Did you know that over 1.5 billion people log onto Facebook every single day? Imagine if just a tiny fraction connected with your cause. The potential to grow your nonprofit's support network and raise funds is enormous. However, simply adding a ‘Donate’ button to your page isn’t enough. If you've been trying to fundraise on Facebook and feel like you’re shouting into the void, you’re not alone.
Let’s explore how to make Facebook fundraising work for you. After 30 years in the nonprofit world, I can confidently say that Facebook fundraising can be a game-changer—if you know how to unlock its full potential. So, let’s dive into three powerful hacks that will transform your Facebook fundraising efforts from a trickle to a steady stream of support.
Hack Number 1: Optimize Your Facebook Settings
First things first, let’s start with the foundation. Head over to your Facebook Nonprofit Manager and double-check that these three critical settings are enabled:
✅Allow Supporters to Create Fundraisers on Your Behalf
This peer-to-peer fundraising feature extends your reach beyond your immediate audience, empowering supporters to create their own fundraisers for your cause. It’s a powerful way to grow your network and engage new potential donors.
✅Enable Supporters to Add Donation Links
With this setting, your supporters can add a donation button and link to their Facebook, and Instagram posts. It makes it easy for them to spread the word and encourage their friends and family to give.
✅Activate Fundraising on Instagram
Instagram’s massive audience is a goldmine for nonprofits. Enable this setting to cross-promote fundraisers and turn your Instagram followers into potential donors.
These three settings are essential to any successful Facebook fundraising strategy. Without them, you’re likely missing out on significant fundraising potential.
Hack Number 2: Choose the Right Campaign Type to Maximize Engagement
Facebook offers four main options for fundraising campaigns, and choosing the right one can make a big difference. Let’s break down the options and how they can boost your engagement:
Create a Standard Facebook Fundraiser
Unlike a simple Donate button, a full-fledged Facebook fundraiser lets you invite people directly, share updates, and track progress. Each time you post an update, supporters are notified, keeping your cause top of mind. You can also share the fundraiser link on other platforms like Instagram or your website, creating a multi-channel campaign in one simple setup. Some examples inlcude:
Matching Gift Challenge: If a donor offers to match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to a certain amount, advertise this as a limited-time opportunity. It doubles the impact of each contribution and motivates supporters to act fast.
Storytelling Campaign: Use this to share behind-the-scenes updates, showing supporters where their donations go. For instance, if you’re an animal rescue, share the journey of a dog from rescue to adoption. This type of campaign deepens emotional connections with your audience.
Challenges for Peer-to-Peer Engagement
Challenges encourage community participation and amplify your reach. From push-up challenges to kindness challenges, these campaigns turn fundraising into a fun, interactive experience. For instance:
Digital Detox Challenge: Supporters go offline for 24 hours and raise funds while doing it, encouraging them to reflect on the experience and tag friends to join.
30-Day Kindness Challenge: Participants complete an act of kindness daily, tagging friends and starting their own fundraisers. It’s a fantastic way to spread positivity and engage a wide network.
Add a Donate Button to Posts
While adding a Donate button to individual posts is straightforward, it works best with a clear strategy. Use it for special campaigns or giving days to maximize visibility. The best part? You can attach a Donate button to any post—stories, videos, or updates—making it easy for supporters to contribute on the spot.
Leverage Facebook Fundraising Creation Links
Fundraising creation links simplify the process for supporters to set up fundraisers on your behalf. Share these links through email campaigns, embed them on your website, or turn them into QR codes for events. Supporters can start raising money for your cause with just a quick scan.
For added ease, consider providing supporters with a social media kit that includes sample posts, captions, and graphics. This way, they can promote fundraisers using ready-made, on-brand messaging.
Hack Number 3: Unlock the Power of Your Supporter Dashboard
This often-overlooked feature in Facebook’s Nonprofit Manager is a hidden gem for managing your fundraisers, donors, and supporters. Let’s look at how to use it to your advantage:
Filter and Segment Supporters
Facebook’s filtering options allow you to organize supporters by activity—whether they’ve created fundraisers or donated. This segmentation lets you send targeted thank-you messages or follow-ups, adding a personal touch to your donor communications. For example, you could identify everyone who created a birthday fundraiser last year and send them a personalized invitation to do it again.
Automate Thank-You Messages
Set up automated thank you messages for new donors and fundraisers. You can also set up automatic posts that thank people for starting birthday fundraisers or posting about your cause. These automated messages will appear as if they came directly from your account, saving you time while keeping your community engaged and appreciated.
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Now, there is one more thing you will need for fundraising on Facebook, so click here to watch our video on how to use Social Media for Maximum Donations.
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