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Social Media Fundraising: Ideas, Examples, and Tips to Promote Your Next Campaign
There’s something powerful about watching a community come together online- whether it’s to celebrate a milestone, support a cause, or share a moment that matters. These everyday digital interactions hold incredible potential when it comes to fundraising. Whether you're a K-12 school, a college alumni office, or a student club trying to hit your annual goals, social media fundraising can turn your campaign from "meh" to major. With the right mix of creativity, timing, and platform strategy, you can tap into your community, build buzz, and raise way more than you expected.
In this blog, we’ll unpack what social media fundraising is, why it matters, and how educational institutions can use it to boost engagement and giving. You’ll find helpful tips, creative social media fundraising ideas, real examples, and ways to promote a fundraiser on social media that truly connect with your audience.
What is social media fundraising, and why is it crucial?
Social media fundraising is the practice of using social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to raise funds for a cause, campaign, or institution. But it’s not just about dropping a donation link and hoping for the best. It’s about building awareness, showing people why your cause matters, sharing real stories, giving your community simple ways to get involved and and encouraging them to take action, all in real-time.
Social media fundraising has been around for over a decade, slowly gaining traction as platforms like Facebook and Twitter introduced donation tools and nonprofits began experimenting with online giving. Back then, it was mostly big organizations leading the charge, with schools and colleges dipping their toes in the water, trying to see if social media fundraising was something they truly needed to make waves.
Then 2020 changed everything. With events canceled and face-to-face meetings off the table, and virtual gatherings taking the center stage, institutions had to get creative and fast. Social media became the easiest and most effective way to stay connected with their communities. Campaigns went digital, giving days went live, and suddenly, fundraising on social media wasn’t just an extra; it was essential.
For schools and colleges, this shift opened up new possibilities. Social media bridged the gap between past and present students, parents, faculty, and alumni. It made it easier to reach alumni, parents, and students where they already were, and in a way that felt more personal. It turned annual giving days into digital celebrations and everyday posts into opportunities for support. Ever since the pandemic, social media fundraising has been helping institutions to stay visible, relevant, and donor-ready—all at once.
Why Social Media is a Game-Changer for Fundraising
Today, social media and fundraising go hand in hand, making it easier than ever to engage supporters where they already are. It has revolutionized how we approach fundraising, offering tools that amplify outreach, build connections, and tap into networks in ways that were once out of reach. Let’s dive into the key reasons why social media is a game-changer for fundraising and how you can make the most of it-
Reach the right audience, faster
Social media allows you to instantly connect with a global audience, from alumni and current students to parents and beyond, breaking down geographical barriers and reaching more people than ever before.
- No printing flyers, no distributing pamphlets. Just one well-timed post can land in hundreds of feeds within minutes.
- Alumni in different time zones? Parents across cities? Social media bridges that distance instantly.
- Hashtags, geotags, and targeted ads help you reach exactly who you want, without wasting time or budget.
Peer-driven impact and network effects
When your community shares and promotes your campaign, it creates a ripple effect. Friends and family see it, trust it, and are more likely to donate, making your campaign stronger through organic, peer-driven support.
Cover a variety of platforms
Unlike traditional fundraising methods that limit you to a small circle, social media opens the door to a global audience. Each platform brings its own vibe, strengths, and type of community—and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. The key is to use each platform to do what it does best.
- Great for tapping into alumni groups, parent networks, and school communities.
- Use live videos, events, and heartfelt updates to build momentum.
- Add a donation button to your posts to make giving super simple.
- Perfect for quick, engaging content- reels, behind-the-scenes shots, and countdown stories.
- Use it to show the impact of donations in a way that words can’t always capture.
- Donor shoutouts, transformation posts, and day-in-the-life content do especially well.
- Ideal for showcasing alumni success and getting corporate partners involved.
- Share leadership updates, achievements, alumni testimonials, or impact stats to build credibility.
- Encourage alumni to reshare posts and explore matching gift opportunities at their companies.
How to Promote a Fundraiser on Social Media
Not sure how to promote a fundraiser on social media without being all over the place? Here's a simple breakdown to help you plan, post, and follow up like a pro, without burning out your team.
Pre-Launch Planning
- Teaser campaigns: Drop a few hints before the big launch—maybe a countdown, a blurred image, or a “something exciting is coming” reel. Create curiosity without giving away everything.
- Email + social alignment: Make sure your email newsletter and social pages are telling the same story. Use consistent branding, tone, and messaging so no one’s confused about what you’re asking and why.
During Campaign
- Donor recognition on stories/posts: Give real-time shoutouts to donors—tag them in stories, share their messages, or create a thank-you reel. It makes supporters feel seen and encourages others to jump in.
- Live updates and countdowns: Show progress as it happens. Post real-time updates, go live with students or alumni, and use countdown stickers to build urgency in the final hours.
Post-Campaign
- Thank-you posts and donor impact visuals: Don’t just stop after you hit the goal. Share what you achieved because of your community. Impact photos, videos, and stats go a long way in closing the loop.
- Tagging donors, sharing testimonials: Highlight donor stories and testimonials that speak to why they gave. It not only celebrates them—it also sets the tone for your next campaign.
10 Creative Social Media Fundraising Ideas for Schools & Universities
Now that we've unpacked what social media fundraising is and how to build the right framework around it, let's take a look at these 10 fresh and creative social media fundraising ideas that can be used by schools and universities-
1. Give Back Challenge
Encourage alumni and supporters to participate in a challenge hosted by the school or university. It’s all about tapping into school spirit and encouraging participation through friendly competition and community pride. A great example? The University of New Hampshire’s annual "(603) Challenge." With over 11,800 donors in 2025, it raised more than $3.6 million. The campaign used strategic donor challenges, matching gifts, and a robust social media presence to energize alumni, students, and parents alike.
2. Crowdfunding Campaign
Yes, crowdfunding has been around for a while, but when paired with the right social media strategy, it can still pack a punch. Set up a sleek GoFundMe or GiveCampus page, and drive traffic through Instagram reels, student-led TikTok videos, and short alumni testimonial clips on LinkedIn. When donors see a live progress bar and real-time peer activity, it creates that perfect blend of FOMO and feel-good energy that leads to a successful campaign.
3. Virtual Art Auction
Turn your students and faculty into featured artists for a cause. Set up an online gallery where followers can preview and bid on artwork, all linked to your school’s social channels. Instagram carousels showcasing the artists, behind-the-scenes reels of their process, and countdown stories leading up to the final auction create a buzz that makes people want to tune in (and bid big).
4. Talent Show Livestream
Forget the auditorium—go global with a livestreamed talent show. Students, alumni, or even faculty submit audition clips, the community votes on who makes the final cut via polls on Instagram and Twitter, and the final event is hosted live on YouTube or Facebook. Viewers can donate while they watch, with real-time donation trackers and pop-ups thanking donors on screen. The more engaging the show, the more viral it gets—and the more funds you raise.
5. Student Spotlight Series
Launch a social-first storytelling campaign where individual students or groups are highlighted weekly on Instagram and LinkedIn. Show their projects, their journeys, their dreams—and how donor support fuels them. Purdue University mastered this with its "Purdue Day of Giving," allowing donors to choose exactly where their gift goes, connecting names to impact in a deeply personal way.
6. Virtual Gala or Auction
Bring the black-tie magic to people’s living rooms. Host a virtual gala on Zoom or YouTube Live with emcees, entertainment, student performances, and live auction items. But don’t stop there—build excitement on social media for weeks leading up: teaser videos, theme reveals, Instagram stories with polls to choose menu or music, and LinkedIn shoutouts to donors or sponsors. On event day, make your hashtags trend and watch donations roll in with every applause emoji.
7. Online Bake Sale
The bake sale gets a digital glow-up. Students, parents, and alumni bake from home and post mouthwatering pics using a unique hashtag like #BakesForBooks or #SweetSupport. Orders and payments are managed online, and limited-edition treats or campus-themed goodies create urgency. Use Instagram and Facebook to drive this one: Reels of the baking process, Stories showing “behind the oven” moments, and shoutouts for every donor. It's cozy, shareable, and community-driven.
8. Social Media Takeover
Let a student, alum, or a club take the reins of your official social channels for a day. They share their behind-the-scenes, their memories, and what makes your institution special. Not only is it authentic, but it also breaks the algorithmic monotony with fresh voices. NEHS uses this method beautifully with its chapters, and it sparks serious engagement. Pair this with donation swipe-up links, countdown stickers, and pinned stories that stay long after the day ends.
9. Digital Time Capsule Fundraiser
This one’s got legacy written all over it. Donors get to submit selfies, memes, letters, or inside jokes into a digital time capsule that’ll be opened 5 or 10 years down the road. Access is donor-exclusive, and the buildup is part of the charm. Use nostalgic music reels, design retro digital postcards, and let student ambassadors post teaser entries.
10. Meme Investment Portfolio
Take a cue from the stock market, but make it campus-coded. Create a mock "Meme Market" featuring inside-joke tokens like “Coffee Line Coin” or “Finals Panic Token.” Donors pick which memes to back with their money. The more a meme gets shared or voted up, the higher its "value." Sponsors match donations to top-performing memes. Track it all in Instagram Stories with stock-style charts, Friday recaps, and student commentary.
Social Media Fundraising: Best Practices
Now that you’ve had some ideas to spark your next social media fundraising campaign, here are a few best practices to help you fine-tune your approach and boost your results. These tips are all about working smarter with content, platforms, and outreach—because even great ideas need the right delivery.
Platform-Specific Tips: Choose Your Arena Wisely
Every platform has its own vibe, and what clicks on one might fall flat on another. To get the most out of your outreach, think about where your audience hangs out and what kind of content feels native to that space.
Instagram:
It’s all about aesthetics and energy. Use high-quality visuals, Reels, and Stories to share short, engaging content. Countdown stickers and donation link buttons can drive urgency and action. Showcase student life, behind-the-scenes moments, and quick thank-you shoutouts.
Facebook:
Perfect for alumni and parents who love staying connected with their alma mater. Host Facebook Live events with faculty or student panels, launch Facebook Fundraisers tied to specific campaigns, and share nostalgic throwbacks or impact updates.
LinkedIn:
This one’s best for tapping into the professional pride of your graduates. Share stories of scholarship recipients, research breakthroughs, and student and alumni success stories that show the long-term impact of giving. Keep it polished, purpose-driven, and authentic.
Content Mix: Keep It Fresh, Keep It Moving
You need more than pretty pictures; you need content that makes people feel something, then do something. Mixing it up keeps your audience curious and engaged.
- Share behind-the-scenes videos and day-in-the-life stories of students.
- Post testimonials from donors and scholarship recipients.
- Use bold visuals and graphics to show progress, countdowns, and milestones.
- Always include a call-to-action (CTA) like “Donate now,” “Tag a classmate,” or “Help unlock this challenge.”
A/B Test Your Appeals: Small Changes, Big Gains
Data doesn’t lie. Even small tweaks to your posts can make a measurable difference, especially if you're experimenting with how you present the same message.
- Try different headlines or captions for similar posts and track which one performs better.
- Alternate images: photos of people typically grab more attention than abstract designs or logos.
- Switch up tone and voice: does your audience respond more to heartfelt appeals or playful jabs? Use what suits best for them.
- Experiment with posting at different times and days to see when your audience is most active.
Examples of Successful Social Media Fundraising
University of South Carolina – #SpeakYourMIND Campaign (2025)
Reviving the spirit of the Ice Bucket Challenge, the University of South Carolina’s MIND Club launched the #SpeakYourMIND campaign in 2025 to support mental health awareness with a goal of $500. Through short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram, students and supporters amplified the cause, driving both visibility and donations. The campaign went viral, drawing celebrity endorsements and far exceeding expectations by raising $250,000+ until now.
Pacific Gives 2023 – University of the Pacific
In 2023, the University of the Pacific's "Pacific Gives" campaign brought together alumni, staff, faculty, parents, and friends in a 24-hour online fundraising effort. The campaign successfully raised over $1.7 million, with 75% of the gifts being $100 or less, highlighting the power of collective small donations.
Penn State University – Giving Tuesday (2024)
During Giving Tuesday 2024, Penn State University leveraged social media platforms to share real-time updates, success stories, and donor acknowledgments. This strategy enhanced community engagement and encouraged widespread participation in the fundraising efforts. It achieved a record-breaking fundraising milestone of more than 9,700 donors contributing 11,986 gifts and collectively raising over $1.7 million for various university programs and initiatives.
Tools to Supercharge Your Social Media Fundraising
It’s important to have an engagement tool that integrates smoothly with social media platforms and your CRM—so all your donor data stays organized and actionable. The right digital tools help you streamline operations, personalize experiences, and drive results regardless of which platform you use. Having integrations with industry experts like Almabase+ RE NXT can be powerful. They allow campaign tracking, smart donor segmentation, and the creation of personalized giving links, enabling advancement teams to monitor performance, adapt in real-time, and make each interaction more meaningful.
Take Boyd-Buchanan School for example; they saw a remarkable turnaround after adopting such a setup. Before using Almabase, their team had to manually log every donation into Raiser's Edge NXT. With Almabase’s tailored sync rules for RE NXT, their gift data now flows directly and accurately into the CRM, allowing them to focus more on strategy and engagement. Within just five months, they surpassed 200% of their Giving Day goal and reconnected meaningfully with their alumni.
Conclusion
With a plethora of specialized tools and proven strategies available today, advancement teams have the opportunity to take their social media fundraising to the next level. If you’re looking for a partner to help your digital engagement and fundraising efforts, do give us at Almabase a shout and we’d love to chat!
About the author
Sharada is a freelance blogger and communication trainer who loves exploring the intersection of education and training. When not working, she enjoys reading and dabbling in calligraphy.
There’s something powerful about watching a community come together online- whether it’s to celebrate a milestone, support a cause, or share a moment that matters. These everyday digital interactions hold incredible potential when it comes to fundraising. Whether you're a K-12 school, a college alumni office, or a student club trying to hit your annual goals, social media fundraising can turn your campaign from "meh" to major. With the right mix of creativity, timing, and platform strategy, you can tap into your community, build buzz, and raise way more than you expected.
In this blog, we’ll unpack what social media fundraising is, why it matters, and how educational institutions can use it to boost engagement and giving. You’ll find helpful tips, creative social media fundraising ideas, real examples, and ways to promote a fundraiser on social media that truly connect with your audience.
What is social media fundraising, and why is it crucial?
Social media fundraising is the practice of using social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to raise funds for a cause, campaign, or institution. But it’s not just about dropping a donation link and hoping for the best. It’s about building awareness, showing people why your cause matters, sharing real stories, giving your community simple ways to get involved and and encouraging them to take action, all in real-time.
Social media fundraising has been around for over a decade, slowly gaining traction as platforms like Facebook and Twitter introduced donation tools and nonprofits began experimenting with online giving. Back then, it was mostly big organizations leading the charge, with schools and colleges dipping their toes in the water, trying to see if social media fundraising was something they truly needed to make waves.
Then 2020 changed everything. With events canceled and face-to-face meetings off the table, and virtual gatherings taking the center stage, institutions had to get creative and fast. Social media became the easiest and most effective way to stay connected with their communities. Campaigns went digital, giving days went live, and suddenly, fundraising on social media wasn’t just an extra; it was essential.
For schools and colleges, this shift opened up new possibilities. Social media bridged the gap between past and present students, parents, faculty, and alumni. It made it easier to reach alumni, parents, and students where they already were, and in a way that felt more personal. It turned annual giving days into digital celebrations and everyday posts into opportunities for support. Ever since the pandemic, social media fundraising has been helping institutions to stay visible, relevant, and donor-ready—all at once.
Why Social Media is a Game-Changer for Fundraising
Today, social media and fundraising go hand in hand, making it easier than ever to engage supporters where they already are. It has revolutionized how we approach fundraising, offering tools that amplify outreach, build connections, and tap into networks in ways that were once out of reach. Let’s dive into the key reasons why social media is a game-changer for fundraising and how you can make the most of it-
Reach the right audience, faster
Social media allows you to instantly connect with a global audience, from alumni and current students to parents and beyond, breaking down geographical barriers and reaching more people than ever before.
- No printing flyers, no distributing pamphlets. Just one well-timed post can land in hundreds of feeds within minutes.
- Alumni in different time zones? Parents across cities? Social media bridges that distance instantly.
- Hashtags, geotags, and targeted ads help you reach exactly who you want, without wasting time or budget.
Peer-driven impact and network effects
When your community shares and promotes your campaign, it creates a ripple effect. Friends and family see it, trust it, and are more likely to donate, making your campaign stronger through organic, peer-driven support.
Cover a variety of platforms
Unlike traditional fundraising methods that limit you to a small circle, social media opens the door to a global audience. Each platform brings its own vibe, strengths, and type of community—and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. The key is to use each platform to do what it does best.
- Great for tapping into alumni groups, parent networks, and school communities.
- Use live videos, events, and heartfelt updates to build momentum.
- Add a donation button to your posts to make giving super simple.
- Perfect for quick, engaging content- reels, behind-the-scenes shots, and countdown stories.
- Use it to show the impact of donations in a way that words can’t always capture.
- Donor shoutouts, transformation posts, and day-in-the-life content do especially well.
- Ideal for showcasing alumni success and getting corporate partners involved.
- Share leadership updates, achievements, alumni testimonials, or impact stats to build credibility.
- Encourage alumni to reshare posts and explore matching gift opportunities at their companies.
How to Promote a Fundraiser on Social Media
Not sure how to promote a fundraiser on social media without being all over the place? Here's a simple breakdown to help you plan, post, and follow up like a pro, without burning out your team.
Pre-Launch Planning
- Teaser campaigns: Drop a few hints before the big launch—maybe a countdown, a blurred image, or a “something exciting is coming” reel. Create curiosity without giving away everything.
- Email + social alignment: Make sure your email newsletter and social pages are telling the same story. Use consistent branding, tone, and messaging so no one’s confused about what you’re asking and why.
During Campaign
- Donor recognition on stories/posts: Give real-time shoutouts to donors—tag them in stories, share their messages, or create a thank-you reel. It makes supporters feel seen and encourages others to jump in.
- Live updates and countdowns: Show progress as it happens. Post real-time updates, go live with students or alumni, and use countdown stickers to build urgency in the final hours.
Post-Campaign
- Thank-you posts and donor impact visuals: Don’t just stop after you hit the goal. Share what you achieved because of your community. Impact photos, videos, and stats go a long way in closing the loop.
- Tagging donors, sharing testimonials: Highlight donor stories and testimonials that speak to why they gave. It not only celebrates them—it also sets the tone for your next campaign.
10 Creative Social Media Fundraising Ideas for Schools & Universities
Now that we've unpacked what social media fundraising is and how to build the right framework around it, let's take a look at these 10 fresh and creative social media fundraising ideas that can be used by schools and universities-
1. Give Back Challenge
Encourage alumni and supporters to participate in a challenge hosted by the school or university. It’s all about tapping into school spirit and encouraging participation through friendly competition and community pride. A great example? The University of New Hampshire’s annual "(603) Challenge." With over 11,800 donors in 2025, it raised more than $3.6 million. The campaign used strategic donor challenges, matching gifts, and a robust social media presence to energize alumni, students, and parents alike.
2. Crowdfunding Campaign
Yes, crowdfunding has been around for a while, but when paired with the right social media strategy, it can still pack a punch. Set up a sleek GoFundMe or GiveCampus page, and drive traffic through Instagram reels, student-led TikTok videos, and short alumni testimonial clips on LinkedIn. When donors see a live progress bar and real-time peer activity, it creates that perfect blend of FOMO and feel-good energy that leads to a successful campaign.
3. Virtual Art Auction
Turn your students and faculty into featured artists for a cause. Set up an online gallery where followers can preview and bid on artwork, all linked to your school’s social channels. Instagram carousels showcasing the artists, behind-the-scenes reels of their process, and countdown stories leading up to the final auction create a buzz that makes people want to tune in (and bid big).
4. Talent Show Livestream
Forget the auditorium—go global with a livestreamed talent show. Students, alumni, or even faculty submit audition clips, the community votes on who makes the final cut via polls on Instagram and Twitter, and the final event is hosted live on YouTube or Facebook. Viewers can donate while they watch, with real-time donation trackers and pop-ups thanking donors on screen. The more engaging the show, the more viral it gets—and the more funds you raise.
5. Student Spotlight Series
Launch a social-first storytelling campaign where individual students or groups are highlighted weekly on Instagram and LinkedIn. Show their projects, their journeys, their dreams—and how donor support fuels them. Purdue University mastered this with its "Purdue Day of Giving," allowing donors to choose exactly where their gift goes, connecting names to impact in a deeply personal way.
6. Virtual Gala or Auction
Bring the black-tie magic to people’s living rooms. Host a virtual gala on Zoom or YouTube Live with emcees, entertainment, student performances, and live auction items. But don’t stop there—build excitement on social media for weeks leading up: teaser videos, theme reveals, Instagram stories with polls to choose menu or music, and LinkedIn shoutouts to donors or sponsors. On event day, make your hashtags trend and watch donations roll in with every applause emoji.
7. Online Bake Sale
The bake sale gets a digital glow-up. Students, parents, and alumni bake from home and post mouthwatering pics using a unique hashtag like #BakesForBooks or #SweetSupport. Orders and payments are managed online, and limited-edition treats or campus-themed goodies create urgency. Use Instagram and Facebook to drive this one: Reels of the baking process, Stories showing “behind the oven” moments, and shoutouts for every donor. It's cozy, shareable, and community-driven.
8. Social Media Takeover
Let a student, alum, or a club take the reins of your official social channels for a day. They share their behind-the-scenes, their memories, and what makes your institution special. Not only is it authentic, but it also breaks the algorithmic monotony with fresh voices. NEHS uses this method beautifully with its chapters, and it sparks serious engagement. Pair this with donation swipe-up links, countdown stickers, and pinned stories that stay long after the day ends.
9. Digital Time Capsule Fundraiser
This one’s got legacy written all over it. Donors get to submit selfies, memes, letters, or inside jokes into a digital time capsule that’ll be opened 5 or 10 years down the road. Access is donor-exclusive, and the buildup is part of the charm. Use nostalgic music reels, design retro digital postcards, and let student ambassadors post teaser entries.
10. Meme Investment Portfolio
Take a cue from the stock market, but make it campus-coded. Create a mock "Meme Market" featuring inside-joke tokens like “Coffee Line Coin” or “Finals Panic Token.” Donors pick which memes to back with their money. The more a meme gets shared or voted up, the higher its "value." Sponsors match donations to top-performing memes. Track it all in Instagram Stories with stock-style charts, Friday recaps, and student commentary.
Social Media Fundraising: Best Practices
Now that you’ve had some ideas to spark your next social media fundraising campaign, here are a few best practices to help you fine-tune your approach and boost your results. These tips are all about working smarter with content, platforms, and outreach—because even great ideas need the right delivery.
Platform-Specific Tips: Choose Your Arena Wisely
Every platform has its own vibe, and what clicks on one might fall flat on another. To get the most out of your outreach, think about where your audience hangs out and what kind of content feels native to that space.
Instagram:
It’s all about aesthetics and energy. Use high-quality visuals, Reels, and Stories to share short, engaging content. Countdown stickers and donation link buttons can drive urgency and action. Showcase student life, behind-the-scenes moments, and quick thank-you shoutouts.
Facebook:
Perfect for alumni and parents who love staying connected with their alma mater. Host Facebook Live events with faculty or student panels, launch Facebook Fundraisers tied to specific campaigns, and share nostalgic throwbacks or impact updates.
LinkedIn:
This one’s best for tapping into the professional pride of your graduates. Share stories of scholarship recipients, research breakthroughs, and student and alumni success stories that show the long-term impact of giving. Keep it polished, purpose-driven, and authentic.
Content Mix: Keep It Fresh, Keep It Moving
You need more than pretty pictures; you need content that makes people feel something, then do something. Mixing it up keeps your audience curious and engaged.
- Share behind-the-scenes videos and day-in-the-life stories of students.
- Post testimonials from donors and scholarship recipients.
- Use bold visuals and graphics to show progress, countdowns, and milestones.
- Always include a call-to-action (CTA) like “Donate now,” “Tag a classmate,” or “Help unlock this challenge.”
A/B Test Your Appeals: Small Changes, Big Gains
Data doesn’t lie. Even small tweaks to your posts can make a measurable difference, especially if you're experimenting with how you present the same message.
- Try different headlines or captions for similar posts and track which one performs better.
- Alternate images: photos of people typically grab more attention than abstract designs or logos.
- Switch up tone and voice: does your audience respond more to heartfelt appeals or playful jabs? Use what suits best for them.
- Experiment with posting at different times and days to see when your audience is most active.
Examples of Successful Social Media Fundraising
University of South Carolina – #SpeakYourMIND Campaign (2025)
Reviving the spirit of the Ice Bucket Challenge, the University of South Carolina’s MIND Club launched the #SpeakYourMIND campaign in 2025 to support mental health awareness with a goal of $500. Through short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram, students and supporters amplified the cause, driving both visibility and donations. The campaign went viral, drawing celebrity endorsements and far exceeding expectations by raising $250,000+ until now.
Pacific Gives 2023 – University of the Pacific
In 2023, the University of the Pacific's "Pacific Gives" campaign brought together alumni, staff, faculty, parents, and friends in a 24-hour online fundraising effort. The campaign successfully raised over $1.7 million, with 75% of the gifts being $100 or less, highlighting the power of collective small donations.
Penn State University – Giving Tuesday (2024)
During Giving Tuesday 2024, Penn State University leveraged social media platforms to share real-time updates, success stories, and donor acknowledgments. This strategy enhanced community engagement and encouraged widespread participation in the fundraising efforts. It achieved a record-breaking fundraising milestone of more than 9,700 donors contributing 11,986 gifts and collectively raising over $1.7 million for various university programs and initiatives.
Tools to Supercharge Your Social Media Fundraising
It’s important to have an engagement tool that integrates smoothly with social media platforms and your CRM—so all your donor data stays organized and actionable. The right digital tools help you streamline operations, personalize experiences, and drive results regardless of which platform you use. Having integrations with industry experts like Almabase+ RE NXT can be powerful. They allow campaign tracking, smart donor segmentation, and the creation of personalized giving links, enabling advancement teams to monitor performance, adapt in real-time, and make each interaction more meaningful.
Take Boyd-Buchanan School for example; they saw a remarkable turnaround after adopting such a setup. Before using Almabase, their team had to manually log every donation into Raiser's Edge NXT. With Almabase’s tailored sync rules for RE NXT, their gift data now flows directly and accurately into the CRM, allowing them to focus more on strategy and engagement. Within just five months, they surpassed 200% of their Giving Day goal and reconnected meaningfully with their alumni.
Conclusion
With a plethora of specialized tools and proven strategies available today, advancement teams have the opportunity to take their social media fundraising to the next level. If you’re looking for a partner to help your digital engagement and fundraising efforts, do give us at Almabase a shout and we’d love to chat!
About the author
Sharada is a freelance blogger and communication trainer who loves exploring the intersection of education and training. When not working, she enjoys reading and dabbling in calligraphy.
Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact, and Almabase, the digital-first alumni engagement solution, have announced the expansion of their partnership to the education sectors of Canada and the United Kingdom. The partnership will provide institutions with a modern, digital-first solution to improve constituent data, drive self-serve engagement, and boost event participation.
A Unified Vision
The partnership aligns with Blackbaud’s commitment to customer-centric innovation across digital engagement, Advancement CRM, and financials.
“Partners bring integrated capabilities that extend capabilities and outcomes for Blackbaud customers. We are thrilled that Almabase’s offering, integrated with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® and leveraging Blackbaud’s best-in-class payment solution, Blackbaud Merchant Services™, is now available to even more of our customers around the world.”
- Liz Price, Sr. Director of Global Partners at Blackbaud
