A generic donation form gets the job done, but it rarely inspires action. A personal story, on the other hand, can move mountains. The most successful fundraising campaigns are built on authentic connections, and that’s the real power of peer-to-peer fundraising. When you give your supporters customizable p2p fundraising pages, you’re not just giving them a tool; you’re giving them a platform to share why your mission matters to them personally. This transforms them from donors into storytellers and advocates, tapping into the trust of their personal networks to bring new, engaged supporters to your cause.

Key Takeaways

• Personal Stories Drive Donations: The most effective fundraising pages are built on authentic connection. Provide your supporters with easy-to-use tools to customize their pages with their own words and photos, transforming a generic ask into a powerful, personal appeal.
• Match the Platform to Your Goals: Focus on what you need to achieve before comparing features. Whether your goal is social media engagement or seamless event management, choose a platform that integrates with your existing tools and simplifies your team's workflow.
• Equip Your Fundraisers for Success: A great platform is just the start. Set your supporters up to win with a resource toolkit, sample messaging, and consistent encouragement through automated check-ins to keep them motivated from launch day to the finish line.

What is a Customizable P2P Fundraising Page?

Think of a peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising page as a personal campaign hub for your most passionate supporters. Instead of just asking for a one-time donation, you empower individuals to build their own fundraising pages dedicated to your cause. These pages allow your supporters to create a personalized campaign, which they then share with their own networks of friends, family, and colleagues to ask for donations. It’s a powerful way to turn your community into a team of active fundraisers.

The "customizable" part is where the magic really happens. A customizable P2P page isn't just a generic donation form with a supporter's name on it. It’s a canvas for them to share their personal connection to your mission. They can upload their own photos, write their story, set a personal fundraising goal, and provide updates on their progress. This level of personalization transforms a simple ask into a compelling narrative that resonates deeply with potential donors. By giving your supporters the tools to tell their own stories, you extend your reach far beyond your existing audience and tap into new networks through a trusted, authentic voice. This approach is central to modern social fundraising strategies that meet supporters where they are.

How P2P Fundraising Works

At its core, P2P fundraising works by mobilizing your most dedicated supporters to become volunteer fundraisers. You provide the platform and the tools, and they bring the passion and the personal network. These campaigns empower your supporters to rally their friends, family, and social connections to support your cause. Instead of your organization making every ask, you have an entire community of advocates sharing your mission.

This model is effective because it’s built on relationships and trust. A donation request from a friend or family member feels much more personal than an email from an organization. Through their own stories and authentic outreach, your fundraisers can inspire new donors and build a deeper sense of engagement with your mission. It’s a ripple effect—one supporter inspires ten friends, and some of those friends might be inspired to start their own pages, too.

Why Customization Matters for Your Mission

Customization is what separates a good P2P campaign from a great one. Storytelling is the heart of any successful fundraising effort, and customizable pages put that power directly into the hands of your supporters. When a fundraiser can share why your cause matters to them personally—with their own words and photos—the campaign becomes instantly more relatable and trustworthy.

This personal touch is what inspires people to take action. A generic page might get a few clicks, but a heartfelt story moves people to donate. By providing templates and tools that are easy to personalize, you help your P2P fundraisers create compelling pages that connect with donors on an emotional level. Every piece of content, from their "about" section to their social media posts, feels genuine and aligned with your nonprofit’s mission, ultimately driving more support for your cause.

What to Look For in a P2P Fundraising Platform

Choosing a peer-to-peer fundraising platform can feel overwhelming with so many options available. But the right platform isn't just a tool; it's a partner in your mission. The best ones make it easy for your supporters to become active fundraisers and for their networks to donate, all while keeping your brand front and center.

When you're comparing platforms, it’s easy to get lost in long feature lists. Instead, focus on the core functions that will actually drive results for your campaign. You need a platform that empowers your fundraisers, builds trust with donors, and gives you the insights to grow. Let's walk through the five essential features every nonprofit should look for.

Full Branding Control

Your fundraising page should feel like a seamless extension of your organization, not a generic third-party site. Full branding control is essential for building trust and recognition with donors. Look for a platform that allows you to customize logos, colors, fonts, and imagery to match your nonprofit’s identity perfectly. When a donor lands on a fundraising page, they should immediately know it’s connected to your cause. As Funraise notes, the goal is to have "branded, customizable fundraising pages that align with the strategic goals of nonprofits." This consistency reinforces your credibility and makes donors feel more secure giving their support.

Easy Social Sharing Tools

Peer-to-peer fundraising runs on social proof and personal networks. If it’s difficult for your supporters to share their fundraising pages, your campaign will struggle to gain momentum. The best platforms have built-in, one-click social sharing tools that make it effortless for fundraisers to post their progress on Facebook, Instagram, X, and other channels. Some platforms even provide pre-written text and image suggestions to remove any guesswork. By making sharing simple, you empower your supporters to become effective advocates for your cause, helping you reach new audiences you couldn't access on your own.

A Seamless Mobile Experience

Most donors will interact with your P2P campaign on their phones. They’ll click a link from a social media post or a text message and expect a smooth, fast experience. If your fundraising page is clunky, slow to load, or difficult to use on a mobile device, you’ll lose potential donations. A great platform ensures that everything from creating a fundraising page to making a donation is fully optimized for mobile. As experts at Funraise point out, "All fundraising pages work well on mobile phones and other devices, making it easy for people to donate on the go." Don't let a poor mobile experience stand between a supporter's generosity and your mission.

Simple and Secure Donation Processing

The final step in the donor journey—the actual donation—needs to be as frictionless as possible. A complicated or untrustworthy-looking checkout process is one of the fastest ways to lose a donor. Your platform should offer a clean, simple, and secure donation form that inspires confidence. Look for features like flexible payment options (credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay) and clear, transparent processing fees. The goal is to make giving so easy that the donor doesn't think twice. A straightforward process respects the donor's time and generosity, making them more likely to complete their gift and support you again in the future.

Clear Analytics and Reporting

How will you know if your campaign is successful? Gut feelings won't cut it. You need a platform with robust analytics and reporting tools that give you a clear view of your campaign's performance. At a minimum, you should be able to track key metrics like total funds raised, the number of donors, average donation size, and the performance of individual fundraisers. This data is invaluable for understanding what’s working and where you can improve. Clear reporting helps you make informed decisions, celebrate your top fundraisers, and optimize your strategy for future campaigns.

The Best Customizable P2P Fundraising Platforms

Choosing the right peer-to-peer fundraising platform can feel overwhelming, but it really comes down to finding the tool that aligns with your specific goals and resources. There isn’t a single “best” option for every nonprofit. Some platforms are built to turn your social media followers into active fundraisers, while others excel at managing large-scale fundraising events or offering deep brand customization.

To help you find the perfect fit, I’ve put together a list of the top customizable P2P fundraising platforms. Each one brings something unique to the table. We’ll look at what makes each platform stand out, who it’s best suited for, and how its features can help you connect with your supporters and raise more for your mission. Think of this as your guide to matching your nonprofit’s needs with the right technology, so you can spend less time managing software and more time making an impact.

GoodUnited: Social-First P2P Fundraising

GoodUnited is designed for nonprofits that want to meet their supporters where they already are: on social media. Instead of just giving fundraisers a page and sending them on their way, GoodUnited focuses on building real relationships through direct messaging. It helps you turn your anonymous social media followers into a community of named, engaged fundraisers. This approach is perfect for running Facebook Challenges and other social-first campaigns. If your goal is to activate your existing online audience and create a sustainable pipeline of new supporters directly from social media, GoodUnited is built for you. It’s less about a static page and more about creating an ongoing conversation that inspires action.

Funraise: All-in-One Nonprofit Solutions

If you’re looking for a single platform to handle nearly every aspect of your fundraising, Funraise is a powerful contender. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools that go beyond P2P campaigns, including donor management, donation forms, and event ticketing. This all-in-one approach helps you keep your data and workflows in one place, giving you a complete picture of your fundraising efforts. Funraise’s P2P platform is highly customizable and mobile-friendly, making it easy for your supporters to create beautiful pages. It’s an excellent choice for growing nonprofits that want a robust, centralized system to manage all their fundraising activities without juggling multiple software subscriptions.

OneCause: Event-Focused Fundraising

For nonprofits whose fundraising calendars revolve around events, OneCause is a standout choice. It specializes in integrating P2P fundraising with virtual, hybrid, and in-person events like galas, auctions, and walk-a-thons. The platform makes it simple for event attendees to become fundraisers and for their networks to contribute. Features like mobile bidding, ticketing, and text-to-donate are seamlessly woven into the P2P experience. This creates a cohesive journey for your supporters, from registering for an event to fundraising on your behalf. If you want to extend the life and reach of your fundraising events, OneCause provides the specialized tools to make it happen.

Classy: Enterprise-Level Customization

Classy is known for its beautiful design and deep customization options, making it a favorite among larger nonprofits with established brand identities. The platform gives you a high degree of control over the look and feel of your fundraising pages, ensuring a consistent and professional experience for your donors and fundraisers. Beyond aesthetics, Classy offers a flexible and scalable fundraising suite that supports a variety of campaign types, from P2P and crowdfunding to events. If maintaining brand integrity is a top priority and you need a powerful, enterprise-level solution that can grow with you, Classy’s customizable platform is worth a close look.

GoFundMe Charity: User-Friendly Campaign Creation

Leveraging one of the most recognized names in online fundraising, GoFundMe Charity offers a simple and intuitive platform for nonprofits. Its biggest strength is its ease of use, allowing you to set up and launch a P2P campaign in minutes. The user-friendly interface makes it easy for your supporters to create their own pages and start fundraising right away. While it may not have the deep customization of other platforms, it provides essential branding tools and the built-in trust of the GoFundMe name. This is a fantastic option for smaller nonprofits or any organization that needs to launch a successful campaign quickly without a steep learning curve.

DonorDrive: Gamified and Challenge-Based Fundraising

DonorDrive excels at making fundraising fun and engaging through gamification. The platform is built to support activity-based campaigns like virtual marathons, cycling events, and gaming streams. It integrates with apps like Strava and Twitch to let participants track their progress directly on their fundraising pages. Features like leaderboards, fundraising milestones, and achievement badges create a sense of friendly competition that motivates supporters to hit their goals. If your P2P campaigns are centered around challenges or competitive events, DonorDrive provides the gamified features to keep your fundraisers energized and drive incredible results for your cause.

How Much Do P2P Fundraising Platforms Cost?

Figuring out the cost of a peer-to-peer fundraising platform can feel like trying to solve a puzzle. Pricing isn't always straightforward, and what looks like a great deal on the surface can sometimes come with unexpected expenses. To make the best decision for your nonprofit, it’s helpful to understand the three main types of fees you’ll likely encounter: platform fees, transaction fees, and the less-obvious hidden costs. Let’s break down what each one means for your budget.

Platform and Subscription Fees

Think of the platform fee as your cost of admission. It’s the recurring charge—usually billed monthly or annually—for access to the software, its features, and customer support. Many providers offer tiered plans, so you can choose a level that matches your organization's size and needs. A basic plan might be perfect for a small team running a few campaigns, while a premium plan could offer advanced analytics and integrations for a larger operation. When comparing options, be sure to look at the full picture. Some companies display a discounted annual rate, so it’s important to clarify the terms before you commit.

Payment Processing and Transaction Fees

Separate from the subscription, transaction fees are charged on every single donation you receive. These typically consist of two parts. First, there’s the standard payment processing fee from companies like Stripe or PayPal, which is usually a small percentage plus a few cents per transaction. Second, some P2P platforms add their own percentage-based fee on top of that. An increasingly popular alternative is the "tipping" model, where the platform asks donors to add an optional tip at checkout to cover costs. This can make the platform free for your nonprofit, but it’s worth considering how this might affect the donor experience.

What to Know About Hidden Costs

This is where you need to be a savvy shopper. Some costs aren't advertised on the main pricing page and can catch you by surprise. Be on the lookout for one-time setup fees, charges for mandatory training sessions, or extra costs for essential add-ons like CRM integrations or premium branding tools. Before signing any contracts, ask for a complete breakdown of all potential charges. A transparent partner will be happy to walk you through everything, ensuring you understand the total investment. Reading through customer stories can also give you a sense of a platform’s transparency and value.

How to Choose the Right P2P Platform for Your Nonprofit

With so many options available, picking the right peer-to-peer platform can feel overwhelming. The best choice for your nonprofit comes down to your specific needs and what you want to achieve. By breaking down the decision into a few key areas, you can find a platform that not only meets your requirements but also helps you build stronger connections with your supporters. Let’s walk through the three most important factors to consider.

Define Your Fundraising Goals

Before you even look at a demo, take a step back and clarify what you want this campaign to accomplish. Are you focused on acquiring a wave of new, first-time donors? Is your primary goal to increase your base of recurring givers? Or maybe you’re raising funds for a specific, time-sensitive project. Peer-to-peer fundraising is a powerful way to broaden your reach, but your specific goal will determine which platform features are non-negotiable. For example, if donor acquisition is your top priority, you’ll need a platform with excellent, easy-to-use social sharing tools. If you’re focused on a capital campaign, you’ll want strong campaign thermometer and milestone features.

Review Your Tech and Integration Needs

Your fundraising platform doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It needs to work smoothly with the tools you already use every day, especially your CRM. A platform with deep, seamless integrations ensures that all your supporter data flows into one central place, giving you a complete view of every interaction. This is critical for building genuine, long-term relationships. When you’re evaluating options, ask how they connect with systems like Salesforce, Blackbaud, or your email marketing software. The right platform should make your job easier by automating data entry and streamlining your workflows, not creating more manual work. Check to see how it works with your current setup.

Consider Your Budget and Expected ROI

Of course, cost is a major factor. As you compare pricing, look beyond the monthly subscription fee. Pay close attention to payment processing and transaction fees, as these can significantly impact your total revenue. Some platforms offer flexible plans, so you can find one that fits your budget. But don’t just think about the cost—think about the potential return on your investment. A slightly more expensive platform might be worth it if it offers features that dramatically increase supporter engagement and donations. Reading customer stories and case studies can give you a clearer picture of the results you can expect and help you make a decision based on value, not just price.

What Makes a P2P Fundraising Page Successful?

A great P2P fundraising platform gives you the tools, but a successful campaign comes from how you and your supporters use them. The most effective fundraising pages don’t just ask for money; they tell a story, build community, and make it incredibly easy for people to contribute. It really comes down to three key ingredients: smart design, authentic personalization, and trust-building social proof. When these elements work together, they create a page that not only looks professional but also connects with people on an emotional level, inspiring them to give.

Design Elements That Drive Donations

Think of a P2P fundraising page as a digital storefront for your cause. If it’s cluttered or confusing, potential donors will leave. A successful page uses clean design, compelling images, and your nonprofit’s branding to build instant credibility. Your logo, colors, and fonts should be consistent, reassuring donors they’re in the right place. The most important element? A bold, clear, and unmissable “Donate” button. Your platform should make it simple for fundraisers to create a beautiful page that they are proud to share with their networks, turning their personal appeal into a seamless experience for their friends and family.

Personalization That Increases Engagement

This is the heart of peer-to-peer fundraising. A generic page won’t get much traction. Success hinges on the fundraiser’s ability to share their personal connection to your mission. Through authentic stories and outreach, your supporters can inspire new donors and create a much deeper sense of engagement. Encourage your fundraisers to replace template text with their own words, upload personal photos or videos, and set a fundraising goal that feels meaningful to them. This personal touch is what turns a simple request for a donation into a powerful story that people feel compelled to support and become a part of.

Social Proof and Trust-Building Components

People are more likely to act when they see others doing the same. That’s social proof, and it’s a powerful force in fundraising. Successful P2P pages build momentum by showing it. Features like a fundraising thermometer that visibly climbs toward a goal, a running list of recent donors, and a comment section filled with encouraging words all signal that a campaign is active and trustworthy. These components create a sense of community and urgency, encouraging visitors to add their own contribution. Seeing this activity reassures new donors that their support is joining a collective effort, making them more confident in their decision to give. You can see how other nonprofits have used these strategies in our customer stories.

How to Set Up Your First P2P Campaign

Launching your first peer-to-peer campaign can feel like a huge undertaking, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes all the difference. A successful P2P campaign doesn't just happen—it’s the result of thoughtful planning, compelling creative, and empowered supporters. By focusing on these core areas, you can build a campaign that not only meets its financial goals but also strengthens your community and expands your reach. Think of this as your roadmap to turning your most passionate supporters into incredible volunteer fundraisers for your cause.

Plan Your Campaign and Set Clear Goals

Before you do anything else, you need a solid plan. Start by defining what success looks like for this specific campaign. Are you aiming to raise a certain amount of money, recruit a specific number of new fundraisers, or engage a new demographic? Set clear, measurable goals (think SMART goals) that will guide your decisions. Your plan should also outline your campaign's timeline, key messages, and target audience. Remember, P2P campaigns are a powerful way to broaden your organization's reach, so think about how you'll attract both existing supporters and new faces to join as fundraisers.

Create a Compelling Page Template

Your campaign's fundraising page template is the foundation your supporters will build upon. It needs to be both inspiring and incredibly easy to use. Start with your nonprofit’s branding—your logo, colors, and fonts—to create a consistent and trustworthy experience. The template should feature a powerful hero image or video, a clear headline, and a concise, emotionally resonant story about your mission. Make it simple for fundraisers to add their own personal stories and photos. Most importantly, ensure the donation process is seamless. A well-designed template makes it easy for your supporters to create effective P2P fundraising pages that motivate their networks to give.

Prepare Your Fundraising Team for Success

Your fundraisers are the heart of your campaign, so set them up for success from day one. Create a toolkit or resource hub packed with everything they need. This should include sample social media posts, email templates, key talking points about your mission, and high-quality images or videos they can share. Storytelling is what makes P2P so effective, so encourage your fundraisers to share their personal connection to your cause. You can also host a kickoff webinar or create a dedicated Facebook Group to build community, answer questions, and share tips. By providing clear guidance and consistent encouragement, you empower your supporters to become confident and effective advocates for your mission.

How to Maximize Your P2P Fundraising Results

Launching your peer-to-peer campaign is a huge first step, but the real work begins once it’s live. A beautiful, customizable fundraising page is your foundation. Now, it’s time to build on it with a smart strategy that engages your supporters, spreads the word, and uses data to fine-tune your approach. Maximizing your results isn’t about having the biggest team; it’s about making the most of the community you already have. By focusing on supporter relationships and consistent communication, you can turn a good campaign into a great one.

Engage and Retain Your Supporters

Your most passionate supporters are your best fundraisers. P2P campaigns work because they empower these individuals to become advocates, sharing their personal connection to your cause with their own networks. The key is to equip them with the tools and encouragement they need to succeed. Focus on making it easy for them to tell their stories. Provide them with key messages, impact stats, and high-quality images, but always encourage them to add their personal touch. Building these relationships through consistent, one-on-one communication is what turns a one-time fundraiser into a lifelong supporter. Using direct messaging can help you personally thank, coach, and celebrate your fundraisers at scale, making them feel seen and valued every step of the way.

Use a Multi-Channel Approach

A great fundraising page won’t raise money if no one sees it. To get the most traction, you need to promote your campaign across every channel where your supporters are active. This means going beyond a single email blast or a few organic social media posts. Develop a complete communications plan that includes email, social media, and direct messaging. Create a simple toolkit for your fundraisers with pre-written social posts, email templates, and shareable graphics to make it effortless for them to spread the word. Think of how you can integrate the campaign into existing programs, like turning a Facebook Challenge into a powerful P2P fundraising event that meets supporters right where they are.

Track and Optimize Your Performance

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. From the moment your campaign launches, keep a close eye on your analytics to understand what’s working and where you can make adjustments. Key metrics to watch include the number of active fundraisers, the average amount raised per person, donation conversion rates, and which channels are driving the most traffic. If you notice that fundraisers who receive a personal check-in message raise more, double down on that effort. If a particular social post gets a lot of shares, create similar content. Looking at real-world customer stories can also give you proven ideas and benchmarks to aim for as you optimize your campaign for the best possible results.

Common P2P Fundraising Challenges (and How to Solve Them)

Peer-to-peer fundraising is an incredible way to expand your reach and bring in new donors, but it’s not without its hurdles. From clunky software to unmotivated fundraisers, many nonprofits run into the same roadblocks. The good news is that these challenges are completely solvable with the right strategy and tools. Instead of getting discouraged, you can see them as opportunities to refine your approach and build a stronger, more effective fundraising program. Let's look at a few common issues and how you can get ahead of them.

Working Around Technical Limitations

Feeling boxed in by your fundraising software is a common frustration. A platform that’s difficult to use or doesn’t connect with your other systems creates a poor experience for everyone—your team, your fundraisers, and your donors. The best way to handle this is to be selective from the start. When choosing a platform, prioritize features like fully customizable donation pages, simple donor management tools, and secure payment processing. Strong integration capabilities are also essential, as they ensure your P2P platform works seamlessly with the CRM and marketing tools you already use, saving you from manual data entry and headaches down the line.

Encouraging Fundraiser Participation

It’s one thing to announce a P2P campaign; it’s another to get people actively involved. The key is to make fundraising feel personal and achievable. Storytelling is at the heart of any successful campaign, so equip your supporters to share why your mission matters to them. Provide them with easy-to-use templates for their fundraising pages, sample social media posts, and key talking points. By helping your P2P fundraisers create effective and compelling pages, you empower them to inspire their own networks. When supporters feel confident and prepared, they’re far more likely to participate and succeed.

Managing Multiple Campaigns at Once

As your P2P program grows, so does the complexity. Juggling different campaigns, events, and fundraiser communications can quickly become a logistical nightmare. A robust fundraising solution is a must for keeping everything organized and on track. Look for a platform that offers a central dashboard to monitor progress across all your campaigns. Features like automated messaging can also be a game-changer, allowing you to send timely encouragement and updates to all your fundraisers without overwhelming your staff. This frees up your team to focus on building relationships and strategy instead of getting lost in administrative tasks.

Which P2P Platform Features Drive the Best ROI?

Once you’ve covered the basics like branding and payment processing, it’s time to look at the features that will actively help you raise more money. The right P2P platform doesn’t just give your supporters a place to collect donations; it gives them the tools and motivation to become incredible fundraisers for your cause. Think of these features as your digital toolkit for maximizing every campaign's potential.

Investing in a platform with smart, engagement-focused features can be the difference between hitting your goal and blowing past it. These tools work behind the scenes to keep your fundraisers inspired, make their job easier, and create a more personal and compelling experience for their donors. When your fundraisers feel supported and empowered, they’re more likely to stick with it, share more often, and ultimately, raise more for your mission. Let’s break down the specific features that consistently deliver the best return on investment.

Gamification and Leaderboards

A little friendly competition can go a long way. Gamification features, like leaderboards, badges, and fundraising milestones, tap into our natural desire to achieve goals and be recognized for our efforts. When fundraisers can see how they stack up against others or watch a progress bar fill up as they get closer to a personal goal, they’re more motivated to send one more email or post one more time on social media. This creates a fun, competitive atmosphere that not only encourages individuals to raise more but also builds a powerful sense of community. This is a core component of successful fundraising events like Facebook Challenges, where a shared goal brings everyone together.

Automated Messaging and Follow-Ups

Your fundraisers are passionate volunteers, but they’re also busy people. They can’t be expected to be fundraising experts overnight. This is where automated messaging becomes a game-changer. Platforms that can send automatic messages to provide progress updates, share fundraising tips, or offer a word of encouragement are crucial for keeping participants engaged. These timely nudges act as a personal coach, keeping fundraisers informed and motivated without adding to your team’s workload. GoodUnited’s direct messaging tools are built on this principle, using supportive, automated conversations to guide fundraisers and help them succeed. This consistent support prevents fundraiser drop-off and keeps momentum high throughout the campaign.

Advanced Audience Segmentation

Not all supporters are the same, so why should your communication be one-size-fits-all? Advanced audience segmentation allows you to group supporters based on their behavior, history, and engagement level. This means you can send tailored messages that resonate more deeply. For example, you can send a special welcome series to first-time fundraisers, while your veteran fundraisers might get a message about new advanced tools they can use. This targeted approach makes your supporters feel seen and understood, which strengthens their connection to your cause. As our customer stories show, this level of personalization leads to higher engagement, better retention, and ultimately, more donations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do we convince our supporters to become fundraisers for us? The best approach is to start with a personal ask. Begin with your most engaged supporters—volunteers, board members, and recurring donors who already have a strong connection to your mission. Frame it as an opportunity for them to make an even bigger impact by sharing their personal story. Reassure them that you’ll provide all the tools, templates, and support they need, so they won’t be starting from scratch. When people feel equipped and understand the power of their own voice, they are often excited to step into a fundraising role.

Is peer-to-peer fundraising a good fit for smaller nonprofits with limited staff? Absolutely. In fact, it can be a game-changer for smaller teams. P2P fundraising allows you to expand your reach exponentially without needing a massive marketing budget or a large staff. It works by empowering your existing community to fundraise on your behalf. The key is to choose a user-friendly platform that automates tasks like sending thank you messages and progress updates. This frees up your team to focus on building relationships with your fundraisers instead of getting bogged down in administrative work.

What’s the real difference between peer-to-peer fundraising and crowdfunding? It’s a great question, as the terms are often used interchangeably. Think of it this way: a crowdfunding campaign is typically a single page where your organization raises money from a large group of people for one specific goal. In contrast, a peer-to-peer campaign mobilizes many individuals to create their own separate fundraising pages. They then share these personal pages with their own networks. Crowdfunding is a one-to-many approach, while P2P is a many-to-many model built on personal relationships and trust.

How much time should my team expect to spend managing a P2P campaign? The heaviest lift is on the front end. You’ll invest the most time in the initial planning phase—setting your goals, creating your campaign page template, and building a resource toolkit for your fundraisers. Once the campaign is live, a good platform will handle much of the day-to-day work. You should plan to dedicate a few hours each week to monitoring progress, communicating with your fundraisers to offer encouragement, and sharing campaign highlights on your own channels.

Besides raising money, what are the other benefits of running a P2P campaign? The financial return is great, but the other benefits are just as valuable. The biggest one is donor acquisition. Your fundraisers will introduce your cause to friends and family who may have never heard of you before, bringing new, long-term supporters into your community. It’s also an incredible way to identify your most passionate advocates. The people who step up to fundraise for you are often your future major donors, board members, and lifelong champions for your mission.