Fundraise for an organization even if you’re not directly affiliated with them.
What is Advocate fundraising?
If you want to support a charity organization but you’re not an employee or registered volunteer, RallyUp allows you to set up an Advocate fundraiser. As an Advocate, you can raise funds for charity organizations you support, even if you don’t work for them or serve as a registered volunteer.
How do Advocate fundraisers work?
Advocate fundraisers work differently depending on the type of organization you’re fundraising for.
How do I fundraise for US 501(c) organizations as an Advocate?
- Create your RallyUp account.
- Set up and publish your fundraising Campaign. Pledge, a RallyUp partner, collects the funds as donors contribute.
- After your Campaign ends, Pledge will send all funds to the nonprofit organization(s) using the address(es) registered in the IRS database.
For for-profit companies or businesses: Follow the instructions in this article for Corporate Social Responsibility programs: Understand: CSR Fundraising for US 501(c) Organizations.
For individuals and non-profit groups: Follow the instructions in this article instead: Understand: Advocate Fundraising for US 501(c) Organizations.
Fundraising for multiple organizations: You can add multiple beneficiaries to one Campaign or create separate Campaigns for each organization.
How do I fundraise for non-501(c) and non-US organizations as an Advocate?
- Contact the charity organization you want to fundraise for and let them know your plans. The organization will need to follow the instructions in this article before you can start fundraising: How-to: Allow Supporters to Fundraise for Your Organization.
- The organization will email you an invitation to create a RallyUp Advocate account.
- Use the link in the email to set up your account and publish your fundraising Campaign.
- All funds will be sent directly to the charity organization’s Stripe or PayPal account.
See this article for further instructions: Understand: Advocate Fundraising for Non-US and Non-501(c) Charity Organizations.
If you want to raise funds for multiple non-US or non-501(c) organizations at a time, you’ll need to create separate Campaigns for each organization. You can run as many Campaigns at once as you like.
Can I run Raffles or Sweepstakes as an Advocate?
Raffles and Sweepstakes have some restrictions to protect organizations from fraud and ensure their compliance with the law. Read this Knowledge Base article to learn how to get authorization for these fundraising Activities: How-to: Run a Charity Raffle or Sweepstakes If You Are an Individual.
What should I know about Advocate fundraising transparency?
- The name(s) of the charity (ies) will be displayed on your fundraising page and can’t be removed. This lets donors know exactly where their money is going and gives your fundraiser credibility.
- Funds are distributed directly to the organization(s) to prevent fraud. This gives donors confidence that their donation will reach the intended organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Advocate on RallyUp?
An Advocate is an individual, group, or business that fundraises for a charity organization without being directly affiliated as an employee or registered volunteer. Advocate fundraising allows you to support causes you care about even if you don’t work for the organization.
Do I need permission from the organization to start an Advocate fundraiser?
For US 501(c) organizations, you can start fundraising immediately without prior permission. For non-US and non-501(c) organizations, you must first contact the charity to get their approval, and they’ll need to invite you through RallyUp’s system.
Where do the funds go when I run an Advocate fundraiser?
For US 501(c) organizations, Pledge (a RallyUp partner) collects funds and sends them directly to the nonprofit using the address registered in the IRS database. For non-US and non-501(c) organizations, funds go directly to the charity’s Stripe or PayPal account.
Can I fundraise for multiple organizations at the same time?
Yes! For US 501(c) organizations, you can add multiple beneficiaries to one Campaign or create separate Campaigns. For non-US or non-501(c) organizations, you’ll need to create separate Campaigns for each organization, but you can run as many simultaneously as you’d like.
How can I check if my funds have been sent to the organization?
For US 501(c) organizations, Pledge collects funds and automatically sends them to the nonprofit after your Campaign ends using the address registered in the IRS database. Learn how to track your fund distribution here: How-to: See If Your Funds Have Been Sent Yet (Donor Advised Funds).