Nonprofit Basics: Fundraising Thermometer
Fundraising campaigns are key for any nonprofit looking to secure donations. But since they often run for days or weeks, supporters need an easy way to see how things are going. Beyond social posts and email updates, a fundraising thermometer gives everyone a clear, exciting visual that keeps momentum high and helps you cross the finish line.
What is a fundraising thermometer?
A fundraising thermometer is a visual tool that tracks your progress toward a campaign goal. Whether it’s a physical poster at an event or a digital graphic on your website that updates automatically, it gives donors a quick, exciting look at how far you’ve come, and how close you are to crossing the finish line.
Fundraising Thermometer FAQs
When can you use a fundraising thermometer?
Fundraising thermometers make great additions to almost any campaign. Here are a few places where they really shine:
- Auctions and galas. These events bring together generous donors who are ready to give. Maximize auction fundraising by displaying a thermometer that encourages bigger gifts. You can also add a matching gift challenge to boost your total.
- Crowdfunding campaigns. In crowdfunding campaigns, nonprofits set up fundraising pages and spread the word across web pages and social media. Adding a thermometer gives potential donors a live look at your progress, prompting them to chip in and help reach the next target.
- GivingTuesday campaigns. GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Because excitement builds quickly over 24 hours, a thermometer shows real-time progress and encourages people to give before time runs out.
- Challenge matches. When a major donor or corporate partner agrees to match all donations to a nonprofit for a set period or up to a specific dollar amount, a fundraising thermometer helps track progress toward that match goal.
- Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. When supporters create personal pages to raise money from friends and family, tracking total progress can be tricky. A shared thermometer brings all those efforts together so everyone can see the big picture.
Thermometers add a friendly, engaging visual to almost any campaign. Whether your event is online or in person, using one helps turn interest into action.
Where can you display a fundraising thermometer?
Depending on your campaign style, you can place your thermometer online, in person, or both. Here are a few great spots to try:
- Your website. Feature the thermometer on your homepage or campaign page. Visitors will instantly see that a fundraiser is underway and how close you are to your goal.
- Your social media channels. Share quick updates on social media featuring a fresh image of your tracker. It keeps followers in the loop and gives them a reason to rally around the next milestone.
- Your email newsletters. Add the graphic near the top of your campaign emails. It catches the eye and links back to your donation page so readers can easily take action.
- Your event venue. For live events, set up a big visual and update it throughout the night. Celebrating new totals out loud is a great way to thank supporters and build energy.
- Your main office. Keeping a physical or digital tracker at headquarters motivates staff and volunteers by showing the impact of their hard work every day.
No matter where you put it, a thermometer makes progress clear at a glance. You can go with a simple static image or an interactive visual, depending on what works best for you.
How can you create a fundraising thermometer?
Creating a fundraising thermometer is straightforward, whether you want a digital or hands-on option. Here are three simple options:
- Try a free tool like Bloomerang’s fundraising thermometer template. These graphics are quick to make and look great in email newsletters.
- Design a custom graphic using Canva or Adobe Illustrator. You can update the design as donations come in, or even create an animated version that fills up online.
- Draw a poster by hand and fill it in with markers or colored tape. This fun, casual style is perfect for community spaces or internal team tracking.
Putting together a thermometer takes very little effort, but the payoff in engagement and extra support is huge. Give it a try for your next campaign!
Wrapping Up
Fundraising thermometers are fantastic motivators. By showing real-time progress, they create excitement and urgency that encourage supporters to step up and help reach the goal.
For the best outcome, keep your visuals fresh during big moments in your campaign. Teaming your thermometer with time-sensitive matching gift challenges is another great way to spark donor momentum from start to finish.
Additional Resources
- How to Get Sponsors for an Event: A Fundraiser’s Guide: Discover strategies for securing corporate event sponsorships.
- The Major Gift Officer’s Guide to Challenge Matches: Learn how to leverage lead donors and structure challenge matches to boost campaign momentum.
- Marketing Matching Gifts in Your Donation Process: Learn how to effectively promote matching gift programs throughout your donor journey.
