FUNDRAISING RESOURCES

How to fundraise for Education?

This complete guide offers a deep dive into critical funding strategies for education nonprofits, covering grants, corporate sponsors, and unique fundraising ideas. Trusted resources provide actionable insights.

Top 5 grants for Education nonprofits in 2025

Unlock funding for your nonprofit with grants designed for Education. Explore government, foundation, and corporate grants to expand your impact.

Spectrum Digital Education Grant

Charter Communications

Up to $50,000

Private

Supports nonprofits that create opportunities for community members by expanding access to digital tools, skills training and resources.

Apply

Small Research Grants on Education Program

Spencer Foundation

Up to $50,000

Foundation

Supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, for projects ranging from one to five years.

Apply

Community Resource Room Grant

NYS Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services

Up to $50,000

Government

Funds faith-based and not-for-profit organizations to improve public access to essential technologies in community resource rooms.

Apply

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship

National Institutes of Health

Varies

Government

Supports promising predoctoral students to develop into productive, independent research scientists.

Apply

SEED Program (Supporting Effective Educator Development)

U.S. Department of Education

Varies

Government

Provides funding to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance educators' skills.

Apply

Top 5 companies donating to Education nonprofits in 2025

Partner with businesses that share your mission! Corporate sponsorships can provide funding, in-kind donations, and visibility to help your nonprofit expand and sustain Education efforts.

Education
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Education
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Education
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Education
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Education
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Top 5 best fundraising platforms for Education

PayPal Logo
DonorBox Logo
Transaction fees
0%

2.2% + $0.30 per transaction; 0.8% for ACH payments*

  • Stripe: 2.2% + $0.30 per transaction
  • PayPal: 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction
  • ACH/Bank transfer: 0.8% ($5 maximum)

Not publicly disclosed
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Platform fees
$0
1% to 4%, depending on feature usage
1.75% platform fees. 2.95% platform fees for event ticketing, membership payments and P2P campaigns. Reduced fees for pro and premium plans.
Not publicly disclosed
No platform fees but ask for donor contribution
Monthly fees
$0 / month
Starting at $299/month*
Donorbox offers 3 subscription plan: Standard $0/month | Pro $139/month | Premium custom pricing
Not publicly disclosed
No monthly fees
Value for money
Capterra ratings
4.9 / 5
3.9/5
4.7/5
4.5/5
N/A
Ease-of-use
Capterra ratings
4.8 / 5
4.3/5
4.7/5
4.0/5
N/A
Quality of support
4.9 / 5
4.3/5
4.8/5
3.8/5
N/A

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10 Best fundraising ideas for Education in 2025

Innovative fundraising fuels your mission. From peer-to-peer campaigns to community events, explore creative ways to raise funds and ensure long-term success for your Education.

1

AI-Powered Personalized Learning Challenge

Launch a month-long campaign where donors sponsor students to complete personalized AI-driven learning modules. Students earn points for completed lessons, with donors pledging per point. Showcase student progress and learning outcomes in real-time on a dedicated website.

2

Community Skills Auction

Organize an auction where community members, including teachers, parents, and local professionals, offer their skills or experiences for bid. Items could range from cooking classes to coding workshops or guided nature walks. Host the event both in-person and online to maximize participation.

3

Sustainable School Supplies Collection

Partner with eco-friendly school supply manufacturers to create custom, sustainable product lines (notebooks, pens, backpacks) featuring your school or organization's branding. Sell these items through an online store and at local events, emphasizing the dual impact of supporting education and environmental sustainability.

4

Corporate Mentorship Program

Develop a structured mentorship program where corporate partners sponsor and mentor students in specific fields (e.g., STEM, business, arts). Companies donate for each hour their employees spend mentoring, while also potentially offering internships or job shadowing opportunities.

5

Neighborhood Learning Festivals

Organize a series of mini-festivals in different neighborhoods, showcasing student projects, interactive learning stations, and local educational resources. Charge for activity passes and food, while offering sponsorship opportunities to local businesses.

6

Virtual Global Classroom Exchange

Create a platform for virtual cultural and educational exchanges between your students and schools worldwide. Offer tiered sponsorship packages for individuals and businesses to support these exchanges, with exclusive access to virtual events and student-created content.

7

Educational Escape Room Challenge

Design a series of educational escape rooms based on different subjects (history, science, literature). Teams pay to participate, solving puzzles and learning simultaneously. Offer both physical locations and virtual options for broader accessibility.

8

Student-Designed Merchandise Line

Launch a competition for students to design a line of merchandise (clothing, accessories, stationery) that represents their school or educational values. Produce and sell the winning designs, with proceeds supporting school programs.

9

EdTech Innovation Sponsorship

Partner with EdTech companies to pilot their latest educational technologies in your classrooms. Companies sponsor the implementation, while your organization provides valuable feedback and case studies. Host showcase events for parents and the community to experience the technology.

10

Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange

Create a program where seniors in the community share their life skills and experiences with students, while students teach seniors about modern technology and trends. Charge a small fee for participation and seek sponsorships from local businesses catering to both demographics.

Frequently Asked Questions

<div ms-code-snippet-q="1">What are the most effective fundraising strategies for education nonprofits in 2025?</div><div ms-code-snippet-a="1">In 2025, education nonprofits should focus on a mix of digital and traditional fundraising strategies. Online giving platforms like Zeffy are essential for easy donations and campaign management. Implement monthly giving programs, as they can increase donor retention by up to 78%. Leverage social media for peer-to-peer fundraising, which can expand your reach exponentially. Host virtual events or hybrid galas to engage supporters globally. Personalize your outreach using AI-driven data analytics to tailor messages to donor preferences. Corporate partnerships are crucial, with 80% of Fortune 500 companies now issuing CSR reports. Finally, don't neglect planned giving programs, as a significant wealth transfer is expected in the coming years. Combine these strategies with compelling storytelling about your educational impact to maximize fundraising success.</div><div ms-code-snippet-q="2">How can education nonprofits increase online donations in 2025?</div><div ms-code-snippet-a="2">To boost online donations in 2025, education nonprofits should first optimize their website for mobile, as 57% of nonprofit website traffic comes from mobile devices. Use a user-friendly donation platform like Zeffy to streamline the giving process. Implement SEO best practices to improve organic search visibility. Leverage email marketing, which generates about 28% of all online nonprofit revenue. Personalize emails, as they see 82% higher open rates than generic ones. Utilize social media advertising, focusing on Facebook and Instagram, which inspire 56% and 21% of social media-driven donations respectively. Create compelling video content for platforms like YouTube to engage younger donors. Implement a monthly giving option, as recurring donations grew by 11% in 2022. Finally, use data analytics to segment your audience and tailor your messaging for maximum impact.</div><div ms-code-snippet-q="3">What are the best ways to engage donors for education fundraising in 2025?</div><div ms-code-snippet-a="3">In 2025, engaging donors for education fundraising requires a multi-faceted approach. Start by leveraging AI-driven personalization to tailor communications to individual donor preferences. Use storytelling to showcase the impact of donations on students and educational outcomes. Implement a robust social media strategy, as 32% of donors are inspired to give via social platforms. Regular email communications are crucial, with 48% of donors saying this keeps them engaged. Host virtual or hybrid events to provide immersive experiences of your nonprofit's work. Offer volunteer opportunities, as engaged volunteers are more likely to become donors. Use gamification in your fundraising campaigns to increase participation. Implement a donor recognition program to show appreciation. Finally, leverage user-generated content to build community and trust among your supporters. Remember to use platforms like Zeffy to make the donation process seamless across all engagement channels.</div><div ms-code-snippet-q="4">How can education nonprofits leverage AI for fundraising in 2025?</div><div ms-code-snippet-a="4">In 2025, AI will be a game-changer for education nonprofit fundraising. Use AI-powered platforms like Zeffy to analyze donor data and predict giving patterns, allowing for more targeted solicitations. Implement chatbots on your website to provide instant donor support and information. Utilize AI for donor segmentation, enabling hyper-personalized communication strategies. Leverage natural language processing to analyze donor feedback and improve engagement strategies. Use AI-driven content creation tools to generate personalized email campaigns and social media posts. Implement predictive analytics to identify potential major donors and optimize ask amounts. Use AI for grant prospecting by analyzing vast amounts of data to find the best funding opportunities. Finally, employ AI-powered image and video recognition to better categorize and utilize your visual content in fundraising campaigns. Remember to balance AI use with ethical considerations and maintain a human touch in your donor relationships.</div><div ms-code-snippet-q="5">What are the key metrics education nonprofits should track for fundraising success in 2025?</div><div ms-code-snippet-a="5">In 2025, education nonprofits should focus on both traditional and digital metrics for fundraising success. Key performance indicators include donor retention rate, aiming for the industry average of 35% or higher. Track average gift size, which was $79 for mobile and $118 for desktop in recent years. Monitor online conversion rates, with 8% being a benchmark for mobile donations. Measure email engagement, aiming for open rates above industry averages and $90 raised per 1,000 emails sent. Track social media ROI, particularly on Facebook and Instagram. Measure monthly recurring donation growth, which increased by 11% in 2022. Monitor cost per dollar raised, ensuring it stays below 20 cents for every dollar. Track donor acquisition cost and lifetime value. Use platforms like Zeffy to easily gather and analyze these metrics. Finally, measure impact metrics specific to your educational mission to demonstrate the real-world effect of donations. Regularly review these KPIs to refine your fundraising strategies.</div>