Fundraising for disaster relief: A guide to mobilize support and maximize impact

When disaster strikes, nonprofits are often the first to mobilize and the last to leave. They step in to provide urgent relief, such as food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. Equally as critical, they remain on the ground long after the headlines fade, helping families rebuild, restoring infrastructure, and supporting long-term recovery.

Nonprofits play a vital role in getting resources where they’re needed most, but they can’t do it alone. Fundraising is one of the most powerful ways to make this possible.

Below, we’ll walk you through practical steps, tools, and strategies to launch an effective disaster relief fundraiser. From preparing your nonprofit to creating a compelling campaign, you’ll learn how to raise money to maximize impact when it’s needed most.

Why start an emergency fundraiser?

Disasters capture public attention and inspire immediate generosity, creating a pivotal moment for nonprofits. In fact, a survey found that three in five U.S. donors directed at least half of their annual giving to disaster relief organizations in a single year.

By launching an emergency fundraiser, your nonprofit can turn this surge of goodwill into urgent aid and lasting support. Acting quickly not only delivers help when it’s needed most but also builds relationships with new donors who can sustain long-term natural disasters recovery.

Preparing your nonprofit to mobilize quickly

Nonprofit organizations that prepare for emergency response are better positioned to launch disaster relief fundraising and support first responders on the ground.

Start by assessing your nonprofit’s readiness for an emergency response. Building a crisis team with clear roles ensures nothing gets overlooked when disaster strikes. For example:

• A decision-maker can set goals and delegate tasks
• A spokesperson can communicate with volunteers and media
• A social media coordinator can share updates with your community in real time

Having these roles assigned early means your team can act quickly when every hour counts.

Equally important is developing a communication strategy before a crisis occurs. Drafting email and social media templates now allows you to send timely appeals later. These messages should include placeholders: 

• Explaining the situation
• Outlining immediate needs
• Showing how donations will make a direct impact

Creating a compelling disaster relief fundraising campaign

A strong fundraising campaign starts with a clear, emotional story. When disaster strikes, donors want to know exactly what happened, why support is urgent, and how their contributions will make a difference. Use your fundraising page to explain the immediate need and reassure supporters that their donations will go directly to helping affected communities.

Trust and transparency are essential. That’s why it’s critical to be clear about how you’ll allocate funds. As the campaign progresses, update your page with new information, photos, and milestones to show the impact of donations. Sharing supporter testimonials or stories from the ground can also help build credibility and inspire others to give.

To launch fast, prepare the building blocks of your campaign page in advance. Keep assets like your logo, boilerplate text about your nonprofit’s work, and a library of photos readily available. That way, when you need to start a crowdfunding campaign, you can get it live quickly.

GoFundMe Pro makes this process even smoother. With ready-to-use templates optimized for performance, you can create an emergency relief donation page in a few clicks with the following features:

• Urgency-focused messaging
• A prominent call to action
• Intelligent Ask Amounts
• Social sharing incentives

You’ll also have access to key blocks, including:

• Activity feed
• Share button
• Impact block
• FAQ
• Donation form
• Transaction details

Plus, by saving your brand kit—including logos, colors, and fonts—you’ll ensure every campaign looks consistent without extra setup.

Finally, set a realistic fundraising goal. The number should reflect the urgency of the disaster and the scale of the relief you aim to provide. A clear, attainable goal helps motivate donors and builds momentum as you approach each milestone. And don’t forget: Donations made through your nonprofit’s campaign may be tax-deductible gifts, giving supporters another reason to give generously.

By planning and using the right fundraising platform, your organization can launch campaigns quickly, raise more funds, and show affected communities that help is on the way.

7 effective fundraising and supporter stewardship strategies

Raising funds for disaster relief efforts requires more than a donation button. By combining multiple approaches and keeping supporters engaged, nonprofits can maximize their impact and build a strong, lasting community of donors. Here are seven strategies to guide your efforts.

1. Use multichannel promotion

Promote your campaign across email, social media, your website, and paid ads to reach the widest audience possible. Each channel offers unique opportunities to connect with supporters, share updates, and highlight urgent needs. Using multiple channels also ensures your fundraising ideas reach existing and new donors.

2. Partner with local businesses and community leaders

Amplify your reach and credibility with local partnerships. Businesses can sponsor virtual events, match donations, or share your campaign with their networks, whereas community leaders can help spread the word and encourage participation. Collaborating with trusted voices strengthens your nonprofit’s presence in the community.

3. Incorporate peer-to-peer and crowdfunding approaches

Encourage supporters to create mini-campaigns on your behalf through peer-to-peer fundraising. Crowdfunding campaigns empower individuals to share your mission with their friends and family, expanding your online fundraising reach. These methods turn your supporters into ambassadors for your cause.

4. Thank donors and share impact updates regularly

Show appreciation by sending timely thank-you messages and progress updates. Highlight how donations address immediate needs and include photos or stories from the scene of action. Regular communication builds trust and encourages continued support.

5. Engage recurring donors and encourage increased gifts

Encourage recurring donors who already provide a reliable funding base to increase their monthly gifts or give a one-time donation in addition to their ongoing amount. Small increases from multiple donors can add up to a significant boost for your fundraising campaign.

6. Use social proof and donor stories to build a community

Share stories from donors and the people your nonprofit serves to help create a sense of community. Social proof—such as testimonials, milestone celebrations, social media shoutouts, and other recognitions of supporters—reinforces the importance of giving and encourages others to participate.

7. Leverage earned media and outreach

Expand your nonprofit’s visibility with earned media, such as news coverage, social media mentions, and influencer endorsements. Reach out to journalists and media outlets with compelling stories and integrate your campaign into your owned channels to amplify coverage. This strategy increases credibility, drives more donations, and supports your crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.

Mobilize support for effective disaster relief fundraising

By preparing your nonprofit, creating compelling campaigns, and engaging supporters strategically, you can provide emergency relief quickly and effectively while building a community of support that lasts.

GoFundMe Pro provides templates and tools to help nonprofits launch campaigns quickly, while also connecting them to GoFundMe’s wider network of supporters eager to make a difference. We highlight nonprofit initiatives during times of need, like those featured on our verified hubs.

From peer-to-peer fundraising to multichannel promotion, your organization can use these toolkits to maximize impact and accelerate recovery efforts.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien