Welcome to Firstgiving! We’re really looking forward to working with you and sharing our online fundraising expertise.  Whether you have an annual fundraising event or you’re mobilizing a community of grassroots supporters, we’re here to help you with the tools and expertise to exceed your online fundraising goals.

We’ve helped thousands of nonprofits, large and small, raise over $100 million online since 2003, and we’re constantly impressed and inspired by the amazing ways nonprofits, fundraisers, and donors work together to do good.

If you’re new to Firstgiving, we’d like to help you get started with a list of ‘Steps to Success’ – the best tips gathered from the thousands of nonprofits using Firstgiving to raise money online.  With a little effort, you’ll see incredible results.  Click the links below to find out more.

Firstgiving’s nonprofit fundraising steps to success:

Step 1: Hit the ground running

• Learn: Where to go to sign in to your Firstgiving nonprofit account
• Prepare: Download an event planning guide
• Get inspired: Read a Firstgiving case study

Step 2: Customize your Firstgiving branded nonprofit page

• Learn: Watch our 8-minute tutorial on how to customize your branded nonprofit page
• Prepare:Use the event planning guide to set due dates for your staff
• Get inspired: See great examples of branded nonprofit pages

Step 3: Add your event

• Learn: See step-by-step instructions on how to add your event to your branded nonprofit page
• Prepare: Create your own fundraising page for the event, and ask your staff and board to do the same
• Get inspired: See some great examples of other nonprofit events

Step 4: Use your email management tools

• Learn: Watch our tutorial on how to add additional users to your account
• Prepare: Customize the message donors receive by email with IRS tax-compliant language and matching gift information
• Get inspired: See some great examples of thank-you messages

Step 5: Get the word out

• Learn: Recruit fundraisers by publicizing your Firstgiving nonprofit page and event online and offline
• Prepare: Know what’s in your account reporting area before the donations come rolling in
• Get inspired: See examples of how other nonprofits connect their fundraisers online and offline

Step 6: Get more out of Firstgiving

• Learn: How to set up electronic funds transfer (EFT)
• Prepare: Engage with your community online and optimize matching gifts
• Get inspired: See examples of how other nonprofits have taken their online fundraising to the next level

Step 7: Fundraising beyond your event

• Learn: Advice from Firstgiving’s free monthly webinar series
• Prepare: Follow up and maintain relationships with past and current fundraisers
• Get inspired: Follow our weekly “Best Practice in Action” email series to see how other nonprofits use Firstgiving for fundraising success.