Fundraising through Facebook has become an increasingly popular way for nonprofits, charities, schools, churches, and other organizations to raise money. With over 2 billion active monthly users, Facebook offers a huge potential donor base. However, with so many fundraisers happening on Facebook at any given time, it can be tricky to find a specific fundraiser if you don’t have the direct link.
Searching on Facebook
The easiest way to find a fundraiser on Facebook is to search for it. Here are some tips for searching:
- Search for the name of the person, charity, school, etc. that is hosting the fundraiser. For example, “John Smith fundraiser.”
- Search for keywords related to the cause or event. For example, “cancer research fundraiser.”
- Search for the exact name or title of the fundraiser, if known. For example, “Climb for a Cure.”
- Use Facebook’s advanced search filters to narrow results by content type, date posted, location, etc.
When you find the fundraiser in search results, make sure to click on it to open the actual fundraiser page or post. Sometimes search results will only show related posts, but not the fundraiser itself.
Checking organization and event pages
If the person or organization hosting the fundraiser has a Facebook page, check there to see if they have posted about the fundraiser. The fundraiser may be pinned to the top of their page, mentioned in a post, or listed on the “Fundraisers” section of their page.
Similarly, check Facebook event pages related to the fundraiser. For example, if there is a walkathon fundraiser, search for the walkathon event page and see if the fundraiser is mentioned there.
Looking on your News Feed
Assuming you are friends or connected on Facebook with the person who created the fundraiser, it may show up in your News Feed if they have posted about it or shared the fundraiser page. Scroll through your News Feed and keep an eye out for any mentions of the fundraiser.
Checking Facebook Fundraisers page
Facebook has a dedicated Facebook Fundraisers page that aggregates many fundraisers happening on the platform. You can access it at https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers.
On this page you can browse fundraisers by category or search for a specific fundraiser using keywords, name, etc. This is another great place to check for the fundraiser you are looking for.
Using Facebook Fundraiser lookup tool
Facebook offers a Fundraiser Lookup tool that allows you to search for a specific fundraiser if you know the name of the person who created it. To use this tool:
- Go to the Facebook Fundraisers page: https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers
- Click “Search Fundraisers” under the Find a Fundraiser header
- Enter the name of the person who created the fundraiser and click Search
- This will display all active fundraisers created by that person. Scroll through to find the specific one you are looking for.
Checking notifications
If someone tags you in a post or comment related to the fundraiser, invites you to donate, or otherwise interacts with you on it, you may receive a notification. Check your notifications and see if any are about the particular fundraiser you’re searching for.
Using Facebook Funds Donated section
If you have donated to a fundraiser on Facebook, it will be recorded in your “Funds Donated” section on your profile. To access this:
- Click on your profile icon (top right corner of Facebook)
- Click “Funds Donated” from the sidebar
- This will display all the fundraisers you have donated to
- See if the fundraiser you are looking for is listed there
This section only shows fundraisers you’ve donated to, so it won’t help find a new fundraiser you haven’t interacted with yet. But it can be handy for rediscovering a past donation.
Asking the fundraiser organizer
If you can’t find the fundraiser through searching Facebook, consider reaching out directly to the person who created it or the organization sponsoring it. Ask them for a direct link to the Facebook fundraiser page or post.
Having the direct URL is the easiest way to access a fundraiser again later. When you get the link, bookmark it, save it in your notes, or archive the post so you always have access.
Using Facebook’s Fundraiser Sharing tool
Fundraiser creators can generate a customized link or share button for their fundraiser using Facebook’s Fundraiser Sharing tool. Ask them if they have one of these links available to share directly with you or other potential donors.
This tool creates a unique url just for that fundraiser, so it’s a reliable way to get directed to the correct page.
Following the organization’s Facebook page
To see any current or future fundraisers from an organization, follow their Facebook page. That way when they create a new fundraiser, it will show up in your feed automatically if you are following them.
You can also turn on notifications for their page so that you get alerted anytime they make a new post, which could include fundraiser announcements.
Creating a Facebook fundraiser
If you are having trouble finding a fundraiser that you want to donate to, consider creating one yourself! Facebook makes it easy to set up a fundraiser for a cause or organization you care about.
All money raised through the fundraiser goes directly to the nonprofit organization, not to your own account. Here are some tips for starting a fundraiser:
- Click “Fundraisers” from the left menu on Facebook
- Choose the nonprofit you want the money to go to from the list of partners
- Give your fundraiser a title, goal, end date, and story to share why you are fundraising
- Customize your fundraiser page with photos, videos, etc.
- Promote your fundraiser by sharing the link, posting on your page, inviting friends, etc.
Launching your own fundraiser allows you full control to share and promote it however you want. And it supports a cause you care about!
Conclusion
Tracking down a specific fundraiser on Facebook can take some detective work, but using Facebook search tools, checking pages and feeds, and contacting organizers makes finding most fundraisers possible. Bookmarking or saving links, following organization pages, and creating your own fundraiser are also great ways to ensure you can always connect with fundraisers on Facebook.