By: Keisha Hartman

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and virtual fundraising has gained momentum over the last few years and we think it has potential to become even more popular in 2020. Technology advancements and increased use of digital tools have made it easier than ever to reach new audiences and personalize fundraising experiences.

Here’s what you need to know about DIY fundraising and why now may be a good time to leverage one for your nonprofit organization.

What is virtual or DIY fundraising?

DIY fundraising is when your organization provides a way for supporters to set up their own fundraising page in support of your nonprofit, but not necessarily tied to a specific event that physically takes place. Your supporters can create their own fundraising pages on their own terms, where they set the goal, the time-frame, and campaign type whether it be “athletic,” “in memory/honor,” “birthdays,” “workplace giving,” or “special occasion”.

Virtual fundraising is when your event or campaign offers an option to participate while not actually attending the event. This is more typically seen with run/walk events where someone may want to fundraise, but they cannot physically attend the event.

Here are some examples of why you should include these options:

Postponed or cancelled events – Due to unpredictable reasons such as extreme weather or a health pandemic, many in-person peer-to-peer fundraising events are being postponed or canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Having a virtual component allows you to keep up the momentum and continue fundraising online.

Pro-tip: Ramp up your social media efforts to try to recreate the same community atmosphere as they would have experienced at the event. This could include going live on Facebook or Instagram, creating a hashtag, and giving shout-outs to your participants.

For supporters who can’t attend your event in-person –  People are busy and cannot always attend, so when you give them the option to participate virtually, they can still support causes that are important to them.

Pro-tip: Host a run, walk or ride? Consider integrating Strava, Fitbit or other fitness tracking apps that allow you to keep track of miles while still offering a bit of friendly competition with your participants.

For supporters to fundraise year-round – DIY campaigns are often “evergreen” meaning people can participate whenever and wherever they want and not during a specific season giving them more flexibility.

Endless ways to get involved – Empower your supporters to fundraiser however they like. Not everyone is interested in a run, walk or cycle event. Some people might want to host a bake sale, car wash or garage sale to raise money. Be sure to offer your supporters ideas on the many ways they can participate.

Local business giving opportunities – Encourage local businesses to fundraise by creating a business page to donate a portion of their sales to your nonprofit organization. A personal fundraising page is a great place for people to stay organized, track donations and progress.

Both types of fundraising open the door to more options for people to engage with your organization on their own time – while still supporting the cause they care about. The opportunities are endless when organizations include virtual and DIY options with traditional peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

Need help with your DIY fundraising strategy? Contact us to learn more or sign-up to receive a complimentary audit of your current peer-to-peer fundraising site.