Because great fundraising starts in your community.
Community fundraising is where generosity meets connection.
It’s the bake sale that builds a hospice, the fun run that funds research, and the local hero who gives up their weekend to make a difference.
And in 2025, it’s bigger, bolder, and more creative than ever.
In this guide, we’ll unpack how to grow, nurture, and future-proof your community fundraising, from new digital tools to supporter experience.
🎟️ Want to go deeper? Check out our Community Fundraising resources and events.
What Is Community Fundraising (and Why It Still Matters)
What Is Community Fundraising (and Why It Still Matters)
Community fundraising is the beating heart of every charity. It’s where your mission meets real people, face-to-face or online.
But times have changed. Supporters are busier, digital channels have exploded, and the old “bucket-collection” model just doesn’t cut it anymore.
The good news? There’s a huge opportunity right now for charities that build authentic, local-first relationships.
Community fundraising today means combining tradition with tech. Connecting people to purpose through creativity, collaboration, and care.
Why Community Fundraising Is More Powerful Than Ever
When people fundraise for you, they’re not just raising money. They’re raising your profile, your story, and your reach.
Whether it’s a 5K, coffee morning, or online challenge, community fundraising builds trust and belonging like nothing else. It turns supporters into advocates, extends your reach exponentially, and creates genuine connections that last for years.
💡 Think local, act global: Community events can spark national attention when stories are shared the right way.
Want to understand exactly what makes community fundraising different from other fundraising approaches, and why it’s so cost-effective? Read our complete breakdown here.
The Power of Participation
Behind every community fundraiser is a story. A reason. A connection.
Understanding the psychology of why people fundraise helps you create better experiences and inspire more supporters to take action.
People don’t just wake up and decide to run a marathon for charity. Something motivates them. Something connects them to your cause. When you understand those motivations, you can create fundraising opportunities that genuinely resonate.
Innovative Tactics to Grow Your Income
You don’t need a huge budget to grow. You just need smarter tools.
Go Contactless
Cash donations are fading fast, but community generosity isn’t.
Contactless donations have revolutionised community fundraising. Event attendees can tap to donate on the day, bucket collectors can carry card readers, and spontaneous giving becomes possible in ways it never was before.
The charities embracing contactless technology are seeing significant increases in average donation size and overall income. If you’re still relying solely on cash, you’re leaving money on the table.
Learn how to boost community fundraising with contactless donations.
Bring AI Into Your Events
Yes, really. From automating supporter follow-ups to creating smarter event insights, AI is already helping charities work faster and fundraise better.
AI can help you:
- Personalise thank you messages at scale
- Predict which supporters are most likely to fundraise again
- Optimise event promotion timing
- Create better supporter experiences with less manual work
Check out Using AI as a Positive Tool for Growth in Events.
Meet Your Fundraisers Where They Are
Community fundraising is moving onto WhatsApp, TikTok, and short-form video. These spaces are personal, playful, and powerful.
Your supporters are already spending time on these platforms. The question is: are you making it easy for them to fundraise there?
From TikTok challenges to WhatsApp groups for event participants, the most successful community fundraising programmes in 2025 are platform-agnostic and supporter-led.
Empowering Supporters & Volunteers
Behind every great fundraiser is a team that feels part of something bigger.
Building strong community management skills will keep your volunteers motivated, confident, and ready to spread your message.
🎯 Learn how to build those relationships in Developing Great Community Management Skills.
The Power of Supporter Stories
The best community fundraisers are storytellers.
When supporters share their “why,” your cause travels further than any advert ever could. Their authentic voices, personal connections, and genuine passion create emotional resonance that you simply can’t manufacture through traditional marketing.
Your job is to make it easy for them to tell their stories and amplify those stories when they do.
Turning Events Into Long-Term Relationships
A good event raises money.
A great event raises loyalty.
Once the banners come down, how do you keep fundraisers engaged?
By continuing the conversation. Thank them properly, show them impact, and invite them to be part of your next chapter.
The Post-Event Strategy That Actually Works
The work doesn’t stop when the event ends. In fact, the most important stewardship happens in the days and weeks after.
Charities that excel at community fundraising have systematic approaches to:
- Thanking participants quickly and personally
- Sharing the impact of what they’ve raised
- Keeping them engaged with your cause between events
- Inviting them to fundraise again (at the right time)
- Recognising their achievements publicly
Want practical tools to reduce attrition and improve stewardship? You’ll love our on-demand session, Keeping Donors for the Long Haul.
Building Your Community Fundraising Programme
Whether you’re starting from scratch or scaling up, here’s what you need to think about:
Make It Easy to Start Fundraising
The biggest barrier to community fundraising isn’t lack of willing supporters. It’s friction in the process.
How many clicks does it take for someone to set up a fundraising page for you? How clear are your instructions? Do you provide resources and support? Can they fundraise in the way that works for them, or are they forced into your preferred method?
Audit your fundraising journey from a supporter’s perspective. Where are the pain points? Fix them.
Provide Excellent Support
Community fundraisers shouldn’t feel like they’re on their own. They need:
- Clear guidance on how to fundraise effectively
- Resources they can share (images, stories, key messages)
- Someone to contact when they have questions
- Recognition and encouragement along the way
The charities with the strongest community fundraising programmes have dedicated resource (even if it’s just a few hours a week) focused on supporting their fundraisers.
Celebrate Success
Recognition matters. A lot.
When someone fundraises for you, they’ve given you their time, energy, and social capital. They’ve talked about you to everyone they know. They deserve more than a generic thank you email.
Celebrate your community fundraisers publicly. Share their stories. Tell them the difference they’ve made. Make them feel like the heroes they are.
Invest in Relationships, Not Just Transactions
The best community fundraising programmes play the long game.
They don’t just see supporters as one-time fundraisers. They see them as partners in their mission. They nurture relationships, stay in touch, and create opportunities for ongoing involvement.
This relationship-first approach is what turns someone who does one sponsored run into a lifelong advocate and repeat fundraiser.
What Success Looks Like
Wondering what great community fundraising looks like in practice?
Macmillan has built an army of community fundraisers through iconic events like their coffee morning, but also by making it incredibly easy for anyone to fundraise for them in any way they choose. Their community fundraising income runs into tens of millions annually.
Local hospices across the UK often raise 40-50% of their income through community fundraising. Coffee mornings, sponsored events, and passionate supporters are their lifeblood.
Small charities with limited budgets but strong local connections can punch well above their weight. A single passionate supporter organising an annual event can become a major source of income and awareness.
The common thread? These charities:
- Make it easy for people to fundraise
- Provide excellent support and resources
- Celebrate and recognise their fundraisers
- Invest in relationships, not just transactions
- Use the right digital tools to reduce friction
- Tell compelling stories that inspire others to get involved
Your Community Fundraising Action Plan
Ready to grow your community fundraising? Here’s where to start:
Assess Your Current State
Ask yourself:
- How easy is it for someone to start fundraising for us right now?
- What support do we provide to community fundraisers?
- How do we thank and recognise their efforts?
- Are we using the right digital tools to make fundraising accessible?
- How do we stay connected with fundraisers after their event?
The answers will show you where your opportunities lie.
Quick Wins You Can Implement Now
- Audit your fundraising sign-up process and remove any unnecessary barriers
- Create a simple fundraiser pack with logos, images, and key messages
- Set up a system for thanking fundraisers within 48 hours
- Start collecting fundraiser stories you can share
- Review your contactless donation options (or get set up if you don’t have them)
Medium-Term Improvements
- Develop a comprehensive fundraiser support programme
- Invest in better digital fundraising tools
- Create a recognition strategy for community fundraisers
- Build a stewardship journey that keeps people engaged
- Train your team on community management skills
Long-Term Strategic Thinking
- Measure what matters (not just income, but engagement and retention too)
2. Allocate dedicated resource to community fundraising
3. Set ambitious but achievable growth targets
4. Build a sustainable pipeline of new fundraisers
5. Create signature events that become annual fixtures
Continue Your Community Fundraising Journey
Want to dive deeper? We’ve got you covered.
🎓 Training & Events
Want to learn from the experts and connect with other community fundraisers?
Explore our complete collection of community fundraising training, events, and on-demand sessions to level up your skills.
Our community fundraising resources include:
- Annual conferences with sector-leading speakers
- On-demand sessions you can watch at your own pace
- Practical webinars and workshops
- Case studies from charities who are nailing community fundraising
🤝 Join Our Community
Become a Member for unlimited access to all our resources, training, exclusive content, and a community of fundraisers who get it.
The Bottom Line
Your community is your superpower.
Whether you’re running local events, supporting peer-to-peer fundraisers, or planning your next big campaign, the future of fundraising is together.
Community fundraising isn’t about bucket collections and bake sales anymore (though those can still work brilliantly). It’s about building genuine relationships, empowering supporters to become advocates, and creating experiences that turn one-time participants into lifelong champions of your cause.
The tools have never been better. The opportunities have never been bigger. And the charities that invest in community fundraising now will reap the rewards for years to come.
So what are you waiting for?
Start with understanding the fundamentals: What Is Community Fundraising and Why It Matters in 2025
Then come back here for tactics, tools, and strategies to grow your programme.