How to Raise Money Fast as a Nonprofit (Practical Strategies That Work)

Quick Answer

The best source for fast fundraising from a nonprofit is to ask your existing donor base. Run short and focused campaigns to convey a sense of urgency. Another factor that can help is having a clear emotional goal with each fundraising ask.

Key Takeaways

• Look to your Inner Circle
• Run Micro-Campaigns
• Focus on Quick and Low Cost Events
• Offer Items that Inspire Your Donor Base

If you run a nonprofit, chances are you’ve felt that tight, anxious pressure when funds start running low and everyone is looking at you to keep the mission moving forward. Bills are due. Programs are midstream. People are counting on you. And while you’ve probably heard all the usual advice, grant cycles, endowment plans, annual giving drives, you also know those take months to see results.

The problem is, sometimes you need money now. Not next quarter. Not after a three month campaign or applying for grants. Right now. So what do you do?

Luckily there are practical and ethical ways to get a quick cash infusion without burning out your team or your donors. And with all the technology at your fingertips, creating heart felt shoutouts on social media, setting up custom donation pages and harnessing the power of peer to peer platforms, you’re able to potentially reach millions of people within minutes instead of days.

We will walk you through the best ways we’ve seen our clients get some quick cash using both our own platform as well as other public ones. And all that you can put into action right now. You’ll walk away with at least five strategies that can get you the funds you need to keep the lights on and continue your mission with little interruption. And they can all be tweaked to work with any type of nonprofit.

Activate Your Inner Circle (The Fastest Cash Is Close to Home)

If you really need some cash right now the first thing you should be looking to is your support base. These people already know you, support you and believe in your mission. You don’t need to ‘sell’ them, they’ve already ‘bought’ into your vision. This includes your board members, volunteers, loyal donors and even past supporters who’ve drifted away, they can all be contacted immediately and are your quickest path to immediate funding.

Here’s how to do it.

Rally Your Board

If you chose your board correctly, they’re available for a lot more than just meetings and oversight. These people are a built in fundraising team and should have access to friends and associates that can inject some cash if asked. Ask each board member to reach out personally to five people in their network. Tell them to keep it specific and simple. A call or short email like this works:

“Hey [Name], I’m reaching out because our nonprofit is facing a tight funding gap this month, and I’m helping raise $5,000 to keep our community program running. Even a $50 gift helps. Can I count on you to pitch in today?”

The thing is when someone asks friends an ask like this one, they’ll respond not so much because they believe in your mission, but because they believe in their friends.

Mobilize Volunteers

Volunteers often care deeply but aren’t always asked to fundraise. Change that. Give them a concrete goal and a reason to feel like they’re part of the organization in a way that pushes them to get involved bringing in funds. For example:

• “Let’s each raise $100 from our family or friends this weekend.”
• “Share our donation link on your social media with a one line story about why you volunteer.”

Make it fun if at all possible and add small challenges or leaderboards to keep the energy up.

Reconnect With Past Donors

Past donors have already supported you and if you ask them in the right way, many will give again. You just have to be sure to ask them in a way that connects with them and makes them feel the urgency of your needs. Try something like:

“You helped us keep the shelter open last year, and thanks to you, 40 families had a safe place to stay. We’re facing another urgent need this week. Would you consider making a quick donation to help us reach our $3,000 goal?”

A clear goal plus some honest gratitude goes a long way.

Use the Right Tools

Speed matters, so skip anything that slows you down. Platforms like Paybee make it easy to create donation forms in minutes, track progress and share links across email and social media. These tools are built for quick campaigns and due to our easy to use user dashboard, can all be completed in minutes with no coding or long setup required.

Keep It Personal and Urgent

Generic emails spammed to everyone on your list rarely get much feedback. But if you send actual personal emails that are targeted specifically for your donor type, you can easily rake in hundreds if not thousands with one email. Just keep things short and to the point. Something like, “We’re $800 short of meeting our goal by Friday,” not “We’re raising money for programs.” Remember, the quickest cash isn’t from strangers, it’s from your circle of believers who just need a nudge to step up again. Start there and you might be surprised how quickly the momentum builds.

Run a 7 Day Micro-Campaign

Micro campaigns are an excellent way to get some fast money pouring into your bank account. They’re highly targeted and are meant to offer a solution to a single and immediate goal. They need to be kept short, urgent and emotionally charged to keep the momentum going. And planning is minimal, but required to make sure you’re hitting all the bases.

Here’s how it works.

1. Pick One Specific Goal

Don’t overcomplicate it. Choose something people can visualize and emotionally connect to. For example:

• “We need to raise $2,500 in the next seven days to buy classroom supplies for 50 kids.”
• “We’re covering the last $1,000 for our community garden before planting day.”

Create a story where people can see the outcome and how their donation actually helps in a positive way. Broad or vague asks like “help us continue our mission” don’t create urgency or inspire people to give, you’ve got to paint the story and include them in it.

2. Tell the Story in Pictures and Emotion

Visual storytelling is a powerful marketing technique that many for-profit and nonprofit organizations use to boost their revenues. And these don’t need to be all polished either, just quick images or short thirty second videos work best. They keep things authentic. Just show or explain to them what it is you need, why you need it and the ultimate impact having it will have. Simple!

Then post that video on your social media and donation form. Let people see who they’re helping. A short clip of a teacher unpacking donated books or a volunteer tending seedlings in your garden can do more than paragraphs of text ever could.

Get everyone to share it as widely as possible.

3. Share Daily Updates

Momentum is everything when you’re running these types of campaigns. That means a minimum of a post a day, and up to three is great if you aren’t recycling the same stuff. For example:

• “Day 2: We’re halfway there — $1,250 raised!”
• “Day 5: Only $400 to go! Who’s in for the final push?”

Use fundraising trackers, countdowns, progress bars and photos and videos to show movement. Let people see how their contributions are making a difference.

4. Close Strong and with Gratitude

Once you’ve either ended the campaign or reached your goals, celebrate, even if you didn’t reach your goal. Share photos of what the funds made possible. Tag donors who gave permission. Post a heartfelt thank-you video, something like, “Because of you 50 kids will have everything they need to start the school year ready to learn.” Even if you didn’t reach your goals, you should be thanking everyone involved. This not only lets people know they made a difference, it also gives them a reason to continue to support your cause long into the future.

Host a Quick Event (Virtual, Local or Hybrid)

Gathering people around a shared experience is also a fantastic way to bank quick. Even a simple bake sale can result in hundreds of dollars in emergency money. And with all the fundraising event ideas out there, you’re never short of things to try like a quick car wash or sneaker donation drive. And what’s really helpful is tools like our hybrid events allow you to host these in person ones while also allowing anyone with an internet connection attend as well. That means you can literally have a global campaign at the push of a button.

And the best part? You don’t need months of planning or a huge budget.

Keep It Simple and Short

Pick something easy to organize that fits your audience and your cause. Think low preparation yet high impact events like:

• A coffee chat or Q&A with your founder or a program leader. People love hearing the inside story of how things work and where their donations go.
• A charity workout or yoga class. Partner with a local instructor who’ll donate their time, or host a virtual session on Zoom where participants give $10 to $20 donation to join.
• A pancake breakfast or bake sale that doubles as a community meet up is old-school, but it works. Especially if you add a donation jar and a quick update on your current goals.

You’re not creating a gala. You’re creating connection.

Get the Word Out Fast

Promoting your event is key when it comes to hosting something live like this. Announce your event on social media and through your email list and use every communication channel you have at your disposal. Tools like Paybee let you set up ticketing or donation pages in minutes and share a link directly in your post or a QR code right on your flyers.

Add a few simple visuals like a photo of volunteers setting up tables or a short video invite from the organizer to give it all a human touch. People don’t respond to polished ads, they respond to real.

Collect Payments the Smart Way with a Donation Page 

Skip cash boxes and paper checks if you can. Mobile payments are way faster and safer. Plus all your donation are easier to track. Set up a QR code at your event that links to your page so there’s no questions on how to make a gift. And if you decide on a hybrid event, drop the link in the chat and mention it a few times naturally so it doesn’t sound like a sales pitch.

And always follow up with a thank-you message afterward. You want people personally invested as well as financially. Something simple like “You helped us raise $1,200 in just two hours!” does the job and lets your donors feel appreciated.

Cover the Basics Both Legally and Logistically

Even small events need a quick check to see if permits or liability coverage is required. This is especially true if you’re selling food or doing any physical activities where someone can get hurt. It’s better to make a quick call now than deal with red tape later.

Sell or Offer Something with Meaning

Sometimes the fastest way to raise money isn’t by asking, it’s by offering. The idea is when you sell something that people actually want, you’re giving them value in a way that matters to them. They get to contribute, but they also feel like they’re getting something tangible for their donation. It can be something as simple as Girl Scout cookies or Christmas wrapping paper. The objective here is to offer something in return for their support so they feel they aren’t just throwing money away.

Offer Something People Actually Want

Choose products or digital items that carry a story or purpose. For example:

• A digital download like a recipe book from your community kitchen, a mindfulness guide written by volunteers or printable art made by local kids all take little time to create but feel heartfelt and unique.
• Branded merchandise like shirts, mugs, tote bags or candles with short and meaningful messages that reflect your mission are excellent quick wins. A small animal shelter once printed shirts that said, “Rescued Is My Favorite Breed” and sold out in three days.
• Partner promotions where a local business donates a percentage of their sales for a weekend or matches customer tips for your cause is a major a win-win for both of you. They get visibility and some new customers and you get funds without any overhead.

Keep It Simple and Online

You don’t need fancy e-commerce software to sell something simple. Sites like Bonfire or Etsy for Charity make it easy to set up a pop up campaign collect donations digitally. And digital goods are even easier since all you need to do is to host them directly through your donation form and send buyers a download link after they give. And there are no fees!

If your supporters already follow you on social media, lean into that. Post photos, share stories behind the product and use phrases that connect emotionally: “Every mug sold plants a tree,” or “Each guide supports our after school program.”

Make It Feel Personal

When it comes to charities, people will buy more for the why. Show them what their purchase accomplishes and make it meaningful to them. For example: “Each $20 T-shirt covers one week of meals for a family in need.” That kind of clear connection between product and the immediate impact the revenue accomplishes is what gets people to open their wallets.

Secure a Matching Gift or Local Sponsor for In-kind Donations 

one of the smartest moves you can make is to double what’s already coming in, and the easiest and quickest way to do that is to secure a matching gift or local sponsorship that will match each donation made to your charity. So if Sally gives a gift of $25, Frank’s hot dogs matches their gift and your charity walks away with $50.

These large contributions are usually made by a business although well off donors occasionally will do match gifting to a point. It’s one of the few fundraising strategies that instantly creates both urgency and credibility. Donors love knowing their $25 suddenly becomes $50, and businesses love the visibility and goodwill that come from backing a good cause. It’s a win win for all.

Start Local and Personal

Don’t overthink it. You don’t need a national corporation to pull this off. Even a local café that’s willing to match your communities support for a day can have a real impact on your goal. And if you push enough new business their way, it’s even more of a reason for them to extend their contributions, or for other businesses to take notice and join in. Start with businesses you already know, maybe the restaurant that catered your last event or the store owner who’s always saying, “Let us know how we can help.” Then frame it as a partnership, not a favor. You’re offering them free, positive exposure while helping your nonprofit move quickly toward its goal.

Make the Ask Simple for Individual Donations 

Here’s an example email you can adapt:

Subject: Partner with us to make double the impact this week

Hi [Name],

I hope you’re doing well! I’m reaching out because our nonprofit, [Organization Name], is running a short campaign this week to [brief goal, “raise $3,000 to buy new classroom supplies for local kids”].

We’d love to feature [Business Name] as our matching sponsor. Your $1,000 match would double every donation that comes in and help us hit our goal faster, plus we’ll feature your business across our social media and email newsletter throughout the week.

It’s a great way to support the community and get your brand in front of local families who already love what you do.

Would you be open to a quick chat about it?

Thanks for considering,
[Your Name]

Keep it conversational and specific. Avoid corporate buzzwords or long mission statements, this is about getting people motivated to chip in, not formalities.

Use the Match to Create Urgency

Announce you’ve secured a sponsor as soon as possible. And announce it everywhere:

• “Every dollar donated this week is being matched by [Business Name], but only until Friday!”
• Add a countdown clock or daily progress updates to your donation page.
• Tag the business in your posts so they see the love rolling in too.

The combination of a ticking clock and a visible partner builds trust and momentum. Donors see that someone credible is backing your mission and they want to be part of the moment before it ends.

Launch a Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser

Peer-to-peer fundraising is one of the fastest ways to raise money because it doesn’t rely on you doing all the asking. Rather, you go to your base and ask them to set up a crowdfunding  campaign and give them their own page that they can share with family and friends. They drive traffic to their page and all donations go to your charity. This can be extremely powerful if you have a bunch of followers setting up pages for you, and you can be tapping into otherwise unknown potential funding sources. It’s word-of-mouth giving powered by technology like Paybee and others, and when done right, it can create an incredible ripple effect.

How It Works Step by Step

1. Pick a platform that makes it easy.
   Sites like Paybee and Facebook Fundraisers let your supporters set up their own fundraising pages in minutes. They can share your story, add photos and track their progress while everything is all synced to your main campaign total.
2. Create a main campaign page.
   Create one main page for all your peers that clearly explains what your goal is and why you need the money now. For example, “We’re raising $5,000 this month to buy winter coats for kids in our shelter. Every $25 raised keeps one child warm.” Include a few high quality images or a 30 second video that shows their impact.
3. Invite your supporters to join in.
   Send a personal message to your most engaged donors and volunteers:
4. “We’re launching a 7 day challenge, and we’d love you to be part of it. Would you be willing to host your own mini fundraiser to help us hit our goal? We’ll give you everything you need, it takes just five minutes to set up.”
   Provide a simple toolkit with a short message they can copy, a few images, and a direct link to create their page.
5. Make it emotional and easy to share.
   The best scenario is if you can get each of your peers to create their own stories on why your goal is important to them. A simple post like, “This cause helped my family when we needed it most and I want to help them reach more people willing to help out. Will you donate $10 to my page?” carries far more weight than a generic donation ask.
6. Keep the energy high.
   Post updates throughout the campaign like daily totals, milestones and shoutouts to your top fundraisers. People love seeing progress and public gratitude fuels more sharing. You can even create friendly competition between teams or individuals with something like, “The first fundraiser to hit $500 gets a local gift card!”

Why It Works

Peer-to-peer campaigns work because a friend is the one asking for their support, not your organization. This also gives you instant credibility and a personal connection to someone who may never have heard of your cause before. That’s because people give to people they trust, not just causes they like.

Use Social Media & Storytelling to Fuel Urgency

Storytelling on social media is a very powerful way to market your cause. People love heartfelt stories, especially ones that show the before and after. Stories like those get people to stop scrolling and take notice while also demonstrating how their involvement can also make a real difference in some way. Money moves when emotion does. That mean don’t just announce needs, they tell stories that make people care right now and inspire them to give.

Make It Personal, Not Polished

Skip the perfectly edited videos and corporate style captions. Show real moments instead. A volunteer packing boxes. A rescued dog wagging its tail. A single mom sharing what your program meant for her family. These are the details that pull people in.

Try to start your posts with one persons story rather than boring and dry facts. Instead of “We serve 1,000 families each year,” say, “When Maria lost her job, your donations helped her keep food on the table for her kids.” People give to people, not numbers.

Write Headlines That Spark Emotion and Action

The best headlines are short, specific and emotional. Here are a few that work:

• “We’re $500 short of keeping our lights on, can you help us get there tonight?”
• “Every $25 gift feeds one family this week. Let’s feed them all.”
• “This puppy was left behind. You can give her a home in just one click.”

Each one tells a mini story and makes the reader feel the urgency to act.

Use Real-Time Updates

Don’t just post once and disappear. Keep your supporters in the loop as the story unfolds. Share daily updates on progress no matter how small or insignificant. Here are a few more examples:

• “Day 3: We’re 70% of the way there, thank you to everyone who’s donated so far!”
• “We just delivered the first 25 care packages. Here’s what that looked like.”

When people see how things are unfolding on a daily basis, they get wrapped up in your story, and that little extra push may be all they need to open their purses. And there’s even a chance that your content and ask goes viral on Facebook or Tic-Tok. And keep up the urgency as time runs out. Urgency triggers generosity.

Keep the Story Human

When you’re filming, just be you. Speak as though you’re talking to a friend, no scripts, no jargon. Just heart and honesty. People are tired of production, they want real people making a real difference. So show how sad or dire a situation truly is, and how your organization relieved someone’s suffering. This will grab donors in ways that aren’t possible with other forms of communication.

After the Rush: How to Turn Fast Money Into Long Term Support

So you followed one of our ideas above and funded that financial gap that was weighing down on you. Great! But that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. This is where most nonprofits drop the ball, the follow up.

Now is the time to than every single donor and volunteer for helping you reach your goal, because without them it wouldn’t have been possible. So express that. Giving gratitude isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also what keep people around for that next cash injection when you need it. You want these people to become life long supporters, and that begins by saying than you, personally if possible.

Build a Simple Follow-Up System

Donor retention doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about connecting with individuals on a regular basis and creating an actual relationship, even if it’s all automated. Here’s an easy system to keep new supporters engaged:

1. Thank immediately. Use email, text or even a quick phone call if the gift was large.
2. Update within a week. Show what their donation achieved using photos, numbers or quotes from beneficiaries.
3. Invite gently. Offer them a chance to stay involved after a week or two by asking them to sign up for your newsletter, join your Facebook group or volunteer at your next event.
4. Ask again strategically. Once people start responding, introduce a monthly giving option or a low pressure campaign update.

Don’t start asking for more money right away, rather build a relationship that naturally leads to more giving.

Turn One Time Donors Into Monthly Supporters

There’s nothing like having a bunch of supporters enrolled in your monthly giving program to keep the financial pressures at bay. Even a $10 monthly donor means $120 guaranteed for the year. This can help plan bills and other costs throughout the year more effectively and give you more free time to focus on your mission. So offer an easy way for your fast campaign donors to become recurring givers. Try language like:

“If you loved being part of this week’s success, consider joining our monthly circle. Even $10 a month keeps the mission going long after this campaign ends.”

Make it feel like an invitation, not an obligation.

Keep Them in the Loop

Regular updates keep supporters emotionally invested. So keep updating them on all your events, drives, mission work and even behind the scenes videos of what it’s like for people that work the daily grind there. All of this demonstrates transparency and show you’re a real nonprofit working hard to help the world. This lets donors see exactly where there money is going and gives them a reason to keep giving.

Conclusion: Urgency + Authenticity = Trust

Raising money fast doesn’t mean cutting corners or flooding people’s inboxes with desperate pleas. In fact, it means just the opposite. You need to sketch out an actual fundraising strategy like we’ve done above. Then stick to it and be decisive. Connect with people on a daily basis and share stories that make people want to act, not just give. People can sense sincerity. They can also sense panic. The difference is in your tone and intent.

So whether you’re launching a seven day challenge, calling on your inner circle or setting up that first matching gift, remember why people give. They give to a cause because they feel emotionally connected to either your mission or the problem you’re trying to solve. Hopefully both! When you speak from the heart about a real need, and show exactly how their help makes an impact, donors respond. Fast doesn’t have to feel frantic, it can feel focused, energized, and deeply human.