Data-Driven Fundraising: 3 Strategies to Bring Donors Back Every Year

If you attended Bridge Conference 2025, chances are you walked away full of ideas for turning today’s fundraising challenges into opportunities. I had the chance to present alongside Sidney Kushner, executive director of Connecting Champions, in a BridgeTECH session focused on data-driven crowdfunding. Sidney shared how his organization is leveraging innovative technology like Donorbox to effectively engage donors, in turn helping more kids and young adults with cancer pursue their passions. Below are key takeaways from our session that your nonprofit can put into practice.

1. Leverage Real-Time Data to Motivate & Drive Results

Data has the power to turn passive supporters into loyal donors. It can also motivate peer-to-peer fundraisers and crowdfunders who are striving towards a goal. Tech-savvy nonprofits are leveraging live metrics to create a sense of urgency, convey transparency, and spark action. Making progress visible in real-time turns giving into a shared experience, not simply a transaction.

Tips for Implementation:

• Incorporate a goal meter or giving thermometer into your online fundraising page to show progress
• Rank crowdfunding campaigns on a leaderboard to encourage friendly competition and benchmark against peers
• Publicize end dates, especially for event ticket sales or a matching gift opportunity
• Identify which past donors haven’t given yet this year to re-engage them at the right time

Real-World Example:

Connecting Champions’ annual March to Friendship campaign turns March Madness brackets into a charitable cause. Each team captain serves as a crowdfunder, using a personalized report to track donations and measure progress in Google Sheets, updated in real-time with Donorbox’s data through a Zapier integration. Friends and family can also view rankings on a public leaderboard. In 2025, the campaign reached 124% of its goal, funding 173 new mentorships for cancer patients.

2. Run Campaigns That Attract Supporters Year After Year

Sustainable fundraising means keeping supporters engaged long-term, which can be difficult. Crowdfunding can lighten the lift by empowering supporters to spread the word through their own networks. However, your own promotion still matters. Build excitement by announcing the campaign launch, posting regular updates on social media, and including a strong call to action for anyone who’s eager to join in.

Tips for Implementation:

• Make it simple and secure for every generation to give with intuitive checkouts and multiple payment options
• Create an emotional appeal by including photos of field work on donation pages
• Equip crowdfunders with sample social media posts and email copy to spread the word on your behalf
• Follow up with supporters to explain how their recent contributions made a difference

Real-World Example:

All 460 fundraising campaigns that Connecting Champions has created on Donorbox have a specific purpose. Calls to action, suggested donation amounts, and recurring intervals vary based on expected donor behavior. And it works: Their average donation value of $94 is much higher than the average crowdfunding gift of $66. Donors are coming back annually to support March to Friendship, bringing in over $43,000 in 2025, an 11% increase from 2022.

3. Make Branding Cohesive Across Digital Platforms

Brand consistency is non-negotiable for maintaining donor trust. Keep online channels cohesive, especially on conversion-focused pages like event registrations, newsletter sign-ups, or donations. Use similar colors, fonts, and messaging to create a seamless experience that reinforces your mission at every touchpoint.

Tips for Implementation:

• Audit your donor journey to catch and fix any off-brand assets
• Customize online forms to match your brand identity, especially donation forms
• Look for fundraising platforms that integrate with your website CMS or allow you to embed code easily

Real-World Example:

When Connecting Champions redesigned their website with a bright, youthful look, they made sure that even the smallest details reflected their updated branding, including donation forms. And when they create campaign pages for dozens of March to Friendship teams, they use a template that maintains stylistic consistency but still allows for personalization with images and copy.

Putting It All Together

Perpetually successful fundraising campaigns aren’t just creative, but also data-informed and donor-focused. Start by taking a close look at your tech stack and finding ways to securely integrate tools to get a comprehensive picture of results. Then, make select data visible, bringing supporters into the journey so you can celebrate milestones together. With the right tools, it’s easier than ever to turn insights into action and bolster loyalty.

To learn more about Donorbox’s top-rated fundraising platform, visit www.donorbox.org. For more information about Connecting Champions’ mission and impact, visit www.connectingchampions.org.

 

Guest blog by: Sara Guappone is the director of marketing at  Donorbox, a leading fundraising platform designed to help nonprofits raise more donations and retain more donors. Trusted by over 100,000 nonprofits globally, the platform has enabled organizations to raise over $3 billion. In 2025, Donorbox was recognized as the No. 1 fundraising platform by software marketplace G2 and named the global winner of the Tech for Good award by the Global Digital Revolution Awards.