Nonprofit Revenue Streams: More Ways to Fund Your Mission
Looking for new ways to fund your mission? This guide breaks down 8 nonprofit revenue streams to help you grow sustainably and reduce financial risk.
Lydia Wohlgemuth
Looking for new ways to fund your mission? This guide breaks down 8 nonprofit revenue streams to help you grow sustainably and reduce financial risk.
In the nonprofit world, a revenue stream refers to any consistent source of funding that supports your organization’s mission, from individual donations to government grants.
And just like the saying goes, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” If one major source of income dries up, it can put your programs and progress at risk.
In this post, we’ll explore ways to diversify funding, helping you build long-term stability and keep your mission moving forward.
Without alternative revenue streams in place, your nonprofit could face sudden budget shortfalls, program cuts, or even staff layoffs.
For example, donors may stop giving if they feel overwhelmed by frequent asks, and grants, while helpful, can be unpredictable, with strict rules and no guarantee of renewal.
By diversifying your revenue streams, your nonprofit builds strength and sustainability.
Let’s look at the key benefits of multiple revenue sources for nonprofits:
Bringing in new nonprofit revenue sources requires creativity and strategy. While there’s no one-size-fits-all way to go about it, the list below offers ideas to explore or inspire your own unique approach!
In-person fundraising is a powerful way to connect directly with donors and build lasting relationships.
Individual donors make up a significant percentage of nonprofit revenue, and face-to-face interactions offer a chance to inspire generosity, share your mission, and build trust.
And in-person doesn’t mean cash-only! With tools like Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, donors can give quickly and securely with a card swipe or tap. It’s an easy way to meet supporters where they are – at church services, fundraisers, or community gatherings.
Get Started with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk
Events like walk-a-thons, silent auctions, concerts, or galas not only raise funds through ticket sales but also give you a chance to engage with your community and connect with potential long-term donors.
With Donorbox Events, you can create a custom webpage for your event or embed the registration form directly into your website. Once your form is live, Donorbox handles ticket delivery, collects attendee info, and even sends automatic receipts, saving you time and keeping things organized.
For a bit of inspiration, check out how Truly Valued has set up their Donorbox-powered event ticketing page for their fundraiser ball:
Online donations are one of the most convenient ways to bring in consistent revenue. Once you create an eye-catching, user-friendly donation form, button, or pop-up, your supporters can give anytime, anywhere.
One of the best parts of online giving is recurring donations. With the right setup, donors can easily choose to give automatically on a schedule that works for them. That kind of reliable income can help your nonprofit plan more confidently for the future.
Donorbox Donation Forms make it easy to offer daily, biweekly, 1st and 15th, monthly, quarterly, or annual giving options. You can embed the form directly into your website or create a custom donation page through Donorbox for free!
If you’re looking to build a close-knit community passionate about your mission, a membership model may be another reliable revenue stream worth considering for your nonprofit.
When someone signs up to become a member of your organization, it shows they’re truly committed to advancing your cause.
In return, you can help members feel like a valued part of your organization by offering special benefits like exclusive newsletters and events.
Make the most of your membership model with Donorbox Memberships. Offer monthly or annual memberships to your supporters and attach a membership fee to as many customizable tiers as you want!
Donorbox also gives your nonprofit an easy way to track, manage, and segment members, while giving your members access to their own accounts for updates and changes.
Crowdfunding is often a short-term but high-energy nonprofit revenue source, designed to get attention and motivate donors to support your mission.
A good crowdfunding campaign starts with a strong story: why does your cause matter, and what difference will donations make? When you tell that story well, it often ends with a wave of new, passionate supporters!
With Donorbox Crowdfunding, your nonprofit can quickly create an eye-catching campaign page. From your page, you can share real-time updates, thank donors, celebrate progress, and keep the momentum going – all in one place.
Turn your supporters into fundraisers with peer-to-peer fundraising! This fundraising strategy expands your reach while growing your revenue.
Instead of your nonprofit doing all the asking, your donors jump in on the action by customizing their own personal donation pages and sharing them with their friends and family.
Whether it’s for a birthday, race, or personal goal, people love fundraising for causes they care about, especially when it’s easy.
Donorbox Peer-to-Peer makes the whole process smooth and simple. With free webpage hosting, templates, and automatic onboarding emails, your supporters will feel equipped and encouraged to take action from the very start.
See how This Ends Now leveraged the power of peer-to-peer fundraising to raise funds for International Women’s Day:
Government agencies, private foundations, and corporations offer grants specifically to support nonprofit work, and tapping into this funding can give your organization a major boost.
Unlike donations, grants are usually tied to a specific program or initiative and come with clear guidelines, timelines, and expectations.
While applying for grants takes time, the funding you may receive is worth the effort!
For many nonprofits, major gifts from individual donors make up the largest portion of their funding, allowing organizations to grow, launch new programs, and meet ongoing needs.
Unlike one-time or small recurring donations, major gifts typically come from donors who have a strong connection to your mission.
That’s why securing major gifts takes time. You must be patient and intentional about building trust with your donors so they feel confident investing in your cause.
If your nonprofit is looking to build more consistent funding, here are a few tips to help you branch out and make the most of multiple income streams.
Unrestricted revenue can be used wherever your organization needs it most, whether that’s covering operating expenses, staff salaries, or responding to unexpected challenges.
On the other hand, restricted revenue must be used for a specific purpose outlined by the donor.
While both are valuable, prioritizing unrestricted income gives you the flexibility to direct funds where your nonprofit needs them most.
Not every revenue stream will be the right fit for your nonprofit (and that’s okay!).
Before diving into a new strategy like launching merchandise, hosting a gala, or starting a membership program, run a small-scale version first. Trial runs help you gauge interest, costs, and effectiveness without wasting your valuable resources.
No matter if you’re asking for event sponsorships, monthly donors, or ticket sales, your messaging must always reflect your nonprofit’s mission and impact.
Consistency builds trust, strengthens your brand, and helps supporters understand how their contribution fits into the bigger picture.
While there’s no magic formula for funding a nonprofit, setting up multiple revenue streams gives you peace of mind and lays the groundwork for you to grow.
Whether you’re launching a campaign or streamlining donations, Donorbox is here to help! More than 100,000 organizations have partnered with us to raise a collective $3 billion – and counting.
Sign up for Donorbox and start raising more support for your mission today.
Nonprofits make money through a combination of earned and donated revenue. Common sources include individual donations, grants, fundraising events, membership fees, and merchandise sales.
Nonprofits grow by diversifying their funding sources instead of relying on just one. Combining revenue sources like donations, grants, and partnerships builds a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
The most common revenue sources for nonprofits include individual donations, major gifts, government grants, and earned income such as program fees.
With a background in professional writing, Lydia has over five years in nonprofit communications under her belt. Lydia’s passion for supporting nonprofits sparked during her college internships with global mission organizations, where she gained valuable insights into fundraising marketing strategies. These experiences have continued to fuel her dedication to empowering nonprofits through her writing.
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