How to Fundraise a Lot of Money Fast for Your Charity Event
May, 15 2025
When you want to raise a lot of money fast, the usual bake sale isn’t going to cut it. You have to think bigger and get people excited to pitch in—right now. Start by settling on a clear, single cause. Too many details or vague goals? That’s how you lose attention. People donate more when it’s simple: think, "We need to send 100 kids to camp," not a long-winded mission statement.
The next big move is tapping into your personal network. Don’t just post a link and hope for the best. Reach out directly to family, close friends, and your top supporters. A text message or quick call works magic, especially if you ask for something specific—"Can you chip in $100 today to help us meet our $5,000 goal by Saturday?" People respond to urgency and clear goals way better than generic requests.
- Picking the Right Fundraising Tactics
- Mobilizing Your Network and Community
- How to Create Urgency (and Why It Works)
- Boosting Fast Results with Digital Tools
Picking the Right Fundraising Tactics
If you’ve got a giant goal and a tight timeline, your method really matters. The first thing to do? Forget wishy-washy approaches. Zero in on fundraising ideas proven to bring in money fast, like peer-to-peer campaigns, online giving days, charity auctions, or high-energy events like walkathons. And honestly, the more personal and interactive, the better. People who've donated before or who know you are way more likely to give again—sometimes up to 60% more, according to data from Classy’s 2024 fundraising report.
- Fundraising Events: These still work, especially if you can add viral energy—think trivia nights, flash mobs, or livestream talent shows. You can raise thousands in one night if you hype it right and get good prizes or local celebrities involved.
- Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Get your volunteers and friends to ask their circles for donations. In 2023, this method brought in 25% of all online gifts, and it grows your reach crazy fast.
- Online Donation Platforms: Using tools like GoFundMe, Facebook Fundraisers, or Givebutter lets people donate instantly. No more checks, no more waiting. In fact, 54% of donors worldwide prefer giving online.
- Text-to-Give: Fastest way to catch impulse donations. People see something that grabs them and can send money in less than a minute.
The trick is to stack a few of these methods at once and keep your messaging super clear. If you’re doing a charity auction, livestream it and set up a peer-to-peer challenge at the same time—every person who shares gets their own donor link. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide what fits your crowd and goal best:
| Fundraising Method | Speed | Average Money Raised | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Giving Day | 1-2 days | $5,000+ | Large or active donor lists |
| Charity Auction (in-person/online) | Same day | $3,000–$10,000 | Communities with donors who like fun events |
| Peer-to-Peer | 1-3 weeks | $8,000–$20,000 | Groups with lots of motivated volunteers |
| Text-to-Give | Instant | $1,000–$5,000 | Social media audiences and live events |
Pick two or three tactics that fit your supporters and get moving. The point isn’t just to choose what sounds fun—it’s to pick the tools that will grab attention fast and help you hit your number.
Mobilizing Your Network and Community
Your network is your best shot at hitting your fundraising goal fast. People give to people, not just to causes. If you want things to move quickly, you need to get direct and personal with your outreach. Studies show that crowdfunding campaigns are 4 times more likely to succeed when they share regular updates with their network, and those that have teams behind them raise three times as much as solo fundraisers.
Start by mapping out everyone you know: family, work friends, neighbors, club members. Create a shared list so you and any co-organizers don’t step on each other’s toes. Don't just blast your social media. Instead, send personal messages or make phone calls—those one-to-one requests really work.
- Make your ask short, clear, and specific ("We need $20 from 100 people by Friday—can you be one?").
- Enlist "connectors"—people in your circle who know lots of others—to help spread the word. Give them a mini script so their asks are just as direct.
- Feature stories, not just stats: Share quick stories or photos about what the money will do. This turns your fundraiser from an abstract idea into something real.
- Use your email list, even if it’s small. Direct email outperforms social media alone by about 34% when it comes to donations, according to recent Nonprofit Tech for Good data.
Once people start giving, say thank you—right away. Public shoutouts (think quick tags on social or your donation page) encourage others to join in. People love to see themselves making a difference.
| Outreach Method | Average Response Rate |
|---|---|
| Personal email | 23% |
| Social media post | 6% |
| Text/phone call | 34% |
Bottom line? When people feel like they belong to a group making something happen, they’re way more likely to pitch in. Make every supporter feel seen, keep them in the loop, and your fundraising can grow fast—often faster than you think possible.
How to Create Urgency (and Why It Works)
People don’t always open their wallets just because your cause is important—they need a reason to act right now. Urgency makes your fundraising request stand out in a world full of distractions. Think of those "limited time offers" you see when shopping online. Charity event fundraising works the same way. If folks feel like they'll miss out or that time is running out to help, they're way more likely to give. In fact, according to a 2024 GoFundMe study, campaigns that were deadline-driven pulled in donations 29% quicker than those with no deadline at all.
“The best fundraising campaigns come with a deadline. Urgency makes people hit donate instead of bookmarking for later.”
– Julia Campbell, nonprofit digital strategist
So how do you add urgency to your ask? It’s easier than you think:
- Set a public, non-negotiable deadline. Don’t just say "ASAP." Say, "All donations must be in by May 31." Post countdowns on social, send reminders as the date gets closer, and don’t be shy about the ticking clock.
- Use specific, time-sensitive goals. For example, “Help us raise $5,000 in the next 48 hours to fund emergency shelter for families.” The more clear and pressing, the better.
- Share progress as you go. When people see you’re only $1,000 away with 12 hours left, they’ll want to be the one who puts you over the finish line.
- If you’ve got a matching donor (say, a local business or a loyal supporter offering to match donations dollar-for-dollar until midnight), shout it from the rooftops. Matches with deadlines move donations fast.
Here’s a quick look at how urgency impacts real fundraising numbers:
| Urgency Tactic | Average Boost in Donations (%) |
|---|---|
| Deadline-Based Appeals | +29% |
| Matching Gift Challenge | +35% |
| Progress Countdown Updates | +22% |
When you put a clock on your fundraising push, donors understand their impact won’t wait until next week. That’s how you turn a “maybe later” into a “take my money now.”
Boosting Fast Results with Digital Tools
If you want to fundraise a lot quickly, you can't skip digital tools—these are your turbochargers. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and JustGiving are the go-tos for a reason: they handle payments, show your progress, and make it easy for people to share your campaign. In 2024, GoFundMe alone saw campaigns raise over $675 million for charity events. The trick is to make your fundraiser page personal—add photos, tell your story in plain language, and explain exactly where the money goes. Pages with personal stories raise about 25% more than generic ones.
Social media does half the work if you use it right. Don’t just post once—create a series of updates. Go live with quick videos when you get a big donation or reach milestones. People love seeing progress, and showing real-time excitement can inspire more giving. Using Instagram and Facebook Stories, you can even add direct donation links now. Tools like Facebook Fundraisers have no fees for nonprofits and get you in front of people fast, thanks to easy sharing and notifications.
Email still packs a punch, but don’t write essays. Keep it short, add a clear subject line, and use a call-to-action button that leads straight to your donation page. Services like Mailchimp let you track who opens your emails and who clicks, so you can follow up with personalized nudges. For last-minute pushes, SMS platforms like Give Lively make it simple to send out quick texts, which have a 98% open rate—way higher than email.
Here's a quick look at which tools work fastest for raising money online:
| Tool | Average Setup Time | Benefit | Avg. $ Raised (Per Campaign) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoFundMe | 15 minutes | Wide reach, real-time updates | $1,250 |
| Facebook Fundraisers | 10 minutes | No fees, easy sharing | $600 |
| Instagram Stories | 5 minutes | Direct links, visual | $400 |
| Mailchimp (Email) | 30 minutes | Customizable, trackable | $800 |
| Give Lively (Text-to-Donate) | 20 minutes | High open rate, immediate | $950 |
You don’t need to use every tool, but pick two or three that fit your group best and double down. Just remember: keep your asks simple, provide updates, and make it super easy for people to donate whether they're on their phone or laptop.