This blog was written in collaboration with Adam Weinger, President of Double the Donation and a leading expert on corporate giving programs. In addition to Double the Donation’s blog, Adam is a frequent contributor to many leading nonprofit magazines and publications.

Companies continue to roll out employee-giving programs that encourage charitable giving, fuel corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, and support the causes that matter to their employees.

These generous philanthropy initiatives offer nonprofits and other fundraising groups a powerful opportunity to amplify their giving campaigns. Powered by individual employees, these programs are some of the most universally accessible forms of corporate giving an organization can target.

This article will review how nonprofit organizations maximize funding from employee giving and matching gift fundraising. We’ll review the basics and dive into several tried-and-true best practices for making the most of tax-deductible donations.

What Is Employee Giving?

Employee giving refers to a company or its employees donating money, time, or resources to charitable causes or organizations. Companies often facilitate these initiatives as part of their CSR efforts, fostering a sense of community engagement and social impact within the workplace.

The benefits of employee giving programs are widespread and inclusive of each party involved⁠:

• Businesses: Increased engagement and productivity among staff, reduced turnover and hiring costs, and enhanced reputation among consumers
• Employees: Heightened potential to make a larger impact on their favorite philanthropy programs and engage their employers in doing good
• Nonprofits: Enhanced supporter engagement with increased individual donor conversion rates and larger average gift sizes—plus additional resources and revenue

Employee giving can take various forms, including donation-matching (or corporate matching gifts), volunteer grants (“dollars for doers”), other employee volunteerism programs, in-kind gifting, payroll deductions, and more. While there are many examples we could list, a few leading giving programs include:

• Microsoft’s matching gifts program: Microsoft boasts one of the highest engagement rates for its employee giving programs, with more than 65% of team members involved. Each year, Microsoft encourages full-time and part-time employees to give and request donation matches of up to $15,000 per person to nearly any nonprofit cause.
• The Walt Disney Company’s VoluntEars program: Disney offers a matching gift program (matching gifts between $25 and $25,000 at a one-to-one rate) and a volunteer grant program. Through the latter, employee volunteers can apply for an EARS to You grant of up to $2,000 for the nonprofit of their choice. The company also offers dedicated VoluntEARS of the Year grants (typically an additional $2,500) to recognize exceptional volunteers.

The corporate giving landscape continues to expand, with new companies rolling out employee matching and volunteering programs daily. An estimated 39% of companies plan to expand their employee-giving initiatives in the next two years.

5 Ways to Increase Employee Giving and Matching Gifts for Your Nonprofit

While employee giving can take various forms, the most widely available type of program (with one of the most significant returns on investment) is employee matching gifts. As a result, we wanted to cover these programs in greater depth and share expert-proven tips and tricks for making the most of these⁠—along with other workplace giving programs.

1. Incorporate Matching Gifts in the Donation Process

Integrating employee giving directly within the donation process is an excellent way to increase employee engagement and enhance your organization’s fundraising. As they give, donors are typically at their highest engagement level. Thus, promoting matching gift opportunities at this time increases the likelihood that supporters participate in their companies’ giving programs.

There are a few key ways to accomplish this. First, consider adding a quick blurb about matching gifts on your donation site. It can be as simple as “See if your employer will match your gift!” above an optional employment data field. Additionally, a matching gift search tool, such as Double the Donation, can be embedded in Classy donation forms as such:

You’ll also want to promote matching gifts on the confirmation page after submitting a donation. For the best results, present donors with company-specific criteria, such as minimum and maximum donation amounts, match ratios, and links to online submission forms:

Providing this information allows each supporter to receive a detailed program overview and follow the suggested next steps after they give to increase their overall impact with employee giving immediately.

2. Spread the Word about Employee Giving Opportunities

Since donors may be unfamiliar with employee-giving programs and often lack knowledge of their eligibility, spreading the word about the opportunity is essential. After years of supporting thousands of nonprofits, Double the Donation found that low donor awareness is one of the most prominent hurdles organizations must overcome to maximize employee giving campaigns.

Luckily, there are many benefits to informing donors about matching gifts specifically. For example, research indicates that mentioning matching gifts in a fundraising appeal results in a 71% increase in response rate and a 51% increase in the average donation amount.

Establishing a dedicated employee giving or matching gifts page on your nonprofit website can also go a long way in providing education. Ideally, an employee giving page should highlight available opportunities and house the information a donor needs to get started in a centralized, accessible location.

This resource should include:

• Definitions of employee giving, matching gifts, volunteer grants, and other relevant program types
• An overview of how employee giving programs support your organization’s mission impact (the more tangible examples you can provide, the better!)
• Breakdowns of the elements commonly found in employee giving guidelines (such as donation minimums and maximums, matching gift ratios, qualifying employees and causes, submission deadlines, and more)
• Examples of companies offering matching gift programs (or an embedded matching gift database search tool)—along with suggested next steps a donor can take if they don’t find their company
• An explanation of how ineligible donors can advocate for a matching gifts program to a nonparticipating employer (including a helpful email template)
• The basic steps for submitting a matching gift request to a donor’s employer

Then, you can drive traffic to your dedicated matching gifts page by implementing an innovative social media strategy. This empowers your team to share critical employee giving and matching gift information while leveraging the widespread reach of online networking sites.

Use social media to pique your supporters’ interest in employee giving⁠, then direct them back to your matching gifts page to learn more. Engaging with your audience through online channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly called Twitter), and more allows your team to drive awareness of the charitable giving opportunity and empower your audience to get involved.

3. Implement Timely Employee Giving and Matching Gift Appeals

Timing is critical to any organization’s successful employee-giving-related outreach. Workplace giving can generally fall into two categories: year-round initiatives (such as a company that matches gifts on an annual rolling basis) or time-based efforts (such as a month-long internal fundraising campaign for a chosen nonprofit).

Well-timed communication is essential regardless of the employee-giving initiative you’d like to pursue. For example, you might configure individual email follow-ups (between two and 24 hours after the initial donation) to remind donors about matching gift opportunities. You can tailor your messaging to reflect a specific company’s programming if you have employment information⁠ (such as the data previously collected during the giving process⁠).

From there, consider incorporating matching gifts into your seasonal or time-sensitive campaigns, such as disaster relief efforts or cause-awareness-day campaigns.

Of course, one of the best times to mention matching gifts is during the year-end giving season. That’s because previously on-the-fence donors are more likely to contribute when they know a match is available. At the same time, existing donors can get involved by doubling their previous gifts, allowing them to amplify their impact on your cause without reaching back into their wallets.

Many companies close their employee-giving request windows at the end of the calendar year. Leveraging year-end momentum⁠—and communicating the reason behind your urgency⁠—can drive unclaimed matches to completion before it’s too late.

4. Pursue One-Off Employee Giving Partnerships

Unfortunately, not all businesses offer employee-giving programs, and some of your donors will likely fall into this category. However, working with a company to develop a one-off (or exclusive-to-you) giving partnership can lead to a wealth of mutually beneficial opportunities.

Here’s how this works: A company agrees to match its staff donations to a single, predetermined nonprofit in a one-off employee-giving partnership. It then establishes program criteria, including minimum and maximum match amounts, ratios, deadlines, and more.

When the program is live, the company encourages its employees to give to the organization over a set period. After the campaign, the one-off matcher contributes an amount equal to (or sometimes greater than) the sum of all qualifying employee donations.

We recommend enlisting your matching gift software to source partners with the most significant potential. 360MatchPro’s Top Companies tool makes it easy to identify prevalent employers in your donor base that don’t currently match gifts.

Then, prepare a proposal, communicate the value of matching gifts to prospective companies, and pitch the idea to possible partners in your network.

5. Make the Most of Automation with Employee-Giving Software

Leveraging the right software can streamline your efforts to encourage employee giving and matching gift participation among your donors. Luckily, it’s quick and easy to integrate 360MatchPro’s matching gift automation system with your Classy fundraising solution.

Thanks to an innovative partnership with Double the Donation, the database tool collects employment information from donors and filters each record into an appropriate email stream based on match eligibility.

From there, 360MatchPro tracks donations through the matching gift lifecycle, supplying actionable insights⁠—including the number of match-eligible donations, submitted match requests, and total revenue collected in matching gifts⁠—in an easy-to-understand way.

Realize the True Potential of Matching Gifts through Employee Giving

Employee giving can supercharge your nonprofit’s fundraising and engagement strategies. For organizations seeking to boost their revenue (and impact), harnessing the potential of matching gifts and exploring additional employee-giving avenues is crucial.

By leveraging the right software, adopting seamless integrations, and implementing the best practices outlined above, your organization can relax and watch the matching gifts and volunteer grants come in.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien

You can’t underestimate the value of personalized interactions and community-driven philanthropy. 

Modern donors want acknowledgment for their actions and advocacy for causes they support. A donation thank-you letter that appeals to their growing desire to participate in philanthropic movements is a great place to start.

Building donor loyalty through gratitude pays off in return donations, recurring donors, volunteer support, and corporate sponsorship opportunities. So how do you show personalized appreciation as your community grows? 

Below is a comprehensive guide to help you transform a standard thank-you letter into a pivotal moment in creating strong relationships that last.

3 Key Reasons to Thank Your Donors

1. Donors Will See How Much You Care about Them

The key to effective donor stewardship is ensuring each supporter finds value in their relationship with your nonprofit organization. Proving you care about people as individuals, despite their capacity to give large amounts, builds trust and a deeper connection.

A moment of gratitude reciprocates donor support when it’s consistent and intentional. Your thank-you message can strengthen the link between your donors, timely goals, and long-term mission. 

2. Your Mission Will Stay Top of Mind

When information overload and uncertainty make it hard to activate supporters, going the extra mile matters. Making people feel special and valued is a great way to stand out.

Regular communication with donors isn’t just about boosting visibility. While gratitude fundraising starts by thanking donors early, it’s also the first step in a relationship that keeps you top of mind.

3. Donors Are More Likely to Give Again

The giving experience includes how you make people feel after completing a transaction. Helping donors immediately see the impact of their actions can entice them to give again.

You get it—thanking donors is a valuable way to keep your community connected and engaged before, during, and after each campaign. Maybe understanding the reason for gratitude was never an issue, and you’re more curious about the practical side. Well, we’ve got you covered there too.

What Makes a Good Donor Thank-You Letter?

Your thank-you note reinforces the passion and emotion that drove someone to donate while thanking them for their dedication. Here are some components that influence donors to continue supporting you in the future.

1. Timing

One of the most essential things about saying “thank you” is when you say it. No one wants to feel ghosted and see a generic thank-you note come through a few days or weeks after their feel-good energy of taking action has passed. 

Send your thank-you letter promptly after you receive a donation. That may include an automatic online donation receipt and a second touchpoint with a more personalized “thank you for your donation” follow-up. 

Automation, a solid customer relationship management (CRM) integration, and a thoughtful message can help you avoid losing a passionate individual or first-time donor without taking up more time in your day.

2. Content

Donors want to be involved beyond their donations. Your thank-you note is like opening the door and inviting them to engage with your nonprofit, feel invested in your fundraising results, and connect meaningfully with your mission.

Whether you thank new donors or existing advocates, celebrate what each individual did and what they helped you accomplish. Don’t build an experience that feels like another tax receipt or donor contribution summary. This is your opportunity to tell your story and show supporters how they’re helping bring your mission to life. 

Whenever you can highlight the campaign or project someone specifically supported, you can help donors see and feel the real-world implications of supporting you. 

If possible, feature a specific community, place, or person they’ve helped. For inspiration, use Classy’s fundraising email templates.

3. Tone

It’s not only what you say but also how you say it. While your donation request letters and formal appeals may benefit from tones of sympathy or urgency, a thank-you letter should have a celebratory and uplifting feel.

Thank-you letters should mostly make the donor feel good about their decision and show that their generous gift makes a difference. While you can still note the urgency or seriousness of your cause, this message should be one of hope and action. 

Think about the emotions you want to evoke in your recipients and how you want them to feel about being a community member.

16 Ideas for How to Thank Nonprofit Donors

1. Show Appreciation on Your Website

Your nonprofit’s website is an excellent platform for donor and volunteer appreciation. Dedicating space on your site to showcase your community members sends a strong message of appreciation. 

Think about supporter pages, blog posts, newsletter features, and leaderboards celebrating the people who make a difference for your mission daily. Putting faces and names to the impact you can achieve simultaneously supports donor retention and acquisition efforts while showcasing your organization’s success.

2. Highlight Donors on Social Media

What better place to spread messages of gratitude than where people are most likely to see and reshare them?

Appreciation posts are great content to add to your seasonal social media calendar. Even if you don’t name specific donors, you can give a general thanks with some impactful statistics about what your community accomplished together.

3. Craft a Personalized Thank-You Email

Technology has advanced significantly, making it easier to balance personalization and branded appeals that leave a strong impression on recipients.

Consider how your message might change when considering data on a donor’s gift size, generation, location, giving frequency, personal preferences, or engagement patterns. These personalized elements can help your message go from another email in someone’s inbox to a reminder of how good it feels to give to an organization that genuinely cares.

One personalized thank-you email example we love is from To Write Love On Her Arms. The organization continues to evolve its outreach around popular trends like the famous Spotify Wrapped list to show donors they’re worth a big display of appreciation. 

Read More about TWLOHA’s Fundraising Strategy

4. Lean into Authenticity with a Thank-You Video

A donor thank-you video can emotionally impact your supporter base and show them who’s behind the words they’ve received. Its effective format can help you make a lasting impression through email, social media, website, or campaign pages.

Ronald McDonald House’s library of YouTube videos powerfully brings this idea to life. The videos feature several messages of thanks that emphasize the Ronald McDonald House community’s critical role in reaching its goals.

5. Pick Up the Phone or Send a Text

Imagine a donor receiving a call from your team after an event to personally thank them for attending. Or maybe they see a text checking in on how their weekend was and sharing a spontaneous thank-you for being a member of your community. 

These are both opportunities to connect with that person in a more relaxed, organic way.

Consider asking for a donor’s phone number and an opt-in to calls or texts from your organization on your donation forms. This small interaction can make a donor’s day and help build a lasting connection with your organization.

6. Send Donation Thank-You Letters (Yes, Real Letters!)

The rarity of direct mail and physical letters makes it even more special to connect with donors in this way after a big donation or milestone. What if you followed up on your emails, texts, or calls with a handwritten appreciation note from your leadership team?

Since your letter would arrive sometime after the charitable donation, stewardship letters to donors can serve as the perfect touchpoint to re-engage your supporters with a reminder of their impact.

8. Celebrate Anniversaries

Your donors’ anniversary of their first gift is a great time to say thank you outside of a transactional email. Get creative here to celebrate their involvement and show that their presence is felt at your organization even when it’s been a while since their last interaction.

CRM or donation management tools can help you track a donor’s first gift and automate a thoughtful thank-you message that touches on their actions throughout the year. A physical or online anniversary card is a fun way to celebrate their loyalty and commitment to your cause.

9. Celebrate Donors in Your Annual Report

It’s common for organizations to include a running list of donors and sponsors in their nonprofit annual reports. Consider how you can use that list to emphasize each donor’s critical role in fulfilling your mission.

Send donors a physical letter to thank them, along with a print copy of the report or a digital copy when it’s ready, to let them know they’re part of something bigger. Also, consider how to promote the report to your larger community to elevate your loyal and committed donors even more.

10. Send a Welcome Swag Package

We all know how exciting a simple T-shirt or branded swag item can feel when you least expect it, so why not apply it to your donor appreciation efforts? A thank-you package can help welcome new donors in style. This package could include apparel, a water bottle, a canvas tote, stickers, and resources to learn more about your organization.

Also, if you give out something that creates a natural Instagram or TikTok unboxing moment, you might encourage donors to share photos or videos of their swag online.

11. Acknowledge Donors During Events

Your next fundraising event is a timely opportunity to call out major donors or individuals who created a big impact. Invite them to stand up and receive recognition from all attendees or speak about their experience with your organization.

Before publicly recognizing donors at your next event, ask whether they’re comfortable being honored in front of an audience. If they politely decline, have your staff thank them privately at the event. You could also send a free entry ticket as another form of appreciation and ask for testimonials to share instead.

10 Ways to Host the Ultimate Donor Appreciation Event

13. Share Exclusive Incentives

Nonprofit donors don’t give to get something in return. At the same time, providing incentives doesn’t hurt in converting more donations and bringing people back to give again. 

To streamline donor management initiatives, create giving levels to thank donors with specific items or opportunities matching their gift size. This presents another opportunity to share some swag with your community so they can publicly promote their support of your cause.

14. Focus on Donor Retention

A spontaneous thank-you message, well after someone has taken action, is a great way to support donor retention. Think about sending a message to thank someone for sticking with you and reiterating their continued support’s value on your greater mission.

Strong data on donation activity, giving levels, and recurring donation history will help personalize your messages and acknowledge past generosity.

15. Weave in Another Call to Action

Your thank-you messages can also introduce the next step in your relationship with a donor. Where appropriate, use a donation or event follow-up to invite supporters to the next opportunity to get involved.

Offer a simple call to action like signing up for a nonprofit newsletter or following you on social media. By staying in touch and engaging donors, you can secure your next major gift, turn a one-time donor into a recurring donor, and help your donor retention rate.

16. Make It Count

By tracking what makes a quality thank-you email or note, you ensure every communication you send showcases this sentiment genuinely and has the desired effect. There’s no perfect thank-you for every organization, but knowing your donor community will help you stand out to those who feel connected to your mission.

Consider varying the format, style, or content of your thank-you messages to keep them fresh and genuine. You can look at donor communications analytics to see what results in high open rates, high click-through rates, and increased action.

Tips to Increase Email Click-Through Rates

Get Inspired: Your Nonprofit Thank-You Letter Template

Sometimes, crafting your thank-you message is easier when you have somewhere to start. Below, we’ve added two examples you can build on using the best practices we’ve discussed and a personal touch that will speak to your donors at any stage in their journey.

Donation Thank-You Letter Example

Dear Jessica, 

On behalf of the entire team at the Good Days Animal Shelter, I want to express our gratitude for your donation. 

You might have heard about some of the recent work we’ve done to reach our goal of increasing shelter capacity to care for 100 more animals each month by 2025. The good news is your donation helped us get one step closer to changing the lives of those animals. 

We can’t wait to share the details of our upcoming fundraising campaigns and events with you so we can continue working together toward our goal. Until then, catch our daily updates on Instagram and Facebook. 

I also want to personally invite you to our circle of monthly changemakers who strengthen the impact of their generosity with an automated monthly recurring donation. If you’re curious about what it means to become a recurring donor or want to learn more about what your monthly gifts could do for our animals, I’d love to guide you through the experience.

You’re part of our close-knit community, and we couldn’t have this positive impact on our furry friends without you. 

Talk soon,

John Johnson

Chief Executive Director, Good Days Animal Shelter

Spontaneous Thank-You Letter Example

Dear Nicholas, 

I hope you feel our deep gratitude. I just got word that our education program reached 50% more students because of the generosity you and our community collectively showed over the past few months.

I want you to know that every time you donate, share our cause with a friend, share a social media post, or volunteer matters. We don’t take these actions lightly, and I know how hard it is to find the time when life gets busy.

But you do and continue to show up. It means the world to us, and I can’t wait to see what the coming months hold. 

Thank you for being you.

Talk soon,

Linda Larson

Chief Executive Director, Schools Project Worldwide

How Will You Thank Donors?

Donor relationships that can sustain your nonprofit for the long haul are all about appreciation and human connection with individuals who unite to become a community you can always rely on.

But don’t just thank donors to check off the box—show your gratitude because you mean it. Help people feel your sincerity in a heartfelt thank-you and hear from you consistently after that.

With so many ideas, we’re eager to see how you’ll add your creativity and inspiration to these thank-you note best practices to make a lasting impression.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien

Need raffle ideas to raise funds for your nonprofit? You’ve come to the right place. We know a thing or two about nonprofit fundraising, and switching up events in creative ways like a raffle is on our favorites list.

From Willy Wonka-esque golden tickets to product giveaways, you can get downright creative with your raffle prizes—all while staying true to your brand and constituents. Below, we’ll walk you through 20-plus tried-and-true raffle ideas.

Before we do, let’s clarify what a fundraising raffle is, what the legal guidelines are, and why you should consider using one during your next event if permitted.

What Is a Fundraising Raffle?

A fundraising raffle is a game of chance. Traditionally, donors purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. However, there are plenty of ways to make your raffle event more exciting and engaging.

You can spice it up with over-the-top prizes or make things interesting with board games or hidden tickets. While hosting a standard raffle is fine, don’t be afraid to step outside the box and explore various creative and unique fundraising ideas that involve a raffle.

Also, consider modern-day fundraising technology to expand your raffle options. You can use fundraising event software like Classy Live for in-person, virtual, or hybrid fundraising events.

Raffle Regulations to Consider

Raffles in the United States are regulated on a state-by-state basis. Most states have laws that define which organizations can conduct raffles, the purposes for which they can be held (typically for charitable causes), the rules that must be followed, and the number of raffles allowed per year.

Nonprofits are generally permitted to hold raffles to raise funds, but regulations vary significantly between states. Some states have stringent requirements, like obtaining licenses, setting limits on prize values, and maintaining detailed records. Others, such as Texas, have minimal regulations and rely on self-regulation.

In states where raffles are either illegal or highly regulated, it’s best to consult with legal counsel or local authorities to understand the specific rules applicable in that area.

While raffles are typically legal in most states, it is crucial to review the laws in your state before conducting a raffle event for your nonprofit.

How to Raise Money with Raffles

While there are plenty of top-notch nonprofit fundraising ideas out there, raffles have a few advantages. Here are the top reasons to give raffles a try:

• It’s simple: Raffles are simple and easy for everyone involved—from the organizers to the participants.
• It’s affordable: Raffles don’t need a bucketload of cash or a grand event. They can be successful with a virtual event and a donated prize.
• It can bring feel-good vibes: Raffles make everyone a winner. Plus, supporters are happy to contribute and make a difference, especially when there’s a good cause.
• It helps build awareness: Raffles help you get the word out about your nonprofit, regardless of how much funding they generate.
• It can grow your community: Raffles often include prizes and experiences from local businesses and sponsors, giving constituents an opportunity to build connections with their community.

The Best Raffle Ideas for Fundraisers

As you delve into the raffle prize ideas below, consider logistics. Not every one of these raffles will be the right fit for your nonprofit, and that’s OK—you just need to find one that works for you.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you go through the ideas:

• Could we do this online or in a hybrid format, or does it need to be exclusively in person?
• How do we get donations in the first place? What partnerships or connections do we have with the community that we could use for good raffle prizes and services?
• Will we need volunteers to facilitate this raffle? If so, how many?
• When would be the best time to hold this raffle event? Should we reserve it for a stand-alone affair or incorporate it into an upcoming event?
• How much should we charge for raffle tickets, considering the prizes available?
• What are our fundraising goals?

Download Classy’s Fundraising Event Experience Report for deeper insights into hosting a fundraising event attendees won’t forget. In it, we’ve collected data from over 1,000 fundraising event attendees to give you the real-life data you need to create compelling experiences with all the right details.

1. Raffle Off a Product

Find a local business to donate a gift for your raffle. It’s good exposure for that business and can be a huge incentive for your donors. Depending on your connections, you have a couple of options for product raffles:

• Single-product raffle: If you receive a high-value donation, hold a raffle solely for this item. Tickets could cost anywhere from 10% to 20% of the retail value.
• Multiproduct raffle: If you don’t have any high-value items, wait until you have a collection of low-value prizes for a successful raffle.

Have a handful of product donations? Make an auction basket. It could be a date night basket or a games basket (depending on your donated items).

2. Provide a Service or Experience

Instead of a tangible good, consider giving away a service or experience for your raffle. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Haircut from a favorite stylist
• Lunch with the mayor
• Climbing with a guide
• Personal chef for a night
• Babysitter for an evening
• Cooking class with a local chef
• Photography lesson with a local pro

3. Help Your Supporters Get Away

Everyone loves a getaway. Offer anything from a tropical resort to a cruise to a ski vacation. You could even partner with a local hotel.

Here are some other unique getaway ideas:

• Exclusive camping at a coveted, hard-to-get spot
• Camper van rental and week-long itinerary
• Upscale hotel stay outside a nearby national park
• Weekend getaway to an amusement park
• Hot springs and massage package at a resort

4. Offer an Exclusive Tour

You don’t need the Notre Dame Cathedral Paris or Windsor Castle in your backyard to have an unforgettable tour. Sometimes, a tour of a local restaurant, brewery, winery, or sporting center can satisfy your donor’s curiosity.

Think outside the box. Perhaps your donors would appreciate a backcountry ski tour, whitewater rafting guide, climbing expedition, backpacking trip, or geological exploration.

This is where knowing your constituents comes in handy.

5. Supply Signed Memorabilia

Do you know someone willing to donate a prized piece of signed memorabilia? Your raffle prize could be a jersey signed by LeBron James, a poster autographed by Blackpink, or a T-shirt signed by Tiger Woods. People love practically anything signed by a famous athlete or celebrity.

Ask your team members, volunteers, partners, and anyone in your network if they can locate anything. You might be surprised what cool goodies you can find.

Once you secure your exclusive memorabilia, be sure to let everyone know on social media. Marketing popular raffle items is a great way to generate engagement.

6. Assemble Gift Card Baskets

Collect gift certificates from local businesses to create a must-have gift basket. You could even get a mix of gift cards to create a themed basket. Here are a few themes to consider:

• Restaurants
• Gyms
• Bakeries
• Hotels
• Retailers
• Theaters
• Pet shops
• Florists
• Car repair shops
• Wine tastings

If you receive a large enough gift card donation, consider excluding it from the basket and making it a one-off grand prize.

7. Give Out Subscriptions

Subscriptions can be a fun way to turn a one-off service into a lifelong benefit for your donors. Instead of raffling off a weekend getaway to an amusement park, offer a year-long membership instead.

Another entertaining raffle idea is subscription boxes, which are a great way to feature local businesses that might not have a storefront. Research businesses near you (whether that’s your city, county, or state) that provide subscription boxes.

8. Arrange a Mentoring Opportunity

Want to have a raffle at a college or university? Consider offering a mentorship program. This could be virtual sessions with an accomplished CEO or shadowing opportunities at a local business.

The mentorship could be as simple as making a life-changing introduction, including elements like breakfast with a developer or offering invitations to exclusive networking events.

9. Reserve a Parking Space

A coveted parking space could be worth more than gold (in some places). So if your nonprofit owns parking spaces in a high-trafficked part of town, you could reserve them for lucky donors for six months or a year.

Reserved parking spots are great raffle prizes for college and high school fundraisers, especially if your donors are supportive parents or alumni.

10. Get Supporters Excited About Exclusive Concert Tickets

Do you have a big-name artist coming to a nearby venue? Purchase front-row seats (at least two) and raffle them off at your next event. Plus, if you capitalize on this opportunity early, you can get the tickets cheaper—and it doesn’t hurt to know a person or two from the band or venue.

11. Find a Local Art Piece

A local artist might love the opportunity to donate their work and build awareness for their pieces. You could also partner with one to see if they could offer personalized family portraits or custom one-of-a-kind pieces as part of a raffle.

12. Go Big with a 50/50 raffle

A 50/50 raffle is the perfect idea when you can’t find enticing product or service donations. With a 50/50 raffle, participants purchase a ticket and add their money to the pot. At the end of the event, 50% of the donations go to your organization and 50% to the lucky raffle winner.

Because the grand prize never grows too high with 50/50 raffles, reserve this idea for events with lots of attendees. That way, the bigger your event, the bigger the reward.

13. Hold an Online Raffle

You don’t need an in-person raffle to fundraise for your nonprofit—you can do everything virtually without sacrificing the experience (or the donations). Take your online raffle to the next level using a purpose-made platform like Classy Live.

With Classy Live, you can provide a full online or hybrid streaming experience. Features like live leaderboards, campaign progress, and donor activity boost engagement and fundraising to help drive more contributions to your donation site and, therefore, your cause. Plus, you can use text and email reminders to keep attendees engaged and in the know.

Attending a virtual event is much easier than in-person, especially for busy parents, students, and professionals. However, since every audience differs, experiment and see which events get more attendance and participation.

14. Hide a Golden Ticket

Want to increase the hype and tap into genuine nostalgia? Channel your inner Willy Wonka with your raffle. But instead of using stubs for raffle entry, hand out candy bars.

The twist is that one lucky candy bar has a winning ticket tucked inside. Your prize could be a product, service, getaway, or anything we mentioned above—the golden ticket aspect makes it fun and memorable for everyone involved.

Who hasn’t wished they would someday find a golden ticket slipped in their Hershey’s packaging? You can make a dream come true while raising money for your nonprofit.

15. Arrange an Adventure Day

A heart-pounding prize might be a better fit for adrenaline lovers and adventure enthusiasts among your donors. You could include adventure ideas like skydiving from dizzying heights, gliding through the canopy on a zip-line tour, or floating above the landscape in a hot-air balloon ride.

More than just a prize, an adventure experience is a chance to create lasting memories directly associated with your nonprofit while supporting a cause close to their hearts.

16. Make Over a Home

Local interior designers or landscapers might want to offer your donors the chance to win a home or garden makeover—whether it’s a chic room redesign, a cozy nook creation, or a complete garden transformation.

17. Provide Exclusive Workshops

Offer the winner a personalized workshop or series of classes relevant to your nonprofit’s cause. You might show them how to capture moments through photography, express themselves with painting, build with coding, or explore culinary delights in cooking classes.

18. Give Away a Personal Fitness Package

How about providing donors the opportunity to explore new forms of movement with an all-in-one fitness package? Partner with local businesses to offer personal training sessions, subscriptions to health and wellness apps, basic fitness equipment or apparel, and discounts on prepared meal kits.

19. Treat Your Donors to Relaxation

Whisk your lucky raffle winner away to a relaxing high-end spa resort. Treat them to massages, facials, gourmet meals, yoga sessions, meditation workshops, and hot tubs. It’s the perfect raffle prize for those needing a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

20. Surprise Donors with a Mystery Flight

Want to fuel your supporters’ need to be a little bit daring and spontaneous? Try a “mystery flight” ticket. You’ll plan a trip (whether to a bustling city or a tranquil beach) and only reveal the destination to your lucky winner the day before their flight departs. It’s the ideal package for the wanderlust-filled donor ready to embrace the unknown.

Bonus: Guess the Number

Guess the number adds an engagement layer to your raffle. You fill a container with anything you’d like—just ensure it’s a lot. Then, participants purchase an entry to guess how many items are in the container.

At the end of the event, you unveil the exact amount of raffle items in your container and reward the person who guessed closest to that amount. You can also add other fun layers, such as bonus rewards for thinking of the exact amount or winning a prize for guessing close to the amount.

While most participants probably have the same chance of winning a random raffle drawing, this adds excitement and a higher level of ownership.

Bring Your Raffle Ideas to Life with Classy

Regardless of your raffle idea, ensure it’s on brand and true to your organization. And with so many options available, you don’t have to force your brand to fit a raffle. Instead, shape the raffle to fit your brand.

Whether you host a local raffle or a major fundraising gala, count on Classy Live to power your in-person, virtual, and hybrid event experiences. Drive more engagement, donations, and revenue for your mission with:

• Virtual venues: Take it all online or build the perfect hybrid experience so everyone can participate.
• Fundraising features: Drive the energy (and the donations) with live leaderboards, campaign progress, and donation activity.
• Remote experiences: Host breakout rooms, virtual tables, and speed networking to build deeper relationships with attendees.

You have enough on your plate—leave all the nitty-gritty details to Classy. We’ll help you build the experiences, collect donations, promote sponsors, send email and text reminders, and gain insights into your attendees’ engagement.

Schedule a demo to see for yourself how Classy Live can bring your fundraising raffle ideas to life.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien

Grants offer tremendous funding opportunities for nonprofits looking to scale. Score the right grant, and you may secure the funding needed to operate and grow your organization for the next 12 months. However, since grants are in such high demand, securing them takes a bit of know-how.

While grantmaking offers promising opportunities, grant applications can be time-consuming for the grant writer and nonprofit organization. Choose your grants wisely to avoid losing time pursuing other valuable fundraising opportunities.

Below, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about nonprofit grants, including eligibility criteria, tips for choosing the right ones, and top grant options for 2024.

What Are Nonprofit Grants?

A nonprofit grant resembles other financial donations typically given by public or private foundations, government agencies, or corporations. The sums are often larger than you’ll receive from individual donors and are sometimes exempt from taxes.

You’ll also find that, unlike standard donations, grants have historically had more rules and guidelines surrounding them. Often, funding organizations will stipulate how you can use your grant funds.

However, a growing movement within the philanthropic sector is advocating for a paradigm shift toward trust-based philanthropy, which aims to transform typical power dynamics between funders and grantees, emphasizing strong grantee relationships, community expertise, collaboration, openness, and a deeper understanding of nonprofits’ challenges.

Still, you’ll need to stand out to engage and secure the right grantmaker.

Whether in the process of sourcing a new grant opportunity or learning how to write a grant proposal, communicating your impact and providing tangible examples of what you plan to accomplish is critical.

Benefits of Grant Funding

Scoring a tax-exempt nonprofit grant can be a lot of work, but here are a few advantages grant funding can provide:

• Free money: The only cost for securing a grant is the time you invest in the process (and perhaps an application fee). You don’t have to worry about losing equity or control of your organization or paying back loans.
• Credibility: When you secure a nonprofit grant, it proves to onlookers that you’re serious about your work. It provides a tremendous prestige bonus and lets donors know you have a third-party stamp of approval.
• Awareness: A grant can put your nonprofit in front of new eyes. The press surrounding the accomplishment can expose your brand to potential donors and partners.
• Influence: Once you’ve received a grant, you can use it to influence future applications. Grant foundations will see that you’ve passed the test before and will likely be more inclined to approve your application.

Commons Types of Nonprofit Grants

Nonprofit grants come in all shapes and sizes. The source, purpose, and nature make each type unique. Below, we’ll cover a few common types of grants based on these criteria.

Funding Sources

• Government grants: Federal, state, and local government grants are available to fund your nonprofit’s operations or administrations. The grant application process is stringent and competitive, but there’s often no fee. You can find many on grants.gov or local queries in your search engine.
• Corporate grants: Corporate grants are awarded by large enterprises, which typically reserve a percentage of available funds for philanthropic purposes. For example, Google Ad Grants offer up to $10,000 monthly for eligible nonprofits. Learn more about the value of Google Ads for nonprofits.
• Foundation grants: Foundation grants come from philanthropic organizations (like families, private groups, public groups, faith-based organizations, or community funds) to help advance causes or nonprofits in a specific locale.

Funding Purposes

• Launch: Launch grants require that your funding go to a specific project, service, product, or campaign.
• Technology: Technology grants from corporations and tech companies often require you to spend your funding on software advancements.
• Infrastructure: Infrastructure grants are capacity-building grants that focus on solidifying nonprofit management, strategic planning, governance, and infrastructure.
• General operations: General operations grants are nonprofit grants that allow you to use the money as you see fit.

Funding Nature

• Continuation grants: Continuation grants let you renew your grant. However, it’ll require reaching milestones, using funds appropriately, meeting reporting deadlines, and keeping communications and relationships open between your organization and the funder.
• Pass-through grants: Pass-through grants from the federal government provide funding to state and local governments for local distribution. Apply for these federal grants when you want to make a local impact.
• Competitive grants: Competitive grants require you to submit a grant proposal answering questions and explaining why your nonprofit should receive the grant. Reviewers will evaluate your proposal and score it based on certain criteria. The organizations with the highest scores receive the funding.
• Formula grants: Formula grants are non-competitive. These grants provide funding to organizations that meet predetermined criteria. If you match the requirements, you can receive the funds.

How to Choose the Right Nonprofit Grants

Here are a few questions to consider before applying for a grant:

• Grant purpose: Does your nonprofit need funding for the purpose(s) outlined by the grant funder? For example, reconsider applying for a technology grant if you’ve already built a modern data stack.
• Funding amount: Is the funding amount worth your time and energy?
• Return on investment: Will the grant funds compensate you for the time spent on the application process? How will the funds help build your nonprofit or change your course?
• Requirements: Do you meet the eligibility criteria outlined?

17 Best Nonprofit Grants to Explore in 2024

Not every grant will be the right fit for your organization. However, we wanted to jump-start your search by highlighting a few of the top nonprofit grants available.

1. AWS for Nonprofits IMAGINE Grants

Amazon Web Services’ Global Healthcare and Nonprofits team offers two IMAGINE grants to nonprofits. The Go Further, Faster award and the Momentum to Modernize award empower nonprofit organizations to prioritize technology as a mission-critical component of their goals.

Grant packages range from $30,000 to $150,000 in unrestricted financial support and up to $100,000 in AWS promotional credits. To be eligible for a grant application, you must be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c) status.

2. Google Ad Grants

Google provides several resources for eligible nonprofit organizations. With them, you can get premium access to Google’s platforms, such as Google Maps, the YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Workspace for Nonprofits.

It also provides up to $10,000 in Google Ads credit renewable monthly to boost your nonprofit’s marketing efforts. Use the ads to attract donors, find volunteers, and build awareness for your nonprofit.

To qualify for Google Ad Grants, your organization must match your country’s nonprofit criteria requirements and not be a government entity, hospital, healthcare organization, school, or educational institution.

3. NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants

The NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants awarded nearly $2.5 million to nonprofits in 2023 through 11 NBC and Telemundo-owned television station markets. Organizations with total expenses under $1 million can apply for unrestricted funds to support the diverse community across youth education and empowerment, next-generation storytellers, and community development.

4. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grants

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offers grants to nonprofits that achieve measurable impact in eliminating poverty, disease, and inequity worldwide. Grants account for 90% of the organization’s charitable giving, which is its largest vehicle for funding. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for funding to make a meaningful difference.

5. Bloomberg Philanthropies Grants

Bloomberg Philanthropies awards grants to nonprofits in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. The organization looks to fund nonprofits supporting five key areas: the arts, education, environment and sustainability, government innovation, and public health.

6. Silicon Valley Community Foundation Grants

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation supports nonprofits in many areas. Consider applying if your nonprofit advances financial stability, early childhood development, housing, arts and culture, environment, faith, health, and many other impact categories.

7. Walmart Foundation Community Grants

The Walmart Foundation provides local community grants (from $250 to $5,000) to nonprofits that directly benefit the area where the local Sam’s Club or Walmart store operates. Your nonprofit can use the funds in various areas:

• Community and economic development
• Diversity and inclusion
• Education
• Environmental sustainability
• Health and human services
• Hunger relief and balanced eating
• Public safety
• Quality of life

8. Bank of America Charitable Foundation Grants

Bank of America’s nonprofit grants focus on funding local organizations to help improve people’s financial wellness and meet community needs. The nonprofit areas include:

• Workforce development and education
• Food
• Housing
• Economic mobility
• Community development

Grants in smaller markets will range from $2,500 to $25,000, while grants in larger markets can range from $5,000 to $50,000.

9. Coca-Cola Foundation Grants

The Coca-Cola Foundation provides grants to nonprofits that help local communities by empowering women, protecting the environment, educating scholars, and enhancing communities. In 2022, the Coca-Cola Foundation gave over 387 donation grants.¹

10. Ford Foundation Grants

The Ford Foundation awards around 1,500 grants annually to nonprofits with transformative and scalable solutions to eliminate inequality. Opportunities and open fund grants change with time, so check out the Ford Foundation’s grant page to see what’s available. You can also sign up for email updates to learn when new opportunities arise.

11. The Rockefeller Foundation Grants

The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the world’s most influential and long-standing philanthropic organizations. Dedicated to promoting the well-being of humanity worldwide, it has provided billions in funding for groundbreaking initiatives across various sectors.

Here are some of the organization’s priorities:

• Health: The foundation has historically worked to eradicate diseases. Today, it focuses on global health issues, including supporting health systems and access to healthcare.
• Food: The foundation ensures more equitable and nutritious food access and improves agricultural productivity to combat climate change.
• Energy: The foundation promotes access to sustainable energy to end energy poverty and boost economic development.
• Innovation: The foundation values innovative approaches to solving global challenges, often funding new technologies or strategies scalable for greater impact.
• Economic opportunity: The foundation supports efforts to expand access to meaningful work and promote economic stability, especially when addressing economic disparities and promoting inclusive growth.

12. W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grants

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the U.S.² Rooted in supporting children, families, and communities, its mission is to create and implement transformative solutions to address conditions that ensure all children have equitable opportunities.

WKKF accepts applications throughout the year without deadlines or specific grantmaking cycles.

13. The Kresge Foundation Grants

The Kresge Foundation seeks to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing. Over the years, the Kresge Foundation has strengthened pathways to opportunity for low-income people in American cities. Annually, the foundation gives more than 400 grants to nonprofits, averaging around $160 million in recent years.

14. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grants

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation works to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities in the U.S. It focuses on major health issues, including access to care, healthy communities, and public health. RWJF periodically issues calls for proposals (CFPs) for specific projects or research areas. Each CFP has guidelines, deadlines, and focus, so check them out before applying.

15. Big Sea’s Wavemakers Grant

The Wavemakers Grant by Big Sea is a competitive marketing grant tailored for nonprofit organizations pursuing innovative marketing projects. This grant empowers nonprofits to transform their unique and impactful marketing ideas into tangible results. Offering up to $30,000 in marketing services, this grant supports nonprofits ready to launch groundbreaking advertising campaigns.

Recipients of the Wavemakers Grant gain access to Big Sea’s comprehensive expertise in nonprofit content marketing. Services provided include assistance in refining and defining your brand, clarifying your messaging, developing your website, designing marketing materials, and expanding your donor community.

16. National Endowment for the Arts Grants

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency committed to fostering the arts across the U.S. Each year, the NEA awards approximately 2,300 grants to nonprofit arts organizations, fueling a wide range of creative projects and initiatives.

NEA grants cater to a diverse spectrum of needs to support small and large organizations. The Challenge America grant specifically aids small nonprofits in extending arts programs to underserved communities with grants valued at $10,000.

17. Wells Fargo Nonprofit Grants

Wells Fargo supports nonprofit organizations through grants focusing on community development, education, and environmental sustainability. In 2022, the organization launched a $420 million national small business recovery effort, which includes grants and donations for nonprofits. Apply on Wells Fargo’s website to download the right forms and learn about the grant process.

Fuel Your Fundraising with Classy

While nonprofit grants may play a significant role in your organization’s strategy, these likely won’t make up most of your fundraising. In fact, Giving USA found that grants from foundations and corporations make up just 21% of the giving pie, while contributions from individuals make up 64%.³

That means fundraising will likely be the primary way you fuel your nonprofit, and grants will help provide supplemental revenue to support specific projects.

Trust Classy’s comprehensive fundraising platform to fuel your direct giving, peer-to-peer, and hybrid event fundraising efforts. Our platform provides everything you need to attract supporters, inspire donations, and sustain your mission, including:

• Customizable donation sites
• Centralized, self-serve donor dashboard
• Secure nonprofit payment processing
• Intuitive event registration software for nonprofits
• Scalable peer-to-peer fundraising platforms
• Modern nonprofit auction software and mobile bidding
• Sustainable recurring donations

Request a demo to see Classy’s fundraising platform in action.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien

Article Sources:

1. “The Coca-Cola Foundation,” The Coca-Cola Company, accessed March 4, 2024, https://www.coca-colacompany.com/social/coca-cola-foundation.
2. “Grantseekers,” W.K. Kellogg Foundation, accessed March 4, 2024, https://www.wkkf.org/grantseekers/.
3. “4 Key Findings for Nonprofits from the 2023 Giving USA Report,” Bonterra, accessed March 4, 2024, https://www.bonterratech.com/blog/4-key-findings-nonprofits-2023-giving-usa-report.

Faith-based nonprofits are undergoing a moment of evolution in how they engage communities of loyal donors. From traditional churches and houses of worship to disaster relief organizations and those focused on evangelism, Classy is always looking for new ways to support these organizations.

Our partnerships with more than 150 faith-based nonprofits provide us with continued learning about top priorities, roadblocks, and new ideas. One of the most recent opportunities to connect with fundraising leaders in the space was a timely conversation co-hosted with Masterworks, Joni and Friends, and Atlanta Mission in January 2024. 

The virtual roundtable brought key challenges to the forefront surrounding the engagement and re-engagement across supporter generations.

We had the pleasure of catching up with Mark Neigh, the Vice President of Digital at Masterworks, an agency on a mission to amplify brands, stories, and content to grow awareness, increase engagement, and acquire and cultivate donors. Below, you’ll see his perspectives woven into our summary of the most powerful and unique insights for faith-based organizations and giving trends that will guide strategic paths forward.

Faith-Based Fundraising Statistics Shaping 2024

The nonprofit sector is experiencing an overall decline in donor trust, according to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer.¹ In fact, consumers now trust for-profit businesses more than nonprofits.

Research shows that faith-based nonprofits may feel even more pressure:

• The number of church attendees has yet to recover fully from the lows of the pandemic.²
• By 2020, only 47 percent of Americans belonged to a house of worship.³
• Religious organizations are no longer the most trusted charities in the U.S.⁴

The decline in those who attend services and have trust in faith-based organizations naturally impacts overall donations and religious traditions that have existed for decades. 

In fact, Classy’s Why America Gives report found: 

• Donors across generations (39%) made small changes and sacrifices in their daily living expenses to have funds to donate to causes and nonprofit organizations they care about.
• Next-generation donors are 38% more likely to make significant changes to their lifestyle due to the state of the economy than traditional donors.
• Loyal donors are twice as likely to keep their charitable donations, even if they experience a financial stressor, compared to passive donors.

The 2024 faith-based giving trends we discuss below will provide expert insights on reestablishing your organization as a powerful, reliable, and inspiring cause to combat downward cycles. 

Discover how to apply a proactive, next-generation approach to build a community of trusting and meaningful relationships that will sustain your organization’s mission for the long term.

The Generational Impact on Faith-Based Giving Trends

Acknowledging the divide in charitable giving between generations and how it impacts new expectations for religious giving is critical to retaining and acquiring supporters. 

Younger givers are coming up in a world far different from their parents and grandparents, especially regarding their connection to religion. A look at the difference in the number of younger Millennials (38%) and Baby Boomers (59%) who feel religion is critical in their lives showcases the shift at play, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.⁵

The ethos behind faith-based donations as an act for positive change and community nurturing remains fairly consistent. All generations show a pattern of donating more to churches and religious organizations over other nonprofits in a study done by Barna. The study also shows that 27% of the total donations Gen Z made and 26% of the total donations Millennials made were to religious organizations.⁶ 

What’s changing are the different philanthropic priorities that Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z bring to their online giving experiences, particularly related to faith. 

Understanding the motivations and desired relationships of each generation with nonprofits is crucial. Tailored experiences based on this knowledge will strengthen connections, drive conversions, and foster loyalty.  

Faith-based organizations looking to combat downward giving trends, capture the attention of younger donors, and safeguard the retention of Gen X and Boomers will need to craft an engagement strategy unique to each cohort.

The Breakdown of Generational Motivation

• • Baby Boomers prioritize organizational trust and brand recognition, with more curiosity around charity ratings and fundraising cost transparency. They are more likely to attend religious services and identify faith as a critical aspect of their lives.
  • Gen X has the highest disposable income, straddling the boundaries of technology with equal comfort of physical mail and Instagram while showing more digital giving patterns for many organizations.⁷ 
  • Gen Y and Gen Z care more about belonging to a cause and feeling a connection with the impact a nonprofit makes but lack the same trust in religious organizations as prior generations. They are least likely to attend religious services consistently and view the community more broadly, comfortably engaging with those they’ve never met in person.

Shifting Today’s Downward Faith-Based Fundraising Trends: Turning Transactions into Experiences

It’s true that every donation is technically a transaction between a community member and a faith-based organization. Still, each moment of generosity with a donor is an opportunity to build a deep, long-lasting relationship with strong stewardship. 

That will take broadening the perspective on engagement with those who attend religious gatherings and identifying moments that fall outside of formal gatherings. 

So what does the new era of experiences look like for faith-based giving? It’s all about what draws students, missionaries, and congregations to an organization. Understanding the motivations and desires of their relationship to faith can help craft meaningful touchpoints that appeal to specific generations. 

If we know younger donors want that sense of belonging and desire to be involved in their faith-based organizations, a simple tax receipt or a generic thank-you may miss the opportunity to build a relationship on a more meaningful level. They need to feel valued as humans and embraced as individuals who are part of a religious community with shared values and views. That vantage point is received far differently than being treated only as avenues for raising money, even if it’s not intentional.

Consider how every interaction from a quick Instagram story update on upcoming services to the registration process for religious events works harmoniously to create your donors’ experience. When your community members tell their friends what your organization means to them, give them intentional moments of connection to reference. From there, you can reverse the transactional mentality and show your community members that they matter inside and outside in-person gatherings. 

As experiential philanthropy models rise, we’ll walk you through three key areas to begin turning things around.

1. Community Building

When donors sense they’re part of a broader group that cares for them, shares their values, and appreciates their charitable giving behaviors, religious organizations have the strongest opportunity to retain them long term. Community is key to reversing the lack of trust and dwindling engagement in religious nonprofits. 

We know trust is critical to Boomers, but for younger generations who tend to trust less easily, Why America Gives found they often look to their inner circles for opportunities and learning about new causes. 

Modern Millennial and Gen Z donors have new definitions of philanthropy, with a more open purview into who their communities are beyond people they know or their local faith-based organization. For example, they may take actions like sending a Venmo donation to someone on TikTok who’s sick or advocating for an influencer fundraising for a cause important to them. 

Faith-based organizations can get creative about sharing intimate moments with communities that are more comfortable engaging online. You can build trust with a creative view into mission trips, storytelling, raising awareness of those in need, and events on platforms like TikTok, encouraging more peer-to-peer sharing to build each into ongoing and far-reaching conversations. Consider ways to reach younger donors and help them see themselves among the active participants you already count on.

Tapping into Emotional and Relational Motivations to Inspire Giving

Philanthrocapitalism or philanthropic capitalism demonstrates people’s conscious choices to give back and impact broader communities with their everyday behaviors. One example is buying from good-work for-profit organizations like Bombas, an apparel brand that donates high-demand clothing items to those in need in exchange for every customer purchase. 

Faith-based organizations are doing this good work too, and calling on communities to come together around their missions is a great way to capture attention and keep donors engaged. Communicate frequently about what’s crucial to your organization and its members, always relating it to the heart of the mission. As people can see a specific moment of need in person and reiterated online, they may feel more compelled to step in and help or stay involved to be a part of the solution.

Meaningful faith-based events and gatherings matter, but so do the quicker interactions that happen on social media, your website, emails, and throughout the donation experience itself.

2. Branding

Building the trust of all donors, particularly those in younger generations, requires a strong sense of identity. We continue to see a high connection between trust and name recognition, which is your key to catching and keeping the attention of new audiences.⁸ Even a slightly unclear identity can stand in your way, making it the ideal time to promote your faith-based nonprofit similarly to a lifestyle brand that offers a sense of connection to those who support it.

We know that the word brand might feel out of place for faith-based organizations, but we invite you to think of your nonprofit brand as a way to legitimize your trusted mission. A close focus on small details from colors to imagery to storytelling helps your organization remain present in your donors’ minds. The sense of being a part of an established religious community with clear values and a strong history can transform intent to give into tangible impact. 

Infusing Community into Your Brand 

Your brand should reflect your mission and vision statement, but don’t shy away from leaning on your community to help bring it to life in a new way. There’s a need for consistency and intentionality in branding, focusing on conveying messages in a relatable and understandable way. 

For example, tapping on donors and those attending religious gatherings regularly from all generations can help you share testimonials that offer strong perspectives. Hearing directly from peers can resonate with wider audiences and inspire them to get involved. 

The idea of narrative and storytelling is likely something your faith-based organization is familiar with within the in-person interactions historically at the center of donor relationships. The idea of an established and documented brand expands that sentiment to all the places you interact, inspiring trust and a desire to get involved with those within various geographic locations and stages of life.

3. Multichannel Communication

With a community-centric approach to engagement and a consistent brand, you’ll see more ways to tailor your message across audiences and channels. You may want to call on your nationwide online community of donors to get involved in annual fundraising campaigns while spreading awareness of localized welcome events specifically for young first-time donors. 

Multichannel communication helps you engage donors of various demographics and generations with a personal feel based on your goals for the year. This will allow you to get in front of the right donors at the right time, with an outlet of information and interaction styles they trust and use daily.

Balancing Digital and Traditional Approaches

Appealing to different generations online and offline might look like:

• Offering more giving options by sending out mailers with a QR code option for simple mobile giving through digital wallets or credit cards alongside the link to your donation page 
• Sharing crucial conversations and updates on social media and using the polling functionality available on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to directly involve as many as people in the conversation
• Livestreaming services or portions of faith-based community gathering online and restoring the recordings to continue reaching new donors and offering the option to give through a simple donation form from a hybrid or virtual event platform
• Embedding a donation form on your homepage or other high-traffic pages for additional giving opportunities
• Introducing a monthly giving program as an opportunity to modernize the recurring nature of giving tithes and offerings

If you’re unsure which channels to use, don’t be afraid to test and see where there’s engagement. That way, you can avoid jumping entirely to modern platforms that may isolate your older generations of supporters and can gain insight directly from your audience on where they’re likely to engage. 

The key is maintaining consistency and personalization across any channels you choose to further build that trust factor.

Embracing Change for Religious Giving Growth

As you can see, the fundamental philosophy behind these engagement approaches is consistent with past years. Still, how your organization can implement them is different. Modern approaches reflect the incredible advancements in technology available to faith-based organizations and the data intelligence that informs strategic decision-making with far less time, resources, and effort.

You’re in a much better place to succeed with access to the right tools to keep a pulse on what works and solve real-time challenges as you try these new approaches. The key to growth is to embrace accessibility to technology to fuel proactive approaches that can help you establish loyal, reliable donor communities.

While change is the constant we can expect, taking the time to understand what ignites the passion within your donors and what they want to see from you as you establish new engagement pathways will help you shift faith-based giving trends in a new direction—and in your favor. 

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien

Article Sources:

1. “2023 Edelman Trust Barometer,” Edelman, accessed January 24, 2024, https://www.edelman.com/trust/2023/trust-barometer. 
2.  “Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations National Survey Research,” Covid Religion Research, accessed January 24, 2024, https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/research/national-survey-research/.
3. “Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations National Survey Research,” Covid Religion Research, accessed January 24, 2024, https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/research/national-survey-research/.
4.  “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time,” Gallup, accessed January 24, 2024, https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx.
5. “Give.Org Donor Trust Report,” Give.org BBB Wise Giving Alliance, accessed January 24, 2024, https://give.org/donor-trust-report. 
6. “Religious Landscape Study,” Pew Research Center, accessed January 30, 2024, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/generational-cohort/.
7. “The Heart of the Giver | The State of Generosity Series,” accessed January 29, 2024, https://shop.barna.com/products/the-heart-of-the-giver-the-state-of-generosity-series. 
8. “Mean disposable household income in the United States in 2022, by generation,” Statista, accessed January 24, 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/825883/us-mean-disposable-household-income-by-generation/. 

Volunteer training is a critical part of running successful nonprofit events, but other pressing initiatives often push it to the back seat. Vital to the sustainability of the social sector, volunteers must have the necessary training and expertise to help to the best of their abilities.

For example, volunteers may assist with your 5K charity run, provide weekly administrative support to staff, or interact directly with beneficiaries. They help balance the many moving parts of organizations’ various fundraising initiatives.

Bottom line: Volunteers help your nonprofit organization do more than it could alone.

But like any team member, they need onboarding, training tools, and support to enjoy their volunteer time and help your nonprofit make an impact. When you educate new volunteers about your organization and prepare them for their duties, you can ensure they have a positive experience and represent your nonprofit well.

Below, we’ll walk you through tips and best practices to get your volunteer training right from the get-go. This ultimate guide to volunteer training will help you turn volunteer learners into passionate leaders.

What Is Volunteer Training?

Volunteer training equips your volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to effectively contribute to your nonprofit organization. It’s about preparing them to complete tasks and become ambassadors of your mission.

A well-planned volunteer training program lays the foundation for success. It’s an educational journey that begins with introducing volunteers to your organization’s culture and values and their specific roles.

After that, your volunteer training will vary depending on the roles and responsibilities involved. It can range from simple tasks, like setting up event spaces, to more complex duties, like managing donor databases or leading community outreach programs. The key is tailoring the training to meet your organization’s needs and your volunteers’ skills.

Training serves a dual purpose. For the organization, it’s about ensuring volunteers are effective and efficient. But for volunteers, it’s about feeling valued and empowered, knowing they have the support and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful contribution.

Effective volunteer training typically includes:

• Orientation: Introduce volunteers to your organization, its mission, and its impact.
• Role-specific training: Provide detailed instructions and practice for volunteers’ specific tasks.
• Soft-skills development: Enhance communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Safety and compliance: Ensure volunteers understand safety protocols and legal requirements.
• Ongoing education: Provide continuous learning opportunities to help volunteers grow with your organization.

Well-trained volunteers are more than helping hands—they’re informed advocates for your cause. They bring enthusiasm, commitment, and a deeper understanding of your nonprofit’s work, which translates into more effective engagement with the community and donors.

Why Volunteer Training Matters

While onboarding gives volunteers an overall understanding of your mission and work, they need to know how to complete the specific tasks they’ll perform. At orientation or on their first day, show volunteers what it’ll look like to execute their roles and introduce them to the tools they’ll use.

Remember, even if something seems straightforward to you, it may be new to them. It’s better to train volunteers initially and save yourself time later on.

Essential Steps to Volunteer Training

From the moment you begin volunteer recruitment, it’s critical to start thinking about volunteer retention. Each step you take in your new volunteer training and onboarding process helps volunteers feel welcomed and confident in their responsibilities.

1. Onboard Volunteers to Your Mission and Vision

Training opportunities should always start with showing how volunteer work relates to your mission. This ensures all volunteers know your vision, operations, and strategic plan. Plus, when you explain what volunteers help you achieve, you make their service more satisfying. Volunteers who gain a sense of accomplishment from their work are more likely to help again.

That’s why new volunteers should receive an onboarding orientation, particularly if their role requires external conversations and donor interactions. Your orientation should address:

• Organization’s mission
• Primary programs
• Case studies demonstrating impact
• Volunteer opportunities
• Basic safety instructions and rules
• Volunteer hours documentation procedures
• Frequently asked questions

With this information, volunteers will know what you seek to accomplish, how you plan to make an impact, and what they can do to help. If you need to onboard several volunteers, prepare a short webinar or volunteer manual to deliver these details at scale.

Nonprofits frequently recruiting volunteers can set up a monthly orientation meeting or online training to bring new supporters up to speed.

2. Build Effective Volunteer Training Courses by Role

While initial onboarding helps volunteers understand your mission and work, task-specific training is where they’ll develop the confidence required to deliver on their responsibilities effectively.

At orientation or on their first day, assign mentors to your volunteers. This one-on-one support ensures all volunteers feel supported. But if your volunteer base isn’t large enough to conduct one-on-one mentorship, adopt a one-to-many approach as a great alternative.

Training is also easier to manage when volunteer roles and learning objectives are clearly defined. This allows you to provide the proper training materials. For example, volunteers helping with your social media will need to know how to log into your accounts and where to find approved photos for posting.

Also, ensure your volunteers know their supervisor. They should always have access to a staff member to answer real-time questions and offer solutions.

3. Connect New Volunteers’ Skills to the Right Opportunities

On top of volunteers being a great resource for delegating simple tasks, they also bring unique experiences and skills to your organization. Use sites like LinkedIn, Catchafire, or Idealist to list volunteer positions and recruit people with specialized skills, such as web design or grant writing.

When assigning special projects, incorporate volunteers’ past experiences with the skills required for the current project. Bring volunteers up to speed on your brand-specific elements so they can apply their skills to best reflect your organization. For example, if a writer offers to help your marketing department write blogs, they must understand your voice and tone.

After working with an engaged volunteer for some time, you may even let them take charge of a project or initiative. They might be interested in a particular area or have an idea to improve operations.

4. Recognize Your Volunteers’ Contributions

After you’ve onboarded volunteers to your mission, walked them through their specific responsibilities, and matched them to the best opportunities, there’s one more key step to ensuring success: show your appreciation.

Take your volunteer engagement strategy to the next level by finding creative ways to recognize the time and care your volunteers provide your nonprofit. You could:

• Give them a shoutout on a local podcast or radio station.
• Highlight them on social media throughout National Volunteer Month in April.
• Host a special event on April 20 for Volunteer Recognition Day.
• Send them a birthday or thank-you note to show you care.
• Include them in your nonprofit annual report.

Use volunteer management software to keep track of your volunteers’ anniversaries and other facts about them to fuel ongoing stewardship.

Best Practices for Effective Volunteer Training

Creating a successful volunteer training program involves more than conveying information—it’s about resonating with volunteers and preparing them for their roles.

Avoid just going through the motions, talking at your volunteers instead of with them. You want each person to learn and internalize the principles, which will involve more planning and creativity on your end.

Here are some best practices to ensure your volunteer training is effective and impactful:

• Define clear learning objectives: Determine what you want volunteers to learn before designing your training program. That means setting specific, measurable learning objectives that align with their roles and responsibilities. This clarity helps in creating focused and relevant training content.

• Use a mix of training methods: Use various training methods to cater to diverse learning styles. This can include hands-on training, interactive workshops, video tutorials, and written materials.

• Incorporate real-world scenarios: Use real-life examples and scenarios in your training. This approach helps volunteers understand how their roles impact your organization and community. Role-playing exercises can also help prepare volunteers for situations they might encounter.

• Foster an interactive environment: Encourage questions, discussions, and interactions among volunteers during training sessions. An interactive environment makes training more engaging and helps reinforce learning through peer discussions and collaborative problem-solving.

• Provide ongoing support and resources: Offer ongoing support and resources to volunteers. This can include refresher courses, access to online resources, and regular updates on any changes in procedures or policies.

• Keep training sessions short: Respect your volunteers’ time by keeping training sessions concise and to the point. Group complex information into small, manageable segments.

• Leverage experienced volunteers: Utilize experienced volunteers as trainers or mentors. They can share valuable insights and practical tips based on their real-world experiences. Peer-led training can also foster a sense of community and belonging among volunteers.

• Evaluate and revise training programs regularly: Assess the effectiveness of your training programs by gathering feedback from volunteers and making the necessary adjustments.

How to Prepare Volunteers for Event Support

Events require a lot of volunteer support. Below, we’ll cover the steps required to properly prepare your volunteers for the big day and show you ways to apply each step.

Ensure Volunteers Are Well-Versed in Your Work

Volunteers are representatives of your nonprofit brand, so ensure they know how to talk about your organization with authority during an event. No matter their skill level, all volunteers will require a refresher before speaking to guests. Make sure each can explain:

• Your mission statement
• Your nonprofit’s “why”
• Your event’s purpose
• Your intended use for event donations

Document these answers and email them to volunteers to reference before the event. In your message, group these answers into a one- or two-sentence tagline, followed by a more detailed description. This way, when a guest asks about your organization, volunteers have a concise, on-brand answer with an in-depth explanation for longer conversations.

Run through the Event Schedule and Goals

Reminding volunteers they’re a critical part of your team is always a good idea. Facilitate this by ensuring they’re clear on your event’s goals. Share details with them, such as:

• How the event will impact your mission
• How many new donors you hope to acquire
• How you plan to engage with major donors
• How you plan to foster ongoing community
• Why you’ve chosen these goals for this event

When volunteers feel like valued members of your team, they’re more likely to adopt your goals. Simply put, sharing this information makes them feel included in your mission.

You should also give a run-through of the event schedule and email it to your volunteers for reference. In it, inform them when to arrive, where to check in, and when the event ends. Also, let them know if there’s a dress code.

Prep Volunteers for Event FAQs

Your volunteers will likely receive logistical questions at the event. Prepare them to respond to any scenario by covering possible inquiries about parking, restrooms, the check-in process, food allergies, seating, and the venue.

Also, train volunteers on how to handle difficult or unexpected situations. For example, what happens if a preregistered guest’s name doesn’t appear on the guest list? If you’re hosting a wine-tasting event, how should volunteers respond when a guest brings a child? Everyone benefits when your staff and volunteers feel ready and capable.

Again, ensure your volunteers know who to contact for other questions, concerns, or emergencies.

Thank Volunteers After the Event

Saying thank you goes a long way. After your event, send your volunteers a letter or host a special appreciation gathering to express your gratitude. Let them know how well the event did toward meeting your goals and remind them that they played a critical role in that success. This will help build long-lasting relationships and increase their likelihood of volunteering again.

To demonstrate that you value their opinions, you can also send them a follow-up survey to find out what they enjoyed, whether they felt prepared to do their jobs, and how you can improve their experience in the future.

Build Your Volunteer Training Program

The journey to building a more effective volunteer training program begins with a single step. You don’t have to overhaul your entire approach overnight. Start by incorporating some key steps and best practices outlined in this article. Even small changes can significantly affect how your volunteers engage with your mission and perform their roles.

Remember, creating an impactful volunteer training program is an ongoing process. It’s about commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation. As your organization evolves, so should your approach to training. Always stay open to feedback, be willing to make adjustments, and look for ways to enhance the volunteer experience.

Begin with small, manageable steps. Maybe it’s updating your training materials, introducing a new interactive training session, or spending more time getting to know your volunteers’ skills and interests. Each step you take is a move toward a more robust and effective training program.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien