Fundraiser Post Ideas That Work for Any Nonprofit

In the world of social media where everyone is screaming ‘look at me’ and trying to grab attention, crafting a social media post that stands out and gets your charity noticed takes some skills. To be efficient, you’re going to need to understand how to write in ways that bring your readers in so they engage with you in a personable way, while also staying excited enough not to scroll past. This isn’t guesswork. This takes some planning and copywriting chops that we’ll discuss in detail below.

But don’t worry, it’s not rocket science. There are concrete steps that you can take to make sure your posts check all the necessary boxes to get your nonprofit funded the way it deserves to be. And since we are talking content, understand this also includes images, infographics, memes and video as well.

You should be including all sorts of elements that will help you stand out and get your message across in a clear and uplifting way. Just think of the impact a behind the scenes post can have telling the story of ‘Chip,’ a stray dog found almost starved to death. Imagine including before and after pictures along with some videos showing his rescue and his recovery. How fast do you think Chip would find a forever home as well as snag your non-profit a few dollars in donations.

This is how you need to be thinking in order to gain transaction in a very cluttered and competitive social media world. You need to make real connection and get people passionate enough that they red, like and share your content with their own friends and family. If you can do it, your social media posts can become the most powerful fundraising marketing tool in your arsenal. And that is exactly what we’re going t be showing you how to do in our article.

Key Social Media Platforms for Fundraiser Posts and Their Reach

Although we suggest using as many platforms as possible, you’re still going to need to know what types of content work on which platforms. What works on Facebook may not work on Instagram, even though they owned by the same company.

• Facebook: 3.07 billion users. Perfect for broad appeals and event post shares. It’s estimated 96% of nonprofits post here and 18% of global donors have given via its tools.
• YouTube: 2.54 billion users. Great for impactful videos where folks watch 13.2 times more influencer style clips than brand ads.
• Instagram: 2 billion users. Visual heaven for stories and Reels that reaches 3.5% of audiences on average with 21% of social inspired gifts coming from here.
• TikTok: 1.59 billion users. Short, fun challenges that go viral and can ideal for younger crowds seeking quick, feel good content.
• X (formerly Twitter): 550 million users. Real time updates and chats but you may need to post 2-3 times daily for best results.

Why Social Fundraiser Posts Matter Today

Fundraising posts are extremely important as they have a much more massive reach that any other marketing communication tool available right now. And although an email list may be more targetted, it will never be a large as your social media following. Not only that, even small local nonprofits can benefit since there’s always those who have moved away but still interested in local events, and those who are house bound or bedridden can still watch you charity grow and participate in your activities, even if not in person. There really are so many reason these posts matter. Here are the top five below:

1. Digital Habits Are Locked In: With 5.42 billion social users worldwide, skipping posts means missing out on huge huge potential donor base. Just Giving Tuesday generates tens of billions of social media impressions alone each year. That’s a one day event!
2. Engagement Drives Dollars: Posts that tug at your reader’s heartstrings get shared far more than just asking for donations. And the right content can turn viewers into first time donors or even crowdfunders.
3. Algorithms Favor Real Talk: Platforms push authentic stories over sales pitches so your video posts under a minute snag the highest reach on Facebook.
4. Mobile Gives on the Go: 82% of year end strategies involve social and easy CTAs like "Swipe up to support" fit phone habits perfectly.
5. Data Shows Quick Wins: Track likes to donations, the more likes your content gets, the more your probability of getting a donation will be. Posts with user-generated pics and stories are great for this and help build bonds and trust, especially on Facebook.

Ready to get your posts online? Just start small by picking one platform from the list above. Draft a quick story about a recent win, perhaps how you helped a group of adult learners learn to read, then add a photo and a short call to action like "Donate $10 to help more" and see what happens. As you post more you’ll be able to hone in on a winning strategy.

11 Content Ideas That Drive Shares, Likes and Donations

Your nonprofit’s social media fundraising should be able to stop people scrolling in their tracks so they actually listen to your message. And with 5.42 billion people on social media, a single post can spark thousands in donations, if it’s done right. Think of it like this, what would happen if a local food bank posted a 20 second video of a family unpacking a meal kit they had given them, captioned with a $10 donation ask. Result? I bet that one video would get a least a few people motivated to give a gift. So here are a few ideas we’ve seen resonate deeply with people. Feel free to take our ideas and tweak or build on them to help your content make an impact on your bottom line.

1. Real Life Impact Videos

Drop a 30 to 60 second clip of someone your work has touched. It doesn’t even need to be a life changing situation, just get their story across and how your work helped change their usual narrative. For example, an animal shelter could share a video of a dog wagging its tail in its new home with it’s new owners with the text, “Your $25 helped Max find his family.” That’s personal and it also builds trust that a donor’s donation is actually going to those in need.

2. Before and After Transformation

These types of stories clearly demonstrate the real life impact of your work to supporters while also tugging at their heart strings for more help. And it doesn’t even need to be about people. Think an environmental group or local consciousness group sharing images of a muddy lot. The next image is a a vibrant community garden with a caption that reads, “Your $500 turned dirt into dinners for 100 families.” You can’t give someone a more concrete reason to give than that!

3. Volunteer Hustle Peek

Don’t underestimate the power your volunteers bring to your cause, even when it comes to your marketing. A simple clip of you and your team in action can be quite powerful. Think a candid photo showing everyone stacking chairs, sorting donations or laughing over coffee. Caption: “This is us at 7 AM, prepping for the big day. Join our crew!” This not only demonstrates you’re running a real charity, but others are already willing to get involved. Stories like these are powerful recruitment tools and are sometimes even shared by influencers in your space!

4. Milestone Countdown

These types of messages are great when you’re on your final push and need a few more people to get involved. First off, you’re demonstrating you are already getting closer to your goal and others have backed you, and it sparks a little urgency since you’re giving a clear deadline. For example, post something like “We’re at $8,200 of our $10k target, help us close the gap by Sunday!” Add a colorful progress bar and watch those final dollars roll in.

5. Donor Spotlight

Donor Spotlights aren’t just great for marketing, they’re also a great way to cement your relationship with the ones you share. And they’re a great way to demonstrate real people are donating to your cause. And when you tag them on social media, there’s also a good chance their circle of friends will also see the post, giving you an immediate wider reach. And people that give often have friends that also give, so shoutouts like these are well worth your time and effort.

6. Interactive Poll

People love being involved, if you give them a fun and easy way to do so. And interactive polls are perfect to get people noticing your content in a gentle and safe way for them. They may not give at that moment, but you have their attention now. And most likely they’ll return to see how the poll ended up. Keep posting and giving ways for people to have a say in your cause and they more than likely end up supporting you in one way or another. Example: “Should we fund art supplies or sports gear for kids this month? Vote now!” Share results later: “You chose art! We’re buying 200 paint sets.” Polls on Instagram Stories does much better than static posts.

7. Impact Throwback

Revisit past wins. For example, “Last year, your donations built this library. Today, 300 kids read here weekly.” Pair it with a new photo showing it being used and a short text saying what your new objectives are. It can even be a small thing, just something that demonstrates that your nonprofit is having a positive impact and it’s worth their time to contribute.

8. Low Stakes Ask

While great stories get people invloved, it doesn’t hurt to see how well a straight up ask will do as well. You may just get that person lurking at the right time and they open their checkbook. Stick to onc specific day each week for two months and see what happens. It can be simple like “For $5, you can feed a senior for a day. Skip a soda and give?” If you get a few donations, switch days until you find the best day and continue posting.

9. Live Event Stream

These live sessions are great as it can not just spark donation success, but you may get a few more volunteers that want to get their hands dirty. For instance, you could do a livestream with a caption, “We’re building a playground today, watch and chip in!” Pin a donation link in the comments. When you’re don combine this with a before and after transformation we wrote about above to keep the momentum going. Strategies like these can be extremely impactful!

10. Matching Gift Buzz

If your organization is lucky enough to secure matching gifts from a corporate or major donor, shout that out wide and loud! This is the perfect time to get every donation possible. For example, write something like, “Today only, [Local Biz] matches every dollar you give! $10 becomes $20 for our clinic.” This also allows people that would make a small donation feel like their dollars are going further and are more likely to give.

11. Supporter Stories

These stories can do a lot for your cause. First off, they are coming from real people that supported your cause, this is a powerful thumbs up for you. Second they give people reasons why they supported you in the first place, possibly connecting to other like minded individuals. Third, this is user generated social media content which means less work, a reach you’d not normally get and ‘proof’ of you legitimacy. And actually a whole lot more than that. They’re literally testimonials for your nonprofit.

Quick Tips to Make Your Media Fundraising Pop

• Tweak for Platforms: Turn a poll into an X thread or a Reel into a YouTube Short. Same information, just presented different.
• Keep It Visual: Posts with photos or videos drive engagement 2.3x more. Use free tools like Canva for slick graphics on your fundraising post.
• Add a Clear CTA: Every post needs a “Donate now,” “Join us,” or “Share this” button. Paybee makes it dead simple to add.
• Test and Track: Try one idea this week. Check your analytics and see if your clicks or donations spiked? Double down on what works.

Pick one idea like the $5 ask or a quick impact video. Post it this afternoon with a real story from your work. Maybe it’s how $200 fixed a school’s leaky roof. Add a donate link and watch the response. Then combine post types and tweak them for the different platforms. You don’t need a big budget, just a phone and a story.

What Questions to Ask to Make Your Ideas Rock?

Creating media content that does more than just inform isn’t that hard, especially if you have a clear goal with each piece. That’s what these questions are for, to make it crystal clear what you’re trying to achieve so you know your content ideas will connect. You should be asking these questions for every piece, you could even use it as a checklist of sorts.

1. Who’s the post for?

• Are you aiming at past donors, brand new prospects or volunteers?
• What platforms do they actually use? Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn?
• What tone connects best with them, heartfelt, urgent, playful or professional?

2. What action do you want people to take?

• Donate now? Share the post? Sign up for an event?
• Is the cal to action (CTA) clear, simple and one step only?
• Do you show them exactly how to act (e.g., “Click the blue donate button”)?

3. What story are you telling?

• Can you highlight one person helped instead of vague numbers?
• Do you have a photo or short video clip to make it real?
• Is the post framed around impact, what happens because of their gift?

4. How can you make it interactive?

• Add polls (“Which project should we fund first?”).
• Use challenges (“Every share = $1 donated by a sponsor”).
• Ask for comments (“What motivates you to give?”).

5. Are you using the right format for the platform?

• Instagram → reels, carousels, behind the scenes photos.
• Facebook → live streams, event invites, donor shoutouts.
• TikTok → quick, authentic videos, trending sounds.
• LinkedIn → impact stats, thought leadership, corporate giving highlights.

6. Are you optimizing for reach?

• Use hashtags smartly (not stuffed).
• Tag partners, volunteers, or sponsors.
• Post at times your audience is most active.

7. How will you measure success?

• Track likes, comments, shares, AND clicks to your donation page.
• Use A/B tests, does a video outperform a static image?
• Pay attention to which CTAs actually drive donations.

If you take the time to make sure every idea checks these boxes before you hit publish, you’ll definitely be publishing some great content that will get you likes, shares and most of all, donation.

Final Thoughts

Crafting compelling posts for your nonprofit isn’t about shouting the loudest in a crowded social media landscape, it’s about telling authentic and heartfelt stories that resonate with your audience. This is how you truly build a community of engaged supporters who feel personally connected to your mission and will most likely back your cause for many years to come. And there are so many ways to use your social media posts and the strategies we’ve listed above, all you need to do now is to pick one, answer our questions and start posting. Look at your posts data and tweak it for different platforms to get the most out of every post you create.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which social media platform is best for nonprofits?

It depends on your audience. Facebook is great for broad reach while platforms like Instagram does great with visuals. You will need to experiment and test to nail down the winning formula for your specific charity.

2. How often should we post fundraising content?

Aim for consistency. Posting 2 to 4 times a week works for most nonprofits and is far better than being inconsistent. But always test what resonates with your own audience.

3. Do we always have to ask for money in every post?
No. Mix in impact stories, volunteer highlights, or polls to keep people engaged without always feeling as though they’re being pushed to give. This helps build trust which leads to donations.

4. Should we boost or pay for ads on posts?
If you have the budget, boosting high performing posts can greatly expand expand reach. Always test small before spending big though!

5. How can small nonprofits compete with larger ones online?
Lean into authenticity. Personal stories and genuine community connection often outperform polished corporate content.

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