In the nonprofit sector, every organization has its own fundraising “DNA”: a unique blend of strategy, mission alignment, and community engagement that shapes how it raises funds and creates impact.
There is no single “right” way to fundraise. Each approach has its own advantages and challenges. The key is understanding where your organization excels and where there is room to grow.
If you’re not sure how to define or optimize your unique fundraising strategy, you’re in the right place! Take this quick quiz to discover your organization’s fundraising style and uncover insights that can supercharge your efforts. Let’s get started!
1. Is your primary focus on mobilizing a high volume of supporters?
If you answered YES, proceed to Question #2.
If this sounds like your nonprofit, you’re driven by collective action. Your focus is on grassroots accessibility and community engagement, empowering a large network of individuals to create a powerful whole.
Your success metrics likely go beyond dollars raised. You may measure participation rates, new donor acquisition, or social media engagement as indicators of impact.
If you answered NO, skip to Question #3.
If you answered ‘no’, your organization likely employs a more targeted and connection-driven approach. Rather than casting a wide net, you focus on cultivating deep and meaningful relationships with key individuals or institutions capable of making significant contributions.
A major win for your organization might be a major gift, a multi-year grant from a foundation, a significant contribution to a capital campaign, or a high-level corporate sponsorship. You prioritize funding that fuels long-term stability and enables large-scale projects.
2. Do you primarily engage these supporters through digital channels?
If YES, your style is: The Digital Mobilizer
You excel at harnessing technology to reach and inspire a broad audience. Digital engagement and fundraising are your superpower strategies, allowing you to connect quickly, scale efficiently, and spark collective advocacy through online and peer-to-peer campaigns.
Advantages
Technology is the future of fundraising, and your digital prowess positions you at the forefront of modern philanthropy! Your team likely adapts easily to new trends and tools, giving you an edge in reaching audiences beyond your geographic footprint. And, with the power of AI and automation, you can personalize outreach, streamline communications, and deepen engagement at a larger scale.
Drawbacks
An overreliance on technology can make it more difficult to build lasting relationships with supporters. The digital landscape is crowded and fast-moving, making it easy for donors to give once in response to an urgent appeal but difficult to retain donors’ attention - and therefore loyalty to your cause.
Next Steps
To establish deeper supporter relationships and a consistent revenue stream, use your strength—access to tech—to create more meaningful touchpoints in the donor journey. For instance, instead of sending a one-time, general “thank you” email for a gift, implement a multi-part welcome series for new donors. Use this opportunity to tell constituent stories, introduce your team, and invite them to engage in non-financial ways, such as volunteering and advocacy. This strategy empowers you to transform a transactional donation into a more personal connection.
If NO, your style is: The Hands-On Community Builder
Rather than casting a wide net of support through clicks and shares, your fundraising relies on face-to-face interactions and community connections. You inspire loyalty and belonging in your local community through personal interactions at events, workshops, and volunteer days.
Advantages
Your superpower is creating a trusted presence in your community. Building authentic, in-person relationships fosters deep emotional ties that drive lasting support.
This focus on relationships isn’t just intuitive; it’s a core fundraising principle. According to DonorSearch, “having a relationship with your nonprofit makes [supporters] more passionate about your mission and impact, which in turn motivates them to contribute more of their resources and time.”
Drawbacks
This approach can be more time- and labor-intensive, and its reach may be limited by geography. It also might be more difficult to resonate with younger, more digital-first donors who prefer the convenience and speed of online engagement. Scaling your efforts might be a significant challenge.
Next Steps
Start small: adopt a hybrid approach that blends personal connection with selective digital elements. For example, you can expand the impact of your next in-person event by adding a virtual livestream or online auction to reach a wider audience.
Start small with a few relevant tech investments, such as auction management software or a new social media scheduling system. That way, you can identify what tools add the most value before scaling.
Bring your next event to life!
3. Is your relationship-building focus on individual major donors?
If YES, your style is: The Major Gifts Maven
Your philosophy is rooted in the 80/20 Pareto Principle—the idea that a small number of key supporters (20%) will drive the vast majority (80%) of your revenue. Your approach is deliberate, relationship-centered, and long-term, with a focus on securing transformative investments from individual philanthropists.
Advantages
The return on investment (ROI) for major gifts fundraising is exceptionally high. A single, transformative gift can provide the capital for a new building, launch a major program, or strengthen your endowment for years to come. This approach empowers massive leaps in your mission that would be more challenging with small-dollar campaigns alone.
Drawbacks
The long, resource-intensive cultivation cycle for major gifts can create significant cash-flow anxiety and the inherent risk of over-reliance on a few key individuals. If a major donor’s financial situation changes or their focus shifts, your organization’s budget can be left in a precarious position.
Next Steps
Diversify your revenue base while maintaining your focus on personalized stewardship. For example, you could launch a leadership giving circle for your mid-level donors. This exclusive group—with special recognition, insider updates, and unique events—offers consistent annual support and can serve as a pipeline for future major or planned gift prospects.
If NO, your style is: The Partnership Architect
You excel at building institutional relationships - with foundations, corporations, and strategic partners who share your mission. You’re an expert in crafting grant proposals, managing corporate sponsorships, driving cause marketing, and reporting impact.
Advantages
These institutional partnerships can yield transformational, multi-year investments to provide both stability and visibility. A grant from a well-regarded funder lends powerful third-party credibility, enhancing your reputation and opening doors for future opportunities.
Drawbacks
The biggest danger here is “mission drift.” The temptation to adjust your programs to fit a funder’s specific requirements can pull you away from your core purpose, potentially jeopardizing program outcomes and future partnership success.
Next Steps
Create and implement a Mission Alignment Scorecard, an internal rubric your team uses to evaluate every potential grant or corporate partnership before you pursue them. This framework helps your team assess whether each opportunity advances your goals, strengthens your capabilities, and aligns with your values, ensuring every partnership is both strategic and sustainable.
Ultimately, these styles should act more like flexible frameworks rather than fixed models. In fact, the most effective organizations strategically weave elements from multiple approaches, building a balanced fundraising strategy that maximizes reach, deepens relationships, and ensures long-term sustainability.
By identifying your dominant nonprofit fundraising style, you can lead your team with greater clarity, invest your resources strategically, and cultivate a fundraising culture that’s authentic to your mission. Embrace your strengths, adapt with intention, and let your unique style power your organization’s philanthropic growth.
