If the thought of getting your board to fundraise makes you wince, you’re not alone. Many nonprofit leaders struggle with engaging board members in meaningful, effective fundraising—especially when members aren’t natural fundraisers or aren’t sure where to start. The good news? You don’t need every board member to be a seasoned solicitor. You just need the right structure, tools, and motivation to turn them into powerful ambassadors.
Enter peer-to-peer fundraising—a proven model that empowers your board to fundraise within their own networks using tools, messaging, and strategies tailored to their comfort level.
At Magic Lamp Consulting, we help nonprofits build board engagement into their fundraising strategy—without awkward asks or vague expectations. Below are five actionable peer-to-peer fundraising models you can implement to elevate your board’s involvement and increase dollars raised.
Best For: Board members active on social media or with large networks
How It Works: Each board member creates a personal fundraising page (using tools like Classy, Givebutter, or even Facebook Fundraisers) where they share why they support your organization. They then share this page with their friends, family, and professional network.
Action Step: Provide a toolkit that includes a sample email, social media captions, key impact stats, and photo/video content they can personalize. Offer a 15-minute onboarding session to help them set up and launch their page.
Best For: High-capacity board members who can make a leadership gift
How It Works: Encourage board members to make a personal contribution, then publicly match donations made by their network up to a certain amount. This incentivizes giving and demonstrates their leadership.
Action Step: Help board members set realistic match goals based on their giving history and capacity. Create a branded graphic for each match campaign to share via email or social media.
Best For: Competitive, social boards or those who enjoy gamification
How It Works: Divide board members into teams and launch a friendly competition to see who can raise the most during a defined campaign period. Add bonus points for creativity, number of donors, or the highest single gift.
Action Step: Set up a leaderboard using online tools like Fundraise Up or Kindful. Send weekly updates and celebrate milestones. Keep it lighthearted, fun, and focused on the mission.
Best For: Board members who prefer personal interactions or hosting
How It Works: Ask board members to host small virtual or in-person gatherings—lunches, coffee chats, or house parties—where they invite friends to learn about your organization. Staff can present, or board members can facilitate a brief mission moment and share their personal involvement.
Action Step: Provide talking points, a sample invitation, and a brief program outline. Offer to send a staff member or client speaker to join them for added impact.
Best For: Low-pressure, feel-good giving tied to personal milestones
How It Works: Encourage board members to dedicate their birthday to your cause. They can request donations in lieu of gifts through social media, email, or a birthday party. It’s authentic, low-pressure, and can introduce your nonprofit to new networks.
Action Step: Set automated reminders a month before each board member’s birthday and provide an easy-to-use guide for launching a birthday fundraiser.
Peer-to-peer fundraising works because it taps into what board members already have: relationships. When equipped with the right tools, support, and encouragement, even the most reluctant fundraisers can become effective advocates.
Here’s what makes these models successful:
At Magic Lamp Consulting, we specialize in helping nonprofits create fundraising strategies that make the most of your internal champions, including your board. We can help you design a peer-to-peer campaign that fits your culture, timeline, and donor base.
Let’s turn your board into a fundraising force.
Need help training or motivating your board? Reach out to Magic Lamp Consulting for a customized peer-to-peer fundraising strategy. Contact us to get started.