More nonprofit passive fundraiser ideas

Ok, now for the ideas that’ll require a bit more work on the front end. You got this!

6. Add a donation button to socials

At the top of our list? Add a donation button or CTA to all of your social profiles: Facebook, IG, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter. Some social platforms have their own donation widgets or ways that they facilitate giving, while others allow a link in your bio or in your post comments. But take it from us… make sure to send those clicks straight to a donation page. Not your homepage, not a “Ways to help” page, not a page explaining your donation levels. A donation page. A donation button leading to a donation form. Where people can make a donation.

7. Small change for big impact

Get donors to give big without feeling the pinch! Try a tool that makes a big impact with donors’ spare change. Just like a lot of these ideas, it requires getting the word out, but once it’s rolling, it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy.

8. Write the book on… something

If you're itching to get some money through Amazon, there are other ways. Like… write an ebook from your nonprofit perspective on animals or your best recipes for lasagna and self-publish through Amazon. Yes, it's an initial outlay to set up the account and write the book, but there are tons of tutorials online, and once it's done, it's there basically forever. Or until Amazon pulls a Smile and yoinks your income.

9. Create a digital download

Does the idea of writing a book scare the boogers out of you? Us too. Fortunately, that's not the only digital property that can bring in passive campaign income. Create an electronic resource like a knitting pattern and put it on Etsy, design a logoed home textile design and put it on Spoonflower, or mock up logoed swag and sell it via on-demand printing. Whatever your strength is, there's someone out there who needs it.

10. Affiliate links

Another way to bring in cash directly from Amazon is using affiliate links. If you're linking to an Amazon Wishlist, get a commission on items your supporters purchase—the percentage is usually more than what you would have gotten through AmazonSmile. And if you're divesting from Amazon, there are lots of other affiliate programs and affiliate guides for beginners that'll help you find the right program for you.

11. Cross posting on socials

If you've got profiles on social platforms that you're not posting on… why not? These days, there are many tools that can take care of the cross posting for you. Even combined with the donation buttons you put on your social profiles, it still may not bring in a lot of additional income—but we're just trying to replace that $40 you received from AmazonSmile each quarter, remember?

12. Get to Googling

See what the internet has to say. Let's be honest, as we researched this article, we obviously googled “passive income for nonprofits”. In between the listicles and ads, there were a few things to explore, like ShopRaise or RaiseRight. Obviously, we can't comment on that or any other, similar program, but taking an hour to investigate and another hour to set something up sounds reasonable to us.

13. Local partnerships

An oldie, but a goodie. Set up an ongoing partnership with local businesses. Anytime "your" beer or "your" dog food is purchased, a small donation goes to you. The donations may be small, but the impact of donations is big!

Bonus! Strategic partnerships are one nonprofit fundraising trend we're seeing a lot of these days. As Funraise's Chief Product Officer and Co-founder, Tony Sasso, says,

Strategic partnerships increase IRL brand awareness and confidence in your nonprofit, allowing you to become a real part of your supporters' lives by connecting your mission with brands that supporters already love and trust.

14. Set up a store.

If we know you, you're the type who's constantly thinking of ways to make a lil' bit more at every turn, in every campaign, with every event. So, for you, friend, this idea: upload your logos to an on-demand print shop and sell limited runs of merch, FOMO-style.

‍Pro Tip: Go a little off the rails with your logos. When you go weird, people get interested.

15. Stay ready

There are lots of companies that have little-known programs that you can join, apply for, or ask your supporters to investigate on your behalf! Think eBay for Charity, browser extensions that make donations for every search, or credit cards that make a donation for every purchase. So stay ready and keep your eyes peeled for opportunity!

How to set up passive income for your nonprofit organization

Here's your "To Do" list for passive fundraising efforts! Highlight, right-click, hit print, and if your computer works like ours, you should have a checklist in hand. If not, we don't know what to tell you; we're fundraising experts, not your-computer experts.

1. Choose a passive fundraiser idea. Our suggestion is Funraise's Donors Cover Fees feature. You can get started quickly, and a fundraising platform like Funraise will also get the tools you need to set up additional fundraising streams, like recurring giving programs, peer-to-peer, and more. 

2. Take the first step now, before you even leave this page. Passive fundraisers are all about momentum, so the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner it'll become an avalanche. 

3. Work on it every day for a week. Or once a week for a month. Again, get the ball rolling... this is the "set it" part of "set it and forget it."

4. Automate reminders and reports. Once things are moving, you should just poke your head in to ensure things stay on track. Another thing to automate is your reporting. Funraise's Fundraising Intelligence reveals insights that will highlight the increasing value of your passive income stream.

5. Be patient. A tsunami starts with a ripple. A movement starts with an idea. And your stream will start with a trickle.

Replace your nonprofit organization's AmazonSmile account with an Amazon Wishlist

Remember AmazonSmile? The slightly-oddball giveback program that ended on February 20, 2023, marked an era of mostly-small individual donations from one of the world's largest retailers. So… what's next? Do we do all those things above and just wave goodbye to your AmazonSmile money? Well, yeah. AmazonSmile has been defunct for a looong time now, so any links haven't been working anyway. Above is your "To Do" list; below is your "To Undo" list.

• First, cheer that you won't have to deal with explaining to anyone that they have to purchase through the smile.whatever link or you won't get the donation. Feel the sweet relief of not having to break it to your donors that unless they spent $300,000 through AmazonSmile, they didn't actually donate $1500 to your organization. And bask in the realization that you'll never have to tell a donor, “No, AmazonSmile donations are not supposed to be on your tax receipt.”
• Then, get down to business. Find and remove any links to your AmazonSmile account. Look on your website, your email template, your social media profiles, and idk, your business cards. If it screws up the way your site or emails look, just replace what you have with a(n affiliate) link that directs to your Amazon Wishlist and make sure the copy clearly states exactly where your supporter will be taken.
• Keep your Wishlist up to date for folks that come through for your organization by buying the physical items your nonprofit needs. To note: If your Wishlist was created in the Smile program, you may be required to start a new Wishlist outside the program.
• Choose one or more of the passive income ideas above. Get busy setting it up and remember that the effort you put in right now will pay off in the months and years to come.
• Start promoting your new passive fundraisers to your audience. Remember that it takes more than one mention to get people on board with a new idea, so don't stop talking about corporate donation matching or your sweet new members-only program or your powerhouse local partners.
• Let it go. That extra $37.46 you got from AmazonSmile isn't worth it. Invest in yourself, your organization, and your impact.

Passive Income Ideas for Nonprofits: Takeaways

• AmazonSmile wasn't as easy or comfy as you're remembering right now. It was even kind of a frustrating burden sometimes.
• Passive income is always a good idea for your nonprofit. And there are countless ways to tap into low-effort, long-term revenue streams.
• Take the time to set up your new passive income revenue plans properly. If you want these passive fundraiser ideas to be truly hands-off, do your future self a favor and document what you did, how long and how much you put into it, and check on them every so often.
• Give it a chance to ramp up. Your new revenue stream probably won't be bringing in bank the first day. Let it do its thing. In the meantime, your role is to let everyone know (over and over) about your program or partnership or path or product.

Passive Fundraising FAQ

Can a nonprofit have an affiliate program?

Yes, nonprofits can have affiliate programs to generate passive income just like for-profit businesses and content creators that earn commissions on sales made through their referral links. This strategy helps diversify revenue streams and engage supporters in promoting products or services aligned with the nonprofit's mission.

What is passive fundraising?

Passive fundraiser ideas involve generating income with minimal ongoing effort after initial setup. It includes strategies like affiliate programs, donation buttons on social media, and recurring donations. These methods provide a steady income stream, allowing nonprofits to focus on their mission while maintaining financial stability.

How does passive fundraising work?

Passive fundraising works by setting up revenue streams that require little maintenance, such as affiliate links, recurring donations, or corporate matching gifts. Once established, these channels generate funds automatically, providing a consistent financial base without the need for continuous fundraising activities.

How do passive fundraisers fit into a nonprofit's fundraising strategy?

Passive fundraisers complement active fundraising efforts by providing a stable financial foundation and reliable income stream. They allow nonprofits to diversify funding sources, reduce reliance on single events or campaigns, and ensure ongoing support. Integrating passive methods enhances overall financial resilience and supports long-term mission sustainability.