Nonprofit fundraising is the lifeblood of the nonprofit sector. Through strategic fundraising efforts that follow key trends each year, organizations across the nation are able to fulfill their missions and make meaningful differences in their communities. Here’s the thing: nonprofit fundraising trends come and go.
With that being said, it’s important for organizers and leaders to know exactly which trends will help their nonprofit drive the most engagement within their community in 2026.
For a volunteer leader (looking at you PTA treasurer, Scout leader, and youth sports coach), the task of having to collect form info and payments usually starts with good intentions and ends in a reconciliation nightmare. You check one app for money, another for shirt sizes, and a third for signed waivers. When your tools don’t talk to each other, you become the connector. That means more emails, more spreadsheets, and more time. Enter Cheddar Up. Built for volunteer leaders, you get a fully integrated platform built to manage your entire data lifecycle in one place. Here is your start-to-finish roadmap for collecting form info and payments with Cheddar Up.
It’s no secret that online payment processing tools give you a much simpler (and safer) way to collect donations, dues, and event fees. After all, manual cash, checks, and spreadsheets can only take a growing nonprofit so far. Think about it: Instead of chasing envelopes and updating your billionth Excel sheet late at night, you and your team can direct supporters to one beautifully laid-out page where they pay in seconds. Your supporters will love it, and so will you! Just imagine – you will see every transaction instantly, and you will NOT have to manually type it into a spreadsheet. Amazing! For busy nonprofit leaders and organizers like you, these tools reshape how you handle revenue across events, memberships, fundraisers, and everyday operations. But, you might be asking yourself, ‘What are the best online payment systems for nonprofits to use?’ Great question! This guide explains what payment processing tools actually do, the key benefits for nonprofits, and seven leading options to help you find the perfect tool for your organization. Let’s jump right in.
The Season of Giving is that magical stretch on the calendar when to-do lists get longer, but hearts (and donation totals) get bigger. For nonprofits and community groups, it’s like the Super Bowl of generosity: a short, high-energy window when supporters are more open to giving, volunteering, and sharing your mission with their networks. Nonprofit organizations rely on this period to fundraise and engage supporters. The importance of the Giving Season is unmatched. It is a time for driving donations and deepening community impact. So, what exactly is the Season of Giving… and why is it so valuable for nonprofits and other organizations? Great questions! In this guide, we’ll unpack what the Season of Giving is, how it powers nonprofits and other fundraisers, the hottest recent trends, and, most importantly, practical ways to turn all that goodwill into long-lasting support. Let’s dash right on in!
Coordinating a group gift sounds simple, until you’re stuck chasing down payments, managing awkward IOUs, or wondering who actually paid. If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. Figuring out how to collect money online for a gift can get messy fast…unless you have the right tools. Whether you’re organizing a birthday surprise, teacher appreciation, retirement gift, or holiday thank-you, there’s a smoother way to collect contributions. We’ve gathered smart ways to ask for money (without the awkwardness) and tips to keep everything organized, plus a simple tool that makes it all happen in just a few clicks.
Your next Christmas ornament fundraiser can be so much more than a table of trinkets in the hallway. Done right, a Christmas ornament fundraiser becomes a memory-making machine: kids create or choose keepsakes, families decorate their trees with pride, and your budget gets a merry little boost. This guide walks you through everything you need to pull off a joyful, low-stress ornament fundraiser. Learn all about what it is, how to plan it for schools and nonprofits, event ideas that feel like a party, ways to keep it kid-friendly, and simple systems for selling and taking orders without turning your kitchen table into a wrapping-paper war zone.
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