The Best Way To Collect Donations Online For Charities, Foundations, and More

When you see people (or animals) in need, you feel inspired to take action by raising awareness and funds. Fortunately, there are lots of awesome people who want to make a difference, too. But they need a platform that makes donating easy.

Even the most generous people will feel deterred if they have to create an account before they can donate. To keep contributions flowing, you need a platform that's user-friendly for donors and for you. And this article is here to help whether you've been raising money for years or you just kicked off your first campaign.

Keep reading to discover:

• The positive effects of charitable giving and current giving trends
• 5 online fundraising platforms
• The best way to collect donations online
• Tips to set up Pool for free and encourage charitable giving

Donation statistics in the United States

According to Giving USA 2025, Americans gave a record $592.5 billion to charity in 2024 — up 6.3% from 2023 and a new all-time high. Two-thirds of that came from individuals, and 63% of donors now prefer to give online with a debit or credit card. Meanwhile, Lending Tree reports that Americans give seven times more than their European counterparts.

The positive effects of charitable giving

Generosity is popular from sea to shining sea. But why is that? Harvard research suggests that spending money on other people increases feelings of happiness. And this study found that charitable giving releases feel-good neuro-chemicals, like oxytocin and endorphins.

Some have dubbed this neuro-chemical cocktail the "helper's high." And it's no wonder giving makes people feel good:

• It's a tangible way to make a difference
• It allows people to get involved in something bigger than themselves
• It doesn't just empower the recipient — it empowers the giver, too

Despite the positive effects of charitable giving, it's easy for people to forget or get distracted. That's why it's imperative for you to give them a seamless way to make donations.

Top giving trends to consider

If you're looking for the best way to collect donations online, you probably have your cause picked out already. The 2024 Giving USA data shows the initiatives seeing the most growth: public-society benefit organizations (up 19.5%), international affairs (up 17.7%), and education (up 13.2%). Four sectors — education, health, arts & culture, and environment/animals — all hit all-time highs in 2024.

Depending on where your cause fits in with current giving trends, you may find that people will readily donate — or that you might need to focus on outreach and awareness to increase donations.

5 online fundraising platforms

With 63% of donors preferring to give online, the right platform makes all the difference. This section compares five of them, including the popular site, GoFundMe — and answers what's better, what's free, and what's the best way to collect online donations.

1. Pool

With the majority of donors preferring to give online, Pool is an obvious choice for seamless digital donations. Here's why, along with seven ways Pool benefits you, your donors, and the beneficiary:

• Easy to sign up: Sign up at Poolmoney.com and set up your Pool in minutes, allowing you to tackle other elements of your fundraiser like outreach and bookkeeping.
• It's free to use: Pool is free to sign up for, with no monthly, service, or transaction fees. Members can contribute funds directly from their linked bank accounts after joining a Pool.
• More than a collection page: Pool is a full platform where you can collect, manage, and spend money with your team. You never have to transfer donations to a personal bank account in order to use them.
• Donate directly from your Pool: Every Pool comes with a free digital debit card and account and routing number. You can use it to send money directly from your Pool to the organization, charity, etc.

2. GoFundMe

In addition to being a popular place to collect donations online, GoFundMe allows people to share photos or videos to tell their stories better. It's a great perk, but the following features may be a drawback:

• Lengthy setup process: Because GoFundMe has a strong storytelling component, setting up the collection page is a lengthy, tedious process.
• Only a collection page: Once you collect donations into your GoFundMe account, you cannot spend them until the platform transfers them to your bank account.
• Delayed access to donations: It usually takes 2–5 business days for bank transfers to arrive.
• There are fees: Each donation for an individual or business fundraiser has a 2.9% fee + $0.30. Charity fundraisers have a smaller fee (2.2%). All fees are taken from the donation, leaving the beneficiary with less.

3. PayPal

Yes, you can receive donations through PayPal, but the buck stops there. Like GoFundMe, PayPal acts as a collection page with drawbacks:

• PayPal fees: Each donation incurs a 2.9% + $0.30 fee. For eligible nonprofits, it drops to 2.2% + $0.30. Beneficiaries, not donors, incur these fees.
• People must donate with PayPal accounts: PayPal still requires everyone to have an account to make a donation, which may deter potential donors.

4. Venmo

You can use Venmo for donations, but this peer-to-peer payment platform isn't ideal for charitable giving:

• Only a money transfer app: You can collect money into your Venmo account, but that's where Venmo's support stops.
• Donors must have a Venmo account: If your donors don't have one, they may lose interest.
• Delayed access to funds: Venmo transfers money to your bank account for free, but it takes 1–3 business days. An instant transfer option is available, but a 1.5% fee gets deducted.

5. Zelle

Zelle is a popular peer-to-peer money app, but it doesn't offer much for fundraising:

• Donations go directly into your personal bank account: Donation funds inevitably mix with personal funds — confusing and messy.
• Not a collection page: Zelle doesn't maintain a cash balance. Money simply transfers from the donor's bank account to yours.
• There is no debit card: Unlike Pool's free debit card, Zelle requires you to transfer money into your personal bank account in order to use it.

How do I collect donations online?

Whether you're collecting donations for refugee relief, animal welfare, or your local community outreach program, use the following 10 tips to reach — and even exceed — your goal.

1. Start your free Pool Sign up at Poolmoney.com and set up your Pool in a couple of minutes. With a few quick steps, you can customize your Pool and provide details about your fundraiser — informing and updating donors about the cause. There are no minimum balances, fundraising limits, or Pool deadlines.

2. Invite the fundraising team to join your Pool Pool isn't just a collection platform — it's a shared Pool where you can collect, manage, and spend money together with other people on your team. Invite team members to join your Pool so they can help track contributions, manage fundraising activity, and participate according to the permissions you assign. As Pool admin, set permissions for who can view transactions, spend with the free Pool debit card, invite other people to the Pool, and more.

3. Share your Pool Once your Pool is set up, invite members to your Pool and start collecting donations immediately. Donors who want to contribute can sign up for Pool, join the Pool they've been invited to, and contribute directly from their linked bank accounts. This creates a more secure and transparent experience for everyone involved.

4. Tell your story If you want to increase donations, get vulnerable and tell your story. Why are you fundraising for this specific individual, charity, or business? What problem do you want to fix? What plans do you have to make a difference?

Open up and get personal. When you do:

• People feel emotionally connected to your cause
• Donors can participate in something bigger than themselves
• They have an opportunity to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit

5. Focus on communication and transparency Keep donors in the loop. Let them know how much you've raised and how their dollars are being spent. Show them your progress and how you're bringing about change. Don't be afraid to share setbacks, too — it may inspire people to donate and spread the word.

6. Encourage donations ending in 4, 7, or 9 Ever wonder why charities ask for recurring payments of $19 per month? It's based on a psychological "trick" — prices ending in 4, 7, and 9 seem cheaper and more affordable than other numbers. Why not suggest donations in the amounts of $14, $17, or $19?

7. Use social media to drive donations 3 in 10 people say they donate to causes they found while scrolling. Post about the fundraiser on your social media accounts and remember to invite as many members as you’d like to so people donate.

8. Track contributions in your Pool Pool is a dedicated place for donations. Money will remain in the Pool for as long as necessary, and you never have to donate with your personal funds. Pools make it easy to keep track of both donations and donors so you can thank them later.

9. Give to the charity or individual directly from the Pool If your fundraiser is for an individual, you can invite them to sign up at Poolmoney.com and join the Pool as a member. Once they do, they can easily access their funds. If you were fundraising for a charity, business, or organization, you can make a payment on their website using the free digital Pool debit card. Because there are no transaction or service fees, every donation dollar goes directly to the beneficiary.

10. Thank your donors Your donors probably aren't waiting for a pat on the back. But always remember to thank them — their generosity makes a big impact. Share pictures, videos, and stories about how their contributions made a difference and will continue to benefit the recipient.

As the donations fill your Pool, you'll love the fact that Pool is more than just a collection page. Pool is where you and your team can manage and disperse donations together — and this just might be the best way to collect donations online.