9 nonprofit funding sources to boost revenue

Successful fundraising is about more than asking for donations. In fact, the strongest nonprofits draw from multiple revenue sources, including individual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, events, and more.

A diversified funding model helps organizations stay resilient when one revenue stream shifts or declines, making it easier to sustain programs and plan for long-term growth.

This guide explores nine common nonprofit funding sources and how they can work together to support your mission. The funding sources covered here apply primarily to 501(c)(3) public charities, which require a tax-exempt status for many of these opportunities. If you’re just getting started, however, see our complete guide to starting a 501(c)(3).

Power your mission with individual donors

Individual giving is the cornerstone of fundraising for many nonprofits, making up most of their charitable contributions. These donations come from individual donors in all shapes and sizes, from small, one-time gifts to major contributions that can fund entire initiatives. Building a strong base of individual donors is a powerful way to create a steady source of revenue.

Direct giving and crowdfunding

Thanks to online fundraising platforms, supporting nonprofit organizations has never been easier. Donors can give to the causes they care about in just a few clicks, from anywhere in the world.

Campaign Studio is GoFundMe Pro’s optimized direct giving solution, designed to help organizations create personalized fundraising experiences and reach their communities at scale. Its flexible, easy-to-use campaign builder makes it simple to launch dynamic donation pages that serve as the hub for direct appeals and targeted fundraising campaigns.

The results speak for themselves: Organizations that switched to Studio saw a 7.5% increase in year-over-year donation volume on Giving Tuesday compared with organizations that continued using legacy tools.

That performance is informed by GoFundMe Pro’s ongoing research into the experiences and strategies that drive donor action. We translate those insights directly into Studio, helping every organization benefit from proven fundraising best practices. Specifically, our research found that:

• Streamlining the checkout experience with a mobile-optimized flow led to measurable improvements in donor engagement (such as higher conversion rates and faster donations), helped reduce drop-off, and improved average gift amount and total donations.
• Keeping the Donate button visible throughout the page effectively increased donor engagement and reinforced giving intent across mobile experiences. The checkout entry rate saw a statistically significant 5.1% lift, confirming that keeping the call to action visible drives more donors into checkout. Time to click also decreased 1.83%.

These research-backed optimizations help remove friction and make it easier for supporters to act on their intent to give. However, a strong giving experience is only part of the equation. The right campaign format can also help inspire action, build momentum, and bring your community together around a shared goal.

Crowdfunding campaigns are a powerful way to do just that, particularly for a specific project or time-based initiative. By telling a compelling story and showing the direct impact of donations, you can motivate supporters to contribute to a shared goal. Features like progress bars, countdown timers, and live activity feeds can build momentum and create a sense of urgency—elements that GoFundMe testing shows can lift conversions.

Peer-to-peer and community fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising empowers your most passionate supporters to become fundraisers for your cause. Instead of only making a personal donation, supporters can create their own fundraising pages and invite friends, family, and social networks to contribute.

This model can extend your reach far beyond your existing donor base. In fact, 80% of donors to peer-to-peer campaigns on GoFundMe Pro are new to the organization. Each supporter can introduce your mission to a new audience, helping you grow your community and raise awareness along the way.

Community fundraising extends this peer-to-peer model by giving supporters even more ways to fundraise on your behalf, including on the channels where they already connect with friends and family. Rather than limiting participation to a specific campaign, event, or giving day, supporters can rally their communities around your cause whenever they feel inspired.

By claiming your Nonprofit Page on GoFundMe, you make it easy for individuals to start fundraisers for birthdays, special events, hobbies, personal milestones, or simply because they believe in your mission. These supporter-led efforts can connect your organization with new donors who are inspired by the personal stories and relationships of people they trust.

And because donations received through GoFundMe and GoFundMe Pro appear in your Pro dashboard once you claim your Nonprofit Page, you gain greater visibility into supporter activity across both experiences. Those insights can help you better understand your community, deepen supporter relationships, and turn peer-to-peer participation into a more connected, resilient fundraising engine.

Recurring giving

Recurring giving creates predictable revenue and long-term donor value. According to The Center for Sustainable Giving, recurring donors are worth 5–7x more than one-time donors, on average. On GoFundMe Pro, they’re worth 10x more.*

GoFundMe Pro helps you grow recurring giving with branded donation pages, flexible payment options, and Intelligent Ask Amounts, which uses machine learning to personalize suggested gifts. For campaigns optimized for conversion, this has driven up to a 6.5% lift in recurring conversion rates—helping turn more supporters into long-term donors.

Check out our recurring giving playbook for inspiration on how to uplevel your program.

*10x based on internal GoFundMe Pro analysis (as of 2025), comparing lifetime value of recurring vs. one-time donors. Results vary per organization.

Giving Funds and major donors

GoFundMe Giving Funds are a new type of donor-advised fund that lets individuals set aside and potentially grow charitable dollars through investments, then give to verified nonprofits on GoFundMe. For nonprofits, this creates another opportunity to reach donors who have already committed funds to charitable giving.

Major donors can also play an outsized role in individual giving. While what qualifies as a major gift varies by organization, cultivating these donors requires a similar approach: personalized engagement, consistent communication, and an understanding of what motivates them to support your mission.

Secure funding through grants

Nonprofit grants can help nonprofits diversify revenue and fund specific programs or initiatives. Opportunities are available through private foundations, corporations, and government agencies, often based on the focus area, geography, or type of work. Focusing on grants that closely align with your mission and funding needs improve your chances of success.

Foundation grants

There are thousands of private foundations in the U.S., from large, well-known grantmakers to small family foundations. These organizations often have specific focus areas, such as education, health, or environmental conservation.

To find the right fit, use resources like the Foundation Directory from Candid to search for grantmakers whose priorities align with your mission. Grant applications can be complex, so it’s critical to start the process early and tailor each proposal to the specific grantmaker.

Government grants

Government grants, from federal, state, and local agencies, can provide substantial funding for nonprofits. These grants often support initiatives in areas like mental health, housing, and community development. Websites like Grants.gov are a central source to discover these opportunities.

Engage your community with events

Fundraising events have long been a staple for nonprofit organizations. From galas and auctions to charity runs and walks, events offer a unique opportunity to engage your community, raise your profile, and generate significant revenue.

Your event can incorporate multiple funding models. For example, a single gala might include ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, a silent auction, and a direct appeal for major gifts.

Whether in person, virtual, or hybrid, GoFundMe’s Live Events can help you streamline registration, manage attendees, and inspire giving. With features like mobile bidding, live leaderboards, and text-to-donate, you can create an engaging experience that maximizes your fundraising efforts.

Build partnerships and earned income

Diversifying your nonprofit funding sources also means looking beyond traditional donations. Strategic partnerships and earned income initiatives can provide additional stability and open up new avenues for growth.

Corporate sponsorships

Forming partnerships with small businesses and corporations can lead to valuable sponsorships. Companies often support nonprofits whose missions align with their values or that serve the same community. In exchange for financial support or in-kind donations, your nonprofit can offer brand recognition through event promotions, social media shoutouts, and other forms of public acknowledgment.

Your board of directors can be an excellent resource for identifying potential corporate partners. Encourage them to leverage their professional networks to make introductions and advocate for your cause.

Earned income

Selling products or services that align with their mission is another way some nonprofits generate revenue. This could include merchandise, educational workshops, or consulting services. However, it’s critical to ensure that these business activities don’t conflict with your tax-exempt status. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the income must be related to your organization’s exempt purpose to remain tax-free.

Create your path to financial sustainability with diverse funding sources

A diverse range of funding models is available to support your work and secure funding for your nonprofit. By combining individual giving, grants, events, and strategic partnerships, you can build a resilient financial foundation for your organization for years to come.

Strengthen and diversify your nonprofit revenue strategy with GoFundMe Pro.

Copy editor: Ayanna Julien