Build lifelong relationships

The importance of fundraising needs no introduction. However, with social, political, and economic elements proving increasingly tricky to predict, institutions of all sizes need to consider how they can make their fundraising strategy resilient to policy changes or the possibility of economic uncertainty.

Even before the sweeping education policy changes, fundraisers were proving increasingly reliant on large donors. According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, the dollars raised increased every quarter throughout 2024, but there were fewer donors at every turn. It goes without saying that an increasing reliance on large donors at a time of declining donor retention runs a huge risk.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through some key points you should look to integrate in order to futureproof your fundraising strategy.

How to Build a Sustainable Fundraising Strategy

1. Focus on Small and Medium-Sized Donors

Your large donors are undeniably your biggest champions. However, a future-proof fundraising strategy requires all its donor segments to believe in your cause. You should look to:

• Develop campaigns that appeal to everyday donors with accessible giving levels
• Introduce flexible and recurring donation options
• Have storytelling campaigns centered around small and medium donors
• Celebrate milestones for small donors to keep them engaged and appreciated
• Have a pathway in mind to turn smaller donors into ambassadors, volunteers, or more.

Some donors may simply not have felt as connected to your cause as your larger donors. Keeping in mind that every $10 or $50 donation adds up over time, have specific segments and nurture processes for your small and mid-sized donors with a focus on donor retention and long-term community building.

2. Have a Strong and Consistent Data Strategy

Data is the backbone of modern advancement and fundraising. A well-maintained data system ensures you know who your donors are and how to engage them meaningfully.

• Pick a CRM that your team is comfortable with and can scale with your strategy
• Consider training and migration time/resources if you’re planning to switch CRMs
• Make the most of your CRM to segment different donor groups and track engagement data
• Consider complementary tools and add-ons based on your team’s budgets and needs
• Leverage data analytics to identify trends and predict donor behavior

Knowing is half the battle, and CRMs should be the knowledge hub to drive your current and future fundraising strategies.

3. Inspire Trust Through Transparency

Trust is the foundation of sustainable giving. Being upfront about how funds are used can inspire trust to snowball your donors’ perception of your cause.

• Include relevant data and plans in your donor retention and stewardship strategy
• Publish detailed annual reports showcasing the impact of raised funds
• Include donors in decision-making processes via polls or surveys
• Create transparent campaigns with clear, measurable goals
• Maintain open lines of communication with alumni for any questions or feedback they may have (more on this later)

Transparency builds credibility, making donors more likely to continue supporting your initiatives.

4. Explore Corporate Partnerships

Corporate entities, especially those associated with your alumni provide great scope for collaborations and can significantly expand your fundraising impact.

• Research local or national businesses associated with your alumni and/or aligned with your institution’s values
• Keep corporate matching gifts in mind for your fundraisers
• Propose mutually beneficial partnership ideas (e.g., co-hosted events, scholarships)
• Businesses located close to your institution are a particularly great opportunity for a deeper partnership

5. Provide Flexible and Evergreen Giving Options

There is no guarantee that your emails and events will be noticed by your alumni and donors at the perfect time. Providing a multitude of giving options not only increases the timeframe for donors to contribute but also attracts smaller and irregular donors.

• Set up recurring giving programs with flexible options
• Keep exploring matching gift opportunities
• Always include custom donation amounts as a choice
• Make use of platforms that have payment processing fees that your donors would be comfortable with
• Explore the possibility of longer or unlimited fundraisers

6. Encourage Non-Financial Contributions

Fundraising goes beyond monetary gifts. Non-financial contributions foster the culture of giving back and are crucial to building your donor community.

• Encourage volunteerism for campus events or fundraising campaigns
• Host blood donation drives or ambassador programs to engage communities
• Invite industry professionals to mentor students or lead workshops

These contributions build community goodwill and often pave the way for future financial support.

7. Maintain Open Lines of Communication

While your institution would obviously have some common points of contact, you’ll need to go further to inspire donor loyalty. Your institution needs to feel approachable, and your donors need to feel heard. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Send personalized thank-you notes immediately after donations
• Make use of automated workflows to personalize communication with your various donor segments
• Regularly mention where donors and alumni can reach out to you for suggestions or questions, either through email signatures, website footers, or CTAs
• Use newsletters, emails, and social media to make your donors and alumni feel included. Bonus points if you’re able to create segment-specific newsletters.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, fundraising relies on your donors and their willingness to support your cause(s). By focusing on sustainable practices, your institution gains the flexibility to adapt to donor trends and economic shifts, essentially future-proofing your fundraising strategy.

If you’re looking for a long-term partner for your fundraising efforts, do give us a shout and we’d love to answer your questions and show you how we can help!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is sustainable fundraising?

Sustainable fundraising focuses on creating long-term financial stability for an institution by diversifying revenue sources and fostering regular contributions. It ensures that you maintain consistent supporter engagement while adapting to changing economic and political dynamics.

Is sustainable giving difficult to achieve?

While building a sustainable fundraising strategy requires effort, it becomes manageable with the right tools and approaches. Leveraging data, fostering trust, and offering flexible giving options can simplify and strengthen your efforts.

How do I approach a corporate business for a fundraising partnership?

Start by identifying companies that share your institution’s values. Reach out with a concise and clear proposal that highlights mutual benefits. Focus on co-branded initiatives and emphasize the positive publicity their business can gain through the partnership.

What are the benefits of having a sustainable fundraising strategy?

Sustainable fundraising reduces reliance on unpredictable sources of income, enables long-term planning, and fosters stronger donor relationships. It ensures financial stability, even in uncertain times, and allows institutions to focus more on their mission.

If your institution uses texting to reach alumni, you already know how powerful the channel can be. Responses come in faster, engagement goes up, and follow-through improves.

But for teams that manage records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, one thing has always been tricky: keeping texting consent up to date.

Even though platforms like Almabase make it easy to collect consent during event registrations or through profile preferences, that information hasn’t always made its way back to Raiser’s Edge automatically.

That’s where things often break down.

Fundraising and engagement teams start second-guessing their outreach lists. Data teams get pulled in to verify opt-ins. Campaigns slow down, or texting gets paused altogether, just to play it safe.

A channel meant to speed things up starts creating friction instead.

That’s now changing.

We’re excited to share that texting consent captured on Almabase now syncs seamlessly to Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Whether it’s collected during an event registration or updated through a profile, consent can now flow into RE automatically or with admin review, based on how your team prefers to manage it.

No manual uploads. No second-guessing. Just clean, up-to-date consent where you need it most.

The Hidden Friction Behind Every Text

Consent management has always been more than a checkbox. It’s about trust, timing, and getting it right across systems.

When texting consent lives in one place but not another, it creates quiet inefficiencies that stack up over time:

• Teams have to pause and verify permission before sending a message
• Ops and IT field one-off data sync requests
• Shared solicit codes risk accidentally overwriting email preferences
• And worst of all, people who’ve opted in are left out of the loop because no one’s sure if it’s safe to message them.

What should be a fast, personal channel starts to feel riskier than it is, not because the tools don’t work, but because the data isn’t in sync.

What’s Possible Now

The gap between where consent is collected and where it’s managed is finally closed.

You can now configure Almabase to sync texting consent directly to Raiser’s Edge NXT using a solicit code of your choice, for example, “Can Text.” The sync works both ways, so any updates in either system stay aligned automatically.

Here’s what that makes possible:

• Opt-ins collected via Almabase (through events, or profiles) are automatically reflected in Raiser’s Edge
• Consent changes in Raiser’s Edge NXT can sync back to Almabase
• All consent updates are tracked on the Almabase profile, so you always know who gave consent, when they gave it, and through which channel
• This creates a clear audit trail that supports internal reviews, compliance checks, and builds trust with your constituents

The entire workflow runs in the background once set up. No extra steps, no operational overhead.

A Closer Look at How It Works

It’s simple. You choose which solicit code in Raiser’s Edge NXT should track texting consent from Almabase.

• When someone opts in, Raiser’s Edge NXT is updated
• When they opt out, the code is removed
• Any changes in Raiser’s Edge NXT can also reflect back in Almabase
• You decide if consent should sync one way or both ways

Why This Changes How You Use Texting

As texting continues to drive faster engagement across alumni and donor communications, the margin for error narrows.

It’s no longer just about having texting enabled, but your systems staying in sync, whether your team can move quickly, and whether your outreach is built on clean, trustworthy data.

This update unlocks that confidence. You can now treat Almabase and Raiser’s Edge as one coordinated source of truth when it comes to texting consent and let your team focus on outreach, not admin.

Turn It On in Minutes

If you’re already using Almabase texting alongside Raiser’s Edge NXT, you can enable this integration in just a few clicks.

Head to your Communication Preferences in Almabase and assign the solicit code you want to use for texting consent.

From there, every opt-in, opt-out, and update flows exactly where it needs to go — no workarounds required.

Your next campaign just got smarter, cleaner, and easier to launch.

Crowdfunding has become a powerful tool for social good. Educational institutions throughout the past several years have taken well to it as a vehicle to raise funds, foster engagement, and bring exciting new projects to life. From supporting innovative learning initiatives to preserving cultural landmarks, schools and universities across the US, UK, and Canada are tapping into the potential of crowdfunding to drive meaningful change.

In this blog, we’ll explore 10 inspiring crowdfunding campaigns in K-12 and higher education. We’ll break down what made each campaign unique, how much they raised, and key takeaways your institution can apply to your next crowdfunding effort.

Essential elements of a successful crowdfunding campaign

Before we examine the campaigns, it’s worth understanding what sets apart successful crowdfunding campaigns in education. While every campaign is unique, they often share these key elements:

• ‍Clear Goals: Successful campaigns outline a specific, tangible, and achievable goal that resonates with potential donors.‍
• Compelling Storytelling: The most impactful campaigns emphasize storytelling to create emotional connections with donors.‍
• Engaging Visuals: High-quality images and videos help campaigns stand out and inspire trust.‍
• Community Engagement: Actively involving stakeholders, alumni, parents, or students in the fundraising process often leads to stronger support.‍
• Follow-Up and Gratitude: Acknowledging contributors and sharing the impact of their donations builds goodwill and encourages future support.

Now, let's explore how these principles were applied in real-life campaigns that not only met but often exceeded their goals.

10 Crowdfunding Campaigns in K-12 and Higher Ed to inspire you

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1. Barn Croft School Christmas No. 1 Campaign

Amount Raised

£52,402 out of a £50,000 goal

The campaign

Barn Croft School in the UK launched a crowdfunding bid on Crowdfunder, uniquely utilizing music to elevate the school's profile and secure vital funds. The campaign aimed to highlight the severe impact of education cuts and ensure the school's resilience in the face of financial challenges.

What makes it unique

The campaign's innovative use of music, specifically aiming for a "Christmas No. 1" song, to draw national attention to education budget cuts is highly distinctive. It transformed a financial appeal into a public awareness campaign with a creative, engaging, and emotionally resonant hook, garnering national attention.

Key takeaway

Creative and unconventional approaches can significantly amplify a campaign's reach and impact, turning a local funding need into a national conversation. Linking fundraising to a broader social issue, such as education cuts, can galvanize wider support beyond the immediate school community.

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2.  Paul Farmer Lectureship and Award for Global Health Equity

Amount Raised

$181,749+ out of a $30,000 goal

The campaign

Launched in 2024 as part of McGill24, McGill University's annual day of giving, this crowdfunding campaign honors the legacy of Dr. Paul Farmer. It aims to recognize individuals working in underserved communities whose groundbreaking work in health equity often goes unrecognized. The campaign garnered donations from over 600 individuals and remains active, continuing to raise funds.

What makes it unique

This campaign uniquely focuses on honoring unsung heroes in global health equity, aligning with a powerful humanitarian legacy. Its success, attracting over 600 donors, demonstrates the strong resonance of a cause that celebrates impactful, often overlooked, work in underserved communities.

Key takeaway

Campaigns tied to the legacy of influential figures or addressing global humanitarian causes can inspire broad support. Leveraging institutional giving days, like McGill24, can provide a powerful platform and amplify reach for such initiatives by creating a collective sense of purpose and urgency.

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3. University of the Pacific - Pacific Gives

Amount Raised

$2.5 million at the time of writing

The campaign

University of the Pacific's annual 24-hour day of giving returned on April 8 and 9, 2025 (reporting 2024 results). It brought together a global community to support scholarships, academic programs, athletics, and student clubs. In 2024, an emergency grant funded during Pacific Gives 2024 provided financial and emotional support to a student whose home was destroyed in wildfires.

What makes it unique

A Giving Day that specifically highlighted and responded to immediate student crises (like wildfire impact) through emergency grants, demonstrating direct and compassionate support beyond general academic funding. It also emphasized community connection and collective action.

Key takeaway

Giving Days can effectively serve as rapid response mechanisms for student emergencies, fostering a strong sense of community and care. They also do a great job at inspiring supporters to become ambassadors and have a healthy giving ecosystem between their different departments/teams.

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4. Cornell University Engineers In Action Project Team

Amount Raised

$14,775 out of a $12,500 goal

The Campaign

As stated on their giving page, the Cornell University Chapter of Engineers in Action is a student-run project team with the College of Engineering that works with the non-for-profit organization Engineers in Action to design and build pedestrian footbridges, WASH systems, and suspension bridges for rurally isolated communities.

What Makes It Unique

The campaign focuses on helping students make real world impact in other parts of the world. With it’s extensive documentation, it does a great job in inspiring more donations. Donors naturally feel inspired when they see a long-term dedication to funds being put into action with a well-researched plan.

Key Takeaway

While your local community is essential, raising funds to help faraway rural areas makes for a compelling goal and provides valuable exposure to your volunteers. The extensive documentation history not only attracts donations but also inspires more trust in your institution’s other fundraisers.

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5. University of Reading’s first Giving Day

Amount Raised

£36,747

The campaign

The University's first-ever Giving Day (April 29-30, 2025), focusing on four key causes: student scholarships, the Centre for Autism Wellbeing Hub, Henley's entrepreneurship programmes, and flexible support. It featured match-funding challenges.

What makes it unique

By providing diverse choices on donations, a simple giving page, and match-funding challenges totaling £20,000, the institution did well to inspire donors on their inaugural giving day.

Key takeaway

Launching a dedicated Giving Day with clear, diverse causes and match funding can be a powerful way for institutions to initiate or revitalize their crowdfunding efforts.

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6. Support the Investigative Reporting Program - UC Berkeley

Amount raised

$40,918 (818% Funded)

How the campaign works

This campaign was hosted on UC Berkeley's internal crowdfunding platform. It directly sought support for the Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) within the School of Journalism. The campaign's core appeal encouraged donors to empower students to delve into social justice issues that were often overlooked or ignored by traditional newsrooms.

What makes it unique

Its explicit focus on public service journalism and social justice provided a clear, impactful mission that extended beyond typical academic funding, tapping into a broader desire for societal betterment. The description of the program, emphasizing its role in empowering students to "dig into issues of social justice long overlooked or ignored by newsrooms," framed the campaign not merely as funding for a department, but as supporting a cause aligned with broader societal values.

Key takeaways

Campaigns with a strong, clear social impact and a compelling narrative can significantly outperform their targets. Direct alignment with societal benefit, such as social justice or accountability, serves as a powerful motivator for donors.

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7. Support Students in Learning International Perspectives, Rwanda ASB Trip - NC State College of Engineering

Amount Raised

$25,000~

The Campaign

Launched during the fall 2023 semester on NC State Crowdfunding, this campaign aimed to support the annual spring Alternative Service Break (ASB) trip to Rwanda. The trip was led by the Women and Minority Engineering Programs, and the funds specifically covered costs for students to participate in cultural experiences during their journey

What Makes It Unique

This campaign uniquely combined international service, cultural immersion, and direct support for women and minority students in engineering. Volunteers can visualize their contribution directly and share their own worldview and professional development, making the impact highly relatable and inspiring.

Key Takeaway

Campaigns that integrate multiple positive outcomes, such as global engagement, diversity, and service learning, and feature authentic student voices, are highly effective and motivate volunteers especially well.

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8. Vanderbilt Giving Day and I⚓VU Week 2025 - Vanderbilt University

Amount Raised

Over $12.2 million

The Campaign

This initiative marked the inaugural "I⚓VU Week," a week-long celebration designed to elevate "Commodore spirit" and culminate in Giving Day. It encompassed diverse activities such as #TravelingMrC photo submissions, which showcased Vanderbilt's global presence, and a first-ever "I Bleed Black and Gold Blood Drive," representing a non-monetary giving opportunity. The campaign successfully closed out over 35 matches and challenges. Donations supported various university areas, including schools, labs, athletics, student organizations, and scholarships, all contributing to the overarching "Dare to Grow" campaign.

What Makes It Unique

Vanderbilt transformed a traditional Giving Day into a comprehensive, week-long "spirit celebration," incorporating diverse, non-monetary engagement activities like the blood drive and photo contests to build community and pride alongside financial solicitations. The campaign achieved impressive global reach, with donors participating from all 50 US states and 23 countries. This builds a broader base of goodwill, participation, and emotional investment that can translate into financial giving, either immediately or in the future.

Key Takeaway

Integrating fundraising with broader community engagement and spirit-building activities can significantly amplify results. Offering diverse ways to participate, beyond just financial giving, fosters a more inclusive culture of philanthropy.

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9. Support Southeast Asian Students at Cal – UC Berkeley (SASC)

Amount Raised

$4,510 (902% of goal)

The Campaign

Part of the Berkeley Crowdfunding program, this campaign was led by the **Southeast Asian Student Coalition (SASC)** in 2024. Using Berkeley’s official platform, SASC created a project page describing how donations would support their events and initiatives (such as cultural festivals, mentorship programs, and graduation stoles for low-income members). Donors (students, alumni, community members) contributed online during a month-long drive. Berkeley’s platform provided tools and training even though it was SASC’s first crowdfunding attempt.

What Makes It Unique

This success funded free community meals (feeding 150+ students at events) and graduation regalia for students who couldn’t otherwise afford it. The uniqueness lies in empowering a student-run, diversity-focused club to raise money typically beyond their reach. Their story of supporting first-generation Southeast Asian American students deeply resonated. Even without prior fundraising experience, the students’ authentic mission and collaboration paid off hugely

Key Takeaway

Even new fundraisers can succeed wildly if the cause strikes a chord. By emphasizing inclusion and tangible student support (food, cultural events, mentorship), SASC attracted donations far beyond expectations. Providing donors with a clear vision of where funds go (directly to student needs) and leveraging social networks were key.

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10. Campus Community Garden - University of British Columbia

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Amount Raised

$52,082

The Campaign

In October 2024 (aligned with World Mental Health Day), the U-M College of Literature, Science and Arts (LSA) launched a crowdfunding drive on its official platform to support the LSA Fund for Student Well-Being. The campaign lasted 3 weeks, with a goal of $50K, and utilized a matching challenge and social media pushes around Mental Health Day. The campaign emphasized that gifts would fund resources like counseling, wellness programming, and emergency aid for student mental health.

What Makes It Unique

This campaign addressed the growing mental health needs on campus – a cause both urgent and somewhat intangible. By tying the launch to World Mental Health Day, it gained topical relevance. Uniquely, it was a time-limited “flash” campaign that still hit a relatively large target ($50K)

Key Takeaway

Framing the ask around World Mental Health Day gave it momentum and meaning. Transparency about the use of funds (every dollar to the Student Well-Being Fund in this case) builds trust.

Conclusion

Crowdfunding succeeds when institutions tell compelling stories, engage their communities, and provide a clear sense of purpose. Whether you're looking to fund a new initiative, preserve a cultural landmark, or support students in need, the examples shared here demonstrate the power of collaboration and the impact of a well-executed campaign.

Are you ready to run your own successful crowdfunding campaign? Start by analyzing these examples and tailoring their strategies to your unique goals and community. Need help with your next crowdfunding campaign? We’d love to help!

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.

Facebook

• 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.

Instagram

• 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.

LinkedIn

• 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!

If you're part of a school, college, or university advancement team, chances are you've heard the term fundraising calendar more than once. And if you're still managing campaigns reactively—scrambling to send an email the day before Giving Tuesday or clashing with exam weeks—you’re not alone. A well-planned fundraising calendar can be the difference between chaos and clarity, missed opportunities and record-breaking donations.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to create a smart, organized, and effective fundraising calendar that works for your team all year round. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to improve what you already have, you'll also get tips on using a calendar fundraiser template, tools to help you stay on track, and even a downloadable fundraiser calendar template you can use right away.

What is a Fundraising Calendar?

Think of a fundraising calendar as your campaign playbook for the year. It’s not just a schedule—it's a strategy. It helps you map your fundraising efforts month-by-month or even week-by-week, aligning with key moments in the academic year, holidays, awareness days, and donor behaviors. For example, you might plan your annual giving campaign around Giving Tuesday, tie alumni events to reunion weekends, or schedule stewardship emails right after a major donation push.

The best part? It brings structure and visibility to your entire fundraising year. With a calendar in place, your team isn’t just reacting to deadlines—you’re anticipating them. Everyone knows what’s coming, what needs to be done, and who’s doing it. You’re no longer guessing or winging it. You’re planning with purpose.

Beyond organization, a good fundraising calendar helps build momentum. When your team knows what’s next, your audience does too. You can create more thoughtful campaigns, align your messaging with what’s going on in your institution or the world, and, most importantly, raise more funds with less stress.

Why Your Institution Needs a Fundraising Calendar

Still wondering if it’s worth the time to create one? Here's why a fundraising calendar isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s essential.

• Avoid last-minute chaos: Say goodbye to rushed emails and overlapping campaigns. Planning ahead gives your team time to create high-quality content and coordinate properly.
• Improve coordination across departments: Advancement teams don’t work in silos. A shared calendar helps alumni relations, events, communications, and fundraising teams stay on the same page.
• Maximize giving opportunities: Tie your campaigns to natural fundraising seasons—like Giving Tuesday, graduation, or fiscal year-end. People are more likely to give when it’s part of a larger moment.
• Link campaigns to academic and community milestones: Align your asks with campus events, student activities, and alumni reunions to make your messaging more relevant.
• Enhance donor stewardship: Plan thank-you emails, impact reports, and recognition events right into your calendar so no supporter feels forgotten.

A clear plan leads to better teamwork, stronger campaigns, and happier donors.

How to Create Your Own Annual Fundraising Calendar Template

1. Choose Your Campaign Types

The first step is deciding what kinds of fundraising activities you'll include in your calendar. These can range from traditional campaigns to creative digital outreach. Your mix will depend on your institution’s goals, audience, and bandwidth.

Here are a few campaign types to consider:

• Peer-to-peer campaigns: These are incredibly powerful because they leverage personal networks. Think of alumni rallying their former classmates or students hosting birthday fundraisers. A great example is Colby College’s Day of Giving, where alumni, parents, and students team up to spread the word.‍
• Email appeals: These are direct, cost-effective, and measurable. Time them well—maybe one right before calendar year-end when donors are thinking about tax-deductible contributions. Platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot make email automation easier, and tools like Almabase help personalize alumni outreach.
• Events (virtual or in-person): Galas, giving days, reunions, or student-led concerts—events give you a chance to create meaningful donor moments that go beyond a simple ask. You can also combine these events with peer-to-peer efforts to multiply their reach. For example, Princeton’s Annual Giving program often leverages class reunions not just for celebration, but as powerful fundraising engines that bring alumni together around a shared cause and goal.
• Social media campaigns: Social platforms offer some of the most cost-effective and wide-reaching opportunities to connect with your audience—especially younger alumni and students. Giving Tuesday is a must—#GivingTuesday happens every November and is perfect for viral, high-energy campaigns. Other times, consider themed campaigns like “March for Mental Health” or “Spring into Support.” Tools like Canva and Buffer can help small teams do big things.
• Phone-a-thons: Yes, they’re still effective—especially with older donors. A warm voice and a personal ask can go a long way. To keep it fun, make it a student volunteer event with prizes for the most calls or donations.

💡Tip: Don’t try to do everything every month. Instead, spread out campaign types across the year. For example, you could run a major digital push in November, focus on alumni reunions in June, and reserve February for targeted email appeals.

2. Map Campaigns to the Academic Calendar

Once you’ve chosen your campaign types, align them with your institution’s calendar. This not only ensures better participation but also helps you avoid scheduling mishaps—like launching a campaign during finals week.

Start by plotting out key academic milestones and cultural moments, such as:

• Semester starts and ends
• Midterms and finals
• Breaks and holidays
• Homecoming, alumni weekends, or major sports events
• Giving days (national or institutional)
• Special anniversaries or leadership changes

For example, if your school’s homecoming is in October, that’s a great time to launch an alumni challenge campaign. Or, if seniors graduate in May, you might run a “Senior Class Gift” appeal leading up to their last day on campus—here’s a great example from NYU.

You can also tap into larger giving movements. Campaigns that align with Giving Tuesday or End-of-Year Giving see higher traction because they ride on already existing momentum.

Bonus: Consider building in quieter months for reflection and reporting. For example, use July to analyze mid-year performance and tweak your calendar for the next half.

3. Assign Internal Roles and Timelines

Even the best calendar will fall flat without clear accountability. That’s why the next step is to break each campaign down into roles, timelines, and dependencies.

Start by answering:

• Who’s in charge of each campaign?
• Who handles the creative (design, copy, branding)?
• Who sends the emails or posts on social media?
• When do drafts need to be reviewed?
• What departments need to be looped in?

Let’s say you’re running a virtual reunion fundraiser in June. Your calendar might look like this:

4. Use Tools That Make It Easy

You don’t need an expensive tool to start building your fundraising calendar. Many institutions begin with what they already use. The key is to pick something collaborative, easy to update, and visually clear.

Here are a few tools that work well:

• Google Sheets: Great for budget-conscious teams. You can color-code months, track campaign types, and share access with anyone.‍
• Microsoft Excel: Offers more structure and customization, especially for larger teams who want to build dashboards.
• Notion: Lets you build a drag-and-drop calendar with tagging, checklists, and campaign documentation all in one place.
• Trello or Asana: Best if you’re already using project boards to plan tasks. You can assign roles, set deadlines, and track campaign progress visually.
• Integrated tools: Platforms such as Almabase provide you with the tools for digital engagement, event management, and fundraising to cover all your bases if you're looking for one hub to coordiante your long-term fundraising strategy.

Don’t forget to also build in time for retrospectives. After each campaign, set aside a week to reflect: What worked? What didn’t? What can be repeated or improved?

Best Practices to Keep Your Fundraising Calendar on Track

Creating your calendar is one thing. Keeping it updated and useful is another. Here are some quick best practices to stay on course:

Leave Room for Flexibility:

Life happens. So do emergencies, new opportunities, and spontaneous campus events. Build buffer periods and leave some “wiggle room” in your calendar for changes.

Review and Update Quarterly:

Don’t just create the calendar and forget it. Set reminders to revisit your calendar at least once per quarter to adjust timelines, add new events, or shift priorities.

Include More Than Just Campaigns: Your calendar should also include:

• Internal planning meetings
• Donor stewardship milestones (thank-you emails, impact reports)
• Content cadences (monthly newsletters, social posts)

Collaborate Regularly:

Make the calendar a living document. Invite team members to suggest changes, mark progress, and keep notes. The more collaborative it is, the more likely it is to be used.

Annual Fundraising Calendar Template

Want a ready-to-use fundraiser calendar template you can customize for your institution? Here’s one you can download and edit for free right now, no strings attached:

📅Link: [Fundraising Calendar - Template]

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wished for more organized campaigns, less deadline stress, and better results from your fundraising efforts, a fundraising calendar is your answer. It transforms fundraising from a reactive chore into a proactive, strategic process. With the right calendar in place, you’ll communicate more clearly, plan smarter, and raise more money—all while staying sane.

Advancement professionals understand that successful fundraising isn’t simply about donations; it’s about building lasting relationships with donors. This is where donor cultivation comes in—a proactive, intentional approach to developing meaningful connections with supporters over time.

In this blog, we explore what donor cultivation means, how it differs from stewardship, its key benefits, and the lifecycle involved. We'll also discuss several practical strategies to take your advancement team’s fundraising efforts to the next level, as well as tips for building your own donor cultivation plan.

What is donor cultivation? (And why it matters in Advancement)

Donor cultivation is the ongoing process of engaging, educating, and building relationships with current and potential donors before a gift is solicited. The ultimate goal of donor cultivation is to create a sense of connection and commitment to your institution’s mission, making donors more likely to give and continue supporting you in the long term.

Cultivation is not just a fundraising tactic but also a critical element in sustainable advancement work as it paves the way for more support. A well-implemented donor cultivation not only gains and retains its donors but also empowers them to become valuable assets of their institution or cause.

Donor cultivation & stewardship: What's the difference?

While both donor cultivation and stewardship are crucial elements of fundraising, they refer to distinct phases of the donor relationship. Cultivation typically occurs before and up to the point of making a gift, focusing on building awareness, interest, and excitement around your mission. It includes outreach, education, and connection activities designed to encourage a prospective donor to contribute for the first time or to increase their giving.

Stewardship, on the other hand, begins after a donation is made. It centers on showing appreciation, ensuring donor satisfaction, and demonstrating the impact of gifts. The goal of stewardship is to foster continued and increased support over time. Simply put, while cultivation is about earning a donor’s first or next gift, stewardship is about thanking them and keeping them engaged for the future.

As you can see, the two are far from exclusive and on the contrary, are best used to complement each other to both gain and retain donors.

Why donor cultivation?

Investing in donor cultivation offers several important advantages to advancement teams, including:

• Stronger relationships: Genuine engagement builds loyalty and emotional connection, leading to longer-lasting support.‍
• Higher conversion rates: Prospective donors who are engaged and informed are more likely to say “yes” when asked to give.‍
• Larger gifts: Cultivation can lead to a deeper affinity with your mission, motivating donors to make more significant contributions.‍
• Improved donor retention: Consistent, value-led communication reduces one-time gifts and increases the likelihood of repeat giving.‍
• Sense of community: Cultivation creates a sense of belonging, making donors feel valued as partners rather than transactions.

The donor cultivation lifecycle

The donor cultivation lifecycle outlines the stages that prospects move through, from first contact to becoming a loyal supporter. While there will be variations between donors in different institutions and nonprofits, it mostly follows the stages of:

1. ‍Identification: Recognizing potential donors within your community or database.‍
2. Qualification: Assessing interest, giving capacity, and potential engagement.‍
3. Cultivation: Building relationships through personalized outreach, events, and updates.‍
4. Solicitation: Making an informed and timely ask.‍
5. Stewardship: Thanking, reporting impact, and nurturing for future engagement.

10 Proven Donor Cultivation Strategies for Advancement Teams

To build a robust donor pipeline and grow long-term relationships, try these proven donor cultivation strategies:

Every advancement office is unique, but certain cultivation strategies consistently deliver the highest return on investment. Below, we explore ten in depth, each accompanied by actionable examples.

1. Personalize Communications

Personalization is not just about using a donor’s name; it means tailoring messages to interests, giving history, and engagement preferences. For instance, referencing a donor’s support of a specific scholarship in a thank-you letter creates a sense of individual recognition.

Example: Sending a note about campus news related to the exact project a donor previously funded.

2. Engage Through Storytelling

Sharing compelling stories about your institution’s impact helps donors see themselves as catalysts for change. When you relay a student’s success thanks to a funded scholarship, it illustrates the real results of generosity.

Example: Featuring a short video testimonial from a student who benefited from donor-supported programs.

3. Host Intimate Donor Events

Smaller, mission-focused gatherings cultivate deeper engagement by allowing donors greater access to leadership and beneficiaries. Such settings foster meaningful exchanges and feedback.

Example: Organizing a dinner for science program supporters to meet student researchers and faculty innovators.

4. Leverage Data and Analytics

Utilize data from your CRM to segment donors, predict giving potential, and optimize outreach. Data-driven insights inform when and how to engage each segment.

Example: Using analytics to identify lapsed donors and launching a targeted re-engagement campaign.

5. Offer Volunteering and Leadership Opportunities

Inviting donors to serve as event hosts, mentors, or advisory board members strengthens their ties to your organization. Active roles often lead to increased sense of ownership and higher giving levels.

Example: Encouraging alumni to speak at career panels for current students.

6. Provide Behind-the-Scenes Access

Exclusive tours or previews make donors feel like insiders, offering a tangible sense of impact and belonging. These experiences create lasting memories and stories to share.

Example: Hosting a guided tour of a new research facility before its public opening.

7. Timely and Transparent Reporting

Keep donors informed about the results of their contributions with regular, clear updates. Reports should tie outcomes directly back to donor support to reinforce their value.

Example: Sending a detailed impact report showing scholarship recipients’ progress at semester’s end.

8. Cultivate Multi-Channel Engagement

Use a mix of phone calls, handwritten notes, emails, and social media to maintain connection without overwhelming donors. Multi-channel touchpoints accommodate diverse engagement preferences.

Example: Following up an in-person event with a social media post that tags and thanks attendees.

9. Recognize Milestones and Special Occasions

Acknowledging anniversaries of giving, birthdays, or other life milestones demonstrates genuine care beyond financial support.

Example: Mailing a birthday card or small gift to a long-time donor, expressing appreciation for ongoing partnership.

10. Solicit Feedback and Encourage Dialogue

Encouraging donors to share their thoughts and preferences positions your institution as a true partner. Two-way communication builds trust and surfaces new ideas for engagement.

Example: Sending a survey after major events to ask donors what resonated and what could be improved.

Common Mistakes in Donor Cultivation

While even seasoned teams strive for excellence, pitfalls are common and can undermine even the strongest cultivation plans.

1. Tunnel vision on large donors and major gifts

Focusing exclusively on major gift prospects risks neglecting the broader donor base, which collectively offers immense value and potential for growth. For example, loyal annual donors can often grow into major contributors over time if properly engaged.

2. Using generic communication for all donor segments

Mass, impersonal communications signal a lack of investment in individual relationships and often lead to disengagement. For example, sending the same form letter to every donor, regardless of past giving or interest area, misses crucial opportunities for connection.

3. Lack of engagement or interaction tracking

Advancement teams that don’t systematically track interactions lose valuable insight into donor journeys and can easily miss timely follow-ups. For example, failing to record attendance at events can lead to missed thank-yous or future invitations.

4. Overlooking opportunities for collaboration

Teams sometimes forget that collaboration across departments can deepen donor engagement and streamline outreach. For example, event planners sharing donor preferences with communications staff can help tailor invitations and follow-ups more effectively.

5. Neglecting lapsed or dormant donors

Failing to re-engage lapsed or inactive donors can lead to long-term attrition. Proactively reach out to those who have stepped back, and offer pathways for renewed involvement.

Building your own cultivation plan: Things to keep in mind

Now that you have the what, why, how and how nots of a donor cultivation plan, here are some things to keep in mind when building (or reworking) your cultivation plan:

1. Create a data-informed workflow

Having a robust and well-maintained strategy for your database/CRM straight from the get-go will save you weeks of headaches and manual work when you eventually want to scale your fundraisers or incorporate more tools to complement your donor acquisition and retention.

2. Map out a multi-channel communications calendar

Include a mix of personal outreach, digital communications, and live or virtual events. Use your data to schedule when and how you’ll engage prospects throughout the year.

3. Invest in donor recognition and feedback loops

Set up systems to acknowledge milestones, celebrate donor achievements, and collect feedback regularly. This creation of genuine two-way communication cultivates loyalty and trust.

4. Focus on sustainable fundraising

With the number of individual donors falling consistently for the past 4 years, it is important that your long-term donor cultivation hinges on meaningful engagement that will resonate with your donors and keep them coming back in one way or another. Have your fundraising and cultivation strategy be diverse, flexible, and transparent to engage any past, potential, and current supporters.

Wrapping it up

Fundraising success grows from genuine relationships and thoughtful engagement. By understanding the stages of donor cultivation and applying strategies tailored to your audience, your advancement team will be well-positioned for sustainable support and long-term impact. Start building your customized donor cultivation plan today to foster partnerships that fuel your mission.

If you’re looking for a platform that covers your entire fundraising journey from cultivation to stewardship and everything in between, give us at Almabase a try and we’d love to help!

With the fundraising landscape more competitive than ever, universities today are looking for new and innovative ways to engage donors, increase participation, and maximize revenue. Two strategies that have gained significant traction in recent years are crowdfunding and matching gifts. Individually, each has the potential to enhance donor engagement and raise critical funds. But together? They can create a powerful multiplier effect that brings your efforts to new heights.

In this post, we’ll break down what these strategies are, how they work together, and what universities need to know to make the most of both.

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• Crowdfunding for Universities: What to Know
• Understanding Corporate Matching Gifts
• How Crowdfunding and Matching Gifts Work Together
• Matched Fundraising Best Practices for Universities

Whether you're part of a development office, a faculty member leading a campaign, or a student organization hoping to raise support, understanding how to combine crowdfunding with employer matching gifts is essential. Read on to find out how you can do so!

Crowdfunding for Universities: What to Know

Unlike traditional fundraising campaigns that rely heavily on major gifts, crowdfunding leverages the collective power of many small-dollar donations—typically from students, alumni, parents, faculty, and friends—to reach a targeted goal. It’s fast-paced, digital-first, and deeply community-driven.

Crowdfunding in a university context generally involves launching time-bound, project-specific fundraising campaigns through online platforms. These campaigns are usually promoted via email, social media, and peer-to-peer outreach, encouraging supporters to give and share within their networks.

Universities use crowdfunding to support a wide variety of initiatives, including:

• Student-led projects – such as travel for academic competitions or service trips.
• Research and innovation – funding for faculty research or lab equipment.
• Athletics – team travel, uniforms, and training resources.
• Scholarships – to help students with financial need.
• Campus improvements – like sustainability projects or new student spaces.

These campaigns tend to be more successful when they are tied to compelling stories, clear outcomes, and enthusiastic champions, such as student leaders or faculty. All in all, crowdfunding offers several unique advantages for universities:

• Wider donor participation – It’s accessible and appeals to younger or first-time donors.‍
• Community engagement – Campaigns often rally support across departments, clubs, and alumni groups.‍
• Real-time momentum – Donors can see progress toward goals, creating urgency and excitement.‍
• Marketing and visibility – Campaigns often double as awareness tools, increasing visibility for university initiatives.‍
• Crowdfunding is not just about fundraising—it’s also about storytelling and building relationships. Universities that prioritize authenticity, transparency, and outreach often see the best results.

Understanding Corporate Matching Gifts

Corporate matching gifts are one of the most underutilized opportunities in university fundraising, despite their incredible potential to multiply donor impact. When donors give to your institution, many of their employers are willing to match that donation dollar-for-dollar, doubling or sometimes even tripling the original gift. Thousands of companies—ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations—offer these programs as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.

In other words, a matching gift is a charitable donation made by a company to match an employee’s contribution to a nonprofit or educational institution. For example, if an alum donates $100 to your university, their employer may contribute an additional $100, effectively doubling the gift at no extra cost to the original donor.

For colleges and universities, matching gifts represent a low-effort, high-reward revenue stream. Here’s why:

• Increased donation value – You can double or triple gifts without asking donors for more.‍
• Higher donor satisfaction – Donors feel their contributions go further and have more impact.‍
• Potential for long-term engagement – Donors who give through their employer’s match program often remain engaged with both the company and your institution.

Despite the benefits, many institutions fail to maximize matching gift potential. As a result, billions of dollars in matching gifts go unclaimed every year, largely due to a lack of awareness and promotion.

By understanding the mechanics and benefits of corporate matching gifts, universities can take meaningful steps to close the gap and unlock a powerful source of untapped funding.

💡Bonus resource: Read How Higher Ed Leaders Leverage Matching Gifts for Success to gain insights from real university fundraising teams!

How Crowdfunding and Matching Gifts Work Together

On their own, crowdfunding and matching gifts are powerful fundraising tools. When combined strategically, they create a multiplier effect that can significantly boost the results of university campaigns  while also enhancing donor engagement and satisfaction.

Here’s what you need to know: Crowdfunding campaigns are built around community engagement and momentum. When donors see their gifts being matched, they’re more likely to give and give more. Matching gifts…

• ‍Motivate donations by showing increased value per dollar.‍
• Create urgency when time-limited matching opportunities are included.‍
• Encourage sharing as donors feel they’re maximizing their impact.

This synergy makes matching gifts a natural complement to crowdfunding efforts. Combining these two strategies is a simple but effective way for universities to raise more money, deepen donor relationships, and make every gift go further.

Matched Fundraising Best Practices for Universities

Successfully integrating crowdfunding and matching gifts into your university’s fundraising requires thoughtful planning, the right tools, and clear communication. Here are some best practices to ensure both elements work seamlessly together and drive maximum results.

1. Raise awareness around corporate matching gifts.

One of the biggest obstacles to maximizing matching gifts is simply a lack of awareness—both among donors and university staff. Many alumni, parents, and even employees don’t realize that their employers offer gift-matching programs⁠—or those who do are unsure how to take advantage of them.

For this reason, we recommend:

• Incorporating matching gift language in all campaign materials, including emails, social posts, donation pages, and thank-you messages.‍
• Using a matching gift search tool (like Double the Donation) on your crowdfunding pages, so donors can check eligibility instantly.‍
• Creating a dedicated matching gift info page on your university’s giving website with FAQs and instructions.‍
• Highlighting success stories that show how matching gifts have made a tangible difference—thus illustrating the power of the opportunity.

By educating donors early and often, you’ll not only increase participation but also foster deeper donor engagement. It’s a win-win!

2. Integrate your crowdfunding and matching gift technology.

When your crowdfunding platform and matching gift tools work together, the donor experience improves dramatically. For this reason, we recommend selecting a crowdfunding platform that supports seamless matching gift integration⁠. Look for compatibility with tools like Double the Donation and Almabase!

From there, you should be able to embed an employer lookup tool directly into your online crowdfunding forms so donors can easily determine their eligibility as they give. Not to mention, the system should automate post-donation follow-ups with personalized instructions and next steps for the individual’s employer.

The bottom line is this: When your tools communicate effectively, you reduce manual work, increase efficiency, and provide a better donor journey overall.

3. Track and celebrate matching gift & crowdfunding successes.

To build momentum and improve future campaigns,it’s essential to monitor your results and share wins not only in terms of crowdfunding but also matching gift success. Tracking not only helps you evaluate performance but also provides compelling proof points that encourage future participation from donors and corporate partners alike.

Recognition and transparency go a long way in building community, trust, gratitude, and ongoing support. Plus, showcasing results helps reinforce the value of matching gifts for donors.

‍

Conclusion

When implemented strategically, crowdfunding and matching gifts can significantly expand a university’s fundraising potential. Crowdfunding opens doors to broader audiences and grassroots participation while matching gifts offer a unique opportunity to amplify impact at no extra cost to the donor.

By integrating these approaches, educating donors, and leveraging the right technology, universities can unlock new streams of support and make every dollar go further. Now is the time to evaluate your current fundraising strategy and consider how these two powerful tools can work in tandem to elevate your efforts. Good luck!

‍

To combat 2024’s drop in donors, universities are looking to focus on deepening donor relationships in 2025. By taking a targeted, personalized approach, universities hope to build stronger connections with major donors and reignite support from small and medium donors.

For most universities, these donors are alumni, and the key to deepening relationships is designing a compelling alumni engagement strategy. Alumni engagement includes events, volunteering, communication, and more; however, philanthropy only makes up 19% according to recent reports on university funding.

To secure gifts, you will need to take a diversified approach to alumni outreach. In this guide, we’ll explore four ways you can expand and engage your alumni community.

1. Create an alumni society

When students graduate, they enter a community of fellow alumni, tied together by their attendance at your university. Ensure this group feels like a community by forming a structured alumni society.

A valuable alumni society is not only a draw for potential students considering your school, but it also helps you stay in touch with alumni long-term, opening the door to potential gifts. You can create an engaging alumni society by:

• Setting up local chapters. Chances are that many of your students move away after graduation. Ensure that no matter where they are, they have a connection to your university by establishing local chapters. Ask passionate alumni living abroad to volunteer to help organize chapters and provide them with the tools they need to operate independently.
• Providing online resources. Ensure that no matter where alumni are, they have access to resources from your university at their fingertips. This might be an online community where alumni can network, a job board of opportunities perfect for recent graduates, or access to research published by your university. Additionally, be ready for paid members of your staff to lend a hand to ensure your alumni societies have the resources they need to adequately represent your university and create a positive experience for members.
• Hosting campus activities. Bring your alumni back to campus with events planned just for them. Host alumni gatherings on important dates, such as graduation anniversary milestones. These might be events for specific graduation classes or all of your alumni.

An active alumni society allows you to form long-lasting relationships that may lead to meaningful donations. For instance, alumni who are only capable of giving small or medium gifts now may eventually decide to pledge a significant planned gift, or prospective major donors may need to spend time engaging with your alumni society before confirming they want to give to your university.

2. Maintain consistent contact

In order to engage alumni, you need to be able to get in touch with them. From your website to email to social media, universities have a range of communication channels that allow them to reach their former students.

However, it’s still possible for alumni to drift away or even lose contact entirely. This often happens when alumni move away, change addresses, or have any other major life changes during which they may not think to keep your school updated about how to reach them.

If your university is no longer able to contact a significant number of alumni, consider investing in a data append. Appends provide missing information and correct outdated data, like your alumni’s:

• Contact information. Get up-to-date phone numbers, emails, and even social media profiles. This allows you to stay in touch, even as alumni change email addresses, change social media platforms, or update their phones.
• Addresses. Many alumni move after graduation, and with an address append you can discover where they are. This helps with mail communication, as well as setting up local alumni society chapters.
• Employer information. Discover where your alumni are working to send them relevant communications based on their profession. For instance, if an alumni has continued to work in a field they majored in, you might highlight department research or events open to alumni that relate to their sector.

When it comes to how often to contact alumni, you might create a university-wide newsletter that goes out on a weekly or monthly basis. Then, for special events, like Giving Tuesday or your university’s founding anniversary, you might ramp up communication to get more alumni involved.

3. Accept all types of support

As mentioned, philanthropy is just one type of alumni engagement. However, that doesn’t mean donations are the only way alumni give back. To connect with supporters, present your alumni with a range of ways to get involved.

A few types of engagement opportunities you might promote include:

• Mentorships. Connect alumni with current students through mentorships. Reach out to alumni to highlight students at your university who are interested in their field and invite them to lend a helping hand as they get ready to enter the job market. Many alumni are likely to remember their own experiences after graduating and want to support the next class of graduates going through the same thing.
• Event attendance. Host a variety of interesting events that appeal to alumni. These might be academic workshops and lectures or entertainment-focused, like book readings or orchestra performances. These opportunities bring alumni together and can bring in revenue if you charge a ticket price.
• Networking. Set up an online network for your alumni. Then, encourage them to complete profiles and reach out to one another. This can help alumni find job prospects, reconnect with old classmates, and discover new opportunities to engage with your university.

Some alumni may eventually become donors, while others will stick to supporting you through their preferred method. Both options can help your university build a vibrant community of support.

4. Highlight alumni impact

Alumni give to their former universities for a range of reasons, but chief among them is the desire to create a positive experience for new students. Encourage support by highlighting what your school is able to accomplish with alumni gifts and how meaningful these donations are to students.

For instance, you might:

• Have current students reach out. Get your current students to help out with fundraising by writing and sending emails to alumni. For instance, you might have a student contact alumni who share their major or attended a club they were a part of.
• Share photos and videos. Show alumni how things have changed but also stayed the same at your university by sharing photos and videos of the latest happenings at your university.
• Host campus tours. Invite alumni back to campus to reminisce and meet up with one another. You might host tours for new buildings, during special events, or for alumni who have provided major gifts.

Demonstrating impact is a key part of making a case for support. Be sure to provide facts and statistics to show why donations matter empirically, but also always provide context with examples and stories to allow alumni to better visualize their support.

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Engaged alumni are one of your university’s greatest resources. Maintain these connections by staying in touch and providing a wide range of involvement opportunities.