Wondering what the leading peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns are doing to maximize engagement and donations? Below, I’ll reveal the trends and strategies behind their success that you can apply to your next campaign.
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A new report shows that 40% of first-time donors to nonprofits came through peer-to-peer campaigns between 2022 and 2025.
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a powerful way to attract new donors, grow cause awareness, and increase engagement and donations.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the top peer-to-peer fundraising trends shaping the success of top campaigns. I’ll also share real-world examples of successful campaigns from nonprofits like yours.
Here’s a look at some of the most compelling peer-to-peer fundraising statistics from leading campaigns in 2025, as shared by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum:
Main takeaway: Despite the changing economic landscape, peer-to-peer fundraising programs continue to perform year over year. By focusing on community, stewarding supporters, and staying ahead of shifting donor behaviors, your campaign will be primed to succeed.
Now, I’ll share the five peer-to-peer fundraising trends shaping the success of the best-performing campaigns.
The most successful peer-to-peer campaigns recognize that supporters are more than just fundraisers; they’re passionate advocates of your cause. Make it easy for them to build a personal connection and share why it matters to them.
Start by giving your supporters a personal reason to fundraise. Depending on the nature of your cause, encourage them to fundraise in honor or memory of someone, celebrate someone who benefited from your cause, or complete a personal challenge.
Use storytelling when sharing beneficiary stories, impact videos, and testimonials to show the impact of your work and inspire others to get involved.
The American Heart Association’s Heart Walk is a great example of this. They regularly share powerful survivor stories to inspire action and build emotional connections with their audience. Their campaign raised $121 million in 2025, an $11 million increase from 2024.
Top tip: Make it easy for your supporters to advocate for you. Choose a peer-to-peer fundraising platform that enables supporters to easily sign up and customize their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, set individual fundraising goals, share their story, and include emotive visuals.
Take a look at how this fundraising team exceeded their personal goal of $30,000 for Summit Assistance Dogs using Donorbox Peer-to-Peer. They inspired others to give by sharing their fundraising story and goal.
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Giving supporters access to helpful fundraising resources is crucial for the success of your campaign.
Provide your fundraisers with a toolkit so they have everything they need to raise funds on your behalf.
Here are some examples of what to include in your fundraising toolkit:
The American Cancer Society provides fundraisers with its handy Relay for Life Team Captain Kit. Last year, their Relay for Life peer-to-peer fundraiser raised over $62 million!
The easier you make it for people to fundraise for you, the more motivated they’ll feel to get started.
A huge focus on community is another thing America’s most successful peer-to-peer campaigns have in common. When people feel a sense of belonging, they’ll keep showing up year after year.
Connecting your cause to a movement or activity inspired by your donors’ interests can significantly impact the success of your campaign. Peer-to-peer campaigns that also act as a-thon events are highly engaging because they build excitement and get supporters physically involved.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Cycle for Survival is a peer-to-peer cycling event that takes place across the U.S. Every year, they unite their community through stationary cycling to raise funds for rare cancer research. This cause raised $36 million in 2025, making it one of the top peer-to-peer campaigns.
Based on your donor’s interests and your mission, consider hosting a run-a-thon, bike-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or similar event to increase engagement. For example, see how Youth One hosted a run-a-thon and surpassed their fundraising goal with 528 donations.
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a fantastic way to acquire new supporters and maximize organizational awareness. But smart nonprofit organizations recognize the value of recurring donations to build steady, reliable financial support and retain those donors for years to come.
Continue the donor journey by offering a recurring giving interval on your peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
Platforms like Donorbox support seven recurring intervals, in addition to one-time gifts. Include up to four on your donation form featured on your peer-to-peer campaign to make giving feel accessible for your supporters.
Take a look at how 360 Eats is collecting recurring donations through their peer-to-peer fundraiser.
Your fundraisers work tirelessly to advocate for your mission and raise funds for you. Without their support, your work wouldn’t be possible.
One thing that the best-ranking campaigns do really well is shine the spotlight on supporters by calling them out publicly.
March for Dimes’ “March for Babies” event raised nearly $24 million in 2025, and acknowledging their supporters is one of the keys to their success. Every year, they publicly display top fundraisers on their website with their National March for Babies Awards of Excellence.
There are many ways to recognize your top supporters:
Never underestimate the power of thanking your fundraisers.
America’s highest-performing peer-to-peer fundraisers prove that a single event or fundraising strategy doesn’t drive sustained success.
By building community, creating personal connections, celebrating and empowering your supporters, and cultivating long-term relationships, you’ll achieve greater success.
Platforms like Donorbox empower you with powerful features to maximize your fundraising potential, grow your donor base, and increase engagement.
If you haven’t already, sign up today.
For more fundraising tips and ideas, visit the Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter for a curated selection of expert resources sent straight to your inbox.
Jamy-Lee has over 7 years of experience in copywriting and content marketing. With experience teaching in underserved communities and volunteering for animal rescue organizations, she has a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by mission-driven organizations. She now uses her passion for writing to share practical insights that help nonprofits fulfill their missions.
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