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Latest stories, guides, and benchmarks from the world of alumni relations, fundraising, donor engagement, advancement services, events, and higher-education philanthropy

Blackbaud recently announced that support for Raiser’s Edge NXT’s database view and related functionality will end on September 15, 2027, affecting several Blackbaud products. These include Blackbaud Online Express and Blackbaud NetCommunity (BBNC). For advancement teams that have spent years building forms, pages, workflows, and other processes around the platform, this means choosing and migrating to a new platform. The prospect can feel like a lot to take on, especially if it wasn't something you'd anticipated.

If you're looking for an alternative, Almabase can help you replace the functionality you currently rely on across these products. We've already covered why teams might be thinking of a move off BBNC and how the main alternatives compare. In this article, we’ll be focusing on what happens once you've made that decision: what the migration process looks like, what your team can expect along the way, and how Almabase approaches the move.

In case you’re evaluating how Almabase stacks up against BBNC, check out our comparison blog here.

There’s also another question that comes up around a platform migration: How much is this going to cost?
This question extends beyond the immediate, visible technical costs. In fact, the technical side of the move might just be the simplest to figure out. It’s the broader, more abstract elements like shifting scopes, changing requirements, or even figuring out the right set of requirements in the first place that could end up costing the most amount of money and time, if not approached thoughtfully.

That's why we want to walk you through the Assisted Fast Pass Migration process upfront: what happens at each stage, what your team is responsible for, what our migration team handles, and where costs may come into the picture. We hope to give you a clear idea of what the move to Almabase will look like before you get started, so there are fewer surprises along the way.

Why transparency matters during a migration

A migration project always begins with an agreed-upon plan. But it’s also very likely that, a few weeks in, you discover a form that needs some additional customization or a request that seemed straightforward seems to fall outside the original scope, on second thought. These are perfectly reasonable hiccups during the migration, but if work is already underway, it could seem harder to understand what you're paying for, and even harder to plan around the rest of the project.

Clear expectations are at the heart of our migration approach, starting with total transparency around what extra requirements cost. With Almabase’s Assisted Fast Pass Migration, each stage gives you a chance to understand what's being proposed, what falls within the standard migration, and where something would require additional work.

Basically, you shouldn't find out about an extra requirement after the work has already been done. Your approval and sign-off comes first. The five steps in the migration process are built around this intention. Let’s get into them.

1. Kickoff: Getting the project off on the right foot

The migration process starts with a kickoff between your team, a dedicated CSM, and an implementation specialist. This is where we get the groundwork in place. This is usually access to your current site, your branding assets, and the dates your team needs to work around.

Another important step here is understanding your calendar and priorities. Your Giving Day, reunion, fiscal year-end, or another major event may determine what needs to happen first and we would be building the migration calendar around it. So, the migration sequence might look a little different for each institution, as each gets to choose which product goes first.

The kickoff is also a chance to flag anything unusual about your current NetCommunity setup.

After years on a platform, it's normal for your setup to have accumulated a few workarounds, custom configurations, or integrations that made sense when they were created. We don't need to solve all of those questions in the first meeting, but we do need to know about them.

That way, we can account for them during the next stage: the inventory. 🤗

Your team mainly needs to provide:

Key dates and deadlines
Relevant branding assets
Access to your existing NetCommunity site
Any known custom configurations, integrations, or unusual workflows

From there, you can let us take on the heavy lifting.

Your dedicated CSM and implementation specialist work with you throughout the migration, while your team focuses on the decisions and approvals. A migration shouldn't require your advancement team to take on managing a project full time on top of everything else they’re already handling.

Your data doesn't have to wait for the build

Your data migration is handled alongside the rest of the process. Almabase's bi-directional TrueSync integration connects with Raiser's Edge NXT and supports two-way syncing for configured entities and fields, including constituent, event, and gift data.

Admins can also decide which fields update automatically and which should be reviewed before they're pushed or pulled between systems.

That means your team doesn't have to wait until every page and workflow decision has been finalized before thinking about what happens to your data. The data side of the transition can move forward alongside the rest of the migration, with real time decisions being made.

2. Discovery and inventory: weeks one and two

Once kickoff is complete, your implementation specialist carefully starts building a complete inventory of what's currently running on NetCommunity: pages, forms, events, programs, memberships, and other key components of your site.

This process is useful in its own right, especially when taken on by someone external. After years on a platform, it's easy for a site to accumulate things that no one thinks about anymore, simply because they’re too involved in the process. The inventory gives you one place to see what's actually there, anything you might’ve forgotten about, and to make decisions about what needs to move vs what can be left behind.

Probably the most effective part of this is that it's a shared inventory that you can review alongside your specialist. If something looks outdated, doesn't need to move, or needs a closer look, you can flag it before it moves to the new product.

The inventory can surface things like:

Duplicate or unused event pages
Old forms or pages that are still live
Site elements that don't need to be carried into Almabase
Custom fields and configurations that don’t make sense on the new platform

This idea is to document your NetCommunity site so well that both teams end up on the same picture of what exists and what needs to happen next. The Almabase team handles the actual inventory work, and all you need to do is review the inventory and flag anything that should be changed, removed, or investigated.

3. Sign-off: deciding what moves forward

At this stage, the migration project starts taking on a more defined shape as you decide what you need to bring into Almabase. You and your implementation specialist review the inventory, decide what carries forward, and establish what the finished version should look like.

For each item being migrated, the team, along with you, defines the acceptance criteria before the building begins. If your existing alumni directory has eight fields and three filters, for example, those requirements can be documented as part of the scope. By the end of this discussion, everyone has arrived at the same definition of what needs to be delivered.

This is also where you’ll be able to clearly separate standard migration work from anything that requires additional effort.

If something falls outside the standard scope, you'll know before the work begins:

What the additional work involves
What's included and what's excluded
The estimated effort
The associated cost

You won’t have to decipher this from the invoice later on, because the work only moves forward once you’ve signed off on the scope.

This is exactly why your input here matters most. The Almabase team handles the building, but it’s you and your team deciding what is important enough to carry forward and what “done” needs to look like, within the standard process or with additional effort layered on.

4. Build and launch: 30 days for each product

Our team takes up building only once you’ve greenlit the scope. Each product gets its own dedicated 30-day track, with the order of products taken up built around your events and fiscal calendar.

This is to accommodate your calendar: giving days, reunions, Homecoming, we’ll build that product first so you’re ready in time for go-live day. If your immediate priority is your broader alumni site, we might begin with building that instead. The point is, even at this pace, you’re not forced to adopt a one-size-fits-all solution. Your implementation team works with you to determine what needs to come first.

The build itself happens on your Almabase pages, so you can review as it gets built while also familiarizing yourself with the new platform.

The timeline typically looks like this:

30-day build track: Each product moves through its own focused build.
Weekly working session: Your team meets with the implementation team to review progress, provide input, and make decisions.
Training as you go: Your team gets hands-on experience with the platform during the build, rather than waiting until everything is finished to start learning it.
First launch: The fastest migrations can have their first product live around 45 days from kickoff, depending on the scope and sequencing of your project.

Having the scope agreed upon shows up in smoothness at this point: you can expect fewer decisions to make from scratch during this stage. Your team knows what's being built, your implementation specialist knows what they're working toward, and everything can move as planned, on track.

5. Cutover: moving from NetCommunity to Almabase

As you get closer to launch, the focus shifts from building to making the transition itself as smooth as possible.

The most important part of that is making sure people can still find the things they've been using. Your team receives a redirect map that pairs each carried-forward NetCommunity URL with its new Almabase destination. You'll also want to review where those old links appear outside NetCommunity: your main institutional website, email templates, QR codes, printed materials, and any other places where an old URL may still be in circulation.

The redirect map gives you a clear list of what needs to change and no one has to discover old links one by one after launch.

Before each product goes live, your team gets to review it thoroughly and explicitly approve the launch.

The aim, with these five steps, is to get your Almabase programs ready before your NetCommunity access ends, so the transition remains smooth and doesn't become a last-minute scramble.

What happens when something doesn't fit the standard scope?

Not everything that comes up during a migration falls neatly into the original plan. But there's also an important conversation to be had: what counts as additional scope and what is a limitation in the platform itself?

If something requires work beyond the standard migration scope, that's identified and quoted before the work begins. You can then decide whether you want to take it on.

But if there’s a requirement you have that Almabase cannot support yet, we’ll be fully transparent with you. Essentially, you haven’t asked for too much, we’re just not there yet. Depending on what you need, the team can look at a workaround or determine how the functionality could be addressed after launch.

This conversation is also one of the reasons the earlier stages matter. The shared inventory, defined acceptance criteria, and upfront scoping give everyone a common reference point throughout the project.

That's really the principle behind the entire migration process. You're not expected to know every detail of what needs to happen before the project starts. The process itself is designed to show you those details early, give your team a chance to make the calls that matter, and keep the build moving while minimizing unexpected, last-minute surprises.

Ready to make the move?

A BBNC migration may not have been on your roadmap, but that also doesn't mean it has to become a project that takes over your team's calendar.

With a clear process, an agreed scope, and the right support, you can move the parts of NetCommunity that matter to your team and work for your institution without having to figure everything out as you go. The Almabase team handles the build and migration work, while your team stays in complete control of the decisions, priorities, and final approvals.

And because the scope and any additional costs are addressed before the work happens, you can go into the migration knowing what to expect.

If you're planning your move away from BBNC, let's talk about what it could look like for your institution.

Talk to the Almabase team about your BBNC migration →

Assisted Fast Pass Migration from BBNC to Almabase

Featured

Moving from BBNC to Almabase: The Assisted Fast Pass Migration

Blackbaud is sunsetting support for Raiser’s Edge NXT’s database view and related functionality in September 2027. Learn how Almabase replaces your current functionality and how our Assisted Fast Pass Migration makes for a smooth switch without disrupting your campaigns or operations.

Anwesha Kiran

September 10, 2026

12 minutes

Read

A paddle raise (also called a fund-a-need) is a great and simple fundraising format for nonprofits. It is easy to host, fun, and similar enough to auctions that if you have experience in one, you can easily incorporate the other.

All this is to say that, with proper planning, it is one of the most effective ways to get donations for your nonprofit or a particular project.

In this blog, we’ll look at what makes a typical paddle raise work, its benefits, and the essential steps to start hosting one on your own.

What is a Paddle Raise?

A paddle raise, also often called fund-a-need, is a live, direct appeal during a fundraising event such as a gala where donors pledge a financial contribution to a nonprofit, charity, or a particular cause. This is usually done by raising paddles containing varying numbers or ‘levels’, or through bidding devices and software.

A person with a paddle raise or auction paddle — *Photo by* *Anita Jankovic* on Unsplash

Unlike charity auctions though, there aren’t any items or art involved, and attendees will not be bidding on a piece. An ask is made, and donors willing to contribute that amount raise their paddles. Due to the simpler setup and direct contributions, paddle raises have high ROI and are generally considered to be very effective.

How does a Paddle Raise work?

Usually taking place at the peak of the fundraiser, a paddle raise takes around 10-20 minutes (it happens quite quickly). This is typically how it unfolds:

A designated speaker or emcee gets the event rolling by showing a video or narrating a quick story that introduces and emphasizes the impact of your mission.
The emcee announces the fundraising target for the night, or if there are multiple causes, the goals for each.
Tiers of contributions are planned beforehand ($10k, $7.5k and so on), and the emcee starts with the highest tier and works their way down to the lower tiers. When they ask for contributions, attendees express their willingness by raising numbered paddles.
Volunteers and staff keep track of all the pledges and note it down.
After going through all the tiers, the pledges are processed, and the total amount raised is announced. Attendees are thanked for their contributions and the event draws to a close.

Now that we’ve gone through what a paddle raise is and how it usually plays out, let’s get to how you can run one of your own.

How to Run a Successful Paddle Raise (Step-by-Step)

While paddle raises are simple enough in concept, they do require proper planning and coordination to capture pledges accurately and create good energy overall.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Pick the right cause/project for your targets and set your targets

Paddle raises are a lot more effective if you can tie them to a specific initiative that makes donors feel like they’re making a meaningful impact. It could be an annual raise for cancer, providing education to underprivileged children, etc.

Set a tangible goal and be clear on where the money goes. Sharing this with your donors builds trust. The goal shouldn’t be so high that hitting it feels impossible. All in all, you want to set a realistic but fairly ambitious figure.

2. Decide the contribution levels or tiers

You should aim for 5-10 levels and make sure it’s inclusive of everyone’s giving capabilities. You can discuss with your pre-committed donors (more on that later) to decide amounts for the higher giving tiers (or conversely for lower giving tiers depending on the situation).

This is where having a regularly updated donor database helps greatly, as you can base your levels off of giving history and data.
A basic example would be to have $15k as the highest tier, followed by $10k, $5k, $2k and so on all the way to $50. Remember that you have to be inclusive, so don’t skimp out on small or micro-level contributions.

3. Pick your emcee or host

The emcee is critical in setting the stage and the energy before the raise begins. An enthusiastic crowd can make a massive difference in contributions. If possible, hire a professional emcee who has been on the mic for other charity events before. You know your donors best; use that knowledge to pick out a host that can connect with them and elevate the room accordingly..

Alternatively, if your organization has deep ties with the attendees, you could consider a leadership figure (directors, chair, etc.) for familiarity. Of course, they need to be a good orator as well.

4. Decide the schedule and script

Since a paddle raise is relatively short, decide when the paddle raise should take place during your fundraising event or gala. You should aim to host the raise during the peak of the fundraiser, when everyone is energetic and receptive to instructions from you or your host.

Come up with a script, including your opening statement, tier announcements, anecdotes, and expressing gratitude at the end. Have alternative scripts ready for different scenarios since you can’t always predict if you’ll hit your target, overshoot it, or come close.

5. Pick the right tools for your event

You can choose to host your paddle raise with either physical paddles or through bidding software, though incorporating the former is heavily recommended.

You’ll need to assign numbers to each attendee and give them a paddle with the corresponding number. When a certain giving tier is called out, they can choose to pledge that amount by raising the paddle while volunteers keep track of it.

If you’re opting for a digital process, look for mobile-friendly bidding platforms. There are some other options as well like scanning QR codes to pledge. However, keep your attendees’ preferences in mind and try to find a balance between their experience and your team’s feature set. This is important, since the bidding and giving data will need to be synced to your CRM.

6. Running the paddle raise itself

When opening your event, it helps to set the energy high. Start with the mission statement and targets you set earlier. Here’s where the emcee does the heavy lifting. Videos and stories with emotional angles work really well at establishing a connection with your donors and creating empathy for your cause. If you have first time donors in the mix, a quick explanation of how the paddle raise works would also be helpful.

Make sure your volunteers are in place to clearly record everything. The emcee announces the levels in succession, starting with the highest one and working their way down.
Seeing major contributions right at the start might encourage the others to go beyond what they had originally planned. Make sure that the emcee acknowledges and celebrates pledges briefly for each tier before moving on to the next one.

How your staff records the pledges is up to you. You can use an app, spreadsheets, or simply pen and paper. Choose whichever would be the most convenient and accurate for your team.

7. Gratitude and stewardship

After going through all the levels, tally the total amount raised and announce it as the event draws to a close. Celebrate the impact everyone has created on the day. Tying the money raised to a tangible outcome (for example, 50 scholarships granted for struggling children, or feeding 100 people) creates even more positivity and really drives home a sense of accomplishment and giving.

After your fundraising event, follow up with your attendees to collect the pledged amounts, preferably within a day. Include key details like their paddle number, amount they pledged, and multiple payment options. Thank all the participants, regardless of whether they donated or not.

A Few Tips to Enhance Your Paddle Raise

Here are a few extra things to ensure you get the most out of your paddle raise(s):

Pre-committing a handful of donors: Reach out to some of your long time supporters, and ask for an early commitment to a particular level, especially the higher ones. Hesitation in the opening rounds of the raise can affect the overall contributions negatively. When attendees see paddles being raised immediately even at higher tiers, it gives them confidence to donate more.
Host it at the right time: If your paddle raise is part of a larger fundraising event (as is most common), avoid doing it right after a meal break when attendees are a bit languid, or at the very end of the event when a lot of them have left already.
Celebrate milestones during the raise: Every time you get significantly closer to hitting the day’s target, celebrate it. For example, if your goal is to raise $30000, then announce and celebrate when the contributions reach $5000, $15000, maybe hit a gong at $25000, and so on. Also, make sure to recognize all contributions, big or small, with equal excitement.

Almabase - A Powerful Tool for Hosting Your Paddle Raise

At its core, a paddle raise is fairly simple. But behind that simplicity is a lot of manual tracking like volunteers noting down pledges, someone tallying totals, and follow-up calls or emails to actually collect what was pledged. This is usually where a platform like Almabase can take some of that load off your team.

Instead of clipboards and spreadsheets, Almabase gives you a real-time dashboard of the event as it unfolds, so pledges don't need to be re-entered after the fact. Since collecting payment is often the trickiest part, you can also capture a guest's card at registration and charge pledges automatically once the raise wraps, rather than chasing donors down individually.

A couple of other things worth mentioning: contributions can be routed straight to the fund or project they were raised for, and everything syncs directly with your CRM so your donor records stay accurate without extra data entry.

None of this replaces a great emcee or an emotionally engaged room, but it does mean less time spent staring at numbers, and more time celebrating what you raised.
Request a personalized demo to see how this would look for you!

Featured

How to run a successful paddle raise (fund-a-need) at your event

Learn what a paddle raise is, how you can run one successfully, as well as a few tips to make your paddle raise stand out.

Hari Govind

September 4, 2026

12 minutes

Read

Modern donors expect deeply relevant, personalized communications, especially when it’s alumni hearing from their alma mater. Generic messages won’t cut it, but it can also be difficult to make your appeals stand out when you’re making the same ask every year. To develop annual fund appeal letters that drive revenue and deepen relationships, you need a strategic approach.

Annual fund appeals succeed when they have refined messaging, emotional resonance, and enough variation to win donors’ support outside of flashier, major campaigns. In this post, we’ll explore a few key ways to elevate your university’s next ask.

1. Center Authentic Student Storytelling

Donors give to people, not institutions, making personal narratives one of the most effective fundraising and marketing strategies you can use. By shifting the focus from university-wide achievements to the tangible success of individual students, you foster a direct emotional connection with your audience and demonstrate the real, lasting impact of their donations.

Instead of relying on generic asks for annual fund appeal letters, incorporate the stories of individual students and the scholarships and programs that empower them to thrive. For instance, you might share how a first-generation nursing student used a grant to complete their clinical rotations, or include a quote from a scholarship recipient about how attending your university made their dreams a reality.

No matter how you incorporate storytelling into your appeals, Meyer Partners recommends using the three R's of storytelling to make them as impactful and ethical as possible:

The three R’s of nonprofit storytelling: resonance, relevance, and respect

Resonance: Every story should include real, humanizing details that resonate with donors. Let students tell their stories in their own words, and pair testimonials with photos whenever possible.
Relevance: Make sure the donor can clearly understand their role in the story. Use donor-centric language that appeals directly to supporters’ values, inspiring them to become the changemakers who support the next generation of students.
Respect: Respect both your readers and your storytellers by maintaining authenticity. Be direct and honest about what donations can achieve, and always focus on positive emotions like empowerment rather than guilt or scare tactics.

Incorporate these stories into multiple elements of your annual fund campaign to ensure maximum visibility and consistency. For example, you might include quotes from a student in your direct mail appeals, then post a selfie video of the same student telling their story on social media.

2. Highlight Impactful Giving Opportunities

To maximize revenue and increase average gift sizes, ask for more than standard, one-time cash gifts in your annual appeal letters. Offer additional giving options that provide greater flexibility and can increase donors’ long-term impact. These opportunities are often more compelling, especially for young alumni looking for accessible options and for high-capacity donors looking to make the most of their donations.

Specifically, use your annual appeals to highlight opportunities like:

Matching Gifts

The easiest way to make supporters’ donations go further is to double them. Typically, donors can double the impact of their gifts at no extra cost in one of two ways:

Your university offers a matching donation challenge. Organizations often partner with a major donor who commits to matching every dollar donated within a set timeframe, up to a certain amount. These challenges motivate individual donors to give urgently so they don’t miss out on the match.
Donors request corporate matching gifts from their employers. At any time, donors who work for participating companies can independently request matching donations from their workplaces. If the request meets the employer’s guidelines (e.g., a donation between $10 and $100 to a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit), they’ll match their employee’s gift.

Either way, donation matching is a powerful motivator, especially during year-end giving season. Feature matching gifts prominently in your annual fund appeals, explaining how to participate and why these donations are so impactful.

Recurring Giving

Imagine you’re a recent graduate just starting your career and trying to pay off student loans. You wouldn’t want to donate $1,000 to the university you left last year, but it might be feasible to give $20 a month. In this case, you’re much more likely to respond to an appeal that highlights recurring giving.

Recurring gifts offer a more manageable opportunity to support your university while deepening donor relationships. In your annual fund appeal letters, include the option to give monthly and provide several accessible donation tiers.

Legacy Giving

Plant the seed for long-term support by introducing planned giving and bequest options in your annual appeals, too. These avenues empower alumni to leave a lasting mark on your institution without requiring an immediate, large-scale donation.

Even if most donors aren’t ready to commit to a legacy gift right now, just including information about planned giving in your appeal can get them thinking about it. Include links in emails and QR codes in direct mail letters so supporters can easily learn more on your university’s website or request a meeting with your major gifts officer. Note each donor who shows interest in the program so you can cultivate the relationship over time.

3. Leverage Donor Data for Highly Personalized Appeals

The best fundraising strategies reflect the unique relationship each supporter has with your university. Highly personalized appeals show each donor that you value them as an individual and respect their unique contributions.

Use your donor and alumni data to tailor your asks as much as possible. Go beyond addressing recipients by their preferred names—reference their specific past involvement, giving history, and personal connections to the university. Acknowledging that an alumnus was on the debate team or that a donor consistently supports the engineering department validates their identity and gives them clear, specific reasons to give again.

Segment your donor lists in several ways to maximize relevancy, and regularly audit your donor database to ensure all contact information and engagement records are accurate before sending appeals.

If you aren’t sure how to best segment your audience, hone in on the highest-value potential donors, or match supporters with the right requests, consider professional donor analytics services. Experienced fundraising consultants who specialize in data analysis can help you optimize your strategy for this year’s annual fund appeal and well into the future.

An effective annual fund approach relies on deep personalization, authentic narratives, and a variety of flexible giving options tailored to your audience. Upgrading the underlying strategy of your communications with these tips will help you build stronger relationships with alumni and secure the financial future of your core programs.

Featured

3 Ways to Build a Better Annual Fund Appeal for Higher Ed

Asking for donations to your annual fund can feel repetitive, but your appeal letters shouldn’t be. Learn how to develop better annual fund appeals here.

Alyssa Jefferies

September 3, 2026

12 minutes

Read

LinkedIn continues to stay relevant for alumni outreach in 2026 as it is one of the most comprehensive self-updating directories from an advancement standpoint. Over 50% of LinkedIn’s user base holds a higher-education degree, and ~53% of US college graduates are active on the platform.

That means your alumni not only present but also likely engaging with a variety of content. But as far as reaching out to them goes, being present on LinkedIn and being reachable are two different things, and the wrong outreach strategy can disinterest or even alienate alumni.

In this blog, we’ll go through whether LinkedIn is worth your time for alumni outreach and how you can get your alumni’s attention effectively.

Is LinkedIn outreach worth the investment?

Let’s start with understanding why LinkedIn is different from the other channels

LinkedIn InMail gets a 10–25% response rate while cold email, by comparison, sits at 1–5%. The platform’s natural context is also a big factor here because when an alum receives an InMail from their alma mater, it’s in a different environment to when they’re sorting through personal emails and family messages. They log on to LinkedIn with a certain mindset, which makes them more open to professional conversations.

LinkedIn also gives outreach teams more context about who they’re reaching before they begin the process such as:

Where an alum works currently
What they’ve recently posted
What groups and communities they’re in
Who the common connections are

That’s a lot of helpful material to tailor the first message that will hopefully be the start of a donor’s journey. Combine all of this with the social media nature of the platform and you get a channel that has a lot of potential if you approach it right.

LinkedIn Alumni Outreach Strategies

Now that we’ve established that LinkedIn is at least worth a look, let’s set your team up for success so that your messages don’t go ignored.

1. Build an Active Presence Before You Send a Message

Advancement teams (and most teams in any field, to be fair) tend to treat LinkedIn outreach the same way they’d treat a cold email campaign. They find the person, write the message, hit send, and hope for the best.

But LinkedIn is, at it’s core, a social network. Your alumni notice who’s following you, who’s commenting on your posts, and whether your institution has a solid presence on the platform. If your university’s LinkedIn page hasn’t posted in months and the last post was a stock photo of a campus building, it hurts your cause already.

Before you start an outreach campaign, make sure you tick all these boxes::

First, make sure your institution’s LinkedIn page is active. Posting once per weekday helps you reach 60% of your followers in a month. You should be aiming for consistent presence over viral content.
Secondly, look for mutual connections, a shared connection increases reply rates by 27%. If a colleague or another alum is already connected,
Thirdly, follow the alum you plan to message and leave a genuine comment on something they’ve posted. If possible, build and nurture your online relationship with them. You should be looking to gain a follow-back. This can be crucial since alumni who already follow your institution are 81% more likely to respond to your InMail.

2. Build a Segmented List

Use your CRM along with LinkedIn's alumni search tool to understand who you will be sending your messages to. Many alumni engagement tools also allow you to better find, segment, and automate outreach to the right people.

The segmentation itself will be crucial as personalization is a big part of making your message stand out (as we will explain later), so take your time and make sure all your segments and alumni information is updated, synced, and ready to go.

3. Get the Subject Line Right

LinkedIn InMail by default gives you a 200-character subject line limit. When an alum receives your InMail as a notification, they see roughly 25 to 40 characters before the preview cuts off.

For this reason, short, specific, and personalized subject lines can work really well. For example: “A quick question from [University]” or “Connecting with [Name] re: mentorship”.

What won’t work on the other hand, is anything that sounds like a mass email campaign. Something like “Exciting news from the alumni office!” might feel generic or may confuse recipients.

4. Keep the Message Short and Simple

LinkedIn’s own data shows that InMails under 400 characters get higher response rates. Many institutions sometimes write messages much longer than this and have their messages scrolled past.

For your first message, your alums only need enough to understand what you’re asking and if it's worth their time. If you have more context to give and more reasons to say why this outreach matters, that can follow later.

Write a ~300-character message that asks one clear question. The message can address the basics such as who you are, why you’re reaching out, and your one specific question.

5. Personalize Beyond the Name

Alumni can tell if a message was written for them or if someone just replaced a mail merge field, so you’ll want to go further than just swapping people’s first names. Here’s a few things that might help with personalization:

Spend a couple of minutes on the alum’s profile; personalized InMails increase acceptance rates by about 40%, according to LinkedIn data. Mention a recent post they made, a project they were publicly credited for, a career transition they just went through, or a shared connection.
Find a good natural connection between what you discover about them and what you’re reaching out about. If you’re inviting them to a career mentorship panel and they’ve been posting about early-career development, mention that. If you’re reaching out around their 10-year graduation anniversary, you definitely want to acknowledge it.
Avoid mentioning generic and obvious things like “I see you graduated from [University].” Good personalization shows you’ve paid attention to their life after graduation and you have a brief window that you want to make the most out of, especially for less-engaged alumni.

6. Templates for Common Outreach Scenarios

Here are some templates that you could borrow and build on to personalize your next outreach message on LinkedIn:

General reconnect: ‍

"Hi [Name], congrats on the move to [Company]. I'm on the alumni relations team at [University]. We're putting together a small group of alumni at your career stage to get some honest input on our programs. Would a 15-minute call work?"

Mentorship opportunity: ‍

"Hi [Name], I work in alumni relations at [University]. Saw your recent post on [topic] and thought you'd be a great fit for our mentorship program. We're matching alumni with students in [field]. Would you have 30 minutes to hear more?"

Upcoming event: ‍

"Hi [Name], I'm with alumni relations at [University]. We're hosting a small dinner for [City] alumni on [date] and wanted to make sure you were on the list. Can I send you the details?"

Giving day: ‍

"Hi [Name], [University]'s giving day is [date]. This year all gifts are going toward [initiative]. Wanted to reach out personally before things kick off. Can I send you a bit more context on what it supports?"

What each of these has in common is one clear ask and customization that shows the sender did their homework before reaching out.

7. Time Your Outreach Well

LinkedIn data shows that Friday and Saturday see 4% and 8% fewer than average responses, respectively. Your alumni may want to relax and disconnect from the professional world on the weekends, so Monday through Thursday is a good window. However, depending on your event calendar, and past alumni engagement data, this can vary a bit so do double check!

Going back to the mentioned window, Sprout Social's analysis of nearly 2 billion engagements across major social platforms points to Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as LinkedIn's peak activity window. That's when professionals are most actively checking and responding on the platform, so it's your best shot at being seen before your message gets buried.

8. What to Do When Alumni Reply

Your next message after an alum replies sets the tone for the entire conversation that follows and the subsequent relationship. So here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Reply quickly, ideally within a few hours of seeing their response.
Thank them by name and reference something specific from their reply.
Remember that this is a conversation on a social platform.

The goal should be to establish that your team and, by extension, your institution has a real interest in keeping in touch with them after graduation. For this reason, you’ll want to:

Find out what they’re working on.
Ask follow-up questions.
Make it clear that there is no immediate ask attached.

💡This doubles as an opportunity to get updated information in case their profile information hasn’t been updated in a while.

Alumni who are connected to their institution are 23 times more likely to donate than those who aren’t. That connection, however, has to be built through consistent, genuine interaction over time. So, when it’s time to make an ask, it’s coming from the context of the conversation.

Build a LinkedIn Alumni Community (and not just another contact list)

At the end of the day, one-on-one outreach can only take you so far. Advancement and alumni relations teams that are able to keep alumni engaged are also building environments where alumni feel like they want to stay engaged.

If we are sticking to the platform at hand, LinkedIn Groups are a great way to do this. You can organize alumni groups around:

Your institution
Graduation cohorts
Academic departments
Regional chapters
Donor groups
Matching gift opportunities

…and much much more

AdvancementForm looked at what the institutions running active alumni groups have in common. Here are the main takeaways:

Stay active every day: Keith Hannon of Cornell University shared that two-thirds of alumni relations professionals running thriving LinkedIn communities log in daily. That includes posting, answering questions, responding to comments, and engaging with what other members are sharing.
Give alumni the spotlight: Spotlighting a graduate's career achievement or resharing something they wrote brings their audience into your content. Even the simple act of tagging alumni where needed will ensure that their network is notified as well.
Share career resources such as job postings, industry reads/insights, career advice for alumni at different stages and make sure they are updated frequently. This is the content that consistently performs well as it provides a clear reason to engage.
Mix up your content formats: Posts with images get a 98% higher comment rate than those without, and posts with YouTube videos (that play directly in the feed) get a 75% higher share rate. Varying your formats will keep the feed from feeling like a broadcast channel.
Ask alumni to help current students: Academic Impressions flags this as an especially meaningful way to engage alumni because it gives them an opportunity to give back give back, even without a financial element. Posting something like "What do you wish someone told you in your first year in [industry]?" gets replies from alumni who would otherwise never comment on, say, an event announcement.
Run polls: Lebanon Valley College asked their alumni "What career field are you currently in or looking to enter?" and it sparked a lively, ongoing discussion among their alumni. Polls can be a great icebreaker and contextualizing them to recent events, career stages, or other segmented needs is even better!
Add in the nostalgia angle: Questions and posts about campus memories or institutional history give alumni interactive content that serves as a break on their feed from the usual LinkedIn content while also reminding them of why they feel connected to their school.

Finally, if you're thinking about content ratios, keep it weighted toward value-first content, career resources, alumni recognition, and conversation, with campaigns and event promotion playing a supporting role, not leading the feed.

Measure Your Progress and Know Your Blind Spots

You need to know whether your efforts are paying off. So, if you’re running structured outreach campaign on LinkedIn, here are the metrics which will help you track what's working:

Connection acceptance rate: You generally want to aim for ~20% or above. If you're below that, check whether you're warming up contacts before sending requests and whether your institution's page looks active and credible.
InMail response rate: With personalized, well-targeted outreach, this should sit between 10–25%. Single-digit numbers are an indication to look at your message length, your subject line preview, and how specific your personalization is.
Conversation-to-action rate: This tracks what percentage of replies converts into whatever your goal is, whether that’s an event registration, a scheduled call, or a gift.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) tracks alumni engagement across four modes: philanthropic, volunteer, experiential, and communications.

LinkedIn activity can feed into your experiential and communications metrics. If you’re not tracking LinkedIn engagement as part of your overall alumni engagement scorecard, you should consider starting now.

A few common blind spots that can be avoided include:

Reaching out only when there's an ask: If alumni only hear from you around giving day or annual fund season, the outreach feels transactional. Only 27% of alumni who donate give to their alma mater. The most common reason others don't give is because they don't feel connected enough to make it a priority.
Writing LinkedIn messages like emails: Avoid long messages, formal language, attached PDFs when LinkedIn is conversational. Keep messages short, and the tone conversational.Save the documents for follow-up conversations.
Ignoring alumni who engage with your posts: When an alum comments on something your institution shared, respond to them, thank them by name, and if appropriate, send a connection request with a brief personal note referencing what they said.
Not knowing what comes next when someone replies: Replying to a message without a clear next step might waste the opening you had spent time and effort on. Know what you’re trying to accomplish before you send the first message so that when someone replies, you’re ready to take the conversation forward.

Final Thoughts

We hope we’ve been able to give you and your team plenty of things to keep in mind. While LinkedIn outreach may seem like a simple game of numbers at first glance, any outreach campaigns involving social media rarely tend to be so predictable and you definitely want to keep that in mind.

To wrap things up, keep personalization (and segmentation by extension) at the heart of your strategy, have a consistent presence on LinkedIn just as you probably do with Facebook or Instagram, and make sure you are thinking about how to take the conversation forward many weeks ahead of time so that alumni feel appreciated after reacting to your outreach.

If you are looking for an alumni engagement platform to help you plan, execute, and measure your alumni outreach and engagement strategy, Almabase is built just for that so feel free to book a personalized demo with us!

Featured

How to Reach Out to Alumni on LinkedIn and Get Responses

Our article takes you through LinkedIn alumni outreach and how your team or institution can ensure that your alumni don't ignore your messages.

Prajnya Yelamali

September 2, 2026

12 minutes

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Peer-to-peer fundraising (also referred to as p2p fundraising) has established itself as a mainstay fundraising method with fundraisers like the American Heart Association's Heart Walk setting the standard by raising an impressive $110 million—making it the largest P2P fundraising program in the U.S. and a testament to the power of community-driven giving. According to Nonprofit Source, peer-to-peer fundraisers bring in an average of 4 new donors for every fundraising page created.

Whether you're a nonprofit, K-12 school, or higher education institution, p2p fundraising offers a versatile solution that combines social networking with charitable giving. By the end of this article, you'll understand how to implement this strategy and choose the right peer -to-peer fundraising platforms to support your mission.

What is peer-to-peer fundraising?

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a fundraising method where supporters create personal fundraising pages and solicit donations from their networks on behalf of an organization. Unlike traditional fundraising where an organization directly asks for donations, p2p fundraising empowers individual supporters to become advocates who raise funds from their friends, family, and colleagues.

What makes P2P fundraising so effective is its personal touch. When people give to someone they know and trust, they’re more likely to donate—and often in larger amounts. This approach turns passive donors into active fundraisers, helping your cause gain visibility and build stronger connections with new supporters. In fact, 39% of Americans report donating to charity based on a request from a friend or family member, which goes to show the power of personal connections in driving support.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Ideas

Looking for creative ways to implement your next p2p fundraiser? Here are some proven ideas to inspire your next campaign:

1. Athletic Challenges: Organize walking, running, or biking events where participants create fundraising pages and collect pledges from their networks. Events like charity runs, walkathons, or bike-a-thons create built-in communities of supporters. The American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" raised over $5.2 billion since its inception by empowering participants to create personal fundraising pages for their relay teams.

2. Tribute Campaigns: Enabling supporters to fundraise in honor or memory of loved ones leads to meaningful campaigns that resonate with their personal networks. For example, the Alzheimer's Association's "The Longest Day" campaign raised $13 million in a recent season by encouraging participants to create tribute pages for loved ones affected by the disease.

3. DIY Fundraising: Allow supporters to create their own unique fundraising events, from bake sales to backyard concerts, empowering them to leverage their specific talents and interests. St. Jude's "Create Your Own" program generated $4.2 million in 2023 through supporter-created events ranging from lemonade stands to corporate challenges.

4. Team Competitions: In 2023, during Cornell Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising event, the university raised a record-breaking $13,043,165 from 18,296 donors. While specific details about class competitions contributing $2.4 million in 2023 weren't found, the overall success of such events highlights the potential of friendly competitions in fundraising.

Benefits of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Implementing P2P fundraising offers numerous advantages for organizations:

Expanded Reach: Research indicates that the average individual's social network size varies. A study found that the average person has 450+ social connections. This expansive network can significantly broaden your organization's potential donor base when supporters engage in peer-to-peer fundraising.
Cost-Effective: Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns can yield substantial returns. According to data from the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum, the average amount raised per participant in 2020 was $187, up from $139 in 2019. This demonstrates the potential of volunteer-driven campaigns to generate significant funds.
Sustainable Growth: By empowering supporters to take an active role, you not only inspire more donors but also boost donor retention as you turn one-time or occasional donors into active supporters. Institutions nowadays integrate peer-to-peer fundraising into their overall donor engagement strategy and encourage fundraisers to participate in recurring campaigns, provide them with the tools to share their stories, and recognize their efforts to keep them engaged.

How Does Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Benefit K12 and Higher Ed?

Educational institutions face unique fundraising challenges, making peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising particularly valuable in engaging their communities and expanding their support networks.

K-12 Schools:

For K-12 schools, P2P fundraising fosters deeper parent involvement and strengthens community bonds. Parents can become fundraising champions, reaching out to their extended families, colleagues, and social networks to support their children's education. This approach not only increases financial support but also teaches students valuable lessons about community service and philanthropy.

For instance, Cathedral High School embraced digital fundraising by empowering students to raise money and awareness for their annual tuition assistance campaign. This initiative allowed students to actively participate in philanthropy, enhancing their engagement and understanding of community support.

Higher Education Institutions:

Higher education institutions can leverage their extensive alumni networks through P2P fundraising. Graduates often maintain strong emotional connections to their alma maters, making them effective advocates. Class reunions, homecoming events, and giving days can be amplified through P2P campaigns that tap into class pride and friendly competition among alumni groups.

Princeton University's Annual Giving program engaged over 2,500 volunteers and received contributions from many more, resulting in $73.8 million raised. This success underscores the power of peer-driven campaigns in sustaining donor engagement over time.

Both K-12 and higher education institutions can use p2p fundraising to support specific initiatives such as scholarships, facility improvements, or technology upgrades, providing supporters with concrete goals to rally behind.

Getting Started with Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Ready to implement p2p fundraising for your organization? Here’s a refresher on the essential steps to ensure success:

Define your campaign goals: Establish clear objectives for your P2P campaign, including fundraising targets, participation goals, and timeline.
Select the right platform: Choose a P2P fundraising platform that integrates with your existing systems and offers the features you need (more on this below).
Create compelling campaign materials: Develop engaging stories, images, and videos that supporters can use when sharing your campaign.
Recruit and train fundraising champions: Identify enthusiastic supporters and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.
Develop a communication plan: Create a schedule of regular updates, reminders, and encouragement for your fundraisers.
Provide fundraising tools: Give your champions customizable email templates, social media posts, and other resources to make sharing easy.
Offer incentives: Consider recognition programs or small prizes for top fundraisers to boost motivation.
Show impact: Regularly share how funds raised are making a difference to keep supporters engaged.
Express gratitude: Thank both fundraisers and donors promptly. Keep them looped in on how the funds are used as well as future opportunities.

Choosing the Right Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platform

Choosing the right platform is like hiring a handy staff member, and you’ll want to make sure you get the choice right. Consider these essential features and your own needs to narrow down your shortlist:

User-friendly interface: Ensure all your supporters can easily create and manage fundraising pages
Mobile optimization: If mobile fundraising is a priority, look into the level of optimization and donor user interface.
Customization: Depending on your budget and needs, you may want simple template pages or customizable templates that support extensive customization and integration.
Social media integration: Look for platforms that have good integration with the social media platforms where your donors and supporters are more active.
Team fundraising capabilities: Depending on your needs, you may want team fundraising support and better gamification support in a platform.
Donor management: Some teams may want a platform that also comes with alumni management features, while for some others, a simple Facebook or LinkedIn group might do the job.
Payment processing: Consider the payment options supported by a platform as well as the fees associated and if it fits your donor base as well as your budget.
Reporting Tools: Some platforms offer deep analytics and engagement metrics which may be crucial for some teams but redundant for a small team that only wants to track a few metrics.
Communication: Your team might want automated and personalized text and email communication features, while for smaller teams with a smaller donor base, these features may stretch their budget unnecessarily.
CRM Integration: Depending on your team’s needs, you may want a platform that can connect seamlessly with your existing CRM or one that comes with its own CRM.

💡Check out our picks on the top peer-to-peer fundraising platforms to power your next campaign

How Can Almabase's Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Tool Elevate Your Fundraising Efforts

Almabase offers a powerful peer-to-peer fundraising solution designed for educational institutions and nonprofits. As one of the most loved platforms, Almabase sets itself apart by seamlessly integrating into most educational CRMs. Our industry-leading two-way synchronization with Raiser's Edge NXT, ensures your donor data remains consistent across all systems.

Almabase's unique features include:

‍Effortless fundraiser onboarding & management: Supporters can easily set up personalized fundraising pages, track their progress, and engage their networks—all from an intuitive dashboard.
Seamless integration with your advancement CRM:Designed to work with leading CRMs, Almabase ensures that donor data flows effortlessly between systems, reducing administrative overhead and improving efficiency.
Customizable campaigns to fit your needs: Whether you’re running a giving day, class challenge, or alumni fundraiser, Almabase offers fully customizable campaigns tailored to your institution’s unique goals.
Engagement tools that drive results: Features like automated donor outreach, gamification (leaderboards & badges), and social sharing encourage friendly competition and help fundraisers reach more donors.
Dedicated support: Almabase offers active support via email and live chat for customers in the US, UK, and Canada, ensuring seamless fundraising experiences and quick issue resolution.

Conclusion

Peer-to-peer fundraising has become a proven strategy for expanding an organization or institution’s reach and engaging supporters in meaningful ways. By empowering your community to become active fundraisers, you can tap into new networks, create authentic connections, and ultimately raise more funds for your mission.

Whether you're just getting started with P2P fundraising or looking to enhance your existing efforts, the right approach and technology can make all the difference. With platforms like Almabase, you can implement sophisticated campaigns that engage supporters and drive results.

Ready to take your fundraising to the next level? Explore these resources for more insights:

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Success For Higher Ed in 2024

Building Community Through Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

What is peer-to-peer fundraising? Top P2P Fundraising Ideas

Explore top peer-to-peer fundraising ideas and learn how P2P fundraising can boost donor reach, engagement, and impact for schools and nonprofits.

Anwesha Kiran

March 28, 2025

12 minutes

Read

Introduction

A high school reunion allows alumni to relive memories, celebrate growth, and forge or rekindle connections. Yet orchestrating them has required better and better planning over the years. Alumni are more scattered than they used to be, their calendars fuller than ever, and their expectations higher. You can improvise your way through a high school reunion but planning a memorable reunion is no easy task today.

Luckily, there are decades of past experiences and learnings to guide you and in this blog, we’re going to condense all that expertise into actionable strategies that make your event truly worthwhile. Let’s get started:

1. Determine your audience

Your alumni are at the heart of every reunion so it makes sense that your first priority will be who the reunion is for. Every other bit of planning branches out from this core decision. For example,

- a reunion based on a school milestone (say a 20th anniversary) will draw in a larger crowd

- a reunion for a specific batch (2004 batch for example) or a geographic location (like the school’s district) will be smaller and better for deeper connections

- interest groups (say, 2005 state champions team) are great for reuniting like-minded people for a specific cause

2. Enlist help

Even the relatively smaller reunions today require more than one person to organize successfully. This is where you should look for students, alumni, or staff who might be willing to volunteer. Depending on the scale of your reunion, you may need anywhere from a couple of planners to a whole committee to help in each stage of your planning. Keep in mind that each helping hand can also be an

3. Choose a theme

Themes serve as the emotional backbone of a reunion. We can’t choose your theme for you as this depends entirely on your audience, budget, and the goals you have in mind. However, we can provide you with some types and examples of reunion themes to help generate some ideas:

- based on alumni batch (for example, an 80s dance for multiple batches with a nostalgic theme)

- based on school traditions (say, a sports-themed event with decorations based on team colors and past achievements, accompanied by a friendly game between alumni)

- based on seasonal timing (like a summer bash or a winter formal event)

4. Establish a budget

Financial planning can make the difference between a memorable reunion and a fiscal disaster. Start by itemizing non-negotiable expenses such as venue deposits can catering. These two will take up a large chunk of your budget.

You’ll also want to think about how you want to monetize your event (apart from the typical ticket sales). You can consider Implementing tiered pricing through early bird discounts or premium tickets that include accommodation or commemorative yearbooks. Crowdfunding platforms can be great to help you subsidize costs for financially constrained attendees or farther alumni as well. Finally, always allocate 10–15% for unexpected expenses like overtime fees or weather-related adjustments.

5. Choose a time and place

Venue choice profoundly impacts attendance and atmosphere. Hotels offer convenience with built-in accommodations, while outdoor spaces allow for more activities and picnics. When evaluating locations, scrutinize any possible hidden costs. Some venues may charge extra for cleanup, equipment, or security.

As for the time, consider the schedule of your alumni to maximize attendance. Holiday weekends might boost availability but could conflict with their family obligations. You can also consider hybrid options, such as a Friday evening cocktail hour for local professionals and a Saturday brunch to travelers.

6. Set up a reunion website

Once you have your audience, theme, budget, and other basic details ready, it’s time to set up the main online hub for people to learn about your reunion—your reunion website. This is a crucial step as you will probably be reaching out through online communication and you’ll want all your CTAs to lead back to it.

Depending on your team and the resources available, you might already have a solution like Almabase that can easily set up an event page for you, or you may need to manually create a webpage from scratch. Whatever it is you go with, make sure that all the vital details and registration links are up and working. You’ll also want to keep updating the page with updates, maps, walk routes, and teasers as the reunion gets closer.

7. Get the word out

Now it’s time to spread the word and attract eyes towards your upcoming reunion! Promote your reunion on relevant school pages, social media platforms, and directly to alumni inboxes. While physical invitations can be seen as accommodation for less tech-savvy people, they are also a great means to create a heartfelt invitation. Here are some other things to keep in mind while promoting your reunion:

- Your promotions should have all the necessary details (who it’s for, theme, time, place, route, etc.) or direct them to where they can find all of it.

- Some alumni may respond with questions. Keep an eye on your inboxes.

- Promote volunteers or supporters to humanize your event further.

- Share any important updates as soon as possible to avoid frustrated travel bookings and reschedules from interested alumni.

8. Finalize logistics

While your initial budgeting would have accounted for a lot of your expenses, some other potential expenses are best dealt with a month or a few weeks before the date of your reunion. These include:

- dietary preference surveys and corresponding orders to caterers

- shots list and other requirements from photographers/videographers

- attendee gifts

9. Keep attendees updated

It goes without saying but make sure your potential attendees stay interested and informed. Keep mentioning any ticketing changes, crowdfunding opportunities, or fundraising goals associated with the reunion in your regular communication. As the reunion gets closer, you can switch to more frequent communication to build up hype and inform them of any important updates.

10. Post-event engagement

Depending on the audience you gathered, you can try a variety of alumni engagement methods after your reunion. If you had a reunion of similarly minded or hobby-specific alumni, you can create online interest groups to keep the conversation going. For the most part, digital engagement will be your friend. Annual virtual meetups via Zoom can maintain momentum between in-person gatherings, ensuring your class’s story continues to unfold.

For philanthropically inclined classes, establish scholarship funds or community service initiatives that extend the reunion’s impact. Alumni located nearby can be engaged through volunteering opportunities to turn them into active supporters as well.

Finally, make sure to include your attendees in your marketing and social media strategies as a segment so you can measure and compare your engagement strategies with other events over time as well as target specific initiatives to interest them.

Wrapping it up

We recognize that it takes a lot of planning and logistical execution behind the scenes. That’s why we’ve come up with a neat little editable checklist to help you plan your next high school reunion. No strings attached, check it out here!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I track down alumni?

Your school’s alumni database should be the first place you look. Social media platforms, yearbooks, and connections to staff or contactable alumni should help you fill out the gaps to build a comprehensive list. For a larger reunion, you may want to form a committee specifically for this task.

2. How do I make a reunion memorable?

A memorable reunion isn’t just about reliving old memories but also making new ones. It is about reconnecting or even making new connections through a common alma mater. Keeping this in mind, you can plan activities and venues that your alumni will remember fondly. Your post-event engagement will also play a major part in their impression of the event.

3. When should I start planning a reunion?

It is ideal to start planning 6-12 months ahead to secure venues, track down alumni, and gather feedback. You should ideally look to finalize RSVPs and payments 1-2 months before the event.

4. How do I handle RSVPs and ticket sales for my reunion?

Your event management platform of choice should be the place for all RSVPs and ticket sales. If you don’t have one, you can use specialized tools for each task such as a combination of Google Forms, Facebook events, and Mailchimp to track responses.

5. What if my reunion has low attendance?

You can try to increase attendees by including virtual events for alumni who won’t be able to attend. If you want to keep if offline, you can use the lower attendance as an opportunity to have an intricately personalized event that will make the attendees glad they made it.

Guide to Planning a Memorable High School Reunion

Learn how to plan a high school reunion with this step-by-step guide on budgeting, venue selection, promotion, RSVPs, and post-event engagement.

March 18, 2025

12 minutes

Read

Matching gift challenges have always been a great way to motivate donors and boost participation—but keeping up with them? That’s another story. Manually tracking donations, updating totals, and making sure your campaign stays engaging can take up valuable time that could be spent building relationships with donors.

That’s why we built Almabase’s new Matching Gifts and Challenges—so you can run dynamic, high-impact fundraising challenges without the operational headaches. Here’s what makes it a game-changer:

Create challenges that align with your community spirit and goals

What motivates your donors the most? Is it the thrill of a dollar-for-dollar match or a nostalgic nod to a class year? Or is it perhaps a time-sensitive goal that builds urgency?

With the new matching gifts challenges, the admin can design and set custom participation, tiered donation, and time unlocks additional funds when a specific donor count is reached. This flexibility will allow you to create challenges unique to your mission and resonate with your donors.

Real-time thermometer updates - leave the cumbersome calculations to us

No more scrambling to update donors or manually tracking challenge progress. Every gift is instantly recorded, and challenges auto-update, giving your team a clear picture of campaign performance by automatically updating the matching gift thermometer. With less time spent on admin work, you can focus on what truly matters—building relationships, crafting compelling donor messaging, and driving long-term fundraising success.

Categorize and highlight your most important challenges using multiple campaign hubs

Your giving page isn’t just a place to donate—it’s a dynamic hub for your fundraising priorities. With customizable layouts, you can categorize and highlight your most important campaigns, ensuring donors see what matters most. Whether it's donor participation challenges or time-sensitive giving day matchups, multiple campaign hubs help you tell a clearer story and drive more impact—while a frictionless donation process ensures more completed gifts and fewer drop-offs.

Gamifying your campaigns does more than raise funds—it builds community. Challenges like matching gifts or participation goals create shared milestones, helping donors feel part of something bigger. With Almabase's matching gifts challenges, you're not just creating campaigns—you're creating moments that bring your community together, inspire generosity, and leave a lasting impact.

2X fundraising impact with auto-updating matching challenges

Drive better fundraising outcomes with new auto-matching gifts and challenges! Automatically update matching gift thermometers, create dynamic fundraising challenges, and streamline your campaign management—no manual tracking needed.

March 17, 2025

12 minutes

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Emma left school five years ago and, like many alumni, slowly faded from the radar of her alma mater. One day, however, she received an email that wasn’t just a generic “we miss you” message, but a thoughtful invitation that highlighted her achievements and why it mattered for a mentorship they were setting up. That single outreach was personalised enough to catch Emma’s interest, and today she’s an active mentor guiding current students through career challenges.

This transformation—from silence to strategic engagement is not unique. Many development teams in the UK have dormant alumni lists full of untapped potential. Here’s a clear, actionable roadmap to convert these silent contacts into career mentors and network catalysts using innovative tools and processes.

Uncovering Untapped Potential

The first step is not about reaching out blindly; it’s about understanding your alumni data. Most institutions maintain extensive CRM systems, yet few leverage these databases to pinpoint the “Emma’s” hidden among thousands of names.

Start by conducting a data audit–segment your alumni by leaving year, career milestones (promotions, industry recognition and awards, entrepreneurial success, career transitions, etc), and engagement history.

You don’t need to be a tech expert here. Many user-friendly platforms can integrate with your current CRM to automatically update and sort your data. Think of it as a smart way to group your contacts so you can easily identify those with strong professional trajectories.

Tool Tip: Use segmentation tools available within your CRM to flag dormant alumni. Consider employing predictive analytics to identify profiles with untapped mentorship potential. For example, a simple analysis might reveal that alumni who have not engaged in the past 3–5 years still have a strong professional trajectory—exactly the group that can become powerful mentors.

Personalised Outreach: Cutting Through the Noise

Generic emails are a dime a dozen now. Emma’s re-engagement wasn’t sparked by a blanket email—in her case, it was the result of an AI-powered, personalised outreach campaign. Instead of a mass email, she was part of the target audience for a campaign that used natural language processing to analyse each alum’s profile and craft messages that speak directly to her journey.

Emma might not have responded to a generic mass email campaign. It might not have even entered her primary inbox. But by making the outreach less about the institution and more about her and why they needed her, they were able to catch her interest. Today, you can go even further by integrating your CRM with AI tools capable of advanced segmentation features to create drip campaigns that adapt based on user responses.

Even if technology handles the initial outreach, remember that a human touch goes a long way. After sending a personalized email, consider a follow-up phone call or in-person meeting to further the connection. This blend of digital and personal interaction ensures your message resonates.

Process Insight: Develop an automated workflow that triggers personalised emails based on alumni behavior. For instance, if an alum clicks on a mentorship invitation link but doesn’t complete the registration, the system should automatically follow up with a reminder tailored to their interests. Then, have a member of your development team reach out personally—perhaps with a quick call—to offer additional support and answer any questions.

Seamless Mentorship Onboarding

Once an alum like Emma expresses interest, the next step is to make their transition into a mentorship role as frictionless as possible. Many alumni become disillusioned by cumbersome registration processes. You can set your institution apart by creating an intuitive online portal where interested alumni can quickly update their profiles, indicate areas of expertise, and sign up for mentoring roles–all within a few clicks.

Steps to Implement:

Build a simple registration form integrated into your alumni platform.
Utilise a mentor-matching tool like Almabase, that pairs alumni with students based on industry, interests, and location.
After registration, schedule a brief call or meeting to welcome the mentor personally and address any questions.
Follow up with personalized email sequences – from gathering feedback on their sign-up experience to understanding their motivations. This will further strengthen their relationship with the development team.
Integrate scheduling tools like Calendly to streamline setting up initial meetings, while your CRM tracks the progress and outcomes of each mentorship relationship.

Continuous Engagement Through Feedback Loops

Re-engaging alumni requires continuous reinforcement. After a few mentoring sessions, reach out to your mentors with brief surveys that ask about their experiences along with a snapshot of how their mentorship impacted a current student’s career trajectory. This isn’t just about collecting feedback—it’s about creating a continuous loop where alumni see the tangible impact of their contributions and feel motivated to continue or spread the word.

Method to Sustain Engagement:

Use tools that have built-in feedback features in your alumni software to send periodic check-ins.
Set up dashboards to track key metrics such as mentor satisfaction, frequency of sessions, and successful mentor-mentee outcomes.
This data allows you to fine-tune your programs in real-time, ensuring that engagement remains high and mentors feel valued.

An article in The Times highlights how robust alumni networks can positively impact career guidance and student success. Integrating similar continuous engagement practices will help your institution achieve comparable outcomes.

Empowering the Future, One Mentor at a Time

Dormant alumni are not relics of the past; they are reservoirs of untapped potential that can drive career mentoring and network growth. Emma’s transformation illustrates that with the right tools and processes, development teams can convert silence into strategic, measurable impact.

This is a clear, actionable strategy built on data-driven discovery, personalised outreach, streamlined onboarding, and continuous engagement that can drive impactful results for your school, such as:

Improved career outcomes for current student.
A reinvigorated alumni network.
A stronger, more connected institution ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Essential Steps at a Glance

1. Audit & Segment Your Alumni Data: Use segmentation tools to sort contacts by leaving year, career milestones, and past engagement.

2. Personalised Outreach: Combine smart, tailored emails with personal follow-ups (calls or meetings) to make genuine connections.

3. Seamless Onboarding: Offer an easy online registration process and follow up with personal touches to welcome new mentors.

4. Continuous Engagement: Use a mix of automated surveys and personal check-ins to gather feedback and maintain strong relationships.

5. Scale to Your Needs: Adapt these strategies whether you re managing a large mentoring programme or seeking a few key mentors for specific events.

Take a moment to consider what untapped potential lies in your dormant alumni list and how a balanced approach of technology and human interaction can unlock that potential.

How to Turn Dormant Alumni into Career Mentors and Network Catalysts

Take a moment to consider what untapped potential lies in your dormant alumni list and what a balanced approach of technology and human interaction can unlock

March 13, 2025

12 minutes

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When your nonprofit is working to cultivate supporter relationships—especially with first-time donors—it’s critical to instill confidence in them. Donors need to trust that your organization will use their contributions to further its mission before they get involved in any fundraising initiative.

Your nonprofit’s brand is a key tool for building this trust. According to Loop, the visual and verbal aspects of an organization’s brand “communicate who they are and the heart of their work. It’s a promise to participants, partners, and supporters, [demonstrating] why these people should believe in them.”

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to apply your nonprofit’s brand to every aspect of your fundraising campaigns. But first, let’s review a few key branding elements you’ll need to solidify before you start.

Key Nonprofit Branding Elements

When you think about a brand, the first thing that probably comes to mind are the visuals associated with it—consider the Nike “swoosh” on the for-profit side or the WWF panda among nonprofits. However, branding extends beyond visuals and includes how your organization talks about itself and tells its story. The taglines “Just Do It” and “For a Living Planet” are just as much a part of the Nike and WWF brands (respectively) as their logos, and the same is true of other aspects of their written content.

Here are some brand elements your nonprofit should make sure to include in all fundraising campaign content:

‍Logo. This graphic encapsulates your mission and provides a distinctive, memorable symbol to represent your organization. When you feature your logo prominently on fundraising and communication materials, supporters will see it as a stamp of approval, instilling confidence that they’re contributing to your nonprofit.
Colours. Carefully-chosen brand colours help communicate your nonprofit’s mission through the feelings they tend to evoke. For example, many healthcare organizations use red as a brand colour to convey boldness and urgency, while environmental nonprofits often prefer green because it’s associated with growth and the natural world. Whatever colours you select, make sure you can create adequate contrast between text and backgrounds with them so your content is accessible to all readers.
Typography. Pick fonts that visually communicate your organization’s personality—for instance, rounded fonts evoke openness, while bold fonts appear more serious. Consider using two to three typefaces in content to add variety, but don’t include more than that to avoid a cluttered look.
Imagery. Many nonprofits choose to either prioritize photography or graphical representations when adding mission-related visuals to their content. If your organization mostly uses photos, remember to obtain consent from all subjects (or their guardians if they’re underage) before sharing any images. If you focus more on graphics, choose a specific style to unify your nonprofit’s content.
Messaging. Messaging encompasses tone, word choice, mechanics, and other stylistic choices in writing. Ask yourself how you want your messages to come across (optimistic, friendly, passionate, etc.) and what terms you’d use to describe your nonprofit and its work (e.g., is your animal nonprofit a “rescue,” “shelter,” or “welfare organization”?) to set tone and word choice guidelines. For mechanics, you can use an established style guide (Chicago Manual of Style, Associated Press Stylebook, etc.) or create your own.

Consistency is critical for your nonprofit’s brand to become recognizable and memorable in your community. Compile all of the above elements into a single document, known as a brand guide, so anyone inside or outside your organization who creates content for your nonprofit has a reference for branding it.

How to Apply Your Nonprofit’s Branding to Fundraising

Your nonprofit’s brand should feature prominently at every stage of a fundraising campaign, from planning to follow-up. Let’s discuss how to apply your brand before, during, and after a fundraiser.

Before

Marketing is the main area where your brand will come into play before you officially launch a fundraiser. Incorporate your brand across all of the following channels:

Relevant content on your nonprofit’s website (campaign information page, calendar of events, promotional video embeds, etc.)
Email blasts and newsletters
Text message announcements and reminders
Social media posts across various platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
Paid digital ads on social media and search engines
Print communications like flyers and direct mail
Presentations to major donors, corporate sponsors, and other key players

Naturally, you’ll have to adjust the way you use your brand across various platforms—for instance, text messages will likely only utilize your messaging standards, while you’ll focus much more heavily on visuals for flyers and social media posts. However, the more consistent you can keep your promotional content, the more likely it is that supporters will hear about your campaign and want to get involved.

During

Featuring your branding throughout your campaign reinforces your nonprofit’s mission, reminding participants why they’re engaging at every touchpoint. Plus, it reassures them that they’re giving to your organization and cause every time they contribute. Include applicable brand elements across the following fundraising materials:

Your nonprofit’s online donation page‍
Crowdfunding or social fundraising campaigns
Peer-to-peer fundraising pages‍
Venue signage at in-person events
Videos or presentations featured during a campaign
Merchandise created by your nonprofit (t-shirts, stickers, pens, etc.)
Other event-specific materials, such as bid sheets for a silent auction or race numbers for a 5K

If you launch a fundraiser that involves user-generated content (UGC), provide supporters with guidelines and materials to help them incorporate your nonprofit’s branding into their creations. This way, any UGC will seem unified with the rest of your campaign.

As an example of this, the Project for Awesome (P4A) is an annual online campaign in which participants make YouTube videos to nominate various nonprofits for community-funded grants from the 501(c)(3) organization The Foundation to Decrease World Suck. To promote brand consistency and help YouTube viewers identify official P4A content, supporters can view the campaign’s official brand guidelines on its website and download relevant assets to use in their videos:

A screenshot of the Project for Awesome website where campaign participants can download branded graphic assets to promote consistency across UGC.

After

Supporter engagement doesn’t end when your fundraiser does—and neither does the importance of branding! Keep your messaging guidelines in mind as you write thank-you messages to donors, volunteers, and sponsors, and use branded templates for emails and stationery with your organization’s logo for handwritten notes. Any donation receipts you send to supporters for tax purposes should also include your nonprofit’s logo.

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While it may not seem this way at first, effective branding can make or break your nonprofit’s fundraising success because of its key role in engaging donors and building their confidence. Use the tips above to get started, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a nonprofit branding agency if you need help, have questions, or find that your organization’s image needs a refresh to more effectively appeal to your community.

Understanding the Role of Branding in Nonprofit Fundraising

Your nonprofit’s brand is a key tool for building donor trust and engaging your community in your fundraising efforts. Learn more in this quick guide.

Joshua Layton

March 13, 2025

12 minutes

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If you’ve looked at fundraising and alumni engagement platforms for educational institutions, you’ve probably seen Almabase and GiveCampus get mentioned frequently.

With two great options, it might seem a difficult choice at first. However, depending on your needs for a peer-to-peer fundraising platform, an all-around digital engagement solution, or other needs, your choice can vary greatly. With this blog, we’d like to provide a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed choice to see what each platform does well and which of the two might fit your team better. Let’s get started:

Introduction to Almabase and GiveCampus

Almabase:

Almabase is a SaaS platform designed to empower alumni teams across schools, colleges, and universities. It integrates with existing CRM systems to enhance digital engagement, event management, and online giving campaigns. Almabase is effective for small teams looking to amplify their impact without expanding resources.

GiveCampus:

GiveCampus is a fundraising platform specifically built for educational institutions. It streamlines the fundraising lifecycle by identifying, engaging, soliciting, and stewarding donors. GiveCampus is known for its user-friendly interface and robust volunteer management features.

What Makes Almabase a Good Choice

1. Integration and Efficiency: Almabase seamlessly integrates into most educational institution CRM systems, especially those based on Raiser’s Edge NXT thanks to a long-standing partnership, which ensures:

smooth implementation
best-in-industry sync
reduces manual data pulls and discrepancies

2. Digital Engagement Tools: Almabase offers advanced digital engagement tools that help institutions build lifelong relationships with alumni through a comprehensive alumni directory, personalized emails, text communication, etc. to reach out to alumni more effectively.

3. Excellent Customer Support: Almabase offers both email and chat-based support that can be reached at any time, with a focus on quick response and resolution time.

What Makes GiveCampus a Good Choice

1. User-Friendly Interface: GiveCampus is praised for its intuitive design, making it easy for both fundraisers and donors to use. It simplifies the donation process, leading to higher conversion rates.

2. Volunteer Management: GiveCampus offers a robust volunteer management system that empowers volunteers to track their outreach efforts effectively. This feature is great for successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

3. Extensive support for mobile payment: GiveCampus supports most popular mobile/digital wallets and a large number of cryptocurrencies, allowing more flexibility for donors.

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Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Tool

1. Scope:

If you are an educational institution that already has a digital engagement platform and only needs a fundraising module, both solutions will provide with you a robust fundraising and event solution. However, if you are looking for all-around alumni engagement on top of fundraising, Almabase might suit your needs better.

2. Integration Needs:

If your institution already uses a CRM like Raiser’s Edge NXT, Almabase might be more suitable due to its seamless integration capabilities. While GiveCampus also has several amazing integrations, it incurs additional charges for third-party integrations.

3. Volunteer Engagement:

If volunteer management and peer-to-peer fundraising are key priorities, GiveCampus offers more robust features in this area.

4. Payment Platform Support:

Almabase supports several payment platforms and is a great choice due to its integration with Blackbaud Merchant Services (BBMS). However, if you are looking to support as many platforms as possible including cryptocurrency, GiveCampus does give you more choices.

5. Pricing:

Both platforms have slightly different pricing structures. Almabase’s pricing primarily depends on the size of your institution, the number of records, and how many modules you need. On the other hand, GiveCampus has different plans depending on the number of features you need, and may also charge fees for exceeding goals on top of integration charges. You should ideally consider both options to get a quote that fits your needs and your budget.

6. Nonprofit needs:

If yours or a related nonprofit wants to make use of either option, it is certainly possible. However, Almabase has more experience working with nonprofits while GiveCampus exclusively caters to educational institutions.

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Wrapping it up

What we advise when picking any platform is that you consider the budget, skillset, and time available to your team above all else (even if that means you choose a platform that’s not ours). What works really well for a similarly sized school might not work for you due to nuanced aspects like state regulations, donor experiences, extra fee scaling, etc.

Once everything seems aligned, make sure to pursue a demo or free trial (ideally one that’s personalized for your needs) to confirm. That being said, we hope you are able to make a decision you, your team, and your alumni are comfortable with.

Almabase vs GiveCampus: What is the right tool for you?

We're comparing Almabase vs GiveCampus to provide you with all the angles you need to figure out which solution fits your team the best.

February 28, 2025

12 minutes

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The best peer-to-peer fundraising platforms help educational institutions and nonprofits boost donor engagement through personalized giving pages, social fundraising, and CRM integration. These tools streamline campaigns with built-in analytics, gamification, and mobile optimization. While some options are completely free, others cater to large-scale fundraisers that require advanced data synchronization and scalability.

The right tools can make all the difference in modern fundraising. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the best options on the market and explore what you can expect out of them.

Key takeaways

Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms offer technology that enables supporters to fundraise on behalf of your nonprofit or institution.
Almabase is the most comprehensive, well-integrated peer-to-peer platform for higher education institutions and prioritizes donor experience and personalized communications.
When choosing a platform, consider its features, scalability, user experience, learning curve for adoption, pricing, support and roadmaps, security, and customer reviews.

Peer-to-peer fundraising platform basics

Peer-to-peer fundraising defined

Peer-to-peer fundraising, or P2P fundraising, is a type of crowdfunding in which your organization encourages its supporters to fundraise for your cause. Typically, these supporters will create an individual fundraising page and share it with their friends, family members, and social media followers to raise money.

A peer-to-peer fundraising site is the software that allows your supporters to create a donation page, share it with their personal network, and collect donations to support your mission.

Key peer-to-peer fundraising site features

Typically, most fundraising tools today include features such as:

The ability to create both a general campaign page and individual fundraising pages
Seamless social sharing capabilities
A mobile-friendly interface
Quick and easy set-up
Multiple giving options (e.g., one-time, recurring, pledged gifts)
Automatic donor communications (e.g., donation receipts and thank-you emails)
Segmentation tools
Gamification tools like leaderboards or challenges that promote engagement
Robust reporting and analytics
Integration with your constituent relationship management system (CRM) and tech stack

Peer-to-peer fundraising platform pricing

When shopping for a peer-to-peer fundraising tool, you’ll need to weigh the cost of the tool against the value it provides. However, it can be difficult to know the true cost of using the platform, depending on the software’s pricing structure. Get familiar with these common structures:

Subscription or flat platform fee: Pay a recurring monthly or annual fee to use the software.
Transaction fee: There is no upfront platform fee, but the provider takes a certain percentage of the money raised.
Donor tipping: Platforms that use this model are typically free, and your organization receives 100% of the funds raised. The vendor makes money by having donors leave a tip on top of their donation.
Tiered pricing: Some platforms offer free basic plans with limited features but require users to upgrade to higher-priced tiers to access advanced features.

To compare tools with different pricing structures, calculate what each platform will cost you, on average, for a certain period of time.

CASE Insights on Giving Days (2025 Observations)

Top 10 fundraising platforms for institutions and nonprofit donations

Whether you’re a K-12 school ,higher ed institution, or a nonprofit, in no particular order, here are some peer-to-peer fundraising platforms that you should consider:

Platform	Pros	Cons	Pricing
Almabase	Native sync with advancement CRMs Best-in-industry sync with RE NXT Built for donor experience and personalization Easy to set up with 24/7 support	Less experience with nonprofits Customer-led feedback loop may slow down new feature requests	Price is based on customer needs and alumni size.
GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy)	Easy to use Great integration with CRMs and other fundraising platforms Responsive support team	Usually nonprofit-centric Relatively high pricing	GoFundMe Pro has a standard and custom plan based on your needs
Bloomerang Fundraising	Great choice for Bloomerang CRM users Offers great gamification for donor engagement Good auction features	Usually nonprofit-centric Relatively high pricing, as it has a package fee on top of transaction fees	P2P fundraising module at $259 per month or $687 per quarter + 4.95% + $0.30 per transaction processing fee
Zeffy	No fees of any kind Offers tools to brainstorm, find grants, or start a nonprofit. Easy to use for both staff and donors	Platform monetization relies on optional tips, which may confuse donors Usually nonprofit-centric	No fee for customers. Relies on optional tips from donors for revenue
Donorbox	Easy to set up and use Good reporting and donor segmentation tools	Integrations require additional fees Customer support is limited to email	Flat 1.75% platform fee for a main campaign and 2.95% for a supporter’s campaign
Bonfire	Zero inventory risk or upfront costs Bonfire handles the logistics Supporters receive a tangible item for their contribution Verified nonprofits receive exclusive benefits	Merchandise may not fit every peer-to-peer campaign structure Net funds raised per transaction may be lower than direct donations	Selling through Bonfire is free, and transaction fees are 3.5% for verified nonprofit organizations.
Givebutter	Easy to set up and navigate for staff and supporters Allows opting for platform fees or donor tips Good integration with payment and social platforms	Usually nonprofit-centric Opting out of donor tips can be costly, as per reviews	Charges 1% for donation forms, 3% for pages, and 5% for events and auctions, as well as a payment processing charge of 2.9% + ¢0.30 per transaction
GiveCampus	Requires getting used to, but is easy to use after initial setup Supports most mobile wallets and several cryptocurrencies Specializes in giving days and fundraisers	Lack of robust digital engagement tools and CRM integration Customer support is limited to email One of the more expensive options in the industry	Three-tiered pricing plan depending on your needs
JustGiving	Great fit for Blackbaud native teams Simplistic approach makes it accessible for small teams and one-off events	Mainly focuses on charities Reviews mention that the user interface could be better	Platform and standard processing fees based on platform and location
Gravyty	Experience with both institutions and nonprofits Offers additional solutions for community building Host of AI-powered features	High learning curve Requires relatively high time and monetary investment	Contact for pricing
Bonterra	Great for multiple campaigns and events at once In-depth reporting tools Good for social and mobile fundraising	Steep learning curve to get the full potential Users want more customization options and say communication features look outdated	Three-tiered pricing plan depending on your needs

(Prices are based on publicly available data at the time of writing and are subject to change over time)

1. Almabase

Almabase runs on a philosophy of integrating into your CRM and existing workflows, which remains true for their peer-to-peer fundraising features. Almabase boasts native sync with most higher-ed CRMs due to their TrueSync integration, combined with superior customer support and a willingness to integrate your ideas into their long-term vision. Almabase offers customizable pages and leaderboards powered with inbuilt text and email communication features built to drive donor engagement through organic and personalized communication.

Pros

Almabase fits seamlessly into most educational institutions’ CRMs, making transition from other solutions smooth and transparent.
It has the industry’s best two-way sync with Blackbaud’s RE NXT and Blackbaud CRM, eliminating the need for manual data pulls and syncs.
It values donor experience and personalized communication and has built its features with them in mind. These features require little to no coding and allow automation and personalization.
It is easy to set up, with a support team that focuses on quick response and resolution.

Cons

As a platform catering mostly to educational institutions, they may not be as experienced in working with nonprofits yet.
As Almabase’s roadmap depends largely on user feedback, new features requested by newer users may take a while to be implemented.

Pricing

Almabase’s pricing depends entirely on your needs. Learn how Almabase empowers your p2p strategy, Schedule a personalized demo and get a quote.

2. GoFundMe Pro

GoFundMe Pro (formerly Classy) is a peer-to-peer fundraising platform optimized for maximum nonprofit impact. It provides ready-to-use templates for scalable, high-impact campaigns and equips supporters with intuitive tools to advocate for the cause.

GoFundMe Pro offers features like campaign templating, embedded videos and livestreams, progress thermometers, team structures, and mobile-optimized pages. The platform also supports recurring gift options and flexible payment processing, and has a mobile- and user-friendly interface.

Pros

Over the past few years, GoFundMe Pro has established itself as one of the most user-friendly platforms.
It has great integration capacity with CRMs and other fundraising platforms.
It boasts a responsive and helpful customer support team.

Cons

GoFundMe Pro usually caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs
Many reviewers mention its relatively high pricing

Pricing

GoFundMe Pro offers a standard “Essentials” plan and a “Partner” custom plan.

3. Bloomerang Fundraising

Bloomerang Fundraising (formerly Qgiv) is a fundraising platform offering tools for donation management, event planning, and donor engagement. It provides features like customizable donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, and text-to-give options

Pros

The solution integrates seamlessly into Bloomerang’s CRM, making it an easy choice for current Bloomerang users.
It offers team fundraising and other gamification features for better donor engagement.
Many reviewers praise its auction features.

Cons

Bloomerang Fundraising is mostly centered around nonprofits, and its functionality for institutions may be limited.
Smaller nonprofits and associations might find the pricing to be a bit high, considering it requires transaction fees on top of the package fees.

Pricing

Bloomerang Fundraising starts at $40 per month if purchased as part of a bundle with Bloomerang CRM.

4. Zeffy

Zeffy is a 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits, offering peer-to-peer fundraising, crowdfunding, donation pages, and recurring giving options. This tool generates revenue through optional tips that donors can provide in addition to their donation. It allows fundraisers to join as individuals or teams and create their own fundraising pages. The platform is also known for being simple, intuitive, and customizable

Pros

Uniquely charges no fees of any kind.
Offers tools to brainstorm, find grants, or start a nonprofit.
Reviewers mention that it is easy to use for both staff and donors.

Cons

Some donors not aware of Zeffy’s approach may be confused by the optional tip.
Zeffy caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs.

Pricing

Zeffy has no fees and instead runs on optional tips from donors.

5. DonorBox

Donorbox is a fundraising platform that allows nonprofits to launch peer-to-peer fundraisers in a few steps. It provides customizable donation forms and supports recurring donations via various payment methods.

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Donorbox also offers features for managing donors, sending personalized emails, and recording donor communications. The platform provides resources like onboarding emails, courses, and templates to support nonprofits in their fundraising efforts.

Pros

Incredibly easy to set up and use.
It has good reporting and supporter segmenting features.

Cons

Integrations require additional fees.
Customer support is limited to email, according to some reviews.

Pricing

For peer-to-peer fundraisers, Donorbox charges a flat 1.75% platform fee for a main campaign and 2.95% for a supporter’s campaign.

6. Bonfire

Bonfire specializes in fundraising through custom merchandise sales. Nonprofits, schools, and even individuals can design their own custom merch and sell it via Bonfire’s free online stores.

Bonfire supports peer-to-peer campaigns (which it refers to as “giving campaigns”) by allowing your supporters to create and share t-shirt fundraisers on behalf of your organization—then, all of the money they raise is sent directly to your nonprofit.

Pros

Zero inventory risk or upfront costs; products are printed on demand.
Bonfire manages logistics, including the printing, processing, and shipping of orders.
Supporters receive a tangible item for their contribution and serve as "walking billboards" for your mission when they wear them.
Verified nonprofits receive exclusive benefits, including reduced processing fees and access to downloadable supporter contact lists.

Cons

The platform is focused on merchandise, which may not fit every type of peer-to-peer campaign structure.
The net funds raised per transaction may be lower than direct donations due to the cost of the physical product.

Pricing

Bonfire is completely free to use, and your nonprofit keeps 100% of the profits. There’s an 8% processing fee on additional donations, but if you verify your nonprofit status with Bonfire, that fee is reduced to 3.5%

7. Givebutter

Givebutter provides tools to launch peer-to-peer campaigns, complete with donation forms, fundraising pages, event management, a built-in CRM, and marketing tools to analyze your progress and streamline workflows. Their fundraiser teams offer a great choice for organizations looking to gamify their peer-to-peer fundraisers as well.

Pros

Easy to set up and navigate for both staff and donors.
A suite of free tools with monetization that allows opting for a platform fee or donor tips instead of a platform subscription.
Has good integration with payment and social media platforms.

Cons

Givebutter primarily caters to nonprofits and may not be as experienced with an educational institution’s needs.
Some customers say that payment charges can be relatively costly if the organization opts out of donor tipping.

Pricing

Givebutter offers a popular “free forever” plan, as well as a paid option starting at $29/month. If your organization opts out of having donors cover fees, Givebutter charges 1% for donation forms, 3% for pages, and 5% for events and auctions, as well as a payment processing charge of 2.9% + ¢0.30 per transaction.

8. GiveCampus

GiveCampus is a fundraising platform for educational institutions, providing solutions for online giving, giving days, crowdfunding, P2P fundraising, and more. It blends peer-to-peer outreach, social media, and gamification to engage more donors and increase fundraising. The platform allows schools to execute giving days, year-end appeals, and crowdfunding campaigns.

GiveCampus also offers features like matches and challenges to inspire donors and make them feel like their contributions are making a difference

Pros

While some users report a learning curve to the platform, it is known to be extremely easy to use once you get used to it.
GiveCampus supports most existing mobile wallets as well as several cryptocurrencies.
It specializes in giving days and fundraisers for educational institutions, making it a great choice if you fit the niche.

Cons

GiveCampus excels at Giving Days, but may not be as robust for digital engagement and CRM integration
Their customer support, while reportedly excellent, is limited to email at the time of writing
As one of the premium options within educational fundraising, it is one of the more expensive options.

Pricing

GiveCampus has three platform plans: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. Additionally, pricing will vary depending on the modules you require.

9. JustGiving

As a Blackbaud product, JustGiving is a great choice if you are used to the Blackbaud CRM environment. Compared to other platforms on this list, JustGiving is relatively simple both in its presentation and its scope. This makes it an easy choice for teams just starting out or looking for something simple for a one-off event. However, there may be better choices for teams that want a more comprehensive solution that spans multiple fundraisers and year-long campaigns.

Pros

Good choice for Blackbaud native teams that enjoy the CRM environment
Its simplistic approach makes it accessible to smaller or less experienced teams that want to plan a simple event.

Cons

JustGiving mainly caters to charities and similar initiatives
Some customers mention that the user interface can be clunky at times

Pricing

JustGiving charges platform fees and a standard payment processing fee based on your geographical location and payment platform. Crowdfunding pages are free to set up. While UK charities do not need to pay a platform fee, they do have a subscription model.

10. Gravyty

Gravyty leverages predictive AI technology to provide frontline fundraisers with personalized insights into donor behavior. This innovative approach helps organizations enhance their outreach efforts by automating email drafts tailored to individual donors while integrating seamlessly with existing CRM systems. Gravyty's focus on personalization empowers fundraisers to build stronger relationships with donors.

Pros

Gravyty has experience working with both educational institutions and nonprofits.
For customers looking for a comprehensive package, it offers complementary solutions to find, engage, and build communities for donors and alumni.
Gravyty boasts AI-powered features for better personalization and donor engagement.

Cons

An integrated and digital-engagement-driven platform naturally comes with a steeper learning curve.
Will require time and investment to get the most out of the suite of solutions Gravyty offers.

Pricing

While some information is available online, interested organizations will need to contact Gravyty for a custom quote.

11. Bonterra Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

Bonterra’s peer-to-peer fundraising product (formerly DonorDrive) offers smart and customizable P2P fundraising solutions that empower supporters to create personalized experiences at scale. Its features include an intuitive event builder, personalized coaching for fundraisers, gamification elements like leaderboards, social media integrations, and seamless CRM integration, which enhances supporter engagement significantly

Pros

Great for running multiple events and campaigns simultaneously.
Has great custom reporting tools that can go in-depth if set up correctly.
Good for mobile and social media fundraising.

Cons

It has a steep learning curve that requires some expertise to get the most out of it.
Some reviews mention that they wish Bonterra offered more customization options and note that its communication features look outdated.

Pricing

Bonterra offers three tiers—Essentials, Pro, and Enterprise—with pricing based on customer needs.

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How to choose the best peer-to-peer fundraising site

With so many unique platforms out there, choosing the right one can be a little overwhelming. However, there are several key factors to consider when selecting the right peer-to-peer fundraising software for your team:

1. Features

Each platform will offer peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities, but you should dig a little deeper to find the right fit for your needs. For example, if you are a small team looking to organize a quick fundraiser, you may end up paying for features you don’t need. On the other hand, if you are looking for a long-term solution, a platform without built-in analytics would be a dealbreaker. Look for features that boost, rather than hamper, your fundraising efforts, and aim for a high return on investment.

2. Scalability

Many teams want a tool that scales up alongside them as they engage more donors and alumni, but there is often a point where their needs outgrow the platform. To avoid this, consider both your short-term and long-term goals to determine if the platform’s upgraded pricing tiers will meet your team’s requirements later on. This way, you can simply upgrade to a plan with more advanced features or storage rather than migrating to a completely new platform.

3. User experience

Your staff, fundraisers, and donors should all have positive, smooth experiences when engaging with your fundraising pages. For example, if you want to sell custom merch, both the designing process and purchasing process should be easy and intuitive for supporters. From payment processing to reporting workflows to page load times, there are many aspects you should ask about or test out during a free trial or demo to see if a platform is the right one for you.

4. Learning curve

Some solutions come with a relatively low learning curve but offer limited functionality. Some, on the other hand, can be the driving force behind all your fundraising strategies but may require in-depth technical and/or coding experience. Try to find a balance between the training time required and potential functionality to ensure high adoption.

5. Pricing

Pricing is a key consideration for any tool, but it’s also important to consider the nuances that may arise down the line. Always consider the rates associated with upfront costs, renewals, transaction fees, upgraded plans, and other relevant expenses. Additionally, switching to a new platform inevitably leads to more expenses through database transfers and staff upskilling. Consult with your database managers and other staff members before making a decision.

6. Support and roadmaps

In the event that something goes wrong, you need to be able to reach the platform provider to resolve the issue. Keep factors like response times on live chat or email support channels in mind. For the long term, you also want to support platforms that onboard customer feedback and have detailed roadmaps for upcoming features.

7. Security

Both your staff and donors need to be assured that sensitive data like payment information will be kept safe and secure. Always look out for a platform’s data encryption measures, as well as its compliance and authentication processes, to see if it inspires confidence from your donors.

8. Customer reviews

Third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra offer insight into what customers think about specific tools. Keep in mind that these reviews are subjective, but they can be a great indication of how a platform is perceived overall, highlighting positive and negative software trends.

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Peer-to-peer fundraising site FAQs

Which fundraising website is the best?

There is no single “best” fundraising website, but you can find the one that is best for your organization. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals, budget, audience, and campaign type.

Can I integrate my peer-to-peer fundraising platform with my CRM?

Yes, a reputable fundraising platform should be able to integrate with your CRM to ensure donor data flows automatically into your central database. This eliminates data silos and the need for manual data transfers.

Is there a better site than GoFundMe?

GoFundMe is a popular tool for personal crowdfunding, but it may lack the tools you need to run a full-fledged campaign. The platforms referenced in this guide offer the specialized tools mission-driven organizations need for branding, tracking donor data, and communications.

What is the difference between crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising?

Crowdfunding is a centralized process led by your organization using a single donation page. On the other hand, peer-to-peer campaigns decentralize fundraising, empowering many supporters to help you raise money. Peer-to-peer campaigns empower supporters to help you raise money, meaning there are many people fundraising for your cause. Make sure your platform has the tools to support a peer-to-peer campaign.

How can I keep peer-to-peer fundraisers engaged?

Look for platforms that include gamification features, such as fundraising thermometers, badges, and leaderboards. These tools spark friendly competition among fundraisers and help them visualize their progress to maintain momentum and engagement.

Wrapping up

We hope we’ve given you the tools you need to choose or at least consider some of the best peer-to-peer fundraising solutions out there, as well as the questions you need to ask yourself before adopting one. Whether you’re a higher ed institution optimizing your peer-to-peer fundraisers or a K-12 school just looking to get started, we hope you pick out the right solution and can make a great positive change.

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11 great peer-to-peer fundraising platforms for Institutions and Nonprofits 2026

Explore 11 of the best peer-to-peer fundraising sites for schools, higher ed, and nonprofits. Discover how to select the right one for your fundraising needs.

February 21, 2025

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2024 was an interesting year for fundraising professionals. Persistent and emerging challenges in the nonprofit landscape coincided with some. While some issues carried over from previous years, new dynamics reshaped the way organizations navigated their work.

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2024: Highs, lows, and lessons learned

Last year was a year of highs and lows for fundraising and advancement professionals. From staffing struggles to shifts in donor behaviors, the year brought challenges that tested the resilience of nonprofits across sectors. However, these hurdles also paved the way for innovation, collaboration, and strategic rethinking, setting the stage for what 2025 might bring.

• The donor market: Fewer donors, more donations

The donor landscape in 2024 presented an interesting problem. While overall donations increased, the donor pool continued to shrink. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), there was a 2% increase in total donations but a 4.5% decline in the number of individual donors. This trend posed a significant challenge for nonprofits reliant on a broad donor base for smaller, recurring contributions.

• Staffing continues to be a tricky problem

Staffing shortages and high turnover rates continued to be among the most pressing concerns for nonprofits in 2024. According to a study by NonProfit PRO, nearly 70% of nonprofits reported struggling with staffing challenges, citing underfunding and burnout as primary drivers.

This crisis was compounded by the competitive job market, which made it difficult for nonprofits to attract and retain talent. High turnover negatively impacted team morale and operational efficiency, forcing many organizations to stretch already limited resources to achieve their goals.

• Navigating tech adoption

The rise of AI and other tech tools has been both a blessing and a challenge for nonprofits. While AI offers powerful capabilities—from predicting donor behavior to automating administrative tasks—it also requires significant investment in training and implementation. Many teams struggled to fully integrate these tools due to lacking technical expertise or financial resources.

The use of AI also brings forward some ethical concerns that increasingly became relevant throughout the year. There exists the risk of over-automating donor communication, which could lead to a loss of the personal touch that is central to alumni engagement. For smaller organizations, the hype around AI could also lead to investments in tools that did not align with their needs, diverting funds from more pressing priorities.

• Opportunities in adversity

Despite the challenges, nonprofits showcased remarkable resilience. Many embraced hybrid fundraising models, combining virtual and in-person events to engage a broader audience. Charity Digital reported that organizations leveraging digital tools for storytelling and donor engagement saw significant returns on investment.

Additionally, DonorBox emphasized how nonprofits that invested in robust donor communication tools experienced improved retention rates, especially during year-end campaigns.

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2025: Building on Resilience and Innovation

As we move into 2025, nonprofits more than ever need to build on the lessons of 2024 by focusing on sustainable growth and strategic innovation.

Resilience emerged as a defining characteristic in 2024, and nonprofits should ideally look to build upon it by adopting sustainable strategies and scalable practices, to better navigate uncertainty and a world that’s throwing a lot of innovations at us without leaving us much time or resources to consider our approach to each of them. With all that being said, we’d like to explore some broad focus areas that teams and institutions alike should watch out for in 2025:

• Pragmatic tech adoption: Cutting through the hype

The excitement surrounding AI and other technologies in 2024 often led to unrealistic expectations for nonprofits. A research paper published by Lauri Goldkind, Joy Ming, and Alex Fink critically assessed AI’s role in human services, questioning whether it offered genuine value or was simply a trend driven by hype. The study concluded that while AI holds transformative potential, it requires proper alignment with an organization's size, mission, and resource constraints to be effective.

Throughout 2025, Nonprofits should be shifting focus toward scalable and budget-conscious technology solutions. For example, a hypothetical smaller team that only needs a CRM and basic analytics could leverage low-cost digital tools and achieve better outcomes if these tools are customized to their specific workflows and objectives, as opposed to trying to cover all their bases and wasting both resources and time spent on upskilling.

• A renewed focus on People

The staffing crisis doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon with 68% of organizations reporting difficulties with recruitment and retention in 2024. Common challenges include toxic work cultures, burnout, uncompetitive salaries, and insufficient training opportunities. Increased investment in professional development, equitable pay structures, and supportive workplace cultures have been big talking points for a while but now they need to become key priorities. Policies aimed at reducing burnout, such as flexible work schedules and mental health support should be a good starting point.

Additionally, peer mentoring and community-building efforts are gaining traction. Nonprofits can leverage mentorship programs and peer support networks to foster a sense of community within their teams, leading to improved job satisfaction and retention.

At the heart of every nonprofit is its people—the staff, donors, and volunteers whose collective efforts drive change. By fostering positive internal cultures and focusing on impactful strategies, nonprofits can inspire trust and loyalty, ensuring their mission thrives in the years to come.

• Deepening donor relations

Nonprofits have responded to the recent donor market shifts by focusing on deepening relationships with existing donors. Strategies such as targeted communication and personalized outreach have since become standard practice. 2025 should be a good year for teams to consolidate knowledge of their tools and long-term goals so that they continue fostering donor loyalty seamlessly. A key area of focus will be on small and medium-sized donors and how teams can turn them into loyal donors moving forward.

With federal budget cuts for nonprofits and institutions seeming likely on the horizon, advancement and nonprofit teams especially in the US will need to explore sustainable alternatives to reach their goals.

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That’ll just about do it for now but with 2025 seeming a difficult year to predict, there should certainly be a lot more to talk about in the coming months.

Key focus areas for fundraising in 2025

2024 was an interesting year for fundraising professionals. We go over some of the key learnings from last year to figure out key focus areas for 2025.

January 29, 2025

12 minutes

Read

See how leading institutions put these ideas into action

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