Online donations have become an essential part of nonprofit fundraising. Not only are they faster to process and more convenient for your donors, but they’re also eco-friendly by reducing paper waste. More importantly, online giving opens the door to long-term donor relationships by simplifying recurring giving.

While direct mail remains a tried-and-true fundraising channel, the digital giving landscape is booming. From 2018 to 2021, online giving grew by a staggering 42%, and is expected to grow another 3.9% in 2025. In today’s world, nonprofits can’t afford to leave their digital strategy on the back burner.

In this post, we’ll break down two straightforward but powerful ways to strengthen your online fundraising efforts and bring in more donations this year.

1. Refresh Your Online Donation Pages and Forms

Your donation page is the heartbeat of your online fundraising. If it hasn’t been updated recently, it’s time for a makeover. A clear, inspiring, and easy-to-navigate donation page can make all the difference between a casual visitor and a committed donor.

Start With Your Donation Page URL

Your donation page should be simple to find and even simpler to share. Avoid burying your donation form deep within your website or linking directly to the form itself. Instead, create a dedicated donation landing page, such as yourwebsite.org/donate. This makes it easier for visitors to remember and share the link.

DonorSnap tip: With DonorSnap’s responsive forms, you can embed your donation forms directly onto any page of your website—making the giving experience seamless and fully branded.

Craft Compelling Donation Pages

Keep it simple. Avoid clutter or long-winded copy that distracts visitors from taking action. A streamlined donation page should include:

• A bold headline (H2): A direct, emotional call to action (e.g., “Give Hope to Families in Need”).
• A short paragraph: Share a concise, impactful message about how their gift makes a difference.
• A powerful visual: A photo or graphic that connects with your mission and evokes emotion.
• The donation form: Easy to complete, mobile-friendly, and clearly laid out.

Don’t forget to audit your page for outdated information like last year’s campaign dates or old program details. Also, if you have a separate page promoting recurring giving, link to it as well—recurring gifts are a great way to build sustainable support.

Optimize Your Donation Forms

Your donation form should match your fundraising goals. If you’re a DonorSnap user, make sure your appeals and campaigns are up to date for the current year.

Take a moment to review your confirmation pages and thank-you emails. Are they warm and engaging? Do they reflect your current initiatives and encourage future involvement? A simple tweak to these touchpoints can deepen donor relationships from the moment they give. In fact, an online donation confirmation page can be a powerful tool for your first line of engagement. Read more about Online Donation Confirmation Page Ideas here.

And if you don’t already offer a recurring gift option on your form, now’s the time to add one!

2. Expand Your Digital Outreach

Once your donation pages are refreshed it is time to drive traffic to them. A strong digital outreach strategy helps you connect with new audiences while keeping current supporters engaged.

Build a Multichannel Fundraising Strategy

Your donors are online—and they’re everywhere. The most effective way to cut through the noise is with a coordinated, multichannel approach. This means crafting a unified message and sharing it across several platforms such as your website, social media, and email. Research shows donors often need to encounter your message multiple times (some say up to seven!) before they take action.

A multichannel strategy increases those touchpoints and keeps your organization top-of-mind.

Social Media: Consistency Is Key

If your nonprofit is on social media, consistency matters. Set a regular posting schedule and aim to strike a balance between:

• Engaging content: Stories from your programs, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or community highlights.
• Educational posts: Share stats, tips, or informative graphics related to your cause.
• Fundraising appeals: Calls to action that guide followers to your donation page.

Use each platform’s bio or profile link space wisely. Make sure your donation page is front and center. Additionally, sprinkle donation page links into your regular content (every 3-5 posts is a solid cadence) to gently guide followers toward giving.

Social media is also a fantastic opportunity to show progress on your campaigns and showcase impact, keeping your audience invested in your mission.

Email Marketing: Your Secret Weapon

Email remains one of the most cost-effective ways to engage donors. If you’re not already sending regular emails, consider starting a monthly or quarterly newsletter that provides updates on your work, shares success stories, and includes a clear link to your donation page.

Layer in additional email appeals throughout the year to complement your direct mail campaigns. Thanks to segmentation, you can create targeted mini-campaigns to specific donor groups based on their giving history or interests.

Tech tip: Tools like Constant Contact make designing beautiful, branded emails a breeze. Plus, DonorSnap integrates directly with Constant Contact so you can sync your mailing lists seamlessly. DonorSnap also offers built-in mass email and automation tools, allowing you to manage everything within one platform.

Final Thoughts

Enhancing your online fundraising doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By refreshing your donation pages and forms and expanding your digital presence, you’re laying the groundwork for stronger donor relationships and increased support for your cause.

The key? Make the giving experience easy and engaging, and make sure your message is heard often across multiple online channels.

Bonus Checklist

Give your online presence an audit and a refresh with this Optimizing Online Giving Bonus Checklist.