundraising for wildlife preservation, there are key things to consider.

• Understanding legal and ethical considerations – This is essential to make sure you build trust with your supporters and that funds raised reach their destination, without complication. Do your research and ensure you comply with local and international fundraising laws. You will likely be required to register with the relevant authorities and explain how the money will be used.
• Choosing the right type of fundraiser — It’s important to understand the difference in raising money for a nonprofit vs. personal contribution projects on GoFundMe. Individual fundraisers will send money to a personal or organizational bank account, while nonprofit fundraisers send funds directly through PayPal Giving Fund or GoFundMe Pay. Donations to certified charity fundraisers are typically tax-deductible in the US, whereas those to individual fundraisers are generally considered to be a personal gift.

How can individuals start a personal fundraiser?

Starting a personal fundraiser is easy on GoFundMe. Here are some tips for making it more impactful and a step-by-step guide to set up.

• Personal storytelling — Write a compelling story explaining your connection to the cause and why it matters to you. This will help build trust and authenticity. Visuals, such as photos and videos, are super effective—so if you have any photos of yourself with endangered species or doing conservation work, make sure you include those.
• Setting goals and timelines — Establishing clear objectives, including fundraising goals and timelines, helps keep everyone on track and motivated. Making these publicly available helps to build trust with your supporters and gives you an opportunity for outreach. For example, when you hit 50% of your fundraising target, it’s a great reason to get in touch with your supporters.
• Using GoFundMe as an individual supporter — Setting up an individual fundraiser is easy. Create an account, start a fundraiser (with a compelling story, as described above), and then start sharing to reach your fundraising goal.

What are effective ways to engage your personal network?

The more you can engage your personal network, the more successful your fundraiser will be. Here are some tips to effectively engage your network. 

• Email campaigns and texting strategies – These approaches allow you to reach friends, family, colleagues, and others in your network with a personalized approach. Read our guide on approaching different types of donors for a template for reaching out to loved ones.
• Asking for recurring donations – Ask your network to consider committing to making regular donations. Highlight what it means to your cause and also the benefits to them, for example, it may suit some supporters to donate around payday. These donations can be any amount, big or small, and make a big difference. If donors choose recurring donations, they pay a fee of 5% per donation to help make this feature possible for our community. Learn more about GoFundMe’s pricing.
• Creating donor incentives — Thanking donors goes a long way and may inspire them to give more money. Do this by sending personalized thank-you notes or gifts for major donors. You could also give them a shout-out on social media or at an event. While we don’t offer rewards-based fundraising on GoFundMe, there’s nothing to stop you from selling merchandise in person at a fundraising event.

How can individuals maintain momentum during a fundraiser?

It’s not enough to set up the fundraiser and hope for the best. If you want a successful fundraiser, you have to maintain momentum and stay in your supporters’ minds. 

• Planning regular updates – Keeping in touch is one of the most effective ways to maintain momentum and encourages supporters to share and donate. Make sure you stay on top of this by maintaining a content calendar with scheduled social media posts, asking friends or family to lend a hand if needed.
• Celebrating small milestones — Your supporters want to hear about the fundraiser’s successes, so celebrate with them. When you reach 25% of your goal, share it with your supporters and ask them to donate further.
• Sharing real-time impact — As well as fundraising milestones, your supporters will want to see how their donations are helping on the ground. Share detailed updates to show progress, including photos and videos from the field, rescue stories, and updates on animal health.

How to raise money for a wildlife conservation nonprofit?

GoFundMe allows people to raise money for wildlife conservation nonprofits.

What tools and platforms help nonprofits reach their fundraising goals?

GoFundMe has plenty of tools and platform integrations to help organizers reach their fundraising goals.

• Overview of GoFundMe — Click start a GoFundMe and when prompted to select who you’re fundraising for, choose “nonprofit organization” and enter their details. GoFundMe uses the PayPal Giving Fund database, with registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US.
• CRM tools for donor management — Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools act as a central resource for nonprofits to manage relationships with donors by tracking engagement and holding contact information. GoFundMe Pro integrates with many CRMs, including Salesforce and Raiser’s Edge. For regular GoFundMe fundraisers, Zapier helps integrate with CRMs.
• Email marketing and automation tools — GoFundMe Pro gives users access to Mailchimp or Constant Contact integrations so that you can easily keep in touch with supporters. It also offers Email Studio, a one-stop solution for writing, managing, and delivering emails, although this is only available for Campaign Studio campaigns. Learn more here.

How can nonprofits turn one-time donors into recurring supporters?

Turning one-time donors into recurring supporters is essential for nonprofit organizations looking to build long-term donor relationships and guarantee a steady flow of fundraising. Here are some effective strategies to make this happen:

• Subscription-style giving models — Encourage regular donations by operating a subscription-style model that allows people to feel part of a community. To make this appealing, try adding in suggested regular donations (e.g., “$10 per month will feed an orphaned monkey”). Encourage people to donate every payday.
• Build exclusivity — Offering exclusive content or updates to monthly supporters is a surefire way to drive signups. You could send behind-the-scenes videos or detailed updates about an unwell animal. You could also offer perks, such as gifted merchandise or early-access/discounted ticket sales for a fundraising event. Do this through dedicated email distribution lists and WhatsApp communities.
• Highlighting donor impact — Sending followers regular updates is the easiest way to drum up more support. Be sure to highlight how donations make a difference through email and social media. You could specifically highlight how much is made through regular donations and what that money helps fund.

What fundraising events are effective for conservation nonprofits?

Fundraising events are crucial for conservation nonprofits, especially if the conservation area itself is far away. In-person and virtual events allow nonprofits to build deep connections with their supporters and underpin the need for support by showing what donations are used for.

• Virtual wildlife tours or livestreamed Q&As with field experts — Hosting virtual events allows you to reach far beyond your regular network to find more potential donors. Creating exclusive and exciting online experiences is a great way to show your commitment to your cause and build community. Live safari tours and livestreamed Q&As with field experts allow people to access incredible experiences from anywhere and build connections.
• Art auctions or photo contests featuring wildlife — The best fundraising events have a tie-in with the cause they’re supporting. Hosting an auction or contest with a wildlife twist will attract the like-minded supporters and ensure they give generously. Try promoting entries on social media ahead of these events to boost ticket sales and interest.
• Awareness days — Effective fundraising is all about creating moments in time. Tap into awareness days aligned with international wildlife observances, such as Earth Day or International Tiger Day, to amplify your reach and relevance.

How do conservation nonprofits measure and report impact?

Measuring and reporting on impact is essential for any nonprofit looking to build relationships with supporters and improve strategy. It’s also crucial for compliance with tax laws and regulations, and applying for grants and government funding.

• Creating transparency with donors — Transparency is key to building long-lasting relationships with your supporters. Disclose how donations will be used from the start and, as your fundraiser progresses, share updates from on the ground with photos and videos showing the impact of funds raised.
• Annual donor reports and infographics — Share data-driven stories to show key accomplishments, such as the number of animal rescues or habitats protected. Report on financials, including what was raised and how money was spent. Use visuals and infographics to make the information easier to digest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to run a fundraiser on GoFundMe?

Setting up and managing a GoFundMe fundraiser is completely free. There is a small transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30. See more on fees.

Can I fundraise internationally for endangered species?

GoFundMe accepts international donations. Fundraisers must be set up and funds withdrawn in a country supported by GoFundMe. See the list of the 20 countries GoFundMe operates in currently.

What’s the difference between fundraising as an individual and as a nonprofit?

An individual fundraiser is designed for people raising money independently and will send money to a personal or organizational bank account, while nonprofit fundraisers send funds directly through PayPal Giving Fund or GoFundMe Pay.

Are donations to these fundraisers tax-deductible?

Donations to certified charity fundraisers are typically tax-deductible in the US, whereas those to individual fundraisers are generally considered to be a personal gift. For donations to nonprofit fundraisers on GoFundMe, donors automatically receive a tax-deductible receipt if the nonprofit is verified.

How can I ensure the funds go directly to the animals in need?

It’s important to partner with a verified nonprofit organization and use a fundraising platform that donates directly to a nonprofit, like GoFundMe.

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