If you’ve led a fundraiser in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed a significant shift: the way people fundraise and the way people support causes have changed. Gone are the days when every sale came from knocking on a neighbor’s door or passing around an order form at work.
While those traditional fundraising methods are still valuable, today’s supporters are just as likely to come across your fundraiser through an email, a Facebook post, or a link shared in the family group chat. They want to browse products from their phone, place an order in just a few clicks, and support your group without having to coordinate schedules or exchange cash. The good news is that product fundraising has evolved right along with them.
Today’s tools make it easier than ever to reach supporters beyond your immediate circle while still enjoying the benefits of a traditional product fundraiser. When used thoughtfully, mobile and social media tools can help your group sell more products, simplify the fundraising experience, and make it easier for supporters to say “yes”.
At Mayshine®, we believe technology should enhance fundraising, not replace the personal connections that make it so meaningful. The most successful fundraisers combine the convenience of digital tools with the power of genuine relationships, creating an experience that’s simple, engaging, and rewarding for everyone involved. Whether you’re preparing for your first fundraiser or looking for new ways to expand your group’s reach, here’s some tips on how you can effectively integrate mobile and social media tools into your next product fundraiser.
Why Digital Tools Matter More Than Ever
Think about your own shopping habits. How often do you make purchases from your phone? How frequently do you click a link someone texts you? How many times are you clicking “share” on something interesting you saw on social media? Your supporters and sellers are doing the same thing.
People appreciate convenience. If they can browse products, place an order, and pay securely in just a few minutes, they’re much more likely to complete their purchase.
That doesn’t mean traditional selling is disappearing. Face-to-face conversations remain one of the most effective ways to build relationships and tell your group’s story. Digital tools simply make it easier for supporters to follow through when they’re ready to buy. Instead of replacing personal selling, technology removes barriers that might have otherwise prevented a sale.
10 Tips to Help You Effectively Integrate Mobile & Social Media Tools into Your Next Fundraiser
1. Start with the Story, Not the Technology
It’s easy to get excited about online stores, QR codes, and social media posts. But before you share a single link, remember one important truth: people support people, not platforms.
Supporters want to know:
- What is your group raising money for?
- Why does it matter?
- How will their purchase make a difference?
Whether you’re talking with someone in person or sharing your fundraiser online, your story should always come first.
For example, instead of simply posting:
“Please buy from our fundraiser!”
Try something like:
“Our band is raising money for new uniforms so every student has the opportunity to perform with confidence this season. Every purchase helps us get one step closer to our goal. Thank you for supporting our team!”
The products are important, but your purpose is what inspires action.
2. Make the Most of Your 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.
Mayshine®’s online store takes it a step further by providing 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.
Each seller also receives their own unique fundraising link that can be shared digitally with family, friends, neighbors, and supporters near or far. Instead of being limited to local sales, participants can easily reach grandparents, relatives in other states, former community members, and family friends who want to support the group but may never see a paper order form.
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.
3. Encourage Sellers to Think Beyond Their Neighborhood
One of the biggest advantages of social media and mobile fundraising tools is the ability to reach supporters who are outside your immediate circle of influence. Encourage participants to think about everyone who might want to support them and have them reach out via email, text, socials, video chat, etc. This could include people like…
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Family friends
- Former teachers
- Alumni
- Out-of-town relatives
- Coworkers
- Church members
Typically, sellers are going to be more successful getting people they know to buy from them than people they don’t. So, have a brainstorming session where your sellers can come up with a list of family and friends who would love to support their fundraiser. To help get them started, Butter Braid® Pastry created a worksheet to guide your sellers through the process of making a great sales list. Once your sellers have their ideas down, they’ll be on their way to reaching their fundraising goals in no time.
4. Use Social Media to Build Awareness
Social media works best when it creates awareness, but it shouldn’t feel like constant advertising. Instead of posting the same message repeatedly, encourage participants to share updates throughout the fundraiser. These updates feel more personal and invite supporters into the story rather than simply asking them to buy. Authenticity almost always performs better than perfection.
Some ideas include…
- Sharing why they’re fundraising
- Posting pictures from practices, performances, or events
- Celebrating progress toward their goal
- Thanking supporters who have already purchased
- Posting friendly reminders before the fundraiser ends
5. Keep Your Posts Personal
One of the biggest mistakes people make on social media is copying and pasting the exact same fundraising message everyone else is using.
Instead, encourage participants to personalize their posts. For example, instead of writing:
“Please support our fundraiser.”
Try:
“I’m excited to help my baseball team raise money for new equipment this season. If you’d like to support us, you can shop using my personal fundraising link. Thank you for cheering us on!”
People connect with genuine stories. The more authentic the message feels, the more likely others are to engage with it.
6. Text Messages Are One of Your Best Tools
While social media reaches many people, text messaging often creates even stronger engagement. More people open and read text messages than any other form of media. That’s why it is the perfect tool to utilize if you’re trying to get your event in front of people. It’s easy to miss an email or social media post, people get tons of them every day. It’s a lot harder to miss a direct text message. Just remember to make sure you’ve received permission from supporters before you start texting their personal numbers.
Need an example?
“Hi Aunt Sarah! Our dance team is fundraising this month. If you’d like to support us, here’s my fundraising link. Thanks so much!”
Simple. Friendly. Personal.
Those three qualities often lead to stronger response rates than lengthy promotional messages.
7. Don’t Forget About the In-Person Ask!
Technology makes fundraising more convenient, but relationships still drive results. Encourage participants to continue having conversations in person whenever possible.
For instance, your sellers could mention the fundraiser after church, bring it up at work, share it during a conversation with neighbors, talk about it during sports practices, or tell family members during gatherings. After the conversation, they can simply text or email their online fundraising link. The relationship creates interest, and the digital tools make purchasing easy. Together, they’re incredibly effective.
8. Stay Consistent Throughout the Fundraiser
One social media post isn’t enough. Neither is one email. The most successful fundraising campaigns stay visible throughout their duration without overwhelming supporters.
As a group leader, consider creating a simple communication plan that includes:
- A kickoff announcement
- Weekly reminders
- Goal updates
- Thank-you posts
- Final-week reminders
Regular communication keeps your fundraiser top of mind and reminds supporters there’s still time to participate. For more strategies that will help improve your fundraising communications, check out this blog post from Butter Braid® Pastries!
9. Help Participants Feel Comfortable Using Digital Tools
Not every participant will be equally comfortable with technology. Spend a few minutes at your kickoff meeting or during the times your group is together showing sellers how to do things like…
- Access their personal fundraising link
- Share their link through text, email, or social media
- Explain the online ordering process
- Answer common supporter questions
The more confident participants feel, the more likely they’ll use these tools consistently and effectively.
10. Monitor Progress Throughout the Campaign
One of the greatest benefits of using the Mayshine® online store is visibility. Rather than waiting until the fundraiser ends to see results, group leaders can use the Group Leader Portal to monitor participation and track overall progress throughout the campaign.
Regularly checking progress allows you to celebrate milestones, encourage participation, and identify opportunities to provide extra support where it’s needed. Sharing updates like “We’re halfway to our goal!” or “Only three more days left to order!” can help maintain momentum throughout the fundraiser.
Balance Digital Convenience with Human Connection
Technology continues to change the way we communicate, but it hasn’t changed why people choose to support a fundraiser.
- They support causes they care about.
- They support people they know.
- They support organizations making a positive impact on their communities.
Digital tools simply make those connections easier to act on. When group leaders combine authentic storytelling, personally tailored outreach, face-to-face conversations, social media, and convenient online ordering, they create a fundraising experience that feels both modern and meaningful.
Bringing It All Together
The most successful product fundraisers aren’t built on technology alone; they’re built on relationships supported by the right tools.
At Mayshine®, we’re committed to helping groups make fundraising easier, more effective, and more rewarding. With the right combination of traditional selling and digital tools, your fundraiser can reach more supporters, simplify the buying experience, and help your group achieve its goals with confidence.
Because when people come together around a shared purpose—and have the right tools to support that purpose—great things happen. Remember…
