What is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, and When Should Your Nonprofit Consider It?

Coming in 2025: Peer-to-peer fundraising is coming to ClickBid! Before it launches in early 2025, our team is sharing how your organization can leverage this fundraising strategy for your upcoming campaigns.

With increased competition for donor dollars, it’s more important than ever to get creative with your fundraising strategies. A growing number of nonprofits are turning to a method called peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising to get support for their causes. By leveraging personal networks and social connections, this innovative approach can help your organization generate the donations needed to make a big difference. But what is peer-to-peer fundraising exactly, and how do you ensure it’s the right approach for your organization?

What is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising?

It’s a fundraising method where individuals raise money on behalf of a nonprofit or charity using their personal networks. To do this, participants create their own fundraising pages and share them with their friends, family, and acquaintances through social media, email, or word of mouth. This approach allows nonprofits to tap into a vast pool of new, potential donors.

The Benefits of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising for Nonprofits

Peer-to-peer fundraising continues to gain prominence as an effective strategy for nonprofits. As digital communication and social media platforms grow in popularity, it’s never been easier to reach out to potential donors. Let’s explore some of the main advantages.

Requires Minimal Investment

Unlike traditional fundraising events that can require significant resources and planning, peer-to-peer campaigns can be set up quickly and cost-effectively. This makes it an attractive option for all nonprofits—including those with limited budgets and resources.

Enhances Engagement

One of the most significant advantages of peer-to-peer fundraising is its ability to engage a wide range of supporters. By empowering individuals to advocate for your cause, you can reach new audiences and foster a sense of community among your supporters. This often results in stronger relationships and long-term commitments to your organization.

Reaches More Donors

When participants share their fundraising pages, they expose your cause to their entire network, including people who may not be familiar with your organization. This can lead to increased visibility and helps you cultivate an even broader donor base. 

Increases Donation Totals

Additionally, peer-to-peer fundraising enables you to maximize donations. When individuals are personally asked to contribute by someone they know and trust—whether it's a friend, family member, or colleague—they're often more inclined to give and, in many cases, donate more generously.

Encourages Storytelling

Personal stories have a powerful impact on fundraising success. Peer-to-peer fundraising gives individuals the opportunity to share why they’re passionate about your cause, which helps to inspire potential donors. This form of storytelling adds authenticity and emotion to your campaign, making it more relatable and compelling for new audiences.

When Should You Leverage Peer-to-Peer Fundraising?

There are plenty of opportunities to incorporate peer-to-peer campaigns in your fundraising strategy. These include:

• Time-sensitive Campaigns: If your organization needs to raise a significant amount of money within a short time frame—such as emergency relief efforts—peer-to-peer fundraising can rapidly expand your reach. Social media can help your cause to spread quickly, enabling fundraisers to gather donations faster than traditional methods.

• Community Events: Charity walks, runs, or bike rides are great opportunities for peer-to-peer fundraising. By involving participants’ friends, family, and colleagues, it can turn a local event into a larger, more impactful campaign.

• Milestones or Anniversaries: Your organization's anniversary, a major project completion, or a new initiative launch are perfect opportunities for peer-to-peer fundraising. Supporters can share personal stories of why the milestone is meaningful to them, motivating others to contribute in celebration of the achievement.

• To Honor Someone: Consider peer-to-peer fundraising for tribute campaigns, such as those in memory of someone who has passed away or in honor of a person who has made an impact on the community. This can give your campaign a deeply personal touch and attract widespread support.

How to Start Your Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaigns

If you're new to peer-to-peer fundraising, don't worry—getting started is easier than you might think. The first step is to identify an opportunity for a campaign or event that aligns with your organization's mission and goals. Once you have a clear idea, it's essential to get buy-in from stakeholders, including staff, board members, and other key supporters.

Next, you'll need to promote your campaign and encourage people to participate. Create engaging content that explains the purpose of your campaign and how supporters can get involved. Use social media, email, and other communication channels to spread the word and generate excitement.

Finally, provide participants with the tools and resources they need to succeed. This may include templates or instructions on how to set up their fundraising pages, tips for reaching out to potential donors, and regular updates on campaign progress. By supporting your participants, you can increase the likelihood of a successful campaign.

P2P Fundraising Platforms: What You Should Look For

When evaluating P2P fundraising platforms, there are several factors to consider:

• User Interface: The platform should be easy to use for your organization, participants, and donors. Look for intuitive design and simple navigation so that participants can set up their fundraising pages quickly, share them easily, and track their progress without frustration. A complicated or clunky interface can discourage participation.

• Customization: Branding consistency is essential in fundraising campaigns. Choose a platform that allows you to customize pages with your organization’s logo, colors, and messaging. The ability to personalize individual fundraising pages for participants is also important. This helps fundraisers tell their personal story and connect with supporters.

• Integration: The ability to easily share campaigns across social media is crucial in peer-to-peer fundraising, as it relies on participants tapping into their networks. Look for platforms that offer built-in sharing tools for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This makes it simple for fundraisers to promote their efforts and encourages sharing, expanding your campaign’s reach.

• Analytics: Robust reporting capabilities are essential for tracking your campaign’s performance. Look for a platform that provides detailed data on donations, fundraising activity, and supporter demographics. This data will help you evaluate the success of your campaign, make improvements in real time, and plan for future campaigns.

• Event Compatibility: If you plan to host events as part of your peer-to-peer campaigns (such as walkathons, marathons, or virtual challenges), ensure the platform can accommodate event registration, ticket sales, and team fundraising. Event management features will streamline the process and enhance the participant experience.

Generate Greater Impact with ClickBid’s Fundraising Support

Are you ready to try peer-to-peer fundraising in early 2025? Keep an eye out for the official launch from ClickBid. Our dedicated account management team is ready to help you streamline your fundraising efforts and maximize your impact. Get in touch with us to learn how our platform can support your organization.