4 Digital Fundraising Strategies for Small Nonprofits

As a leader of a small nonprofit, you might think the odds are stacked against you when it comes to finding donors. After all, outreach and fundraising take time and resources. In many cases, your size is actually your superpower. It allows you to authentically showcase your cause and connect on a more individual level with supporters in ways larger organizations can’t.

That kind of personal connection is your edge. When paired with the right digital strategies and technology, it becomes a powerful fundraising force. All you need is a focused approach that plays to your strengths and meets supporters where they are. Whether that means optimizing your website or hosting an online fundraising auction that sparks generosity, the result will be a sustainable pipeline of donors built on trust and engagement.

Let’s explore four digital fundraising strategies that small nonprofits can use to turn everyday interactions into lasting support. We’ll start with the foundation of it all: your website.

Optimize Your Website for Donations

Imagine 89% of your website visitors clicking away before donating. The average donation page completion rate hovers around just 11%, meaning that only 11 out of every 100 visitors wind up donating. Here’s the upside: even small improvements to your website can unlock big results without straining your time or budget.

Your website is your digital front door, so it’s up to your nonprofit to make it easy for supporters to walk through and give:

Make donating effortless. Streamline your donation process so supporters can give in just a few clicks. Remove unnecessary fields and distractions, such as pop-ups or excessive images, on your donation page. Your fundraising tools should allow you to create custom fields that simplify giving while still capturing essential donor information.
Design with accessibility in mind. Every donor should have a smooth experience. Ensure your site is readable, mobile-friendly, and usable with assistive technology.
Use bold, specific calls to action (CTAs). Instead of “Submit” or “Support Us,” try language like “Give $25 to Feed a Family.”
Place donation buttons where people will see them. Include clear donation buttons on your homepage, navigation menu, and high-traffic pages (like event pages or program/service pages).

Cornershop Creative’s nonprofit content management system (CMS) guide explains that your entire team should be able to edit your site, tech-savvy or not. Check that your CMS offers templates, empowering you to create professional and consistently designed pages. This way, website visitors will feel confident they’re still interacting with your organization when they’re moved by your homepage or inspired by a story on your blog and land on a donation form that looks similar.

Your CMS should also comply with security regulations, such as PCI compliance standards and HTTPS encryption, to protect sensitive donor information and earn supporter trust.

Encourage Recurring Giving

Monthly giving comprises 31% of all online revenue for nonprofits, and it’s no surprise why! When donors sign up to give on a regular basis (such as every month), they demonstrate that they believe in your mission.

Luckily for your team, these donors also require less active solicitation. In many cases, all you have to do is ask for these gifts! By featuring recurring giving in your outreach, you can turn one-time donors into long-term champions.

Here are some easy ways to create an engaging monthly giving program:

Feature recurring giving across your website. Include a clear “Make this a monthly gift” checkbox on your donation form and individual fundraising campaign forms. Highlight monthly giving on your “Ways to Give” page, post impact stories about recurring donors on your blog, or even create a dedicated page about your program.
Make it easy for donors to manage their gifts. Use a donation platform that allows users to pause, adjust, or cancel their gifts with minimal hassle. Transparency builds trust. Additionally, a self-service portal means your development team won’t have to make constant updates for donors.
Thank your monthly donors. This might mean a simple thank-you email, routine updates on a specific program they support, or even a mention on your donor wall. When someone signs up for your program, ask them how they’d like to be appreciated and stay connected, so you can thank them in a way that resonates.

Recurring gifts add up over time! In fact, CharityEngine’s roundup of recurring giving statistics suggests that the average monthly gift totals $173 more than the average one-time gift. Prioritizing your recurring giving strategy will do more than increase revenue. It’ll build a base of supporters who provide you with reliable income and step up to the plate every single month.

Host Online Fundraising Auctions

Online auctions are a smart way to bring donors together, especially for small nonprofits looking to maximize impact with minimal overhead. They provide an exciting, interactive experience that generates buzz around your mission.

Here’s how to host a digital auction that gets donors talking:

Choose attractive items. Make sure you have a mix of enticing auction items to make your auction a can’t-miss event. Curate donated goods, services, and experiences that fit a range of budgets.
Use the right auction platform. Power your event with a user-friendly auction platform that offers secure payment processing, mobile bidding tools, and integrated marketing capabilities.
Promote your auction proactively. Market the event through email, social media, and your website. Be sure to highlight key items to spark excitement.
Engage donors throughout the event. Consider hosting a live stream where you share updates on high bids and encourage attendees to keep participating.

Digital auctions are an immersive way to unite supporters, raise meaningful funds, and spread awareness of your mission. Share fundraising totals and highlights after your event to leave participants inspired and eager to join again in the future.

Sell Digital Greeting Cards

Digital greeting cards (or eCards) are a simple, impactful, and affordable way to raise funds. They give donors something in return for their generosity and offer your nonprofit a flexible source of funding that can support your work where it’s needed most.

Whether it’s for birthdays, holidays, memorial gifts, or a cause awareness day, eCards let supporters share your cause with others in exchange for a donation. For example, a food bank might offer eCards for World Hunger Day, a mental health organization could create cards for Mental Health Awareness Month, and an animal rescue might design cards for National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. These timely, cause-driven cards give supporters an easy way to honor the day and introduce your mission to friends and family.

If this sounds like a good fit, here’s how this digital fundraising strategy works:

Design your cards. Depending on your eCard platform, you might upload your own designs or use built-in tools to create your cards. Keep your cause front and center through imagery, colors, or simply by adding your logo in the corner.
Publish the cards. Most platforms allow you to embed the card gallery directly on your nonprofit website or host it on a custom landing page. Make the link easy to find by placing it in your main menu, homepage banner, or seasonal landing pages.
Sell your eCards or encourage custom donations. You might set a fixed donation amount per card (e.g., $5 or $10), or you can let donors choose their own amount. Either way, make sure your platform offers secure payment processing with trusted tools like PayPal or Stripe.
Supporters buy your eCards. Once they choose a card, donors can add a personalized message and schedule their card to be delivered. The result is a meaningful gift for the recipient and a new potential supporter introduced to your mission.

Digital cards turn everyday moments into opportunities for giving. They’re a creative, low-lift way to raise funds, raise awareness, and let your supporters feel more connected to your cause—all while spreading some joy!

Final Thoughts

Small nonprofits like yours are challenged to do more with less. Luckily, you have something powerful on your side: your authenticity and heart. When those values come through online, they inspire people to give.

Digital fundraising doesn’t have to be complex or all-consuming. It’s about choosing what fits your capacity and using it to make your mission shine. By blending immersive experiences, like auctions, with other online strategies, you’ll connect with donors in creative ways. With creativity, focus, and some strong fundraising ideas, you can build real momentum online and grow support for your work.