Fundraising Blog

Fundraising Glossary: Key Terms for Nonprofits in 2025

Author:
Peter Hair
-
Fundraising technology expert, Co-Founder of GalaBid
Updated:
9/25/2023

In the ever-evolving world of nonprofit fundraising, staying familiar with key terminology is essential for success.

Whether you're organizing a gala, online auction, or hybrid event, understanding fundraising terms can help you communicate effectively with donors, partners, and your team.

This comprehensive fundraising glossary for 2025 breaks down essential terms every non-profit should know.

Plus, we’ll highlight how GalaBid simplifies many of these processes with its all-in-one fundraising platform.

📊 A – C: Analytics, Campaigns, and Compliance

Analytics

Data insights and performance metrics used to track fundraising success, such as total funds raised, donor participation, and bid activity.


GalaBid Feature: Real-time analytics dashboards for campaign performance.

Annual Giving

Donations collected from supporters on a yearly basis, often for general operational support.

Appeal

A direct request for donations, often included in marketing campaigns or during fundraising events.

Auction (Silent Auction)

A fundraising event where supporters bid on items or experiences, either in-person or online, with the highest bid winning the item.


GalaBid Feature: Mobile bidding for silent auctions with automated bid notifications.

Campaign Health Check

A professional review of a fundraising campaign's setup and performance to ensure maximum results.


GalaBid Feature: Built-in campaign health checks for optimal event setup.

Charity Auction

An auction held specifically for charitable causes, often involving donated or consignment items.

Compliance (PCI Compliance)

Adherence to security standards to protect payment data during transactions.
GalaBid Feature: PCI-compliant payment processing for secure donor transactions.

🎟️ D – G: Donor Management, Gamification, and Gift Matching

Direct Donation

A one-time or recurring financial contribution made directly to a nonprofit with or without attending an event.


GalaBid Feature: Custom donation pages with flexible payment options.

Donor Management System (DMS)

A platform that helps nonprofits track donor information, giving history, and communication preferences.

Donor Engagement

The strategies and tactics used to keep donors involved and connected with a nonprofit's mission.

Fundraising Gamification

The use of game-like elements to drive donor engagement, such as leaderboards, progress bars, and donation thermometers.


GalaBid Feature: Live leaderboards and real-time donation thermometers for events.

Gift Matching

A corporate giving program where companies match donations made by their employees.

📈 H – L: Hybrid Events, Live Auctions, and Leaderboards

Hybrid Fundraiser

A fundraising event that combines both in-person and virtual participation, allowing remote supporters to engage alongside physical attendees.


GalaBid Feature: Seamless hybrid event tools, including mobile bidding and ticketing.

Impact Report

A summary of how funds raised during a campaign were used and the impact they made.

In-Kind Donation

Non-monetary contributions such as products or services donated to support a fundraising event.

Leaderboard

A dynamic display showing top donors, highest bidders, or fundraising milestones in real time.


GalaBid Feature: Real-time leaderboards for donor recognition, progress to a target and latest activities including new bids and donations.  

Live Auction

An auction where a host or auctioneer facilitates bidding on items in real time, often held as part of a gala dinner or in-person event.


GalaBid Feature: Supports live auctions with mobile bidding for remote audience participation.

💳 M – P: Mobile Bidding, Peer-to-Peer, and Pledges

Matching Gift

A corporate giving program where an organization matches employee donations, often doubling the impact of a gift.

Mobile Bidding

A feature that allows supporters to place bids on auction items using their smartphones or tablets.
GalaBid Feature: Mobile bidding with instant notifications and outbid alerts.

Nonprofit CRM (Constituent Relationship Management)

A software system used by nonprofits to manage donor relationships and track giving history.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising (P2P)

A fundraising strategy where supporters create their own fundraising pages and encourage their networks to donate.

Pledge

A commitment to donate a specified amount at a later date.

Progress Bar

A visual element showing how close a fundraising campaign is to reaching its goal.


GalaBid Feature: Real-time progress bars for donation milestones.

🎁 Q – T: QR Codes, Ticketing, and Tax Receipts

QR Code (Quick Response Code)

A scannable code that directs supporters to a fundraising page for easy ticket purchases, donations, or bidding.


GalaBid Feature: Built-in QR codes for ticketing and donation pages.

Recurring Donations

Ongoing monthly or annual contributions made by a donor.


GalaBid Feature: Built-in support for recurring donations.

Silent Auction

An auction where attendees bid on items privately using digital platforms or paper forms.


GalaBid Feature: Mobile-friendly silent auction tools with automated notifications.

Sponsorship

A business or individual that provides financial support or services in exchange for visibility during a fundraising event or other promotional opportunities.

Ticketing System

A platform used to sell and manage tickets for fundraising events.


GalaBid Feature: Customizable ticketing system with mobile check-in and tiered pricing.

Tax Receipt

A document provided to donors for tax deduction purposes.


GalaBid Feature: Automated tax receipt generation for donors

📊 U – Z: Upselling, Virtual Events, and Donor Stewardship

Upselling

Encouraging additional donations or higher-tier ticket purchases during the donation or ticketing process.


GalaBid Feature: Customizable add-ons for donations during ticket sales.

Virtual Fundraiser

A completely online fundraising event where all aspects, including auctions, raffles, and donations, occur digitally.


GalaBid Feature: Comprehensive tools for virtual auctions, raffles, and ticketing.

Volunteer Management

The process of organizing and communicating with event volunteers.

Winning Bid

The highest bid placed on an auction item when the bidding closes.

🎯 Why Use GalaBid for Your Fundraising in 2025?

GalaBid simplifies the entire fundraising process by offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed for modern nonprofits:

All-in-One Platform: Auctions, raffles, event ticketing, and donations in one place.
Mobile-First Design: Bidding, donating, and ticketing available on any device.
Real-Time Analytics: Track donor activity, bids, and fundraising progress live.
Transparent Pricing: No upfront costs with donor-covered fee options.
Secure Payments: PCI-compliant payment processing.
Expert Support: Live chat support and campaign health checks.

📢 Ready to Elevate Your Fundraising Efforts?

👉 Come and join the GalaBid community!

Simplify your events, raise more, and engage donors like never before with GalaBid’s all-in-one fundraising platform.

About GalaBid

Ideal for donations. Perfect for Raffles. Awesome for Live and Silent Auctions! GalaBid’s online fundraising platform is designed for fundraisers of all types and sizes. For over 10 years we’ve been helping non-profits, charities, community clubs, churches, schools, and individuals to raise more and make a difference.

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