Getting donations online doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, with the right tools and a clear plan, it can be one of the easiest ways to grow support for your cause.
Whether you’re a nonprofit just starting out, or you’ve been raising money for years, there are simple, effective steps you can take to reach more people and turn one-time givers into long-time supporters.
We’ve worked with hundreds of nonprofits, and we’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t. This guide breaks down the best ways to collect donations online, from setting up your donation page to sharing your mission on social media. We’re keeping it simple, practical, and built for real teams like yours who are short on time and big on heart.
Ready to make online giving easier for both you and your donors? At Harness, we’re here to help you do just that, through tools that feel like magic and support that feels like part of your team.
Why getting donations online is more important than ever
Let’s be real, people just don’t carry cash or write checks like they used to. Most of us pay bills, shop, and even split dinner using our phones. Giving should be just as easy.
That’s why online donations matter more than ever. If your organization doesn’t offer a simple way to give online, you’re probably missing out on a big group of supporters who want to help, but don’t know how.
We’ve seen it over and over again: when nonprofits make giving easy and fast, donations go up. Donors feel more connected, they come back more often, and they tell their friends. Online giving isn't just convenient, it builds relationships, grows your community, and keeps your mission moving forward, even while you sleep.
It’s not just about keeping up with technology, it’s about making giving feel natural for the people who care about your work.
How to collect donations online: 7 easy and effective strategies
We’ve helped a lot of nonprofits, and one thing we’ve learned is this: you don’t need a huge team or a fancy budget to raise money online. What you do need is a simple, clear setup, and a few smart strategies that actually work.
Below are seven proven ways to get donations online. These aren’t theories, they’re real steps we’ve seen small teams use to grow giving and build stronger donor relationships. Some are quick wins you can set up today. Others take a little more time but pay off big in the long run.
Here’s a quick look at what we’ll cover next:
- Creating a user-friendly donation page
- Adding a donate button across your website and platforms
- Choosing the right fundraising platform
- Using peer-to-peer fundraising to grow your reach
- Promoting your donation link on social media
- Offering multiple payment options
- Using email and text to re-engage your donors
Let’s break each one down, starting with your donation page.
Create a user-friendly donation page
Think of your donation page like your front door, it should feel welcoming, easy to use, and built for real people (not just tech folks). We’ve seen too many nonprofits lose donations because the giving page was confusing or too slow to load.
A good donation page is clean, fast, and tells your story without making the donor dig for it. The goal is to make giving feel natural. Include a clear headline, a short impact statement (like “$25 feeds a family for a week”), and simple donation amounts people can click.
And please, make sure it works well on mobile. Most donors give from their phones. If they land on a clunky page, they’ll leave before they ever hit “submit.”
Add a donate button across all platforms
Your donate button should be everywhere, website, blog, social media bios, and even your email signature. It’s like giving people a gentle nudge that says, “Hey, if you’re ready to help, here’s how.”
We’ve worked with partners who doubled donations just by making their button easier to find. It doesn’t need to be flashy. It just needs to be there, always visible, always simple.
Pro tip: Add a sticky donate button that stays visible as people scroll your site. No matter where they are, they can take action with one tap.
Choose the right fundraising platform
Not all fundraising tools are created equal. You want something that works for you, not something you have to fight with every day.
Look for platforms that are user-friendly for both your team and your donors. Does it let you track donations easily? Can you customize it to match your brand? Will it grow with you?
At Harness, we built our platform for teams like yours, people who wear five hats and still want things to look polished. We make it easy to launch campaigns, track giving, and stay connected with your supporters, all in one place.
Use peer-to-peer fundraising to grow your reach
This one’s powerful. Peer-to-peer fundraising turns your supporters into fundraisers. They set up their own donation pages and share them with friends, family, coworkers, people you might never reach on your own.
We’ve seen this work incredibly well for community events, birthdays, or “in honor of” campaigns. It brings in new donors and deepens the connection with your current ones. It also makes people feel like they’re part of your mission, not just giving to it.
Even better? It’s a low-lift way to expand your reach without spending more on ads or marketing.
Promote your donation link on social media
Social media isn’t just about followers, it’s about connection. And when you use it right, it’s one of the best places to share your mission and invite people to give.
Use stories, photos, and quick impact updates to show people what their donation makes possible. Include your donation link in every post that makes an ask. Pin it to your bio. Drop it in your stories. Keep it visible.
You don’t need to post every day, but when you do, let it be personal, real, and focused on your mission. That’s what builds trust and inspires action.
Offer multiple payment options
The easier you make it for someone to give, the more likely they will.
Some folks like to use their credit card. Others use PayPal or Venmo. And mobile-friendly forms are a must. If your donation process only works one way, you’re shutting the door on a lot of would-be supporters.
That’s why we always recommend offering a few ways to pay. Even better? Let them choose between one-time and recurring gifts. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to give monthly if you just make it an option.
Use email and text to re-engage your donors
This is where the magic happens after someone gives.
Don’t just say thank you and move on. Use email or text to keep them in the loop, let them know how their gift helped. Share updates. Invite them to give again or become a monthly donor.
And yes, you can automate a lot of this. At Harness, we make it easy to set up automatic thank-yous, reminders, and even birthday messages. It’s all about staying connected without adding more work to your plate.
How to evaluate a fundraising platform
Choosing the right platform is a big deal. It’s not just about picking a tool, it’s about finding a partner that actually helps you raise more, stress less, and grow smarter.
We’ve worked with a lot of nonprofits that were stuck using tools that were “good enough,” but really weren’t built for them. They were clunky, hard to manage, or missing the features they actually needed.
Here’s what we always tell partners to look for when evaluating a fundraising platform:
- Ease of use: If it takes a tech degree to update your campaign or see donor data, it’s not the right fit. Look for something simple and clear, for your team and your supporters.
- Automation tools: Can it handle thank-you emails, recurring donation setup, or campaign reminders without you needing to babysit it? These small time-savers make a huge difference.
- Donor experience: Does the platform make giving fast and easy on phones? Are forms clean and customizable? If it’s a pain to donate, people won’t.
- Reporting and data: You should be able to see what’s working (and what’s not) without needing a spreadsheet wizard.
- Support when you need it: Great tools come with great people. If something breaks or you have a question, you want a team that actually shows up.
Fundraising strategies that drive long-term impact
It’s one thing to get a donation. It’s another to build a lasting relationship with someone who wants to support your work year after year. That’s the difference between short-term wins and long-term growth.
Here are a few strategies we’ve seen work again and again:
Build a recurring giving program
Recurring donations are a game-changer. Even a small monthly gift adds up fast, and helps you plan ahead with more confidence. Make it easy for donors to choose a monthly option, and don’t forget to show them how their steady support makes a difference.
Host virtual or hybrid events
Online events don’t need to be fancy. A live Q&A, behind-the-scenes tour, or mission update can connect people to your cause in a big way. Add a donation link or ticket option, and you’ve got a built-in fundraising moment.
Run matching gift campaigns
When donors know their gift will be doubled, they’re more likely to give, and to give more. You can work with a business partner or a board member to set up a match, then promote it through email and social media.
Use goal meters and progress updates
Seeing progress in real time motivates people to jump in. A fundraising thermometer or simple dollar tracker on your site or campaign page shows momentum and builds trust.
These aren’t complicated strategies, but they’re powerful. And when you combine them with a clear mission and a smooth donation experience, they help turn one-time donors into long-time champions.
How to streamline the donation process for your team
Let’s be honest, most nonprofit teams are juggling way too much. You’re running programs, planning events, answering emails, and trying to keep up with fundraising on top of it all. That’s why streamlining the donation process isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must.
Here are a few ways to make giving (and managing giving) easier for everyone on your team:
Automate what you can
Set up automatic donation receipts, thank-you messages, and even reminders for recurring gifts. It saves time and keeps things consistent. Plus, donors feel appreciated without you needing to write 100 emails.
Keep everything in one place
Instead of bouncing between spreadsheets, email threads, and different platforms, look for ways to centralize your donor info. Having a single dashboard to see donations, campaign performance, and supporter details can be a huge time-saver.
Create templates for communication
Whether it’s a thank-you email, a social post, or a quick update, reusable templates can cut down on the time it takes to write from scratch. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you want to connect with your supporters.
Use simple forms and workflows
Make sure your team knows how to create donation forms, update campaign pages, and access reports without needing outside help. The more straightforward your tools are, the more confident your team will be, and the faster things will get done.
When your donation process works with you instead of against you, fundraising becomes a lot less stressful, and a lot more successful.
Online giving that works for you
Getting donations online doesn’t have to feel complicated or out of reach. With the right setup and a few smart strategies, you can connect with more supporters, raise more money, and grow your impact, all without burning out your team.
Whether it’s creating a simple donation page, using peer-to-peer fundraising, or just making your donate button easier to find, small changes can make a big difference. The key is to meet people where they are, make giving easy, and build relationships that last beyond a single donation.
If you’re looking for a platform that takes care of the tech so you can focus on your mission, Harness might be a great fit. It’s built specifically for nonprofits, with tools that are easy to use, smart automation features, and expert support that feels like part of your team. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up, Harness is here to help you grow.
