{"id":70233,"date":"2023-11-02T12:53:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T19:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog?p=70233"},"modified":"2026-08-03T03:53:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T10:53:44","slug":"peer-to-peer-and-crowdfunding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/peer-to-peer-and-crowdfunding","title":{"rendered":"Increase Giving Season Fundraising with Peer-to-Peer and Crowdfunding"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the end of the year approaches, you may be looking for ways to hit your fundraising revenue, achieve new goals, and attract new donors. Giving Season peer-to-peer and crowdfunding tools can help you finish strong with a great end-of-year campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Online Giving Season campaigns have been a game-changer for nonprofits like yours. According to M+R Benchmarks’ latest report, nonprofits received 37%<\/a> of their total 2025 online donations during December alone.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below, I’ll explain how to utilize crowdfunding and peer-to-peer tools in your Giving Season campaigns to elevate your fundraising, expand your donor base, and end the year with a sense of accomplishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Unleash the Power of the People This Giving Season<\/h2>\n

Giving Season<\/a> has its roots in the early 1900s, when favorable tax policies encouraged businesses and individuals to actively support charitable causes. <\/span><\/p>\n

This tradition of giving was galvanized in 2012 with the launch of <\/span>Giving Tuesday<\/span><\/a>, a day of \u201cradical generosity\u201d held on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Today, organizations like yours see Giving Tuesday<\/a> as the perfect time to launch successful year-end campaigns, using tools like crowdfunding and peer-to-peer to quickly spread the word and build donor interest and support. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Giving Season Peer-to-Peer & Crowdfunding Campaigns<\/h3>\n

Deciding on whether to run a peer-to-peer or crowdfunding campaign this Giving Season will depend on your fundraising objectives and the resources at your disposal.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your goal is to raise funds for a specific appeal in a short period of time, then crowdfunding is the best option. These campaigns typically have a fundraising deadline and work toward a specific goal. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to encourage supporters to fundraise for you while growing your donor base, consider peer-to-peer fundraising.<\/p>\n

Supporters create their own fundraising pages and promote your year-end campaign in their networks, increasing your organizational awareness and fundraising potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Comparing Crowdfunding to Peer-to-Peer<\/h4>\n

Crowdfunding and peer-to-peer<\/span> are similar because they rely on social sharing to spread the word. Both tactics also focus on attracting a larger number of smaller donations instead of fewer larger ones. <\/span><\/p>\n

From there, these fundraising methods differ in the following ways:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Crowdfunding<\/th>Peer-to-Peer<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Used by individuals, corporations, and nonprofits<\/td>Primarily used by nonprofit organizations\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Often used to achieve moderate or short-term goals<\/td>Can be used to raise more money over the long term<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Typically relies on an already-engaged audience of followers<\/td>Intended to increase donor numbers, expand awareness, and boost retention<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Offers more control over brand and messaging consistency<\/td>Requires finding and training supporters to communicate your message<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Promotes a single donation page that can be easily maintained<\/td>Uses multiple websites to promote and share with potential donors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A simple, effective solution when time and resources are limited<\/td>Requires more time, planning, and engagement with participants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

When used properly, these campaigns can build a wave of fundraising momentum that continues throughout the Giving Season<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many successful nonprofits have taken their fundraising potential to the next level by turning their crowdfunding campaign into a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Platforms like Donorbox<\/a> let you quickly turn your crowdfunding campaign into a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign by toggling a switch.<\/p>\n

Bonus resource: <\/strong>Check out this blog post<\/a> that compares the similarities and differences between crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising in detail.<\/p>\n

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Put Crowdfunding to Work this Giving Season<\/span><\/h2>\n

A crowdfunding campaign<\/a> features a dedicated landing page with your fundraising story and a clear call to action, plus a set start and end date. <\/span><\/p>\n

Engage your donors and subscribers with tools like a donor wall<\/a> to acknowledge gifts, a goal meter to create a sense of urgency, and social sharing buttons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crowdfunding success relies on the power of social proof. As subscribers see their friends, family, and peers donate, they’ll feel more inclined to contribute. This is how the Giving Tuesday movement generated <\/span>$4 billion<\/span><\/a> in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Giving Season Crowdfunding Ideas<\/h3>\n

There are many ways to incorporate a crowdfunding strategy into your Giving Tuesday<\/a> or Giving Season campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few ideas to get you started:<\/span><\/p>\n