Online Fundraising in Canada: A Complete Guide for Charities and Non-Profits

‍Online fundraising gives Canadian charities, non-profits, schools, foundations, sports clubs and community organizations a way to raise money digitally while making participation easier for supporters.

Instead of relying entirely on cash collections, cheques or attendance at a physical event, organizations can create fundraising campaigns that supporters access from their phones or computers.

Online fundraising can include direct donations, silent auctions, ticketed fundraising events and other digital fundraising activities. It can operate as a standalone campaign or complement an in-person fundraiser such as a charity gala, golf tournament, school event or community dinner.

For organizations looking to reach supporters beyond a physical venue, online fundraising provides another way for people to participate wherever they are.

This guide explains how online fundraising works in Canada, campaign ideas to consider and what organizations should look for when planning a digital fundraiser.

What Is Online Fundraising?

Online fundraising is the process of raising money through a digital campaign.

An organization creates a campaign explaining its cause, fundraising goal and ways supporters can participate.

Supporters then access the fundraiser through a phone, tablet or computer.

Depending on the campaign, they might make a donation, bid on an auction item, purchase an event ticket or participate in another fundraising activity.

Payments can also be processed digitally, reducing the amount of cash handling and manual administration required by the fundraising team.

Online fundraising does not necessarily replace traditional fundraising.

It can simply provide a digital way for supporters to participate in the same campaign.

How Does Online Fundraising Work?

Most online fundraising campaigns start with a clear purpose.

The organization decides what it is raising money for, how much it hopes to raise and who it wants to reach.

Next, the fundraising team chooses the type of campaign.

A charity may want a straightforward donation campaign. A school might organize an online silent auction. A foundation could combine event ticketing with donations and an auction.

The organization then creates its fundraising campaign, adds branding and explains what the money will support.

Once the campaign is ready, it can be shared through the communication channels the organization already uses.

Supporters visit the campaign and complete the action they want to take.

The fundraising team can then monitor campaign activity, payments and participation digitally.

Why Use Online Fundraising in Canada?

Online fundraising gives organizations more flexibility over how supporters participate.

A traditional fundraising event usually depends heavily on the people who can physically attend.

Digital fundraising can extend participation beyond the venue.

For example, someone who cannot attend a charity gala may still be able to participate in its online silent auction.

Parents who cannot attend a school fundraiser may still be able to contribute from home.

Supporters in another Canadian city may be able to participate in an online campaign without travelling to the event.

Online fundraising can also reduce some of the administrative work involved in collecting payments, managing paper bid sheets and manually tracking transactions.

The right approach depends on the organization, campaign and audience.

Online Fundraising Ideas for Canadian Organizations

There is no single fundraising format that works for every organization.

Some campaigns need only a simple donation option, while others can combine several fundraising activities.

Popular online fundraising approaches include direct donation campaigns, online silent auctions, hybrid fundraising events, virtual events, online event ticketing, Buy It Now fundraising and properly licensed raffles where the applicable Canadian requirements have been met.

The best option is the one that fits your supporters and fundraising goal.

Online Donation Campaigns

A direct donation campaign can be one of the simplest ways to fundraise online.

The organization creates a campaign explaining what it is raising money for and provides supporters with a way to contribute.

The fundraising message should be specific.

Instead of simply saying:

Help support our organization.

Explain what the campaign is trying to accomplish:

Help us raise CA$20,000 for new equipment for our community sports program.

A specific purpose helps supporters understand where the campaign is going and why their contribution matters.

Online Silent Auctions

A silent auction can turn donated products and experiences into an interactive online fundraiser.

Instead of writing bids on paper sheets, supporters browse auction items digitally and submit bids from their phones or computers.

Auction items might include hotel stays, restaurant experiences, hockey tickets, golf packages, family activities, wellness packages, local attractions, artwork or other experiences relevant to the organization's audience.

Online bidding can operate independently or alongside an in-person fundraising event.

For organizations running a gala or community fundraiser, guests can bid from their phones while supporters who cannot attend may also be able to participate remotely.

Hybrid Fundraising Events

A hybrid fundraiser combines an in-person event with digital participation.

Imagine a charity hosting a fundraising dinner in Vancouver.

Guests at the venue can participate through their phones while supporters elsewhere can access appropriate online elements of the same campaign.

The organization still benefits from the atmosphere and community of an in-person event while digital participation can extend beyond the room.

Hybrid fundraising can work particularly well for organizations whose supporters are spread across different cities or communities.

Virtual Fundraising

A fundraiser does not always require a physical venue.

Organizations can run virtual campaigns connected to online activities, challenges, performances, classes or other experiences.

The digital campaign provides the fundraising mechanism while the virtual activity gives supporters a reason to participate.

Keep the concept easy to understand.

A supporter should quickly know what the activity is, what the organization is raising money for and how to participate.

Online Event Ticketing

Event ticketing can also form part of an online fundraising strategy.

Organizations hosting galas, dinners, golf tournaments or community events can allow supporters to purchase tickets or tables online before the event.

This can help the fundraising team understand expected attendance and reduce manual registration work.

For larger fundraising events, digital ticketing can also work alongside auctions, donations and other fundraising activities.

Online Raffles in Canada

Raffles can be an effective fundraising activity, but they are different from ordinary donation campaigns and auctions.

Canadian gaming activities are regulated at the provincial and territorial level, and municipal requirements may also apply.

Depending on the location and structure of the campaign, an organization may need a licence or other permission before operating a raffle or selling tickets online.

Organizations should therefore confirm the requirements that apply to them before launching an online raffle.

Fundraising technology does not replace the organization's responsibility to obtain the necessary permissions.

Start With a Clear Fundraising Goal

Before choosing fundraising software or building a campaign, decide what you want to accomplish.

A measurable goal gives the fundraiser direction.

For example:

Fundraising Goal: CA$15,000

Purpose: Help fund new playground equipment for our school.

A clear goal can make campaign communications stronger because supporters understand exactly what the organization is trying to achieve.

It also gives the fundraising team something meaningful to report throughout the campaign.

Understand Your Supporters

Your audience should influence the structure of your online fundraiser.

A school fundraiser may primarily reach parents, grandparents and local businesses.

A sports club might have players, parents, alumni and community sponsors.

A charity gala may attract long-term donors, corporate supporters and local businesses.

Consider how those people prefer to participate.

Some audiences may respond well to an auction.

Others may prefer direct donations.

A large fundraising event could combine several options.

Understanding the audience helps prevent the organization from adding fundraising activities that supporters are unlikely to use.

Choose the Right Online Fundraising Platform

The fundraising platform becomes the digital home of the campaign.

Organizations should consider more than appearance when choosing one.

Look at the complete supporter experience and how much work the system creates for the fundraising team.

Important considerations include mobile usability, Canadian dollar payments, payment processing, branding, auctions, donations, event ticketing, supporter communications, reporting and customer support.

Also understand how funds reach your organization and what platform or payment-processing fees may apply.

The best fundraising platform is not necessarily the one with the longest feature list.

It is the one that supports the activities your organization actually plans to run.

Make the Campaign Mobile-Friendly

Many supporters will discover an online fundraiser on their phones.

They might open an email, see a social post or scan a QR code at an event.

The mobile experience therefore matters.

Campaign information should be easy to read without excessive scrolling.

Buttons should be easy to identify.

Auction photographs should display clearly.

Donation and checkout processes should not contain unnecessary steps.

GalaBid campaigns work through a web browser, meaning supporters do not need to download an app before participating.

This can be particularly useful at an event where someone may be discovering the fundraiser for the first time.

Tell Supporters What Their Contribution Will Support

Digital tools can make it easier to collect money, but technology cannot replace a clear fundraising message.

Explain why the campaign matters.

Tell supporters what the organization wants to accomplish and how the money will be used.

Instead of:

Help us reach our goal.

Consider something more specific:

Help us raise CA$10,000 to provide new equipment for our youth sports program.

Specific messaging gives supporters context.

Use information your organization can support rather than creating impact claims simply because they sound impressive.

Create a Simple Campaign Experience

Do not make supporters search for the action you want them to take.

If donations are the primary goal, make the donation option clear.

If the fundraiser is built around an auction, make it easy to find the auction catalogue.

If supporters need event tickets, they should quickly understand where to purchase them.

A campaign can include several fundraising activities, but each option should have a clear purpose.

More features do not automatically create a better fundraiser.

Simplicity can be more useful than giving supporters too many choices.

Promote Your Online Fundraiser

Publishing a campaign does not automatically bring supporters to it.

Promotion remains an important part of online fundraising.

Use the communication channels your organization already has.

Email existing supporters. Share the fundraiser through appropriate social channels. Include campaign information in newsletters. Ask volunteers and sponsors to help spread the message. Use QR codes at physical events when appropriate.

Plan several communications throughout the campaign rather than announcing the fundraiser once.

Different supporters may see the campaign at different times.

Use QR Codes at In-Person Events

QR codes can connect a physical fundraising event directly with an online campaign.

Place them where supporters naturally need access.

A QR code could appear at registration, on dinner tables, beside auction items, on event signage or on presentation screens.

A supporter scans the code and opens the campaign on their phone.

Make it clear what the QR code does.

If it opens the auction catalogue, say so.

If it opens the main fundraising campaign, make that clear as well.

Do not make guests guess where a code will take them.

Keep Supporters Engaged

An online fundraiser should remain visible after launch.

Campaign updates can give supporters a reason to return.

Share progress toward the fundraising goal.

Highlight auction items.

Remind supporters when an event is approaching.

Let bidders know when the auction is nearing its close.

For digital auctions, outbid notifications can also give supporters an opportunity to return and continue bidding.

Communication should help people participate rather than overwhelm them.

Online Fundraising and Canadian Donation Receipts

Registered charities in Canada need to consider Canada Revenue Agency requirements when issuing official donation receipts.

Not every payment made through an online fundraising campaign automatically qualifies as a charitable gift.

A straightforward eligible donation may qualify when the applicable requirements are satisfied.

However, transactions can become more complicated when the supporter receives something in return.

This can happen with event tickets, auction purchases and other fundraising activities.

The CRA refers to the value a donor receives as an advantage.

The value of that advantage can affect whether an official

Here’s a stronger CTA focused on the GalaBid Canada fundraising platform:

Start Your Online Fundraiser With GalaBid

Ready to bring your fundraising campaign online? GalaBid makes it easy for Canadian charities, non-profits, schools and community organizations to manage donations, auctions, event ticketing and other fundraising activities in one place.

Create a campaign that supporters can access directly from their phones or computers, with no app required.

Start your online fundraising campaign with GalaBid today.