Facebook birthday fundraisers have become an extremely popular way for people to raise money for charities and causes they care about. The concept is simple – on your birthday, you can create a fundraiser through Facebook and encourage your friends and family to donate. But are these birthday fundraisers just a trend, or are they a legitimate and effective way to support nonprofits?
How Do Facebook Birthday Fundraisers Work?
If you have a Facebook account, setting up a birthday fundraiser is easy. About a week before your birthday, Facebook will prompt you with the option to create a fundraiser. You can choose from over 750,000 charities to receive your donations. Facebook does not charge any fees, so 100% of the money raised goes to your selected nonprofit.
As the fundraiser organizer, you set a monetary goal – usually anywhere from $100 to $1000 – and a deadline, which is typically your birthday. Facebook provides you with a link that you can share on your page or in messages to encourage donations. Friends can donate right through Facebook. They do not need to leave the platform or pull out their credit card. Facebook keeps track of all donations and automatically transfers the money to the nonprofit after your deadline.
Facebook birthday fundraisers leverage the power of social media to attract donors. By sharing your fundraiser, you can quickly tap into your extended network of friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. Even small donations add up fast with hundreds of people potentially seeing your request. The whole process happens online, making it easy for you to create and share your fundraiser and for donors to contribute.
Are Facebook Fundraisers Successful?
Facebook birthday fundraisers have proven to be an extremely effective way for nonprofits to raise money. Consider these statistics:
- Since Facebook introduced birthday fundraisers in 2017, over $1 billion has been raised for charities.
- In 2018, more than $300 million was raised for causes through Facebook fundraisers.
- 1 in 3 Facebook fundraiser donors are first-time donors to the charity they supported.
- The average birthday fundraiser donation is around $45.
For charities, Facebook provides a platform to connect with new donors that they may not have reached through other fundraising efforts. For donors, the fundraisers provide an easy way to give to organizations they want to support.
What Charities Can You Support?
Facebook works with organizations to vet and approve them for inclusion in the birthday fundraiser program. You can choose from over 750,000 verified charities to receive your birthday donations. The full list represents a diverse range of causes:
| Category | Example Charities |
|---|---|
| Animals | ASPCA, World Wildlife Fund |
| Arts, Culture, Humanities | Public Broadcasting Service, Smithsonian Institution |
| Children & Family | St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Toys for Tots |
| Education | DonorsChoose, Teach for America |
| Environment | Conservation International, Sierra Club |
| Health | American Cancer Society, Doctors Without Borders |
| Humanitarian | Americares, World Vision |
| Religion | Campus Crusade for Christ, Habitat for Humanity |
| Research & Public Policy | American Civil Liberties Union, Cato Institute |
You can search for specific charities or browse top charities by category. If you cannot find your preferred organization, you can recommend it be added to Facebook. Overall, you have plenty of options to choose a cause meaningful to you.
Are Facebook Fundraisers Tax Deductible?
Donations made to Facebook birthday fundraisers are tax deductible, but with some limitations. According to the IRS, charitable contributions are only tax deductible if you itemize your deductions when filing your taxes.
Around 90% of taxpayers currently take the standard deduction rather than itemizing, so most people do not claim charitable deductions. If you do itemize, you can deduct donations made through Facebook, but only if you kept proper records.
The nonprofit organization should send you a receipt, but it is wise to keep all emails and receipts from Facebook as well. Make sure the records show the name of the charity, date you donated, and the amount given. Following these best practices ensures your Facebook donations can be treated like other charitable contributions if you itemize.
Key Takeaways:
- Facebook fundraiser donations are tax deductible for itemizers.
- Keep records from the nonprofit and Facebook as proof.
- Most taxpayers take the standard deduction and do not deduct charitable gifts.
Are There Other Fundraising Options on Facebook?
In addition to personal birthday fundraisers, Facebook provides other options for nonprofits to raise money:
Donate Button
Verified nonprofits can add a Donate button to their Facebook page, allowing visitors to easily contribute. All donations process directly through Facebook.
Fundraisers
Nonprofit pages can create general fundraisers for special initiatives or donor drives. These operate similarly to an individual’s birthday fundraiser.
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving after Thanksgiving. Facebook partners with nonprofits to facilitate fundraising around Giving Tuesday each year.
Disaster Response
Facebook works with relief organizations to set up fundraisers during disasters and emergencies. People can donate to assist with humanitarian crises.
While the personal birthday fundraiser allows individuals to leverage their network, nonprofits have options to tap into Facebook’s over 2 billion users for their own fundraising needs.
Should You Create a Birthday Fundraiser?
Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding if you should start a Facebook birthday fundraiser:
Pros:
- Easy, hassle-free process managed completely through Facebook.
- Taps into your existing social network which maximizes exposure.
- Zero fees means 100% of funds raised go to charity.
- Compatibility with Facebook Pay means donors do not need to use credit cards.
- Clearly share your passion for the cause by personalizing the fundraiser.
Cons:
- Requires proactively sharing and promoting the fundraiser for success.
- Donors may feel obligated or pressured to give.
- You need an active Facebook profile with a broad friend network.
- Tax deductibility limitations for most people.
Overall, starting a birthday fundraiser is a great way to support a charity you care about while involving your community. Just be mindful of not coming across as too pushy with your outreach. Your friends will support causes that resonate with them.
Are Facebook Fundraisers Safe?
Security and privacy are understandable concerns when making donations online. Here are some key points about how Facebook keeps their fundraising platform safe:
- Nonprofits must be verified before joining the platform.
- Facebook Pay includes anti-fraud technology to detect suspicious activity.
- Your credit card details are not shared with the nonprofit receiving donations.
- Funds are transferred directly to the nonprofit by Facebook.
- You can choose whether or not to display your name publicly as a donor.
Facebook employs encryption, monitoring, and partnerships with third-party organizations to ensure fundraisers are legitimate opportunities to support great causes.
Conclusion
Facebook birthday fundraisers are more than just a viral trend. They offer a convenient, effective way for nonprofits to expand their donor base. Over $1 billion raised for charities since 2017 shows the incredible power of these fundraisers.
Creating a birthday fundraiser provides a simple yet meaningful way for you to support a charity you care deeply about. Just be sure to research the organization first and set reasonable expectations for how much you aim to raise. With thoughtful preparation, promotion, and follow-through, your fundraiser can significantly benefit an important cause while involving your community.