15 Ways to Fundraise Money Fast and Meet Your Goal

Your fundraiser story should answer five important questions — who, what, when, where, and why. It is absolutely critical to focus on the ‘why.’ If your fundraiser lacks urgency or clarity, then people are likely going to assume you’ve got other options.

When writing your fundraiser story, try answering these questions:

• Why is it crucial that you raise money fast for your cause?
• If you reach your fundraising target, what will you be able to do?
• What type of fundraiser are you starting?

A list of expenses tells people precisely what you need and why you need it, which can help them wrap their heads around the challenge you’re facing. The key to fundraising fast is to include an itemized list of the expenses you’re raising money for in your fundraising story.

For example, if you’re raising funds for a medical procedure, list the costs and other expenses you’ll incur, like:

• Transportation costs
• Post-op medication and copays
• Rehab and caregiving costs
• Lost income during recovery
• Childcare

Adding items like water bottles or food may also help illustrate the scope of the fundraiser.

For maximum impact, try sharing your fundraiser with your close friends and family before you share it with the general public or community members. The reason for this? People who don’t know you well are less likely to donate if they arrive at your donation page and don’t see many existing donations. Sharing your fundraiser with your family and close friends helps you build up donations before sharing it more widely with others.

Adding significant dates is just one of many easy fundraising ideas that can customize your fundraiser. For example, challenge everyone to give $15 on the 15th of the month and tell them why that day is special and what it could mean to give that day.

Once you’ve shared your fundraiser with loved ones, it’s time to look wider. Reach out to board members, community members, or supporters interested in your nonprofit or cause. Widening your donor base will help increase your income and raise money faster. If you feel a little awkward about asking for financial support, these blog posts offer tips on the most effective ways to reach out to everyone from close friends to strangers:

• How to Get Donations From These Five Types of Donors
• Use These Fundraising Email Templates to Reach Your Goal
• Learn How and When to Ask for Help with These Tips

Contact local businesses, nonprofit organizations, or partners for sponsorships. That could mean providing a financial gift, donating goods or services, or even holding a fundraising event for you; imagine a sponsored car wash or bake sale. Sponsorships are a good way to develop lasting business partnerships.

Crowdfund using a trusted platform. When you run fundraising pages, you can tell your story in a way that reaches further, brings in support from around the world, and helps you meet your fundraising goal faster.

Create a donation page with a clear explanation of your cause and an embedded donation form to collect gifts over the web. When a visitor comes to your donation page, you want them to be able to give instantly using a credit card or other methods.

Utilize different social media sites (like TikTok, Nextdoor, Instagram). And don’t forget about using a fundraising hashtag! Use email, text, and offline methods to reach more. Fundraising efforts thrive or fail across channels depending on consistent sharing.

Print out flyers to put up in community centers, cafés, high schools, local restaurants, and on community bulletin boards. Add your donation form, QR codes, and fundraiser link so that giving can be quick and simple!

You can reach out to your local community through in-person fundraising events. These could be, for example, a dog walking fundraiser, food truck rally, bake sale, movie night, or trivia night. Establish an upfront entry fee and add your fundraiser info to your promotions. Ask a local school or business if you can use their facilities. Get competitive — think about offering incentives such as t-shirts for donors or little prizes for a friendly competition. 

Food truck fundraisers are low-cost and fun, and they work well at any time of the year. Team up with a local food truck to give back a portion of sales to your cause. Sell food truck refreshments at a movie night or walk-a-thon for extra impact.

An engaging video can convey your story, highlight your personality, and reach potential donors. Video is one of the most impactful tools you can use to raise awareness for your nonprofit organization or online fundraising project.

Holding a virtual fundraising event, such as an online auction or a community yard sale, can generate some extra money and also engage your local network. Partner up with a retailer or local restaurant and ask for product donations or gift cards to auction off.

Communicate regularly and share new information with your donor base, friends, and family members. It fosters trust and promotes repeat giving. Updates are also a great opportunity for showcasing incentives like t-shirts for donors or matching gift donations from sponsors.