How to Launch Your First Online Fundraiser

Set Your Goal

Every successful fundraiser starts with clarity. Before you build anything, decide two things: what you're raising money for and how much you need.

Your goal doesn't have to be exact. It just needs to be specific enough that donors understand where their money goes. "New playground equipment for Lincoln Elementary" is stronger than "school improvements." A concrete goal builds trust and motivates people to give.

Once you have your purpose, set a dollar target. Think about your community size, your average donor, and what feels achievable in your timeline. You can always raise more than your goal. But having one gives donors a sense of participation and progress, and a live progress bar on your page makes that momentum visible to everyone who visits.

Genius Tip

Break your goal into giving tiers. "25 donors at $20 gets us halfway there" helps people feel like their contribution matters and makes a big number feel reachable.

Build Your Fundraiser Page

With your goal in hand, it's time to build. SignUpGenius Fundraisers gives you a clean, shareable page where you can tell your story, set a goal amount, and collect donations — all in one place.

Here's what to include on your page:

A clear title. Lead with who benefits and why. Keep it short.

A short description. Two to four sentences is enough. Explain the cause, name the goal, and tell donors what their money will do. Skip the backstory — donors want to know the impact.

A goal amount. Your page displays a live progress bar as donations come in. Donors can see how close you are, and that visibility drives participation. When people can see a goal getting closer, they want to help close the gap.

A photo (optional but effective). A real image of the people, place, or project your fundraiser supports builds trust and connection.

You don't need to be a designer. The setup takes minutes, and everything lives on one link your community can return to.

Set Up Donation Collection

Once your page is built, connect your payments. SignUpGenius processes donations securely through Stripe, which means your donors' payment information is protected and your funds go directly to you.

To start collecting, you'll connect or create a Stripe account during setup. If you don't have one, SignUpGenius walks you through it. It only takes a few minutes.

A few things to configure before you launch:

Suggested donation amounts. Give donors options like $10, $25, $50, and $100. People are more likely to give when they don't have to decide on an amount from scratch. Suggested amounts often nudge donors to give more than they would have otherwise.

Custom amount option. Always allow a custom entry too. Some donors want to give more. Let them.

Recurring giving. You can offer donors the option to give on a schedule: monthly, quarterly, or annually. This is especially useful for nonprofits and ongoing causes where sustained support matters more than a single gift.

Donor fee coverage. You can give donors the choice to cover the processing fee. Many will say yes, which means more of each donation reaches your cause. Fees are shown transparently at checkout — no hidden costs, no awkward prompts.

A thank-you message. Write a short, personal note that goes out automatically when someone donates. It takes 30 seconds to write and makes a real difference in how donors feel about their contribution.

A note for verified nonprofits: If your organization is a registered 501(c)(3), you can get a verified badge displayed on your fundraiser page. Donors also receive automated tax-deductible receipts, so you don't have to manage that paperwork manually.

Share Your Fundraiser

Your page is ready. Now get it in front of people.

The simplest approach: copy your link and share it everywhere your community already gathers. That might be a class email list, a group text, a neighborhood Facebook group, a church bulletin, or a team chat.

A few sharing tips that improve participation:

Lead with the why. Don't just drop a link. Write one or two sentences about what you're raising for before you share. The context drives clicks.

Ask directly. "Can you chip in $20?" works better than "Check out our fundraiser." A specific, personal ask is harder to ignore.

Share more than once. Most people need a reminder. Plan to share your link at least two to three times over your fundraiser window. Space them out, and mix up your message each time.

Use real-time progress updates. When you hit 25%, 50%, or 75% of your goal, share that news. Progress creates momentum. People want to be part of something that's working.

Genius Tip

Your first wave of donors matters most. Ask three to five people you know well to give before your public launch. Early momentum makes your fundraiser look active and encourages others to join in.

Track Progress and Follow Up

Once donations start coming in, your SignUpGenius dashboard shows you who gave, how much, and when. No chasing down receipts. No building a spreadsheet from scratch. The tracking happens automatically so you can focus on the people, not the paperwork.

Use this visibility to stay organized and keep your community engaged:

Monitor your goal progress. Check in regularly, especially in the first few days. Early traction tells you whether your sharing approach is working.

Send updates to donors. When you hit a milestone, loop back to the people who already gave. A quick "We're halfway there, thanks to you!" message reinforces their decision to give and often prompts them to share your link with others.

Follow up with non-donors. If you shared with a group and only some gave, a gentle reminder a few days later can meaningfully increase your total. Keep the tone warm, not pushy. SignUpGenius lets you message your group directly from the platform so you're not switching between tools.

Close with a thank-you. When your fundraiser wraps, send a final note to every donor. Tell them what was raised and what it will accomplish. This is the step most organizers skip, and it's the one that builds the relationship for next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Stripe account to collect donations? Yes. SignUpGenius processes donations through Stripe to keep your donors' payment information secure and send funds directly to you. If you don't have a Stripe account, you can create one for free during setup. The process takes just a few minutes.

Is there a fee to use SignUpGenius for fundraising? Stripe charges a standard processing fee per transaction. You can choose to pass this fee on to donors or absorb it yourself. Fees are shown transparently at checkout so donors always know exactly what they're paying. Visit our pricing page for current plan details.

Can donors give any amount, or are they limited to preset options? Both. You can set suggested amounts to make giving easier and also allow donors to enter a custom amount. Most organizers use both options together, and suggested amounts often lead to higher average gifts.

Can donors give on a recurring basis? Yes. You can enable recurring giving options, including monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules. Donors commit once and are charged automatically on the schedule you set. This is particularly useful for nonprofits or community groups running ongoing campaigns.

How do donors know their payment went through? Donors receive an automatic confirmation after giving. You can personalize the thank-you message they see. Verified nonprofits automatically send tax-deductible receipts as well.

Can I run a fundraiser alongside a volunteer sign up? Yes. SignUpGenius lets you combine donation collection with time slot or task sign ups on the same page. This is useful for events where you need both participation and financial support.

How long can my fundraiser stay active? You control the timeline. You can set an end date or leave the page open until you manually close it.

Can I see who donated and how much? Yes. Your dashboard shows each donation in real time, including the donor's name, amount, and the date and time of the gift.

What happens to donations after my fundraiser ends? Donations are deposited to your connected Stripe account on Stripe's standard payout schedule. Instant transfers are also available for a small fee if you need funds sooner.

What if I want supporters to fundraise on my behalf? SignUpGenius also offers Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers, where participants get their own personal fundraising pages to share with their networks. Instead of one person doing all the work, your whole team, class, or club can participate. It's included on all plans, even free.