It’s a great time to be a grassroots fundraiser. The Internet, online social networks, fiscal sponsorship, and an uptick in enthusiasm for DIY projects of all kinds mean that, in many ways, it’s easier for individuals to raise money now than ever before.

That said, this is also an age of information deluge, and it can be tricky to weed through all the fundraising ideas out there to find what will work best for you.

ioby is all about helping people get their neighborhood projects off the ground, and that includes a lot of fundraising. Below, we’ve compiled our top fundraising ideas into a handy list.

 

But what is ioby? (aka: Why should I listen to your fundraising ideas?)

ioby is a crowd-resourcing (crowdfunding + resource organizing) nonprofit that helps local leaders implement and grow their ideas for bettering their neighborhoods, one block at a time, all across the U.S. Since 2009, we’ve helped to fully fund over 3,600 grassroots projects with over $19.9 million in crowdfunded cash.

We’re the nation’s leading platform for neighbor-led, -designed, -funded, and -implemented community improvement projects. In the short term, we’re delivering resources to grassroots leaders. Long term, we’re fostering stronger civic infrastructure and positive, lasting change in our country’s neighborhoods.

We do this in a few major ways:

  • Our platform. On the ioby website, you can post, promote, and fundraise for your project.

  • Our resources. We help you every step of the way. Read our leader toolkit, attend our webinars, pt talk with our knowledgeable staff who can consult you on general program questions or how to navigate through unforeseen barriers. We want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable at every stage, regardless of your level of experience fundraising.

  • Our sponsorship. Not a 501(c)3 non-profit organization? No problem. If you need a nonprofit to receive donations on your behalf, we’re happy to help.

 

Great. But I’ve also heard some fundraising ideas that didn’t sound so lovely…

Perhaps you’re referring to the Top 3 Fundraising Myths?

1) You need a glamorous, never-been-done idea. Not so! People raise real money for ordinary things all the time: community gardens, neighborhood murals, after-school programs… You just need to have an achievable idea, do some planning, and put some time into it.

2) Most crowdfunding campaigns fail. Well, it depends on where you’re looking. Kickstarter’s full-funding success rate is about 40%; Indiegogo’s is about 12%. At ioby, we’re sitting pretty at 80%! The difference? We think it’s all the resources, support, and coaching we offer our leaders to help them succeed. Here, you won’t be tempted to just set up a page and let the money roll in (because trust us, it won’t). We help you market your campaign on and offline to build donor interest and trust—then you’ll see the Benjamins.

3) Fundraising campaigns annoy people. Okay, this can be true, but not when they’re done right! People love giving to causes they care about. If you use ioby to get your project off the ground, you’ll learn about how to work with your donors to keep them happy, engaged, and giving.

 

Cool! So, what are your best fundraising tips?

Our team created five short videos that breakdown our favorite fundraising tips. In this playlist, you'll find tips on making your fundraising ask fun (for you and your donors), how to get your community onboard for your project, crowdfunding for established nonprofits, and more! 

 

I’m getting the hang of this fundraising thing! What should I do now?

  • If you’d like to learn more about what ioby is and does, see our About page. To read about the small fees we charge to stay in business (we’re the best fundraising deal on the Internet!), see our Fee page.
  • If you already have a project in mind, visit our Idea page to tell us about it and get the ball rolling.

We hope you’ve found these fundraising ideas helpful, motivating, and maybe even enjoyable to read. As always, we love to hear your questions and comments—please drop us a line.

So, are you ready to make positive change in your neighborhood? Submit an idea and we’ll help you do the rest: