Six Steps to Fundraising Success for Small Nonprofits

Most of my clients—indeed most nonprofits in general—are small.  Really small.  Over 92% of all nonprofits have operating budgets of under $1,000,000 and 77% of them toil with budgets under $50,000.  But it is not impossible for a small nonprofit to become larger—it just takes work.  Lots of hard work.  And building on your strengths.

What strengths?  For starters, there are deep community roots.  These organizations—your organization perhaps—is embedded in your neighborhoods.  You know the people, the needs, the challenges.  And in return, many of the people you know support your work in small (and sometimes large) ways.

Small organizations also generally personally know their donors. This means your donors not only give financially, but they can (and will if asked!) act as ambassadors, bringing others in their networks to become supporters. 

Your other secret strength is your agility.  While you often may look with longing to larger organizations and wish that you had even a fraction of their resources, small organizations are able to pivot quickly, respond instantly, and not get bogged down with all the bureaucracy larger organizations have to deal with.

As a small nonprofit, you may feel that fundraising is beyond you.  But, in truth, your smallness may just be your superpower.  Indeed, follow these 6 steps and you will see enormous fundraising success.

1. Lead with Your Mission

In today’s hyperconnected, mostly online world, people are looking for meaning, impact, and ways to help. Remind supporters why your work matters and how they, by supporting you matter also.  Share stories of what you do and how it changes people’s lives.  Don’t twist yourself—or your message—into knots.  Just state simply, “We help….. and with your help, we can change the world.”

2. Focus on relationships

Here’s a critical truth—people give to people (to support causes and organizations they care about).  The relationships your organization have built mean everything.  Fundraising is all about relationships—nurture yours.  Make sure your donors know how important they are—and how much they matter, to you, to your organization, to your cause.

3.   Start or Grow Monthly Giving

Recurring donations provide stability, and small nonprofits especially benefit from predictable income.  And you don’t have to have high net worth individuals as your donors.  Small monthly gifts can truly add up and allow you to plan ahead and keep services running.


4.   Make the Most of Digital Tools

You don’t need fancy tech. A well-written email, a social media post with a compelling story, or a short video from your phone can inspire action.

Don’t forget AI—even free versions can make a difference (and can make you feel that you have a lot more staff than you do!)

 5. Activate Your Inner Circle

Board members, volunteers, and loyal supporters can help extend your reach. Ask them to share your campaign, forward an email, or post about why they give.

Give them tools—sample messages, graphics, and a clear link to your donation page.

6.        Celebrate Every Win

Celebrate your donors, your clients, the things you do.  Remember, you cannot say thank you too often. Do share your progress, and highlight the impact of every gift.

“Thanks to your support, we have been able to serve more people than ever before.  And we couldn’t do it without you!”

You don’t need a huge team or big budget to raise funds effectively. What you need is heart, clarity, and connection. Your community believes in you—and they want to help.

Big may be beautiful, but small is mighty—mightier than you think