Fundraising Resources for Nonprofits

If you are a director, officer or friend of a nonprofit, what are the best ways to go about raising money for the organization? There are numerous resources that can help.

Column distributed by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Links to resources referenced:

Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – Giving USA
- https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2024/giving-usa-us-charitable-giving-totaled-557.16-billion-in-2023.html
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “According to ‘Giving USA 2024: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2023,’ Americans gave $557.16 billion in 2023, with the largest source of giving coming from individuals ($374.40 billion). The next largest source for giving was foundations, at $103.53 billion. The report is published by the Giving USA Foundation, which is a public-service initiative of The Giving Institute.”
National Philanthropic Trust Charitable Giving Statistics
- https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics/#:~:text=Individual%20and%20Family%20Philanthropy,charitable%20donation%20is%20approximately%20%243%2C296.&text=The%20average%20charitable%20donor%20in,two%20charitable%20donations%20a%20year.&text=The%20average%20high%20net%20worth%20households%20donated%20%2434%2C917%20to%20nonprofits%20in%202022
  - Related column excerpt:
  - “As for individual donors, curated charitable giving statistics found at the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) website indicated that the average yearly charitable donation given by middle-income earners is $3,296, and the average charitable donor in the U.S. is 64 years old.”
IRS SOI Tax Stats
- https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-tax-exempt-organizations-and-nonexempt-charitable-trusts-irs-data-book-table-14
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “There is competition for those dollars, as IRS statistics indicated there were more than 1.8 million recognized 501(c) charitable organizations in the U.S as of 2023.”
Kindful: 14 Effective Online Fundraising Ideas for Any Nonprofit
- https://kindful.com/nonprofit-glossary/online-fundraising/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “As for strategies for raising funds, there are a wealth of options -- and resources. For example, Kindful.com offers 14 online fundraising ideas for nonprofits, from virtual events and pledge drives to social media contests and corporate partnerships.”
Double the Donation – The Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Fundraising + 22 Ideas
- https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising/#direct
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “The Double the Donation website provides 22 ideas, including direct mail donations, matching gifts, recurring donations and corporate grants.”
Bloomerang – Donor Segmentation: Comprehensive Guide + Tips For Success
- https://bloomerang.co/blog/donor-segmentation/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Bloomerang, which creates donor management software, presents a discussion of donor segmentation, which it describes as ‘the process of separating your nonprofit supporters into groups based on common qualities and characteristics they share.’ Among the suggested segments are frequency, type (how people are donating) and interest (what topics are they most interested in).”
NerdWallet – Grants for Nonprofits: How to Get Free Funding in 2025
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/grants-for-nonprofits#:~:text=Bank%20of%20America%20Charitable%20Foundation.%20The%20Bank,foundation%20issues%20requests%20for%20specific%20grant%20proposals
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “If you are seeking help for your nonprofit, one avenue could involve receiving grants. NerdWallet provides a list of possible options in its article ‘Grants for Nonprofits: How to Get Free Funding in 2025.’ Among the options listed (with links) are Grants.gov, the Walmart Foundation, Amazon and Google Ad Grants.”
Double the Donation -- 8 Trends in Corporate Philanthropy for 2025: How to Tap In
- https://doublethedonation.com/trends-in-corporate-philanthropy/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Double the Donation also gives insight into corporate philanthropy trends for 2025, as well as corporate giving and matching gift statistics.”
Double the Donation – Corporate Giving and Matching Gift Statistics
- https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-statistics/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Double the Donation also gives insight into corporate philanthropy trends for 2025, as well as corporate giving and matching gift statistics.”
Nonprofit Megaphone: 77+ Donation Opportunities for Nonprofits (And How to Apply)
- https://nonprofitmegaphone.com/corporate-donation-opportunities/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Nonprofit Megaphone offers a list of ‘77+’ donation opportunities for nonprofits along with how to apply.”
Prosper Strategies: The Best Nonprofit Consultants and How to Choose the One That’s Right for Your Organization
- https://prosper-strategies.com/51-best-nonprofit-consultants/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Nonprofit consultants may also be of help. You can check out Prosper Strategies (which provides tips on how to find a nonprofit consultant, along with a list of consultants) and Management Consulted (which lists the top 10 nonprofit consulting firms).”
Management Consulted: Top Non-Profit Consulting Firms
- https://managementconsulted.com/top-non-profit-consulting-firms/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Nonprofit consultants may also be of help. You can check out Prosper Strategies (which provides tips on how to find a nonprofit consultant, along with a list of consultants) and Management Consulted (which lists the top 10 nonprofit consulting firms).”
CommonBond Communities: A Guide to Types of Donations to Nonprofits
- https://commonbond.org/types-of-donations-to-nonprofits/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “You’ll also want to look at what other nonprofits are doing. For example, the Commonbond.org website offers a guide to the types of donations made to nonprofits. Meanwhile, the IRS has a charitable contributions webpage that includes helpful information.”
IRS Charitable Contributions
- https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-contributions
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “You’ll also want to look at what other nonprofits are doing. For example, the Commonbond.org website offers a guide to the types of donations made to nonprofits. Meanwhile, the IRS has a charitable contributions webpage that includes helpful information.”