Optimize Your Efforts With 8 Types of Fundraising Tools

Fundraising plays a crucial role in nonprofits’ operations, and equipping one’s fundraising team with the right tools to produce successful results can go a long way.

That’s why an organization’s fundraising tech toolkit should not be overlooked. Empowering you to reach your full potential, nonprofit technology exists to revolutionize revenue generation efforts, streamline behind-the-scenes processes, and enhance supporter relationships.

Does your organization have what you need to do so?

In this guide, we’ll walk through eight critical types of fundraising tools and what they can do to strengthen your existing efforts.

These include:

1. Online Donation Tools
2. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software
3. Nonprofit CRMs
4. Matching Gift Technology
5. Website Builders
6. Fundraising Event Solutions
7. E-Commerce Systems
8. Text-to-Give Software

From the traditional “basics” to cutting-edge technical solutions, the landscape of fundraising tools continues to evolve significantly over time. As you read, consider how your current solutions stack up and determine if your organization may be in need of an upgrade or two.

1. Online Donation Tools

A donation tool is arguably the most essential piece of a nonprofit fundraising toolkit. This type of software enables easy and secure digital transactions, empowering donors to support your cause from anywhere at any time.

Your online donation forms (also referred to as giving or fundraising pages) should provide supporters with multiple ways to give, ultimately streamlining the donation process and prioritizing a positive user experience.

Other features to look for include recurring gift functionality, easy options for donation upgrades and upsells, AI technology, and more. Plus, you’ll want to consider available integrations to connect your matching gift platform, donor database, payment processors, marketing tools, and other key solutions to establish a seamless software ecosystem.

2. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

Peer-to-peer fundraising software allows nonprofits like yours to leverage their supporters' networks, empowering them to become some of the most effective advocates for your cause. With this opportunity comes a need for innovative P2P software to optimize the experience, making it as simple as possible for donors to fundraise on behalf of their favorite organizations.

This type of tool enables individuals to create personalized fundraising pages, ensuring each fundraiser can quickly and easily share the campaign with friends, family, colleagues, and other associates. From there, the end donor’s giving experience should be optimized as well, allowing them to engage with new organizations and causes with ease.

And since it’s such a network-focused effort, a priority should be given to social sharing capabilities to help spread the word!

3. Nonprofit CRMs

A nonprofit CRM⁠—standing for constituent relationship management system and also known as donor management software or fundraising database⁠—typically serves as the backbone of an organization's tech stack.

With a leading CRM in its toolkit, a nonprofit can leverage a centralized location for collecting and storing donor data, interactions, communications, and more. As a result, this kind of fundraising tool equips organizations to build and nurture meaningful relationships with their supporters, employing tailored fundraising strategies based on donor preferences and trends.

Key features to look for in a robust donor management system include donation tracking, personalized and segmented outreach capabilities, and smart reporting and analytics.

4. Matching Gift Technology

Tens of thousands of businesses match employee donations to nonprofit causes, but billions of dollars are left on the table each year. In order to maximize this funding opportunity, matching gift technology is a must.

This type of fundraising tool unlocks the potential for increased generosity and amplified impact by connecting donors to their employer's corporate matching gift programs. When equipped with dedicated matching gift tools, organizations can ingrain matching gift fundraising directly into their donation processes. This allows fundraisers to raise awareness about these programs, encourage donors to get involved, and provide company-specific instructions for requesting their matches.

For example, Givecloud fundraising forms can easily integrate with the industry-leading provider of matching gift software, Double the Donation. This partnership sees substantial results by incorporating key features, such as a donation page search tool, automated email outreach capabilities, matching gift tracking, and more.

5. Website Builders

An accessible, informative, and visually appealing website should be the foundation of any organization’s fundraising efforts. After all, your website is essential for establishing a strong online presence and engaging visitors (many of whom likely become supporters) effectively.

Luckily, easy-to-use website-building tools allow nonprofits to design and customize their websites in a way that showcases their mission, impact, and engagement opportunities. As you consider a website builder, be sure to explore its options for a no-coding-required visual editor, search engine optimization (SEO) tools, and pre-built templates. Plus, consider how it will impact the overall donor experience!

6. Fundraising Event Solutions

Many organizations rely on fundraising events to engage with their supporters and raise critical funding for their missions. But organizing and hosting an event can be a significant undertaking⁠—which is where a dedicated event software comes in!

Fundraising event solutions enable nonprofits to plan, manage, and promote successful events. From online registration and easy ticketing functionalities to check-in, attendance-tracking, and beyond, robust event fundraising software streamlines the process from start to finish. This ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience for an organization’s behind-the-scenes team and their attendees.

7. E-Commerce Systems

In addition to basic donations, many organizations supplement their fundraising revenue with online (and in-person) sales. Thus, a robust e-commerce system is essential for nonprofits that sell branded merchandise, mission-related items, digital products, or other goods to support their cause.

This type of software should integrate seamlessly with the organization’s website to simplify transactions, manage inventory, process orders, and more. In the end, the system aims to provide a positive shopping and checkout experience for nonprofit supporters and generate additional income for their mission.

8. Text-to-Give Software

Mobile giving is becoming an increasingly popular form of engagement among nonprofit supporters, and text-to-give software equips organizations to handle these transactions with ease.

Once established, an organization instructs donors to text a pre-determined keyword to a dedicated text giving phone number. From there, senders will receive a link to a simple, mobile-friendly giving form to process their donations right from their smartphones!

This instant and convenient donation method caters to tech-savvy supporters, allowing fundraising teams to meet their donors where they are. It ultimately enhances accessibility and encourages spontaneous and “on-the-go” giving, making it a valuable addition to any organization’s tech stack.

It’s important that you don’t underestimate the vitality that best-in-class fundraising tools play in transforming your nonprofit’s efforts. By carefully selecting a comprehensive fundraising solution that suits your needs, you can propel your team toward unimaginable success.

And remember⁠—a multifaceted platform with wide-reaching functionality and seamless integrations can serve you well.