Peer-to-Peer fundraising : A complete guide

You've probably heard "It takes a village to raise a child." The same can be said for fundraising. It gets a lot easier with everyone chipping in.

Creating a strong volunteer community and leveraging Peer-to-Peer fundraising is a powerful strategy at the disposal of non-profits today. We are diving deep into Peer-to-Peer fundraising listing out everything you need to know.

peer to peer fundrasing

Here’s what we are covering

What is Peer-to-Peer fundraising?

Crowdfunding vs Peer-to-Peer fundraising

How does Peer-to-Peer fundraising work?

Benefits of Peer-to-Peer fundraising

In-Person P2P vs Online P2P vs Hybrid P2P

 

How to strategize Peer-to-Peer fundraising

Successful Fundraising Campaigns

Fundraising Platforms by Crowdera

Choosing a Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

Meet a Fundraising Expert



 

 

What is Peer-to-Peer fundraising?

Peer-to-Peer fundraising (P2P), also known as team and social fundraising, is a fundraising method where Volunteers/ Donors run their personal fundraisers, leveraging their own network to raise money for your nonprofit/cause. It lets the fundraiser tap into their supporters’ network to raise money and awareness about your organization and the cause.

what is peer to peer fundraising?

Difference between Traditional Crowdfunding

and Peer-to-Peer fundraising

There are many types of fundraising campaigns, but the two most common are Peer-to-Peer and crowdfunding. In traditional crowdfunding, the fundraising organization directly approaches donors to fundraise. In contrast, in Peer-to-Peer fundraising, the fundraiser/ fundraising organization leverages its direct contacts i.e. volunteers and donors and they run personal campaigns and fundraise on behalf of the fundraiser.

 Crowdfunding 

In crowdfunding, there’s only one fundraiser which could either be an organization or an individual. The fundraiser is responsible for running a campaign and reaching out to their network to ask for donations. It is a one-to-many approach.

 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising 

In Peer-to-Peer fundraising, an organization/ individual builds a team of fundraisers who individually run campaigns (supporting the main fundraiser) & approach their personal network for donations. It is a many-to-many approach.

How does Peer-to-Peer Fundraising work?

  •  
  • Define your goal

  • 1. Define your goal

  • Decide the overall fundraising goal based on unit cost per beneficiary & set a timeline that works for you.

  •  
    • Campaign Type

    • 2. Campaign Type

    • Identify the best-suited Peer-to-Peer Fundraising type (details)  for the campaign depending on your budget.

    •  
    • Recruit peer campaigners

    • 3. Recruit peer campaigners 

    • Identify passionate volunteers & supporters who will leverage their personal network for donations.
    • Educate fundraisers

    • 4. Educate fundraisers

    • Brief them about the campaign and provide training & resources for communicating with their network.
    •  
  • Set up your peer-to-peer campaign

  • 5. Set up your Peer-to-Peer campaign

  • Write a strong pitch that explains the what, why, and how of your campaign.

    • Track the progress

    • 6. Track the progress

    • Keep regular track of peer campaigns & overall fundraising campaigns. Provide help when needed.

Benefits of Peer-to-Peer fundraising?

 

      1. 1. Strengthens your Community

        Together Everyone Achieves More: It is an effective way of developing & nurturing relationships with your supporters - volunteers or donors. Peer-to-Peer fundraising goes well beyond fundraising; in fact, fundraising is a by-product of having an actively engaged community of supporters.

         

        2. Builds a Sense of Belonging

  1. When Peer-to-Peer fundraisers work directly towards the cause, not only do they understand the challenges deeply but also bring fresh approaches to problem-solving, meet like-minded people, make friends with fellow peers & feel an overall sense of belonging to the organization & cause.

 

  1. 3. Spreads Awareness 

  2. Peers/ Volunteers are an extension of your organization & when they bring information to their friends, families, and co-workers, it is received with more acceptance as their peers trust them. It is an organic, cost-effective, and sustainable way of increasing your brand awareness in the long run.
  3.  

  4. 4. Organic Donor Acquisition

    Acquiring new donors can be challenging for nonprofits: Buying new lists, cold calling, etc is mechanical and does not guarantee replicable success. Peer-to-Peer networking humanizes your organization as the focus shifts from donor acquisition to genuine one-on-one relationship building and nurturing.

 

  1. 5. Leverage New Platforms

  2. You can move beyond social media platforms when you have an actively engaged community. Peers introduce your cause in different communication forums & communities they are part of. For example, a student fundraiser can advocate for your cause in his/her university & alumni forums.

 

  1. 6. Encourages Creative Ideas

  2. Can you sing? No? Maybe one of your volunteers can. Not everyone is a runner and not every team fundraising is a marathon event. Volunteers can leverage their unique ideas & talents in quirky & creative ways to capture the attention of their network for social events.

Want to get a personalized opinion whether peer-to-peer fundraising

is beneficial for your organization?

 

Talk to an Expert

In-person P2P Vs Online P2P Vs Hybrid P2P

 

Before 2020, in-person Peer-to-Peer fundraising events such as running for a cause, bike riding, video gaming, and hosting baking events were popular ways to reach out to your peers’ friends and family network.

With COVID, there is a ‘new normal’ - while in 2020, online P2P took off in a big way, lately Hybrid Peer-to-Peer fundraising is becoming increasingly popular.

In-person peer-to-peer fundraising

In-person Peer-to-Peer fundraising

In-person Peer-to-Peer fundraising is the practice of having a nonprofit’s supporters organize and take part in an in-person activity, such as a walk, bicycle ride, fundraising galas, and other types of offline events to reach out to their network of friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues for donations.

Online Peer-to-Peer fundraising

Online Peer-to-Peer fundraising

Fundraising is done entirely online - donations are collected online using a fundraising platform, website, or social media. Similarly, peers use online communication channels & organize virtual events (webinars, galas, online campaigns) to reach out to their network.

Hybrid Peer-to-Peer fundraising

Hybrid Peer-to-Peer fundraising

Hybrid fundraising leverages both online and offline fundraising methods in a single fundraising campaign. This could be a mix of webinars, email outreach, and in-person events (bake sales, awareness drives, experiential installations at malls, rallies, and galas). Hybrid P2P gives 47% better results than traditional P2P.

got a volunteer network - peer to peer

 

Try Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

peer to peer vs crowdfunding

 

Peer-to-Peer vs Crowdfunding

peer to peer funraising

 

Defining Peer-to-Peer

Are you planning to conduct an online webinar? Whether it is a virtual gala, auction, or training webinar, we have a ready Canva template for you. Click below and start designing your social media post.

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How to Strategize Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

 

      1. 1. Choose your fundraising type

        Firstly, consider what type of P2P campaign will best fit your organization and your supporters. There are many different types of P2P campaigns, so it's important to choose the right one for you.

         

        2. Define your vision and goals

  1. Second, set realistic overall fundraising goals for your campaign. Be sure to consider how much time and effort your supporters will be able to commit to your campaign to decide individual goals.

 

  1. 3. Find your champions

  2. When it comes to Peer-to-Peer fundraising, the right team makes all the difference. What a team of 1000 cannot do, a team of 100 dedicated individuals can do in a matter of weeks. Choose people who align with your vision.
  3.  

  4. 4. Find the right P2P platform

    Based on the type and budget of your P2P campaign, you can select a platform that meets your compliance and operational needs. We will be covering the details in our upcoming blog. 

 

  1. 5. Create compelling content

  2. When it comes to fundraising, content is key. You must give people the information they need to make an informed decision. Write a detailed and engaging campaign body with an attractive title. Details are in the blog link below.

 

  1. 6. Distribute campaign and marketing content to volunteers

  2. Create and distribute relevant resources that your volunteers can use while promoting the campaign. i.e. social media posts, brochures, FAQ material, email & text message scripts, donation request messaging, etc.
  3.  

  1. 7. Engage your volunteers

    Keep your team’s morale high by having regular team sessions to discuss the latest updates and any challenges. Pay attention to any training support that may be needed & don’t forget to celebrate important milestones.

 

  1. 8. Thank your supporters and peers

  2. Recognize the efforts of your peers by thanking them and acknowledging their work. You can thank them with a shout-out, personal note, a small gift, certificates, phone calls, emails, and in many other ways.

 

  1. 9. Analyze and adjust

  2. Peer-to-Peer is a great opportunity to understand your donors and volunteers. Make sure to analyze each peer campaign and overall fundraising journey - from donors' geography to their payment methods by collecting donor data. Document the information and key learnings to inform your next fundraising campaign.

Check out our comprehensive guide to strategizing your peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.

Successful Fundraising Campaigns

Success Stories

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust

In their first ever Peer-to-Peer fundraising campaigns, they raised $208,250 in just 60 days.

Know more

Habitat For Humanity (India)

1200 young school volunteers raised $12,300 for education and sanitation of children from marginalized communities.

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Prajwala - Anti Trafficking

Peer run campaigns initiated by Padma Shree awardee raised $2,60,100 for setting up shelter homes.

Know more

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Check out Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platforms

by Crowdera

CCMT

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity (India)

Nurture dreams

Akshaya Patra - Nurture Dreams

Asking the right questions before choosing

a Fundraising Platform

 

Choosing the right fundraising platform will determine how smooth the entire process is for all stakeholders involved. A good fundraising platform will have all the right team fundraising features that allows volunteers to personalize their campaigns and track their efforts. Shareability, multiple payment options, compliance, data security, user experience are other things you should look at before you invest in a fundraising platform.

Want to know the right questions to ask to find a platform that meets your needs, read on.

Is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising right for you?

Request a free consultation session. Our Peer-to-Peer fundraising expert will get in touch with you to schedule a call.