Your Guide to Digital Fundraising Campaigns and the Shop to Support Marketplace on GroupRaise
At GroupRaise, we’re always working on ways to make fundraising easier, more flexible, and more rewarding for organizations and their supporters. Whether you’re raising money for a school, sports team, nonprofit, or community project, we know how important it is to have simple, effective tools to reach your goals.
That’s why today we want to talk about two powerful options you have on GroupRaise for raising funds:
- Digital Fundraising Campaigns
- The Shop to Support Marketplace
If you’re not quite sure how these work or how they’re different, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This article breaks down what each option is, how they work, how supporters can get involved, and how organizations can benefit from both, often at the same time.
What Are Digital Fundraising Campaigns?
Let’s start with one of the most popular fundraising tools on GroupRaise — Digital Fundraising Campaigns.
These are online product-based fundraisers that organizations can sign up for with popular brands like Krispy Kreme, Regal, Dave & Buster’s, and more. When your group runs a Digital Fundraising Campaign, you select a fundraising window (a start and end date). During that time, you promote your campaign link to your community, and supporters purchase the featured product through your custom campaign page.
Every qualifying sale earns a percentage back for your cause.
How It Works for Organizations:
- Sign up for a campaign through your GroupRaise account.
- Pick your fundraising dates.
- Promote your campaign link via email, social media, text, or however you prefer.
- Track your sales and funds raised in real-time from your GroupRaise dashboard.
- After the campaign ends, you receive your donation based on the total sales.
How It Works for Supporters:
- Receive a campaign link from an organization you support.
- Purchase the featured product online.
- A portion of the purchase is donated to the cause.
What Is the Shop to Support Marketplace?
Now, let’s talk about the Shop to Support Marketplace, one of the latest and most exciting additions to GroupRaise’s fundraising platform.
Unlike Digital Fundraising Campaigns, which have a set start and end date, the Shop to Support Marketplace is always open. It offers a wide range of give-back products that supporters can purchase year-round.
When a supporter makes a purchase through the Shop to Support marketplace, a percentage of their purchase is donated back to that cause.
How It Works for Organizations:
- Your Shop to Support Marketplace is automatically activated when you register on GroupRaise.
- Share your marketplace link anytime, even if you’re not running a Digital Fundraising Campaign.
- Earn donations year-round as supporters shop.
How It Works for Supporters:
- Visit the Shop to Support Marketplace.
- Browse and purchase any of the available give-back products.
- A portion of each sale supports the organization, no campaign required.
Learn more about the marketplace here.
Key Differences Between Digital Fundraising Campaigns and the Shop to Support Marketplace
While both options are designed to help organizations raise funds through product sales, there are some important differences to keep in mind. Let’s break them down:
| Feature | Digital Fundraising Campaign | Shop to Support Marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Has a start and end date | ✔️ Yes | ❌ No (open year-round) |
| Focused on one product/brand | ✔️ Yes (e.g., Krispy Kreme Dozens) | ❌ No (multiple brands & products) |
| Requires to launch a campaign | ✔️ Yes | ❌ No |
| Supporters can shop anytime | ❌ Only during the campaign window | ✔️ Yes |
| Great for time-sensitive pushes | ✔️ Yes | ❌ Better for ongoing passive fundraising |
Can You Use Both at the Same Time? Absolutely.
One of the most powerful things about GroupRaise’s platform is that Digital Fundraising Campaigns and the Shop to Support Marketplace don’t compete with each other — they complement each other.
For example:
A community center might be running a Regal Fundraising Campaign this week, promoting it heavily to boost sales before the campaign ends.
At the same time, they can remind supporters that their Shop to Support Marketplace is open 24/7, so even if someone isn’t in the mood to go to the movies, they can pick up other treats or gifts and still support the center.
This way, you’re giving your supporters more options, more flexibility, and more ways to stay involved with your cause.
Answering Common Questions
Q: Can supporters shop the Marketplace during an active Digital Fundraising Campaign?
A: Yes! Both options work simultaneously. Supporters can choose to purchase from your active campaign or browse your marketplace at the same time.
Q: How do I promote both options without confusing my supporters?
A: Great question! When promoting your Digital Fundraising Campaign, focus on its urgency and the featured product. Separately, remind your community that your Shop to Support Marketplace is always open for those who want other options.
Give Your Supporters More Ways to Give Back
Fundraising doesn’t have to be a one-time, seasonal effort anymore. With GroupRaise’s Digital Fundraising Campaigns and the Shop to Support Marketplace, you have two reliable, easy-to-use tools to keep your fundraising moving all year long.
Use Digital Campaigns for those big fundraising pushes, and keep your Marketplace open for consistent, ongoing support. It’s a simple way to meet your supporters where they are and make it easier for them to give back in the way that works for them.
