Fundraising is rarely just fundraising. You are also managing a timeline, a group of busy people, and a goal that matters to your community. Picking the wrong format does not just slow things down — it adds friction you did not plan for.
SignUpGenius Fundraisers gives you four ways to collect money, and each one is built for a different situation. This guide walks through what makes each format work, who it is best for, and what to think about before you start building.
Donation Drive
A donation drive is the most direct format: you set a goal, share a link, and people give what they can. There are no tickets to buy, no products to choose, and no schedule to coordinate around. The barrier to giving is as low as it gets.
This format works well when the cause itself is the motivation. A class gift for a teacher, a memorial fund, an end-of-year school appeal — these do not need extras. They need a clear goal and an easy way to contribute.
Best for:
One-time campaigns with a defined goal amount
Causes where the story does the work (teacher appreciation, community hardship, memorial gifts)
Groups where participants have varying budgets and open-contribution amounts feel right
A donation drive succeeds when people know why they are giving. Before you launch, make sure you have a short, specific description of what the money will do. "Help us reach $500 for new classroom books" is stronger than "Support our school." A live progress bar updates in real time, which helps create momentum as contributions come in.
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Not every fundraiser works the same way. Here is how to figure out which format fits your goal, your group, and the way people are most likely to give.
Genius Tip
Add two or three suggested giving amounts to your donation drive. Most donors will pick from what you offer rather than entering their own number — and suggested amounts tend to increase average gift size without any extra effort on your part.
Verified nonprofits get an extra layer of trust on their page: a badge that signals legitimacy and triggers automatic tax-deductible receipts for donors. If your organization qualifies, the verification step is worth doing before you launch.
Ticketed Event
A ticketed event is the right format when money and attendance are connected. Someone pays, they get a ticket, and that ticket gets them in the door. This format handles the entire flow: online sales, QR code tickets sent automatically to buyers, and door check-in from a mobile app.
The difference between a ticketed event and a simple donation is coordination. You are not just collecting money — you are managing capacity, tracking who is coming, and sometimes collecting additional information like meal choice or t-shirt size. The ticketed event format handles all of that in one place.
Best for:
School carnivals, galas, community dinners, and fundraising nights out
Events with limited capacity where you need to know headcount
Any event where you need to collect attendee details alongside payment
In-person sales at the door for last-minute buyers
What to think about first:
Before you build your event page, know your capacity. Set a ticket limit so you do not oversell. If you are offering different ticket types — adults versus children, VIP versus general admission — set those up as separate ticket options with their own prices and quantities.
Think about what information you need from attendees beyond their name and email. Meal selections, accessibility needs, and waiver agreements can all be collected at checkout so you are not sending a separate form afterward.
No more clipboard check-in
QR code tickets go out automatically when someone buys. At the door, scan them with the mobile app for fast, paper-free check-in. You can also accept last-minute in-person sales by card on the same device.
Automatic reminders go out to ticket holders in the days before the event, which helps with follow-through and reduces no-shows. You do not have to set those up manually.
Recurring Giving
Recurring giving is for groups that need steady, predictable support over time rather than a one-time push. A donor commits once — monthly, quarterly, or annually — and the contributions come in automatically after that. No repeat asks, no manual tracking, no reminders to send.
This format works best when you have a community of supporters who are already bought in and want an easy way to keep giving. It is common in faith communities, nonprofits with annual campaigns, and sports programs that rely on ongoing parent contributions.
Best for:
Nonprofits running annual giving programs
Faith communities collecting regular tithes or general support
School foundations with monthly giving circles
Any campaign where you want to convert one-time donors into repeat supporters
What to think about first:
Recurring giving requires a little more trust from the donor than a one-time gift. Make it clear up front what they are committing to: the frequency, the amount, and how they can cancel or adjust if needed. Transparency here protects the organizer's reputation and reduces payment disputes.
If you are running a campaign that combines one-time and recurring options, you can offer both on the same page. A donor who wants to give $50 once and a donor who wants to give $10 every month can both complete their gift from the same link.
Genius Tip
Frame recurring giving around what the contribution makes possible over time, not just what it costs per month. "Your $10 a month helps fund three classroom projects a year" lands differently than "$10/month."
Product Sale
A product sale is fundraising through purchases. People buy something — spirit wear, baked goods, candles, custom merch — and the revenue goes toward your goal. This format works when your group responds better to getting something than to giving outright.
The product sale format handles inventory by item and variation, online and in-person checkout, shipping options, and discount codes. It is a full e-commerce experience without requiring any e-commerce expertise.
Best for:
Spirit wear and merchandise campaigns
Holiday or seasonal product sales (cookie dough, gift wrap, wreaths)
Any fundraiser where a tangible product makes giving feel more accessible
Groups where straight donation asks feel awkward
What to think about first:
Product sales require more setup than a donation drive. Before you build, make sure you know what you are selling, how many of each item you have (or are ordering), what variations exist (sizes, colors), and how buyers will get their orders — pickup, local delivery, or shipping.
Inventory tracking prevents overselling, so take the time to set quantities accurately for each item and variation. If you are running a pre-sale where you order based on demand, you can set the sale to close on a specific date and pull your numbers before placing the order.
Sell online and in person from the same page
Accept online orders before the event and walk-up purchases at the door with a card reader or Tap on Mobile. Everything tracks in one place, so you always know where you stand.
Still deciding? Here is how the four formats stack up across the factors that tend to matter most.
Format
Best When
Setup Complexity
Typical Timeline
Donation Drive
The cause motivates giving on its own
Low
Days to weeks
Ticketed Event
Attendance and payment are tied together
Medium
Weeks to months
Recurring Giving
You need steady support over time
Low to medium
Ongoing
Product Sale
A tangible item makes giving easier
Medium to high
Weeks
If you are still unsure, start with the simplest format that fits your goal. A donation drive with a clear goal and a strong description will outperform a complicated product sale that took three weeks to set up. You can always add complexity in future campaigns once you know what your group responds to.
Real-Time Goal Tracking
Every fundraiser includes a live progress bar so donors can see momentum build. Watching a goal fill creates its own motivation to give.
Donors see exactly what the processing fees are before they give. No surprises, no awkward tipping prompts. Your organization's reputation stays intact.
Can I use more than one fundraiser format for the same campaign? Yes. You might run a donation drive alongside a product sale, or offer both one-time and recurring giving options on the same page. SignUpGenius Fundraisers lets you build the combination that fits your campaign rather than locking you into a single format.
Do donors or buyers need a SignUpGenius account to contribute? No. Contributors, ticket buyers, and shoppers can complete their transactions without creating an account. That removes friction for your group and means fewer people drop off mid-checkout.
What are the processing fees, and who pays them? Processing fees are shown transparently at checkout. You can choose to pass the fees to contributors so your organization keeps the full amount collected. Donors see the exact fee before completing their transaction.
Can I collect waivers or attendee information alongside payment? Yes. Ticketed events and product sales both support custom forms at checkout. You can collect anything from meal preferences to signed waivers in the same step as payment, so you are not sending a separate form afterward.
Can I run the same fundraiser again next year? Yes. You can duplicate past campaigns, which carries over your settings, ticket types, and product listings. You update what needs to change and launch without rebuilding from scratch.
What if I am not sure which format to choose before I start? Start simple. A donation drive requires the least setup and works for most one-time goals. You can always run a more structured campaign once you have a feel for how your group responds to online giving.
Is there a free plan that includes Fundraisers? Yes. Fundraisers, including peer-to-peer fundraising, are available on all plans including free. Some features, like advanced reporting and removing ads, are available on paid plans. See the pricing page for details.
How to Set Up a Fundraiser on SignUpGenius
A step-by-step walkthrough for creating your first fundraiser, from choosing a format to sharing your link.
