Having an online fundraising site is like giving your community a home base for their generosity during your fundraising campaigns. It’s the go-to spot where people can learn about your mission, understand the goals of your campaign, contribute, and feel connected to the impact they’re making.
It’s not just about collecting donations—it’s about creating an experience. Your fundraising site tells your story, inspires action, and gives donors a way to share in your vision. Plus, it’s totally possible to make one for free! CauseVox is a digital fundraising platform that you can use to easily create free fundraising sites with full customization and 0% platform fees.
With a free fundraising site tailored to your unique campaigns, you can keep donors engaged without breaking the bank. We are going to take you through 7 easy steps to create a stand-out, free fundraising site. Let’s dive in!
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Free Fundraising Site
1. Define Your Fundraising Goal
Defining your fundraising goal is like setting the GPS for your campaign—it tells everyone where you’re headed and gives you a clear direction. Think about what you’re raising money for, whether it’s a specific project, covering operational costs, or funding an upcoming event. Be specific!
For example, instead of saying, “We need money for supplies,” try, “We’re raising $10,000 to provide 500 backpacks filled with school supplies for local kids.” A clear, tangible goal that you can divide into donation tiers helps your supporters understand the impact of their contribution and gets them excited to help you reach that finish line!
Orangewood Foundation used donation tiers as an easy way to tie a dollar amount to impact in their fundraising campaign, hosted on CauseVox.
2. Choose Your Strategy
Choosing your fundraising strategy is all about finding the vibe that matches your cause and your community. Here are a few of the most popular types of online fundraising campaigns:
Crowdfunding
Are you looking to rally everyone around one big goal? Crowdfunding is perfect for that—it’s simple and gets everyone pitching in together.
Nido Scholars had 115 donors give during their crowdfunding campaign hosted on CauseVox
Peer-to-Peer
Want to empower your biggest supporters to help spread the word? Go for a peer-to-peer campaign, where they can create their own mini fundraisers on your behalf.
Empower used a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign hosted on CauseVox to raise nearly $170k from 120 donors!
Event-Based
Hosting something active, like a run, walk, or race? That’s a great way to engage people who love to move for a cause.
Rise Beyond All Odds hosted a campaign on CauseVox that invited people to get active in a variety of ways to support their cause.
Or, if your style is more about bringing people together in one place, consider an event-based fundraiser like a gala or other types of ticketed events.
PalTrek used the ticketing feature on CauseVox for their event.
The beauty of it all? You can mix and match strategies to make it work for your goals and your audience.
3. Choose Your Platform
Choosing the right platform for your fundraising site is key to making your campaign a success. Look for one that aligns with your needs, is easy to use, and provides a great experience for both you and your donors. The right platform should feel like a partner in your efforts.
Compare Features and Limitations
Take a close look at what each platform offers. Are there transaction fees, and how much are they? Is there an option for your donors to cover the fees? Does it let you customize your page to reflect your brand? Is it simple for both you and your donors to navigate? Weighing these details can help you make the best choice for your campaign.
CauseVox has a free plan with a 0% platform fee, supported by optional tips from donors, that has all these features and more; we also offer premium plans with even more features.
Considerations for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
If you’re running a peer-to-peer campaign, check for features that allow supporters to create personal fundraising pages they can share with their networks. Make sure the platform offers tools to track their progress and celebrate their efforts—it keeps your fundraisers motivated and engaged.
Consider using a platform that allows donors to easily see the individuals and teams fundraising for your cause.
Considerations for Event-Based Fundraising
For event-based campaigns, look for options like ticketing, participant registration, and event tracking. If you’re organizing something active, like a walk or race, ensure the platform can handle things like team sign-ups or progress meters to build excitement.
The Plungefest Event used their donation page to capture registrations and even allowed people to join a peer-to-peer fundraising team, making getting involved seamless.
Platforms like CauseVox stand out because they’re designed with nonprofits in mind. At CauseVox, we offer free flexible tools for everything from crowdfunding, to peer-to-peer campaigns, to event-based fundraising, with easy customization options. CauseVox offers a user-friendly way to create a professional, impactful fundraising site that reflects your mission.
4. Create Your Fundraising Site
Once you’ve chosen your platform, it’s time to create your fundraising site, which is all about making a great first impression! Start by branding your page—make sure your colors, logo, and messaging feel cohesive and true to your nonprofit. Then craft a clear, engaging headline that grabs attention. Use visuals like photos or videos to make it personal and relatable—they help donors connect with your cause.
Using a fundraising progress meter excites people to help you reach and raise even more than your goal.
Be sure to highlight your fundraising goal and use a progress meter or fundraising thermometer to encourage donors to help you reach the goal! Pair this with a strong, visible call-to-action like “Donate Now” or “Make an Impact Today” to guide supporters to take the next step. Keep it bold, easy to find, and impossible to miss!
5. Craft an Engaging Fundraising Story
When donors scroll down your campaign page, they should see a heartfelt story. Crafting an engaging fundraising story is all about making people feel something. Share the “why” behind your cause—what inspired this campaign and who will it help? Introduce real people, situations, or moments connected to your mission to make it personal.
Rise Beyond All Odds does a great job of using visuals and storytelling on their fundraising site.
Be honest and heartfelt, and don’t shy away from showing the challenges you’re working to overcome. People want to know their support makes a difference, so paint a clear picture of the impact they can have. Whether it’s through words, photos, or videos, your story should inspire donors to feel like they’re part of something meaningful and urgent.
Consider including a beneficiary testimonial on your campaign page to highlight the impact of each gift.
6. Add Clear Donation Options Tied to Impact
Make donating simple and seamless by offering clear donation options and easy checkout on your free fundraising site. We highly recommend using a platform like CauseVox that offers easy checkout with a variety of payment options like mobile wallets.
You can also include recurring donations, as well as donation tiers, which as we mentioned above,are suggested amounts tied to specific outcomes.For example: “$50 provides a week’s worth of meals for a family.” This enables donors to see the direct impact of their gift. For flexibility, add a custom amount option too.
Using donation tiers tied to impact makes it easy for donors to know the value of the gift, encouraging them to give and give more generously.
7. Test the Site for User-Friendliness
Before launching your free fundraising site, take a moment to test it for user-friendliness. Walk through it like a donor—does everything load quickly? Are the donation options clear? Is it easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile? A smooth experience keeps people engaged and ready to give. With CauseVox, you’re already ahead of the game. Our free platform is designed to be user-friendly and mobile-optimized, so your donors can easily support your cause from anywhere, anytime!
Promoting Your Fundraising Site
Promoting your fundraising site is all about getting the word out to as many people as possible. Share it on your social media platforms–like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn–to tap into your followers and their networks. Don’t forget your existing donors’ email newsletters are a great way to keep them informed and encourage them to support your cause again. You can also collaborate with influencers or partners to amplify your reach and introduce your campaign to a whole new audience. Finally, don’t forget to update your page regularly to show progress and keep your supporters in the loop. When people see how their donations are making a difference, they’re more likely to stay involved!
Tracking Success And Adapting
Tracking the success of your fundraising site is key to keeping your campaign on track. CauseVox includes built-in analytics to monitor donation metrics—things like how much is coming in and where it’s coming from.
Celebrating milestones along the way and publicly thanking your donors keeps the momentum going and shows appreciation, which can inspire even more giving. Be sure to keep an eye on donor feedback and engagement too, so you can refine your approach if needed. The more you adapt based on what’s working, the better your results will be!
Ready To Create A Free Fundraising Site?
Having a fundraising site is essential for effectively reaching your community, sharing your mission, and making it easy for people to support your cause. The best part? Setting one up for free is simple. With the right platform, you can create a site that’s customized to your needs and easy to manage. So why wait? Your supporters are ready to get involved—let them help make it happen!
