Beyond Donations: Building Stronger Supporter Communities

New technology is reshaping how nonprofits connect with donors, streamlining giving and unlocking new ways to reach untapped audiences. Organizations are rapidly integrating these advancements, aiming to drive more donations and expand their impact.

At the same time, the way people build trust is evolving. While technology enhances efficiency, donors increasingly look to their personal networks for validation and connection. They value authentic, human-driven engagement alongside digital touchpoints. 

Nonprofits can strengthen these connections by empowering supporters to share their mission organically—where trust already exists—so technology can then step in to help turn that interest into action.

Let’s explore ways to navigate these shifts and learn how the combined power of GoFundMe’s technology and collective community of 190 million bridges the gap.

Harnessing the power of network effects in giving 

As the demand for trust and connection grows alongside rising acquisition costs and financial uncertainty, nonprofits must start showing up in the spaces where people already advocate, share, and inspire others to take action. 

This is where network effects come into play. Each new supporter not only donates but also inspires others to give, creating a ripple effect that amplifies your nonprofit’s impact and strengthens a growing web of support.

At GoFundMe, our vision is to connect more individuals with the nonprofits they care about, creating powerful network effects around giving. We achieve this by providing nonprofits with the tools to fundraise effectively and the channels to engage new and existing supporters.

Connect with millions of supporters ready to champion your cause

The collective GoFundMe community is primed to give. People come to us to:

• Support individuals by donating to or creating fundraisers for people they know and trust.
• Rally behind movements by funding disaster relief and urgent causes.
• Find community by connecting with others who share their experiences and challenges.
• Champion nonprofits by supporting organizations driving meaningful change.

GoFundMe doesn’t just help nonprofits raise funds—it builds momentum. Here are four easy ways GoFundMe can help take your mission further:

Nonprofit Pages

Nonprofit Pages help donors easily find and support your cause, provide access to valuable supporter data and insights, and increase your visibility with built-in search engine discoverability.

Beyond this, having a Nonprofit Page empowers supporters with a new way to drive impact. Not only can individuals donate directly to your organization, but they can easily launch a fundraiser on behalf of your nonprofit.

GoFundMe Profiles

GoFundMe Profiles provide supporters with a dedicated space to showcase the causes they care about and inspire others to give. By sharing their donations, fundraisers, and favorite nonprofits, they mobilize their networks, driving a wave of generosity that extends beyond individual contributions.

For nonprofits, this means organic exposure to new audiences through the voices of those who already believe in your mission. When donors advocate for your cause— whether top influencers or everyday supporters—their networks take notice, building trust and driving more engagement. 

Live fundraising tools

Bring GoFundMe to your next sports game, event, or livestream with our powerful live fundraising tools. Thanks to a customizable fundraiser goal bar, donation alerts, and fundraiser QR codes, raising money becomes more interactive and engaging—turning viewers into active supporters.

The Nashville Predators used GoFundMe’s live fundraising tools to raise over $36,000 for the 365 Cancer Fund during their Hockey Fights Cancer game. To engage and activate fans, they used live tracking to capture real-time donation totals and a progress bar that gamified the giving experience and created a sense of urgency. 

Additionally, creators like Tess Bohne, a Taylor Swift livestreamer, used GoFundMe’s streaming widget to rally the Swiftie community and raise over $35,000 for Coburn Place, a nonprofit supporting domestic violence survivors. She quickly surpassed her original goal of $13,000, thanks to real-time engagement that turned her platform into a powerful force for good.

Shaping the future of fundraising

Imagine a world where nonprofits can organically attract supporters, collect donations across multiple touchpoints, and build lasting relationships while individuals seamlessly discover, support, and share causes that inspire them. This is the future GoFundMe is creating.

Here’s how it can come to life:

A supporter searches for a cause like “children’s research” and discovers a nonprofit’s verified page on GoFundMe. They learn about the organization, see others who have contributed, and decide to donate. Inspired to do more, they launch a fundraiser using AI-powered Smart Goals to set an optimal target.

To amplify their impact, they add the nonprofit to their public profile, share their fundraiser across Instagram and Facebook via our Meta integration, and livestream from a concert, drawing in more supporters. 

They then share their unique impact link and track donations raised through their efforts. As others give, they can see the impact in real time on their dashboard, strengthening their connection and expanding the nonprofit’s reach.

Turning generosity into movement 

At GoFundMe, we’re committed to making fundraising simpler, more effective, and accessible so you can focus on advancing your mission. By uniting emerging trends in technology and community engagement, we’re not just anticipating the future of fundraising—we’re shaping it.

Our goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in the nonprofit sector, activating fundraising at every level. As we evolve, we remain focused on providing you with the resources and insights to inspire action and drive sustainable growth for your cause. 

Together, we can create a future where generosity knows no limits.

Copy editor: Ayanna Julien