The COVID-19 pandemic sent shock waves through the world economy and triggered the largest global economic crisis in more than a century. Well, it did pave the path for several innovative techniques and technologies, and the success of live streaming is but a bi-product. Every aspect of human life underwent massive evolution, be it meetings, work, or fundraising. Consequently, non-profit institutions pivoted away from in-person events and used virtual fundraising ideas to raise money for the cause.
Fundraising remains a cornerstone for almost every project. Be it a non-profit organization or a charity, an academic institute, a political campaign, an art institute, or any other business idea, fundraising remains imperative to the project’s success.
As live streaming and virtual events continue to amass attention and adoption, non-profits are discovering more and more opportunities for online charity events and donation drives.
Interesting Fact: MrBeast, Adin Ross, and xQc joined forces for the TeamWater charity livestream, raising over US $12 million in just 15–18 hours to support clean water initiatives. It set a new record for single-stream fundraising.
Are you confused about the ideas for organizing online philanthropic events? In this blog, we cover the top 10 online fundraising ideas for individuals who want to drive engagement, expand their reach, and inspire higher contributions.
Live streaming your digital fundraising ideas enhances real-time donor engagement and global community building.
Online fundraising events include galas, webinars, happy hours, auctions, and live shows.
Virtual fundraisers should combine storytelling, entertainment, and easy donation options.
Use OneStream Live and multistream your events to 45+ platforms.
What is Virtual Fundraising?
As the name suggests, digital fundraising events are hosted online, where organizers, donors, and supporters come together for philanthropic initiatives. Interestingly, there’s no limit to the number of participants, unlike the physically hosted events.
Hence, it reaches a wider audience of digital donors while offering an equally engaging experience as in a physical setting. Not only this, but most of the proposals are simple to set up, yet impactful enough to reach targets.
Why Go with Online Fundraising Ideas?
Online fundraising campaigns let you reach a wider audience without geographical restrictions. Now it is easier to connect with supporters anywhere. They’re cost-effective compared to traditional events, saving money on venues, logistics, and printed materials. Other benefits are:
- No limit to the number of participants
- Extended reach to the donors
- Convenience of donor participation
- Time-efficient and cost-effective
- More personalized account
- Real-time tracking of funds received
- Real-time interaction with donors builds trust and confidence
Top 10 Virtual Fundraising ideas
1. Live Stream with Donors and Patrons
Being the most widely practiced and most actionable approach, live streaming with donors and patrons is a great way to spread awareness about your initiative. You can simulcast weekly streams on multiple places, including your Facebook page, channel, Twitch, kick, or on a website, etc.
We know that your audience is divided across different social media platforms, and streaming separately drains your energy. Use OneStream Live to multistream across 45+ social destinations simultaneously.
And the privilege doesn’t end here, you can manage audience comments and engagement from a single dashboard, no need to switch tabs!
Your social media fundraising ideas don’t have to turn into dull events; you can customize it according to the theme and audience. Use screen sharing, picture-in-picture layouts, and guest invites to feature speakers, beneficiaries, or entertainers to keep viewers emotionally connected.
Pro Tip: Host your online fundraising event with OneStream Live Studio. Customize your stream with logos, overlays, tickers, and banners that highlight donation links, sponsors, or live progress goals.
2. Virtual Happy Hour
Remember Jay’s Virtual Pub Quiz? Hosted weekly by Jay Flynn, a former UK pub landlord, it started as a simple idea during the COVID-19 lockdown and quickly exploded into a phenomenon. It was not labeled as a happy hour, but in many ways, it worked just like one, a casual, social get-together online event.
The true essence of this quiz was never just about the questions; it was about recreating that familiar pub-night atmosphere online and giving people a sense of community and connection when they needed it most.
This is the innovative way to help your followers and donors meet for a fun virtual happy hour while supporting a meaningful cause. Nearly all academic institutes, political establishments, philanthropic organizations, and business enterprises acknowledge the importance and impact of the happy hour mixer.
Virtual happy hours can be a quick live charity event that could be as good as the in-person ones; it’s just like taking the party online.
3. Virtual Fundraising Gala
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Met Gala transitioned to an online event. Instead of its usual red-carpet spectacle, the Costume Institute launched the #MetGalaChallenge. This online fundraising was creative and unique as it invites everyone to recreate iconic looks from the comfort of their own homes.
The world’s most exclusive fundraising event was transformed into an online fundraising occasion. However, COVID-19 is over; these ideas have evolved from being a necessity to an engaging opportunity.
So, try it out and collect funds like never before. But how can you make an online gala creative? Feature live performances, storytelling about the cause, and interactive elements like auctions, donation milestones, or social media challenges.
Pro Tip: Your live gala can be organized with role-based access using OneStream Live’s Team Management. Assign admins to manage the whole event, hosts to run live segments, moderators to handle chat and Q&A, and managers to schedule streams.
And the most interesting part: You can easily control who can plan, edit, or monitor live streams, all from one secure, centralized dashboard, no password sharing required.
4. Webinars
A virtual webinar is an online seminar, workshop, or presentation that takes place over the internet. A digital fundraiser (businessmen, educators, creators, etc.) shares knowledge, demonstrates products, or engages with their audience in real-time.
With the evolution of live streaming technology, webinars have been empowered to create beautifully branded events that essentially facilitate the presenters and attendees to engage and interact.
A webinar can be a short video, a heartfelt story, or even a guest speaker who shares their experience. Some nonprofits incorporate fun elements, such as live polls or a Q&A, to ensure everyone feels involved. For example, an animal rescue might stream clips of animals being cared for, while a school could feature students talking about how donations have helped them.
With donation buttons right on the screen, giving becomes quick and effortless. So don’t forget to host webinars based on real stories that make attendees donate without giving a second thought. On top of that, you’re making it easier for people to participate, joining from their own couch while still contributing to a cause that helps others.
5. Online Auctions
How to give donors an experience they’ll actually enjoy? These auctions are a win-win: participants get the thrill of bidding while your organization gains support, visibility, and new contributions.
If you’re in for a charity run, you can explore several charity-specific auction websites to add authenticity to your event.
There are multiple examples of online auctions. Take St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which regularly hosts online charity auctions through platforms like Charitybuzz. Here you can bid on items ranging from luxury travel packages to signed guitars to meet-and-greets with celebrities and much more.
Doesn’t the idea of bidding on something special while also supporting a good cause make the whole experience twice as rewarding? These digital charity events raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, proving that people are willing to give generously when the event is engaging and the prizes are meaningful.
6. Online Fundraising Shows
People love entertainment, from music shows to live performances and other events. Don’t you think hosting an online entertainment show is a great way to engage supporters and collect donations for your cause?
Your show is streamed live on the platforms people already love, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and many more. You are making the whole experience more comfortable, accessible, and unforgettable.
And it’s not just about watching or hosting live shows because live streaming services turn donors into active participants. Supporters will jump into live chats, drop comments, and send real-time reactions, making them feel closer to your cause than ever before.
Pro Tip: If you are streaming a live show on Twitch, it offers multiple ways for viewers to donate or tip streamers. For instance, Twitch Bits are an official Twitch currency for donations. Viewers purchase Bits (e.g., 500 Bits = $5) and “Cheer” in chat to tip you. Cheering triggers special chat badges and alerts.
Note: You must be a Twitch Affiliate or Partner to enable Bits on your channel.
7. Virtual Award Ceremony
Do you remember how many award ceremonies went fully virtual, with performances streaming live from multiple cities during the COVID-19 pandemic? COVID may be over, but the same experience can still be recreated for your cause.
Capitalize on the glitz and glamour of award ceremonies by hosting an online event. Using powerful video streaming tools, you can present the awards, grow awareness, attract new donors and patrons, and stay in the public eye for a long time.
Also, honor the existing members of your community, acknowledge their works and contributions to your cause, or a combination of both.
8. Virtual Art Exhibit
Did you know the Louvre’s virtual art exhibit attracted millions of online visitors worldwide? That’s the power of online showcases; they make art, culture, and causes accessible to everyone, anywhere. Imagine recreating that same impact for your fundraising event.
Like an online live concert, a virtual art exhibit can also amass the same level of attention and attendance. You might want to offer exclusive or behind-the-scenes access to famous art exhibits, shows, or theatre productions.
Or you could rent out an art museum to host a small in-person fundraising event and then live-stream it to all your social media and your website. Interestingly, virtual exhibits can offer a much closer and intimate experience. Thanks to live streaming, there’s no need to worry about crowded in-person museums.
9. Online Seminar
Now you can step into the role of a TEDx host and share your journey in a way that inspires and motivates others. This strategy might turn out to be the most significant opportunity for your fundraising event.
Pre-record your seminar and make it available for replay so that those who couldn’t join live can still experience the whole event. Consider it a small donation gate for access. We all know that in this digital landscape, we need to maintain the retention of the viewer; thus, keep things lively by introducing fun challenges, such as trivia questions that unlock bonus content or reward active participants with shoutouts.
Pro Tip: Promote your event across multiple platforms with social media teasers and influencer collaborations to build anticipation and maximize engagement. OneStream Live’s Event Announcement feature allows you to automatically alert your followers when you schedule a stream.
Read the helpdesk article on How to Set Up Event Announcements for hosting your online fundraising idea.
10. Virtual Charity Run
We know that virtual events may feel impersonal, leading to low energy and limited interaction. Encourage participants to form teams, share selfies, and cheer each other on through live chats and streams.
You can take social media celebrities and influencers on board to support your cause by running and live-streaming their progress to inspire others to join.
Make your campaign creative by making leaderboards and utilizing fitness apps. This way, participants log their miles, share selfies, and celebrate milestones together.
Pro Tip: Validate participants’ efforts by offering digital badges to top fundraisers, most creative running routes, or best team spirit to keep motivation high.
How to Host a Virtual Philanthropic Event?
Virtual events are not as problematic as physical ones, all you need is a good streaming service and a strategic plan to engage your audience. Now that you are aware of the ideas, here’s what you need to do next:
- Plan your virtual philanthropy events. Send invites to all your donors and patrons.
- Use a reliable streaming solution like OneStream Live. Multistream your event to 45+ social platforms and your website using custom RTMP.
- Show donation calls on-screen during your livestream. Accept donations through your website with easy, mobile-friendly forms.
- Offer a recurring donation option so supporters don’t have to remember monthly or yearly payments. Automate the process with your donation platform.
Final Word
At the end of the day, organizing fundraising on social media isn’t just a backup plan anymore; it’s a modern and innovative way to connect with people, inspire generosity, and make your cause visible to a global audience.
Now it’s your turn to put these virtual fundraising ideas into action. You have abundant opportunities to make an impact, get creative by hosting live shows, launching online auctions, organizing charity runs, or planning virtual galas.
The key benefit is that there is no need for a huge budget or complicated tech setup to make it work. OneStream Live is the most reliable tech support for multistreaming, managing chats, and branding your events. Now you can focus less on logistics and more on what really matters: engaging your community and raising funds that drive real impact.
So, pick an idea, put your spin on it, and sign up for free with OneStream Live to turn your fundraising vision into reality.
FAQs About Virtual Fundraising Ideas
High-ticket fundraisers, such as galas, auctions, and major donor campaigns, tend to raise the most money due to the larger contributions from key sponsors or donors.
The 3 to 1 rule refers to the idea that for every three asks made during a fundraising campaign, one of them will result in a donation.
The “Ice Bucket Challenge” became a trendy online fundraiser idea in 2014, raising over $220 million for ALS research.
Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo are often considered the best for online fundraising. For live streaming your virtual philanthropy events, OneStream Live stands out by allowing you to stream across multiple platforms simultaneously, engage donors in real time, and maximize impact.
You can fundraise online by utilizing crowdfunding platforms, social media campaigns, and live streaming tools to reach a wider audience and collect secure digital donations.
OneStream Live is a cloud-based live streaming solution to create, schedule, and multistream professional-looking live streams across 45+ social media platforms and the web simultaneously. For content-related queries and feedback, write to us at [email protected]. You’re also welcome to Write for Us!
