How to Make Your Product Fundraiser Stand Out: 5 Tips

You don’t want your next campaign to be just another fundraising ask. Product fundraisers are inherently more enticing because they give donors something in return for their contributions. However, you still have to put thought into your marketing strategy to grab your audience’s attention.

Use these tips to effectively promote your next product fundraiser and encourage supporters to contribute.

1. Select unique products.

The products you choose to sell should draw donors in and encourage them to lend their support. If you want your product fundraiser to stand out, select products with the following qualities:

• Practical. Donors will love the opportunity to purchase something they can actually use. For example, a discount card fundraiser allows donors to unlock discounts at local businesses. As ABC Fundraising’s discount card fundraiser guide explains, these campaigns “are excellent ways for merchants, restaurants, and stores in your community to support your group and in turn for the community members to support those businesses that support you.”
• Customizable. Let donors showcase their support for your organization by purchasing and wearing custom merchandise. Put your organization’s logo on t-shirts, hats, tote bags, or other items. That way, donors can publicize their support and promote your organization amongst their families and friends.
• Seasonal. Get your supporters excited about the current time of year with a festive product fundraiser. Whether you’re selling wrapping paper in the winter or flower bulbs in the spring, a seasonal campaign is sure to be a hit.

Consider sending your supporters a survey to get a better idea of the products they want to buy. Provide options for the products you could potentially sell and ask which they would be most interested in.

2. Leverage storytelling.

Storytelling helps you connect to your audience and emphasizes that your campaign is more than transactional. When people feel an emotional draw to your cause, they’re more likely to give and continue supporting your nonprofit over time.

Use storytelling as a means to explain donors’ potential impact. For example, here’s what a story promoting a candle fundraiser might look like:

When our community member Samantha found an abandoned puppy running around her neighborhood, she wasn’t sure what to do, but she knew this animal needed attention and care.

She brought the puppy into our shelter, where we found he was malnourished and at risk of gum disease. Samantha was worried, but thanks to donors like you, we were able to nurse the puppy back to health and find him a loving home.

Every candle sold represents a life reignited and an animal saved. Donate today to rekindle the flame of an animal in need and give them a second chance at life.

Since many people prefer visual content, marketers are increasingly using visuals to attract their audiences. Pair your story with relevant images or videos that show your mission in a more engaging way.

3. Gamify your campaign.

Gamification is the practice of incorporating game-like concepts into a non-game setting. By gamifying your campaign, you make it more exciting for your supporters and incentivize participation. Consider incorporating gamification by:

• Adding a peer-to-peer fundraising element. Give supporters a stake in your campaign by letting them take the lead. In a peer-to-peer campaign, supporters create their own fundraising pages and raise money on your nonprofit’s behalf. In this case, you may have supporters sell products to their families and friends and compete to see who can sell the most.
• Creating a fundraising leaderboard. Accompany your peer-to-peer fundraising campaign with a leaderboard that allows supporters to see how they’re performing compared to other participants. Post this leaderboard prominently on your website so supporters can easily access it.
• Launching a contest. Host a product giveaway before your campaign starts to stir up excitement amongst your supporters. Alternatively, once you’ve kicked off your campaign, ask donors to post a photo or video using your product and enter to win a prize.

At the end of your campaign, distribute badges or prizes to your top fundraisers. With their permission, recognize them in your newsletter and social media to show appreciation for their help and support.

4. Create a sense of urgency.

Just as businesses use phrases like “Buy now!” and “Get your free trial today!” to encourage people to follow through with purchases, your nonprofit can borrow this tactic to rally support. Create a sense of urgency during your product campaign by:

• Offering time-sensitive discounts. Drive product sales with discounts that push donors to act quickly. For instance, you may send them a discount code that allows them to buy one product and get one free for the next two days. Or, offer limited-time discounted product bundles on your website.
• Adding a countdown timer. When they see a timer ticking down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the end of your fundraiser on your campaign page, donors will be more willing to lend their support. You may also use timers to count down how long donors have left to access a time-sensitive discount.
• Leveraging a fundraising thermometer. A fundraising thermometer is a visual representation of your progress toward your goal. This fundraising tool encourages donors to contribute to help you reach your goal and may even entice them to give more than they originally planned to, especially if you’re inching closer and a small contribution will make a big difference.

While it’s important to convince donors to contribute as quickly as possible, overusing these tactics can distract from the fact that you’re not just selling a product but fueling your mission. Be conscious of how your specific audience responds to these strategies, and balance them out with impact-focused appeals to ensure you’re not overwhelming them with sales pitches.

5. Take advantage of social media.

While you should use a multichannel marketing strategy to promote your product fundraiser, social media is an especially effective tool for spreading the word among your supporters and to new audiences.

Take advantage of everything these platforms offer by:

• Using the right hashtags. Hashtags make it easy for supporters to find campaign content and, in turn, for your nonprofit to find content donors post about your campaign. Select a unique hashtag like #PawsCandleFundraiser2026 to ensure all content under the hashtag relates to your campaign.
• Partnering with influencers. By working with influencers your audience follows, you can build trust and develop more authentic marketing content. Consider reaching out to local creators or influencers with a niche that aligns with your mission. For example, an eating disorder foundation may work with a body positivity influencer to promote their upcoming t-shirt sale campaign.
• Hosting a livestream. Livestreams allow your nonprofit to share your product in real time, interact with supporters, and answer any questions they may have. If relevant, you may do a live product demo so donors know exactly how to use your product. For example, you may host a livestream of your team making cookies using the cookie dough from your product fundraiser.

Social media empowers organizations to connect directly with supporters and build stronger relationships with them. Have a team member field questions across your social media posts and respond to comments to show you care about each individual supporter.

Donors may feel passionate about your cause but need to know about your campaign and its importance before participating. Develop a substantial product fundraiser marketing strategy to make your campaign stand out and maximize the funds you can raise for your mission.