How to Find Donors for Your Nonprofit (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

4 Oct

Finding donors isn’t just about asking for money — it’s about building relationships.
Whether you’re a new nonprofit or growing an existing one, the right donors don’t just fund your mission—they help amplify it.

In this guide, we’ll go step-by-step through where and how to find the right donors for your cause, even if you’re starting with zero budget.

1. Start with Your Inner Circle

Before looking outward, look around you.
Your first donors will almost always be people who already trust you — friends, family, coworkers, church members, or local business owners.

✅ Create a simple donation page (Donorbox, Givebutter, or PayPal).
✅ Send a personal message or email sharing why your cause matters.
✅ Don’t forget to follow up and thank them — the personal touch builds loyalty.

2. Define Your Ideal Donor

Not every donor is a match for your mission. Think about:

Who benefits from your cause?
What values do your supporters care about?
Where do they spend time online?

💡 Example:
If your nonprofit supports animal rescue, your ideal donors may follow pet influencers, volunteer locally, or engage with adoption pages.

Once you know this, you can target them through ads, hashtags, and collaborations.

3. Build a Compelling Story

People don’t give to organisations—they give to stories.

According to Network for Good, nonprofits that include a human story on their donation pages raise over 70% more than those that don’t.

Your story should include:

The problem: What issue are you solving?
The hero: Who’s being helped?
The transformation: What impact has your organisation made?

Tip: Use photos or short videos to make your story real.

4. Use Digital Tools to Reach New Donors

There’s never been a better time for small nonprofits to grow online. Here are platforms that can help:

Meta (Facebook + Instagram): Use targeted ads to reach people interested in your cause.
Google Ad Grants: Get $10,000/month in free ad credits to promote your mission on Google Search.
LinkedIn: Perfect for finding corporate sponsors and professional donors.
Email Marketing: Turn first-time donors into long-term supporters.

5. Collaborate with Businesses and Influencers

Partnerships can expose your nonprofit to entirely new audiences.

Start with small collaborations:

A local café that donates a portion of sales.
A micro-influencer who promotes your campaign for free.
A brand that aligns with your cause (especially during holidays or Giving Tuesday).

Pro Tip: Always align values—authentic partnerships build trust.

6. Keep Donors Engaged After They Give

The biggest mistake nonprofits make?
They focus on finding donors but not keeping them.

According to Bloomerang’s Donor Retention Study, the average nonprofit loses around 55% of donors every year.

How to fix that:

Send regular updates on what their donations achieved.
Feature them in thank-you posts or emails.
Offer behind-the-scenes stories or exclusive updates.

7. Track and Optimise

Use tools like Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, or Mailchimp Reports to see what’s working.
Look at which channels bring donors and which messages convert best.

Once you know this—you can double down where it counts.

If your nonprofit is ready to grow but struggling to find consistent donors, we can help.

At Socials Runway Marketing Consultancy, we help nonprofits build marketing systems that attract and retain donors—without the stress of managing multiple freelancers.

👉 Looking for a nonprofit marketing agency in the U.S. to help with strategy and campaigns? Schedule a free call here.