Your social media followers represent a huge, untapped fundraising opportunity. The challenge is converting that passive audience into active participants and donors. Peer-to-peer fundraising is the bridge that makes this possible, empowering your community to fundraise directly within their own social networks. The right technology is essential for making this process feel natural and conversational, not transactional. A great platform meets your supporters where they are, making it easy to share your mission and collect donations without friction. This guide will introduce you to the top peer-to-peer fundraising platforms that excel at social integration, helping you turn your online community into a thriving engine for growth.
Key Takeaways
- Choose a Platform Built for People, Not Just Nonprofits: Your campaign's success depends on making it incredibly easy for supporters to create a page and for their friends to donate. Prioritize a clean, mobile-friendly design that removes friction and lets your fundraisers focus on sharing their passion, not fighting with technology.
- Equip Your Fundraisers to Be Your Best Advocates: Don't just launch a campaign and hope for the best. Provide your supporters with a toolkit of compelling stories, pre-written social media posts, and clear messaging. When you make it simple for them to share your mission, they can fundraise with confidence and authenticity.
- Turn Campaign Participants into Lifelong Supporters: A peer-to-peer campaign is a powerful tool for acquiring new donors. Ensure your platform integrates with your CRM to capture that data, allowing you to build genuine relationships and nurture one-time participants into a community of long-term advocates for your cause.
What is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising?
Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising is a strategy that empowers your most passionate supporters to raise money on your behalf. Instead of your organization making every ask, your supporters create personal fundraising pages and reach out to their own networks—friends, family, and colleagues—for donations. Think of it as a grassroots movement for your cause, powered by the people who believe in it most. This approach turns your followers into active fundraisers, expanding your reach far beyond your existing email lists and social media channels. It’s a powerful way to tap into new networks and build a community around your mission.
How It Works
The process is straightforward and built on connection. It starts when a supporter signs up to fundraise for your campaign. Using a P2P platform, they quickly create a personal fundraising page, complete with your branding, their own story, and a fundraising goal. From there, they share the page across their social media, email, and even text messages. Their friends and family can donate directly through the page, and all the funds flow back to your nonprofit. The right fundraising software handles the technical side, tracking donations and managing donor information so you and your fundraisers can focus on sharing your story.
The Benefits for Nonprofits
The biggest advantage of P2P fundraising is its ability to extend your reach exponentially. Each fundraiser introduces your cause to a new audience, bringing in donors you might never have reached otherwise. This social proof—a recommendation from a trusted friend—is incredibly effective and can lead to higher conversion rates. P2P campaigns also deepen supporter engagement, giving them a tangible way to contribute beyond a simple donation. This creates a stronger sense of community and ownership, which can improve long-term donor retention and build lasting relationships with your most dedicated advocates.
Types of Peer-to-Peer Campaigns
P2P fundraising is flexible and can be adapted to fit almost any goal or event. You can run campaigns centered around individual fundraising pages, where supporters set personal goals for birthdays or personal milestones. Team-based fundraising is another popular option, perfect for corporate challenges or community groups working toward a collective goal. Event-based fundraising, tied to things like marathons, walk-a-thons, or virtual galas, is also common. A modern and highly effective approach is the virtual Facebook Challenge, where thousands of participants join a group to complete an activity (like walking 100 miles in a month) while fundraising from their peers.
What to Look For in a Peer-to-Peer Platform
Choosing the right peer-to-peer fundraising platform is a lot like picking a venue for your biggest event of the year. The right space makes everything run smoothly, while the wrong one can create unnecessary headaches for you and your guests. Your platform is the digital home for your campaign, and it needs to be welcoming for both your team and, most importantly, your supporters who are fundraising on your behalf.
When you start comparing options, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of features. To cut through the noise, focus on the core functions that will make or break your campaign. Think about the entire journey: from the moment a supporter decides to create a fundraising page to the second a new donor clicks “donate.” Is the process simple? Can you make it feel like your campaign? How easily can your fundraisers share their pages with their friends and family? The best platforms are built with the user in mind, providing a seamless experience that encourages participation and giving. We’ll walk through the essential features to look for so you can find a tool that truly supports your mission and helps you build lasting relationships with your community.
A User-Friendly Design
Your supporters are passionate about your cause, but they probably aren’t fundraising experts. A platform with a complicated setup process is a surefire way to lose their enthusiasm before they even get started. Look for a tool with a clean, intuitive design and clear instructions. Your fundraisers should be able to create and personalize their pages in just a few minutes without needing a tech manual. The easier it is for them to get going, the more time they can spend sharing your mission with their networks instead of fighting with confusing software.
Customization and Branding Options
Your peer-to-peer campaign should feel like a natural extension of your nonprofit’s brand. A good platform will allow you to customize the main campaign page with your logo, colors, and messaging. But personalization shouldn't stop there. Your individual fundraisers need the ability to make their pages their own by adding personal stories, photos, and videos. This is where the magic of peer-to-peer happens—when a supporter shares why your cause matters to them, it creates a powerful, authentic connection that inspires their friends and family to give.
Seamless Social Media Integration
Since the goal of peer-to-peer fundraising is to reach new audiences, your platform must make social sharing completely effortless. Your fundraisers are your campaign’s biggest advocates, and they need tools that help them spread the word. Look for platforms with prominent, easy-to-use buttons that allow supporters to share their pages directly to Facebook, Instagram, and other networks with a single click. The fewer steps it takes to share, the more likely they are to do it, which is critical for making your campaign visible and successful. This is especially true for Facebook Challenges, where community and sharing are everything.
Mobile-First Functionality
Today, most people will interact with your campaign on their phones. Your fundraisers will check their progress on the go, and their friends will likely click a link in a social media app to donate. If your campaign pages are difficult to read or use on a smartphone, you risk losing donations and frustrating your supporters. A mobile-first platform ensures that every page looks great and functions perfectly on any device. Test the mobile experience yourself before committing to a platform to make sure it’s smooth, fast, and easy for donors to complete their contributions.
Clear Analytics and Reporting
You can't improve what you don't measure. A strong peer-to-peer platform will give you clear, accessible data on your campaign’s performance. You should be able to easily track key metrics like total funds raised, the number of donors, and the average donation amount. It’s also important to see how individual fundraisers and teams are doing. Features like fundraising thermometers and leaderboards are great for tracking progress and can also add a fun, competitive element that keeps your supporters motivated and engaged throughout the campaign.
Secure Payment Processing
Your donors are trusting you with their sensitive financial information, and that trust is sacred. Your chosen platform must prioritize security. Look for features like PCI compliance, data encryption, and fraud protection to ensure every transaction is handled safely. Displaying security badges or seals on your donation pages can also help reassure donors that their information is protected. A secure payment process not only protects your donors but also preserves your organization's reputation and credibility.
Built-in Communication Tools
Keeping your fundraisers motivated and informed is key to a successful campaign. The best platforms include built-in tools that help you communicate with your supporters directly. This could include automated email templates for welcoming new fundraisers, sending progress updates, or sharing fundraising tips. Being able to easily send encouraging messages helps your supporters feel connected and supported, which in turn helps them raise more for your cause. Consistent, positive direct messaging can make all the difference in keeping momentum high from start to finish.
The Best Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platforms
With so many peer-to-peer platforms on the market, finding the right one can feel like a huge task. The good news is that this variety means there’s a perfect fit for just about every nonprofit, no matter your size, budget, or campaign goals. Some platforms are comprehensive, all-in-one solutions designed for large-scale, complex campaigns. Others are built for simplicity, helping you get a straightforward fundraising page up and running in minutes.
The key is to match a platform’s strengths to your organization’s specific needs. Are you focused on building deep, personal connections with supporters on social media? Do you need robust tools for a large-scale gala with an auction? Or are you looking for a simple, cost-effective way to empower your community to fundraise on your behalf? To help you decide, I’ve reviewed eight of the top peer-to-peer fundraising platforms. Let’s walk through what makes each one stand out so you can find the best tool to support your mission.
GoodUnited
GoodUnited is designed to help nonprofits engage supporters where they already spend their time: on social media. It focuses on simplifying the fundraising process by meeting people in their direct messages, making it feel less like a transaction and more like a conversation. This approach is perfect for building authentic, one-to-one relationships at scale. The platform excels at turning anonymous social media followers into a community of active fundraisers and donors, especially through engaging campaigns like Facebook Challenges. If your goal is to build a sustainable pipeline of new supporters from the audience you already have, GoodUnited provides the tools to make those connections meaningful and impactful.
GoFundMe Charity
As one of the most recognized names in online fundraising, GoFundMe Charity offers a familiar and user-friendly experience for your supporters. The platform allows nonprofits to create fundraising campaigns without platform fees, which is a major plus for organizations watching their budget. While standard transaction fees still apply to donations, the absence of a platform fee makes it a very attractive option. Its strength lies in its simplicity and widespread brand recognition, which can lower the barrier to entry for first-time fundraisers who may already know and trust the GoFundMe name. It’s a solid choice for straightforward campaigns where ease of use is a top priority.
Classy
Classy is a powerhouse platform known for its robust fundraising tools and beautiful, customizable campaign pages. It’s particularly well-suited for larger nonprofits that need advanced features to manage complex campaigns. With Classy, you can create a seamless and professional branding experience across all your fundraising efforts, from peer-to-peer campaigns to ticketing for major events. The platform also provides in-depth analytics, giving you the data you need to understand donor behavior and refine your strategy. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that can handle everything from recurring giving to crowdfunding and event management, Classy is a top contender.
Donorbox
If you’re looking for an accessible and easy-to-use platform, Donorbox is an excellent choice. It’s designed to be incredibly user-friendly, allowing nonprofits to get fundraising campaigns up and running quickly without a steep learning curve. One of its standout features is its powerful, embeddable donation forms that can be customized to match your website’s branding. Donorbox offers a free startup plan and maintains low platform fees as you grow, making it a scalable solution for organizations of all sizes. It’s a great fit for nonprofits that want a simple, effective tool for collecting donations and empowering supporters to fundraise.
GiveLively
GiveLively stands out because it’s a completely free fundraising platform. That’s right—no platform fees, no setup costs, and no hidden charges. It provides a surprisingly powerful set of tools, including peer-to-peer fundraising, event ticketing, text-to-give, and more. This makes it an incredible resource for nonprofits, especially those with limited budgets that don’t want to sacrifice functionality. GiveLively is built by philanthropists with the goal of helping organizations maximize their impact. For any nonprofit looking to keep costs down while still accessing a modern and effective suite of fundraising tools, GiveLively is definitely worth exploring.
Fundly
Fundly is all about making fundraising simple and social. The platform allows users to create clean, straightforward fundraising pages for just about any cause. It’s easy for your supporters to set up their pages, add photos and videos, and post updates to their blog, keeping their network engaged throughout the campaign. A key feature is its flexible funding model—you keep every donation you receive, even if you don’t reach your ultimate goal. While Fundly does charge a platform fee as a percentage of the funds raised, its ease of use and simple setup make it a great option for quick, community-driven campaigns.
DonorDrive
For nonprofits that center their fundraising around events, DonorDrive is a specialized and powerful platform. It’s built specifically for peer-to-peer fundraising, with a strong focus on endurance events like marathons, walks, and cycling races. The platform offers features designed to motivate participants, such as team fundraising capabilities, activity tracking, and milestone incentives. DonorDrive also integrates with streaming platforms like Twitch, making it a go-to choice for charity gaming events. If your organization hosts signature fundraising events and needs a robust tool to manage participants and drive revenue, DonorDrive has the features to make it a success.
OneCause
OneCause offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools designed to manage multiple campaign types from a single platform. Beyond peer-to-peer fundraising, it provides robust solutions for event management, online auctions, and mobile bidding, making it an ideal all-in-one tool for nonprofits with diverse fundraising strategies. The platform is built to keep supporters engaged with interactive features like fundraising thermometers, leaderboards, and text-to-donate options. If your organization runs a variety of fundraising initiatives throughout the year—from a P2P campaign in the spring to a gala in the fall—OneCause can help you streamline your efforts and create a consistent, engaging experience for your donors.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Nonprofit
With so many peer-to-peer platforms on the market, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. The best choice for your nonprofit depends on your specific goals, team size, and budget. Instead of getting lost in a sea of features, focus on the fundamentals. A great platform should make fundraising simple for your supporters and campaign management straightforward for your staff. By evaluating a few key areas, you can find a partner that not only meets your technical needs but also helps you build stronger, more meaningful connections with your community. Think of this as a checklist to find the perfect fit for your next campaign.
Compare Pricing Models
First, let’s talk about money. It’s crucial to understand how a platform makes its money so you can anticipate costs. You’ll generally encounter two types of fees: platform fees and transaction fees. Platform fees are what you pay to use the software, often as a monthly or annual subscription. Transaction fees are a small percentage taken from each donation to cover payment processing. Some platforms have a "free" model but may have higher transaction fees or fewer features. Dig into the pricing page and ask about any hidden costs to make sure the model you choose aligns with your fundraising goals and budget.
Check the Technical Requirements
A platform is only effective if people can actually use it. Your chosen software should be intuitive for both your internal team and your fundraisers. If your supporters have to click through a dozen screens to set up a page, they’ll likely give up. Look for a clean, simple interface and a mobile-friendly design, since many donors will be giving from their phones. Platforms with ready-made templates and clear guides are also a huge plus, as they let you launch your campaigns quickly without needing a developer on standby. The goal is to remove as much friction as possible from the giving process.
Review Integration Capabilities
Your peer-to-peer platform shouldn't be a data island. To get a complete picture of your fundraising efforts, you need a tool that connects with your other systems, especially your donor management software or CRM. A solid integration automatically syncs new donor and fundraiser information, saving you from hours of manual data entry. This connection is key to building long-term relationships. It ensures that the new supporters you acquire through your P2P campaign are properly welcomed and nurtured. See how it works when your systems are connected to turn one-time participants into lifelong advocates.
Evaluate Their Support Services
When you’re in the middle of a campaign, you need to know that help is available when you need it. Before committing to a platform, look into their customer support. Do they offer help through chat, email, and phone? Are there helpful guides, articles, or webinars you can access? The best way to gauge this is to see what other nonprofits are saying. Check review sites like G2 and Capterra, and look for customer stories or testimonials. A platform with a responsive and helpful support team is more than just a tool; it’s a partner in your success.
Confirm Security Standards
Protecting your donors' financial information is absolutely critical for maintaining trust. Your peer-to-peer platform must be secure and compliant with industry standards. Look for a provider that is PCI compliant, which is the standard for protecting credit card data. The platform should also use data encryption to safeguard personal information and offer security features like multi-factor authentication. Donors are trusting you with their sensitive data, and showing that you’ve chosen a secure platform demonstrates that you take that responsibility seriously.
Common P2P Fundraising Challenges (and How to Solve Them)
Peer-to-peer fundraising is an incredible way to expand your reach and empower your community, but it’s not without its hurdles. When you’re managing dozens, or even hundreds, of individual fundraisers, things can get complicated quickly. From clunky technology that frustrates your supporters to keeping everyone motivated for the entire campaign, these challenges can feel overwhelming. The good news is that they are all solvable, and you don't have to learn the hard way. Many nonprofits face the same obstacles, which means there are proven strategies to overcome them.
The key is to anticipate these issues and choose a platform and strategy designed to address them head-on. A successful campaign isn't just about having a great cause; it's about making it as easy and rewarding as possible for your supporters to participate. By focusing on a smooth user experience, consistent engagement, and streamlined management, you can avoid common pitfalls. This proactive approach allows you to spend less time troubleshooting and more time building relationships and celebrating your community’s fundraising wins. Let’s walk through some of the most frequent challenges you might encounter and, more importantly, the actionable steps you can take to solve them.
Technical Issues
Nothing stops a fundraising campaign in its tracks faster than technology that doesn’t work. If your supporters find it difficult to set up their pages or their donors can’t figure out how to contribute, they’ll simply give up. A confusing or non-mobile-friendly experience creates unnecessary friction that costs you donations. The solution is to prioritize a platform with a user-friendly design. Before you commit, test the platform from both a fundraiser’s and a donor’s perspective. Is it intuitive? Can you set up a page and make a donation in just a few minutes? Choosing tools built specifically for nonprofits can help you sidestep these issues, ensuring the technology supports your mission instead of hindering it.
Keeping Participants Engaged
It’s one thing to get people to sign up; it’s another to keep them motivated throughout the campaign. Fundraisers are busy volunteers, and without consistent encouragement, their initial excitement can fade. Many supporters simply aren't aware of the impact they're having or what next steps they should take to be successful. To solve this, you need a solid communication plan. Use automated messaging to send tips, celebrate milestones, and share impact stories. Direct messaging on social media is a fantastic way to deliver personalized encouragement right where your supporters are already active. Regular, supportive check-ins remind fundraisers that they’re part of a community and that their efforts are making a real difference.
Managing Your Campaign
When you have numerous individual fundraisers running at once, oversight can become a logistical nightmare. Without a centralized system, you can’t easily track progress, identify who needs support, or get a clear picture of your overall campaign performance. This lack of coordination can lead to missed opportunities and a lot of manual work for your team. The answer lies in a platform with a robust management dashboard. Look for a solution that gives you a bird's-eye view of all fundraising activity in one place. You should be able to see top performers, track donations in real-time, and communicate with all your participants easily. This organization frees your team to focus on strategy and relationship-building, not just data entry.
Ensuring Data Security
In fundraising, trust is everything. Your supporters and their donors are sharing sensitive personal and financial information, and they need to feel confident that it’s protected. A security breach can do irreparable damage to your nonprofit’s reputation and your ability to raise funds in the future. This is a non-negotiable. The platform you choose must be PCI compliant and use up-to-date security measures for payment processing. Reputable platforms will be transparent about their security protocols. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about how they protect donor data. Choosing a secure tool is a critical step in protecting your organization and the community that so generously supports it.
Integrating with Other Platforms
Your P2P platform doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If it doesn’t connect with your other essential tools, like your CRM or email marketing software, you create data silos and extra work for your team. Manually transferring donor information is time-consuming and prone to errors, making it difficult to get a complete view of your supporters’ engagement with your organization. Look for a platform that offers seamless integrations with the systems you already use. The right tool will allow data to flow automatically, giving you a unified view of every supporter’s journey. This flexibility helps you tailor your fundraising efforts, personalize follow-up communication, and build stronger, long-term donor relationships beyond a single campaign.
Set Up Your Campaign for Success
Choosing the right peer-to-peer platform is a huge step, but it’s just the beginning. The real magic happens when you pair powerful technology with a thoughtful, human-centered strategy. A successful campaign doesn’t just launch itself; it’s built on a foundation of clear goals, compelling stories, and genuine support for your fundraisers. Think of your platform as the stage and your strategy as the script—you need both to put on a great show.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. By focusing on a few key areas, you can create a campaign that not only meets its financial targets but also builds a stronger, more engaged community around your cause. From planning your goals to celebrating your wins, each step is an opportunity to connect with your supporters and empower them to become your best advocates. Let’s walk through how to set your campaign up for a winning run.
Plan Your Campaign and Set Goals
Before you write a single social media post, take time to define what success looks like. Setting clear, achievable goals is crucial for guiding your campaign and motivating your supporters. Instead of just aiming for a large, round number, get specific. How many new donors do you want to attract? What level of social media engagement are you hoping for? A goal like "Raise $20,000 and acquire 100 new donors in 60 days" gives your team and your fundraisers a clear target to work toward. This clarity helps you make smarter decisions and keeps everyone pulling in the same direction. Check out some nonprofit playbooks for inspiration on structuring your campaign goals.
Create Compelling Content
Your campaign needs a heart, and that heart is your story. People are moved by emotion and impact, not just data. It’s essential to create engaging and relevant content that resonates with your audience. Share personal stories of the lives your organization has touched. Use high-quality photos and short, powerful videos to show your work in action. Your content should be authentic and easy for your supporters to share. When you tell a story that connects, you’re not just asking for a donation; you’re inviting people to become part of a meaningful mission. You can see how other nonprofits have done this successfully in these customer stories.
Equip Your Supporters with Resources
Your fundraisers are your campaign’s volunteer salesforce, so make their job as easy as possible. Providing your supporters with the right resources can significantly enhance their fundraising efforts. Create a simple digital toolkit that includes pre-written social media posts, email templates, branded graphics, and a one-page fact sheet about your cause. This saves them time and ensures your messaging stays consistent. With direct messaging, you can even automate the delivery of these resources, sending tips and encouragement right when your fundraisers need them most. When you empower your supporters, they can fundraise with confidence.
Track Your Progress
Don’t just set your campaign and forget it. Regularly monitoring your campaign's performance is key to making necessary adjustments along the way. Keep an eye on your main dashboard to see which fundraisers are leading the pack, which social posts are getting the most shares, and when donations are coming in. This data is your guide. If you notice that video posts are driving more donations, make more videos. If a particular fundraiser is struggling, you can reach out with personalized support. Tracking your progress in real-time allows you to be nimble, solve problems quickly, and capitalize on what’s working.
Recognize Your Top Fundraisers
A little appreciation goes a long way. Recognizing and celebrating your top fundraisers not only boosts morale but also encourages others to engage more actively in your campaign. Create a sense of fun and friendly competition by maintaining a leaderboard and giving regular shout-outs on social media or in your Facebook Group. A personalized thank-you message or a call from a team member can make a supporter feel truly valued. This simple act of recognition reinforces their connection to your cause and inspires them—and others—to keep going. It’s a powerful way to build a community that feels seen and celebrated.
Get the Most Out of Your Platform
Choosing the right peer-to-peer platform is just the first step. Once you’ve made your selection, the real work begins. A successful campaign requires a thoughtful strategy that keeps your fundraisers motivated and your donors engaged from start to finish. Simply launching a page and hoping for the best won’t cut it. To truly maximize your results, you need to actively manage your campaign, provide your supporters with the tools they need, and continuously look for ways to build and sustain momentum. By focusing on a few key areas, you can turn a good fundraising campaign into a great one, creating a powerful experience for your supporters and driving significant revenue for your mission.
Build Early Momentum
The first 48 hours of your campaign are critical. A strong start creates a sense of excitement and social proof that encourages others to join in. To kick things off, consider setting an initial fundraising goal that feels both ambitious and achievable. This helps create a sense of urgency and motivates your community to make those first crucial donations. You can also “seed” the campaign by asking board members, staff, and dedicated volunteers to donate before the official launch. When new visitors see that the campaign is already gaining traction, they’ll be much more likely to contribute themselves.
Develop a Social Media Strategy
With social media inspiring nearly a third of all donations, you can’t afford to treat it as an afterthought. Your strategy should go beyond simply posting a link to your campaign page. Create a content calendar with compelling stories, images, and videos that highlight your impact. Make it incredibly easy for your fundraisers to share by providing them with pre-written posts and high-quality graphics. Encourage them to personalize their messages and tag their friends. GoodUnited’s approach to Facebook Challenges shows just how powerful a dedicated social strategy can be, turning passive followers into active fundraisers for your cause.
Establish Clear Communication Guidelines
Your fundraisers are your biggest advocates, but they need your guidance to be effective. Don’t leave them guessing what to say. Equip them with a digital toolkit that includes everything they need to succeed. Provide clear instructions, key talking points about your mission, and templates for emails and social media posts. This not only makes it easier for them to ask for donations but also ensures your organization’s messaging stays consistent and on-brand. When your supporters feel confident and prepared, they’ll be much more effective at reaching out to their networks.
Keep Your Participants Engaged
A long campaign can lose steam if you don’t actively work to keep your fundraisers motivated. Maintain excitement through regular updates on your progress toward the goal. Use leaderboards to create friendly competition and give shout-outs to top fundraisers or teams who are doing a great job. You can also set mini-goals or milestone challenges to keep things interesting. Using automated direct messaging is a fantastic way to send personalized check-ins, offer encouragement, and share tips at scale without adding a ton of work for your team. Consistent engagement reminds your supporters that you’re in this together.
Promote Matching Gift Programs
Don’t leave money on the table. Many companies offer matching gift programs that can double or even triple an employee's donation, but donors often don’t know these programs exist. Make it a standard part of your campaign communications to encourage donors to check if their employer will match their gift. You can include a reminder in your donation confirmation emails and on your social media channels. Some fundraising platforms even have a built-in search tool that lets donors easily look up their company’s policy. This simple step is one of the easiest ways to increase your total funds raised.
Analyze Your Results
Once your campaign wraps up, it’s time to dig into the data. A thorough post-campaign analysis is essential for understanding what worked and what you can improve for next time. Look at key metrics like the total amount raised, the average gift size, and the number of participants. Which communication channels drove the most donations? Which fundraisers brought in the most new donors? Analyzing this data will provide valuable insights that inform your strategy for future fundraising efforts, helping you make each campaign more successful than the last.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We're a small nonprofit with a limited budget. Can we still do peer-to-peer fundraising effectively? Absolutely. The power of peer-to-peer fundraising comes from your supporters' passion, not the size of your budget. There are excellent platforms, like GiveLively, that offer their services for free, while others like Donorbox have very low-cost plans. Your success will depend on how well you equip and motivate your fundraisers. A well-organized campaign with a clear story and strong communication can be incredibly effective, regardless of your organization's size.
What's the difference between a Facebook Challenge and a more traditional P2P campaign? Think of it as the difference between a solo marathon and a team relay. Traditional peer-to-peer campaigns often center on an individual's fundraising page for an event or a personal milestone. A Facebook Challenge, however, brings thousands of participants together into a single, active Facebook Group to complete a shared activity, like walking 100 miles in a month. This creates a powerful sense of community and shared purpose, fostering engagement and motivation in a way that individual pages often can't.
How much time should my team expect to spend managing a P2P campaign? The time commitment can vary, but the heaviest lift is usually during the initial setup and planning phase. Once the campaign is live, your focus shifts to supporter engagement. A platform with strong automation and built-in communication tools can save you a significant amount of time by handling welcome messages and progress updates. Plan to dedicate a few hours each week to personally encourage top fundraisers, answer questions, and share compelling content to keep the momentum going.
My supporters aren't very tech-savvy. How can I make sure they're comfortable participating? This is a common concern, and the solution is to prioritize simplicity. When choosing a platform, test the fundraiser setup process yourself. If you can create a page in five minutes, your supporters probably can, too. You should also create a simple, one-page guide with screenshots or a short video walking them through the steps. Providing a clear point of contact for questions will also make them feel supported and confident as they get started.
Beyond raising money, what's the biggest long-term benefit of running a P2P campaign? The biggest long-term benefit is donor acquisition. Each of your fundraisers introduces your cause to their personal network, which is full of people you would likely never reach on your own. These new donors are coming to you through a recommendation from someone they trust, which is the most powerful endorsement you can get. This creates a sustainable way to grow your community and build relationships with a whole new audience of potential lifelong supporters.
