Are you using Facebook to promote your non-profit organization? It can be a great way to tell your story online. Facebook has introduced a number of new tools that let you more easily raise funds on Facebook too. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the options you have for donations and fundraising on Facebook. In addition to the Donate button on your page, there are new ways to involve your community in fundraising efforts.
Donate Buttons
Any nonprofit organization can add a donate button to the header on their page and solicit donations through paid ads directing people to donate through a website of their choice.
Charitable Giving Tools
Certain eligible nonprofits can also use Facebook’s Charitable Giving Tools to add donate buttons to Page posts, Page headers, and live videos where you can collect funds directly through Facebook without any fees.
Eligibility Requirements
Facebook donation buttons on posts, headers, and live videos, are only available to charitable organizations in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and some countries in Europe. An organization must also meet the follow criteria to qualify:
- US-based charities must be a 501(c)(3) organization, registered with the IRS, have a tax ID number and have a bank account registered with a licensed financial services institution.
- Charitable organizations based in the countries in Europe where Facebook donation and fundraising tools are available must provide a VAT number (if applicable), charity registration number (where applicable), a charity registration document issued or approved by a government entity and a bank account registered with a licensed financial services institution.
If your organization is eligible, to get started you sign up and provide bank account and other documentation (including information about the organization CEO or Executive Director). You then have additional options for collecting funds directly on Facebook. Nonprofits using Facebook’s payment platform to process donations pay no fee.
Facebook Header Button
The Donate button on your page is available to all nonprofits, but if you are registered you get the option of having payments collected directly on Facebook.
Donate Buttons on Posts
Once you’ve established your organization’s story and impact, it’s time to ask for donations. You can add a donate button to any of your posts or ads to make it easy for supporters to donate on Facebook when they are inspired to give.
Live Video Fundraisers
Live video on Facebook is becoming a popular way to get your story out to your supporters. Adding a donate button to your live video is a great opportunity to use live events to raise funds.
Facebook Fundraisers
Facebook Fundraisers allow you and other people to raise money for your nonprofit organization. Your supporters can set up a dedicated page to share their story, tell others about your mission and rally around a fundraising goal. This year Facebook also introduced a feature that allows people to match donations for their nonprofit fundraisers. Users can now pledge to match donations up to any amount between $5 and $2,500.
Birthday Fundraisers
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Birthday Fundraisers has raised more than $300 million for nonprofits. If you haven’t seen these in your personal Facebook Timeline yet, Facebook gives users the option to create birthday fundraisers to raise money for a nonprofit of their choice. Can you start a campaign to get your supporters to choose you?
Fundraising campaigns take planning and good messaging to be successful, but Facebook is giving nonprofits some new options to spread your message and grow your organization.
