Effective online fundraising
Online fundraising, or virtual fundraising, is an affordable and convenient way to reach a wide audience when raising funds for a cause. You can use technology to raise funds online in interactive and engaging ways, such as virtual events, social media challenges and more. When you fundraise for St. Jude, you help give kids with cancer the chance they deserve.
St. Jude patient Kenadie with her mom
What is online fundraising?
Online fundraising is a streamlined way to raise money for charitable organizations, specific projects, causes and more. Depending on what level of involvement you're interested in and how much of an impact you’d like to make, there are several different options available to raise money online.
Ways to fundraise online
Online fundraising platforms
Another way to raise money online is by using dedicated crowdfunding platforms. Crowdfunding platforms (like Tiltfy) are online tools that can be used to reach thousands of people with your fundraising campaign and collect donations in one convenient digital location.
Mobile giving
Mobile giving is a way to raise money using your mobile device. Most often, potential donors receive a text message or email prompting them to donate to a particular cause or to give through specific mobile applications, like the St. Jude donation app.
Virtual fundraising events
Whether you create your own digital fundraising space or use a separate tool, using virtual fundraising events to support your favorite causes can be an impactful way to give back. For example, you might participate in St. Jude PLAY LIVE, to fundraise for St. Jude.
Fundraising on social media
Engaging virtual fundraising ideas
Regardless of which online fundraising method or platform you use, there are endless ways to make a difference for the causes that matter most to you. To jump-start your fundraising efforts, we’ve put together a list of our top online fundraiser ideas.
St. Jude patient Alanna
Virtual concerts or workshops
Raise money for your favorite causes while performing your very own concert, hosting a talent show, teaching a workshop or cooking class using online streaming platforms, like Twitch, or social media features, like Facebook and TikTok LIVE.
Social media challenges
After setting up a donation page, create fun and interesting challenges for you and your communities to complete online. Participants can post a video of themselves completing the challenge and share their donation confirmation to spread the word!
St. Jude patient Brayden
St. Jude patient Kamryn
Digital scavenger hunt
Create a digital scavenger hunt where participants can join from wherever they are. Suggest a donation to enter, share the list of items to find, set a timer and start the hunt! Participants can take screenshots to check items off their list and provide proof of their findings.
Themed text message or email campaigns
Let your creativity flow by creating a themed text and email donation campaign. Bonus points if you can connect the theme back to the cause you are supporting. For example, if you were fundraising for St. Jude, you might consider a theme that is being used in a current St. Jude campaign.
St. Jude patient Luxe
St. Jude patient Ashtyn
Online trivia nights
Online trivia events are a fun and engaging way to interact with supporters while raising funds for a good cause. As the host of an online trivia night, you will need a video communications platform that allows screen sharing, a theme and a way to collect donations. Participants can donate to join the game and compete for prizes while testing their knowledge.
Virtual fitness challenges
Push-up contests, virtual marathons and other fitness challenges are popular ways to raise money for St. Jude. To host your fitness-focused virtual fundraiser, have participants sign up for activities like running or walking, track their progress through apps or social media and encourage donations for each milestone they reach.
St. Jude patient Josiah
Looking for more information on fundraising?
Our fundraising guide is full of helpful tips and ideas to help get you started!
Your support helps patients like Pablo
Pablo José was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of childhood cancer, in 2021 at the age of 5 in his homeland of Guatemala. He received chemotherapy and responded well, but after 18 months, he began experiencing fevers and the same body pain he'd felt before his initial diagnosis. His doctors referred him to St. Jude for further care.
Pablo José fly to St. Jude in May 2023, along with his father, Edgar. At St. Jude, he received chemotherapy, then radiation therapy. In August 2023? 2024? he received a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Valeria.
St. Jude patient Pablo
Why support St. Jude?
Families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you help give kids with cancer around the world that chance. Together, we can save more lives.
St. Jude patient Josie
Start fundraising online for St. Jude today
Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. Join us and be part of our mission to save more lives.
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