Think about the last time you made a purchase. Did you pull out cash? Write a check? Or did you tap your phone, click a button online, or use a saved electronic payment method to complete your purchase in seconds?
In this day and age, paying with a mobile device or digital wallet has become second nature. Convenience is no longer a bonus, it’s an expectation. Whether ordering dinner, shopping for groceries, or supporting a fundraiser, people want payment options that are quick, secure, and easy to use.
So…what does that mean for product fundraising exactly? It means that while supporters still love purchasing products to help a cause and/or person they care about, how they pay has changed.
At Mayshine®, we believe fundraising should meet supporters where they are while still preserving the personal connections that make product fundraising so meaningful. Understanding today’s payment trends can help group leaders create a smoother buying experience, reach more supporters, and remove barriers that might otherwise keep someone from completing a purchase.
Let’s explore how digital wallets, contactless giving, and other payment trends are shaping fundraising and how your group can benefit from them.
Fundraising Has Changed and So Have Supporters
Traditional fundraising has always been built on relationships. Students visit neighbors. Parents ask coworkers. Friends support friends. Community members rally behind local organizations. That part hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the way supporters prefer to complete a purchase once they’ve decided to help. Years ago, fundraisers relied primarily on cash or check payments. Today, those payment methods are becoming less and less common. Many households carry very little cash, and people rarely write checks. Instead, they expect to pay digitally.
When your fundraiser offers convenient ways to purchase and pay, you’re making it easier for supporters to act on their intentions. Sometimes the difference between a completed order and a missed opportunity is simply how easy it is to check out.
Convenience Drives Participation
Think about your own experiences. Have you ever intended to buy something but decided not to because the checkout process felt complicated? Supporters experience the same thing during fundraisers. Even people who genuinely want to help can get distracted or postpone their purchase if it requires extra steps.
Convenience matters because it reduces friction. When supporters can browse products, place an order, and complete payment in just a few minutes, they’re more likely to follow through. This doesn’t mean people care less about your cause. It just means they appreciate an experience that fits naturally into their busy lives.
What Are Digital Wallets?
You may have heard of Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, Samsung Wallet®, or other mobile payment services. These are examples of digital wallets. Rather than entering payment information each time they make a purchase, users securely store their payment methods on their phone or device. With just a few taps, they can complete transactions quickly.
While supporters may not think much about the technology behind these tools, they do notice how simple the experience feels. And simplicity is what will increase participation in your fundraiser.
Contactless Payments Continue to Grow
The popularity of contactless payments has increased significantly over the past several years. Many consumers now expect businesses, organizations, and online services to offer contactless payment options whenever possible. For fundraising, this trend offers several advantages:
- Reduces the need for handling cash.
- Speeds up the checkout process.
- Increases convenience for supporters.
- Provides a secure payment experience.
- Limits the responsibility/expectations of sellers and parents.
While traditional payment methods still have their place, offering digital payment options helps meet the expectations of today’s supporters and can even take some tasks off your plate.
The Value of an Online Store
One of the easiest ways to expand your fundraiser is by choosing a partner that offers an online store option for your fundraiser. Online stores provide simple, convenient shopping experiences that complement traditional order taking. Rather than relying solely on paper order forms, supporters can browse products, place orders, and pay online from virtually anywhere.
Making the Most of the Group Leader Portal
Technology doesn’t just benefit supporters; it helps group leaders, too.
Mayshine®’s online store provides a Group Leader Portal designed with your needs in mind. Our platform offers valuable tools that help simplify fundraiser management. Through the Group Leader Portal, you can monitor sales progress, track participation, submit your group’s final order tally, and stay informed throughout the campaign all in one convenient place.
This visibility makes it easier to celebrate milestones, encourage participation, and communicate updates throughout the fundraiser. Having access to real-time information also helps reduce stress and keeps everyone focused on reaching the group’s goal.
Personalized Seller Links Expand Your Reach
One of the most valuable features of the Mayshine® online store is each participant’s personalized selling link. Instead of being limited to face-to-face interactions, sellers can easily share their fundraiser through:
- Text messages
- Family group chats
- Other social platforms
This allows supporters who live across town—or across the country—to participate just as easily as someone next door.
However, before you send your sellers out to promote your fundraiser to people all over the country, check to see if your group is responsible for delivering the products or if there are add-on, ship-to-home options available. This may impact who you want to share your online store with. Also, be sure to share this information with your group upfront to avoid any potential misunderstandings.
Mobile Shopping Fits Busy Lives
Today’s supporters are constantly on the move. They may browse your fundraiser while waiting in line at the grocery store. They might place an order during their lunch break. Or they may purchase products while watching their child’s sporting event.
Mobile-friendly fundraising allows supporters to participate when it’s convenient for them. And meeting supporters where they already are creates a better overall experience.
Reducing Barriers Means More Opportunities
Every extra step in the purchasing process creates an opportunity for someone to stop before completing an order.
- Maybe they planned to write a check later.
- Maybe they forgot the order form at work.
- Maybe they intended to order once they got home.
Sometimes “later” never comes.
Digital payment options help remove those barriers. Instead of remembering to come back later, supporters can purchase immediately while they’re thinking about it. That convenience often leads to stronger fundraising results.
Security Builds Confidence
Whenever people make purchases online, security matters. Supporters want to be confident that their payment and personal information is handled carefully and safely. While many consumers are comfortable shopping online, they still want reassurance that the checkout process is safe, secure, and easy to navigate.
Partnering with a company that utilizes a trusted online platform helps provide that peace of mind. When supporters recognize that they’re purchasing through a professional, secure system, they’re more likely to complete their order without hesitation. A smooth checkout experience also builds confidence in your fundraiser as a whole, reflecting positively on both your organization and the fundraising program you’re representing.
As a group leader, you don’t need to be a technology expert or need to be able to explain the technical details behind online payment security. Instead, focus on helping participants feel comfortable answering basic questions from supporters. If someone asks whether it’s safe to order online, sellers can confidently explain that the online store is designed to provide a secure way to browse products, place orders, and pay electronically.
It’s also helpful to remind participants to share only their official Mayshine® online store link when promoting the fundraiser. Using the unique seller link provided through the fundraising platform helps ensure supporters are directed to the correct place to shop and complete their purchase. This not only creates a better customer experience but also helps avoid confusion.
Helping Participants Use Digital Tools Confidently
Some participants will naturally embrace online selling. Others may need a little encouragement. As a group leader, take time during your kick-off meeting to demonstrate various aspects of your online store, such as…
- How sellers can access their personalized fundraising link.
- How to share the link through text or email.
- The process supporters will go through to place online orders.
- Where to find answers if questions come up.
A few minutes of instruction can help participants feel much more confident using these tools throughout the fundraiser which, in turn, will make them more confident when encouraging potential supporters to do the same.
Why Product Fundraising Still Works
Technology has changed payment methods, but it hasn’t changed why people participate in fundraising. Supporters still enjoy purchasing products they can use, share, or enjoy with family. Product fundraising continues to succeed because it offers something tangible in return for supporting a cause.
Whether someone is purchasing pastries, cookie dough, pizza, or cake rolls, they aren’t simply donating. They’re supporting a student, organization, or community while receiving products they genuinely want. Modern payment options simply make that experience easier.
Don’t Forget the Personal Connection
As helpful as technology can be, it’s important not to lose sight of what makes fundraising successful. People don’t support your fundraiser because it’s online; they support it because they believe in your group. That’s why personal outreach remains one of your most valuable tools.
Encourage participants to:
- Tell their story.
- Explain what they’re raising money for.
- Thank supporters personally.
- Follow up after purchases.
Technology should support relationships—not replace them.
The Future of Fundraising Is Flexible
One thing is becoming increasingly clear: successful fundraisers aren’t choosing between traditional methods and digital tools. They’re using both.
Students still talk to neighbors. Parents still reach out to coworkers. Families still share products they love.
Now they simply have more ways to connect supporters with those products. That flexibility allows every participant to sell in the way that’s most comfortable for them.
Bringing It All Together
Payment trends will continue to evolve, and new technology will continue to emerge. But one thing will remain constant: people want simple, convenient ways to support causes they care about.
By embracing digital payment options, encouraging online ordering, and taking advantage of tools like the Mayshine® online store, the Group Leader Portal, and personalized seller links, you can create a fundraising experience that’s easier for participants, more convenient for supporters, and simpler to manage from beginning to end.
At the same time, remember that the heart of product fundraising hasn’t changed. The most successful campaigns are still built on meaningful conversations, strong relationships, and a shared purpose. When you combine those personal connections with today’s digital tools, you create a fundraising experience that fits with today’s modern lifestyles without losing what matters most. That’s the kind of experience supporters remember and the kind that helps your group reach its goals.
