Take Your Next Fundraiser Online — Philantopia Can Help!

As our world increasingly moves online, nonprofits are taking advantage of this shift in focus by creating, managing, and successfully completing fundraisers via the internet. 

Of course, nothing will ever replace the excitement of being in a room full of buzzing donors during a live auction event — but donors increasingly spend time online, including to donate to important causes, and using that to your advantage can make a big difference in your fundraising efforts in 2025. 

Leverage the Time Between Events 

A time-honored tradition among nonprofits and donors, annual gala events serve an important role. They build a sense of community, help organizations demonstrate the good they’re doing in the world to their donors, inspire cause for celebration, and raise meaningful funds. 

But what about the weeks and months between events like galas and golf tournaments? It can be tricky to keep donors’ attention during the “off months,” even when those are the segments of time where the nonprofit needs support the most. For example, January and February tend to be slower months for organizations after the hype of autumn events, Giving Tuesday, and end-of-year giving campaigns. 

This is where online events can be game-changers for your nonprofit. 

Launching an online sweepstakes, raffle, or online auction is a great way to keep donors engaged. Here’s how it works: 

1. Select a prize, like one of Philantopia’s top-selling travel destinations. 
2. Create a sweepstakes, raffle, or auction page online. 
3. Launch your fundraiser and share it via social media, your donor list, website, and any partners who may be able to help. 
4. Draw a winner and celebrate with your donors!

Let’s dive into these steps with a little more detail. 

Step One: Select a Philantopia Travel Package as Your Prize

Travel packages aren’t just for in-person events… they also work great with online fundraisers! All of our packages include beautiful imagery and thoughtful, descriptive text to help you put together a donation page that really lands with your donor base. We’ve done a lot of the work for you!

Take a look at some of the hottest trips for 2025: 

Seaside Escape in Hilton Head: Renowned for its gorgeous seaside scenery, world-class golf courses, upmarket dining locales, and famous hospitality, this romantic getaway for two people is sure to impress! Activities such as biking, dolphin watching, beach going, and tennis make this vacation one for the books. Learn more. 

Hotel Barcelona Cultural Vacation Package: Take the whole family to one of the most culturally rich cities in Europe! Located on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona offers a fun and vibrant atmosphere, great nightlife, unforgettable beaches, and extraordinary gastronomy. Live like a local for five nights in a charming 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment right in the heart of the city. Learn more.

New York City Broadway Experience: There is just nothing like New York and its famous theater scene. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and feel the energy as you experience your choice of current Broadway show (subject to availability) and enjoy four-star accommodations in the Big City! Learn more. 

Whichever travel packages you select, your donors are going to experience top-of-the-line, white glove booking with Philantopia’s knowledgeable and friendly team. 

Not sure where to start? Connect with one of our Auction Advisors today!

Step Two: Create a Sweepstakes, Raffle, or Auction Page Online

Once you’ve selected your prize and received the marketing materials from our team, it’s time to set up a page to take donations. There are many services that offer online platforms for nonprofits to set up a virtual sweepstakes, raffle, or online auction. 

Whichever platform you choose, some features to look for include: 

• A beautiful donor-facing page that allows donors to easily learn about the prize and your nonprofit,
• The ability to receive donations, 
• An easy way to choose and announce your winner, 
• The option to download all your donors’ contact information once they’ve entered.

Many of our nonprofit customers have had great success with this method of fundraising, and there are many superb options when it comes to finding the right donation platform for your online event. 

Step Three: Share Your Fundraiser Online

Once you’ve set everything up, it’s time to launch and share your fundraiser with the world! The first step is to announce your fundraiser on your website. Many people who aren’t as familiar with your nonprofit may click back to your homepage to make sure that the online fundraiser is legit. Give them peace of mind by announcing it prominently on your website. 

Next, you’ll want to send out an email to your donor base. Make it fun, focused, and include lots of links back to the page where they can donate. Be sure to make use of the great images Philantopia will provide of the vacation package!

Social media is your next stop. Use your best images, most exciting text, and a clear link for donors to quickly and easily navigate to your donation page. 

Do you have any corporate partners? The next step is to reach out to them and ask them if they are willing to do any kind of promotion for you. That can look like an email to their base, a social media post, putting up flyers in their store (if they have one), or something else. The more people that know about your fundraiser, the better! 

Step Four: Draw the Winner and Celebrate with Your Donors!

Drawing your winner should be a breeze and a lot of fun. Make sure that you announce your winner prominently on all your social channels and on your website so everyone can see who won. 

And don’t forget: You aren’t limited to one fundraiser at a time! Most Philantopia trips are available in multiples, meaning you can offer more than one of the same trip. Speak with one of our Auction Advisors to learn more and find out if this is a good strategy for your online fundraiser. 

Remember, Philantopia travel packages are always risk-free for nonprofits. That means that you only pay once your donor pays, so you’re never on the hook for a travel package that doesn’t sell. We’re here to make your job easier!