Analyzing Media Trends in Fundraising

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼? 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. As 2025 kicks off, I’ve been reflecting on trends in 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 and how video content is evolving. Here are my top predictions for how nonprofits will use video to drive their missions forward this year: 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 Supporters want to see exactly how their contributions make an impact. Behind-the-scenes videos, day-in-the-life stories, and progress updates will become essential tools for nonprofits to build trust and deepen donor relationships. 2️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 The short-form craze isn’t going anywhere, but we’re seeing a shift back toward longer, more in-depth content—especially for engaged audiences. Instagram extending reels to 3 minutes to compete with TikTok is just one sign that longer storytelling is making a comeback. 3️⃣ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳 Nonprofits will see better ROI by tailoring video content to specific donor segments. Peer-to-peer fundraising will embrace personalized video messaging, using the best stories to connect more deeply and drive action. 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Virality is dead. Nonprofits that produce steady, high-quality content will keep their audiences engaged year-round—and drive better results. A single hit video won’t build long-term donor relationships, but consistent, meaningful storytelling will. 5️⃣ 𝗔𝗜 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 AI tools will help nonprofits repurpose existing content into new formats, making video creation more accessible for organizations with limited budgets. (But the heart of the story? That will always require real human connection.) 2025 is going to be the year nonprofits take video to the next level. Those who embrace these trends will build stronger connections, drive more donations, and create lasting impact. What trends do you think we’ll see this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Nonprofits relying on the same old “Donate Now” button are getting left behind. Why? Because donor behavior has changed. People don’t just give anymore. They engage, compete, stream, and share. And the smartest fundraisers are meeting them where they are. What’s In? Live-Stream Fundraising Donors spend three times more time watching live videos than pre-recorded ones. Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, if you’re not streaming, you’re invisible. Peer-to-Peer Campaigns Sixty-four percent of donors say they’re more likely to give if a friend asks. Smart organizations empower their supporters to fundraise for them, on social, email, and beyond. Gamification and Challenges Fundraisers using leaderboards, milestones, or team challenges see fifty percent higher participation. People love a little competition, so why not turn giving into a game? What’s Out? Boring Email Appeals – If your donor emails feel like homework, they won’t get read. Include interaction within the email. Static Fundraising Pages – If your donation page looks the same as it did in 2019, you’re losing donors at checkout. One-and-Done Fundraising – If your donors only hear from you when you need money, don’t be surprised when they disappear. The Takeaway Digital fundraising is all about creating experiences. Engage first. Make giving fun. Watch retention and donations skyrocket. Who’s doing this right in 2025? Drop your thoughts below. With purpose and impact, Mario

Traditional fundraising methods alone just don't cut it anymore. The shift in donor behavior, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, means non-profits must embrace digital marketing strategies to stay relevant and impactful. At the heart of these strategies is the digital marketing funnel—an approach common in the corporate world that drives customers from awareness to action. :: Awareness Stage: Capturing attention with targeted social media campaigns, SEO, and engaging content. Think of blog posts or videos that tell your non-profit's success stories. :: Consideration Stage: Deepening engagement with valuable information—email newsletters, webinars, or downloadable resources that resonate with your audience. :: Conversion Stage: Driving action with clear and compelling calls-to-action. Make the donation process as seamless as possible to maximize conversions. Why is this important? As non-profit leaders, we need to adapt to the digital landscape to build robust online presences, attract new donors, and sustain our missions. The future of fundraising is here, and it’s digital. 🌟 Leveraging these tools helps us create meaningful connections, increase our impact, and ensure that our causes continue to thrive in the years to come. #NonProfit #Fundraising #DigitalMarketing #NonProfitMarketing #DonorEngagement