Learn how to set up CSR fundraising on RallyUp to raise funds for US 501(c) nonprofit organizations as a for-profit business.
If your for-profit company or business wants to support a registered nonprofit organization in the United States as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, RallyUp allows you to create a CSR account. CSR fundraising is designed for corporate giving initiatives, including corporate matching programs, employee giving campaigns, and other company-sponsored fundraising efforts. Whether you’re a small business organizing a company charity fundraiser or a large corporation running a year-round giving program, RallyUp provides the tools to fundraise for nonprofits as a business.
Are you an individual, not representing a business? Individuals fundraising on behalf of a charity should use Advocate fundraising instead. See: Understand: Advocate Fundraising
How does CSR fundraising on RallyUp work?
- Create your RallyUp account.
- Set up and publish your fundraising Campaign. Pledge, a RallyUp partner, will collect the funds as they’re donated.
- After your Campaign ends, Pledge will send all funds to the nonprofit organization(s) at the address(es) registered with the IRS.
What should I know before I create my CSR account?
- US 501(c) organizations only: CSR fundraising is designed for raising funds on behalf of registered US 501(c) charities. International companies can also use CSR fundraising on RallyUp, but can only raise funds for US 501(c) organizations. If you want to raise funds for a non-US charity, the organization must invite you to fundraise on its behalf through RallyUp. See: How-to: Allow Supporters to Fundraise for Your Organization
- Raffles and Sweepstakes: CSRs can run offline raffles on their own. To run online raffles or sweepstakes, the benefiting organization must invite you to fundraise on their behalf through RallyUp, which gives you the ability to run these campaign types. See: How-to: Allow Supporters to Run Raffles or Sweepstakes for Your Organization
How do I create my CSR account?
If the organization you want to support is based in the US and is a registered 501(c), you can set up your RallyUp account right away:
- Go to rallyup.com and select Get started.
- Create the account using your own name and password. You’ll give us the name of your company and the nonprofit you’re fundraising for later:
- Select the state where your company is based, then select Company or business (for-profit), fundraising for Nonprofit organizations:
- Enter your company or business name and select how many people work for your company.
- Select Start fundraising.
How do I create my Campaign and select the organization(s)?
You’ll provide the name of the nonprofit organization(s) you’re fundraising for when you create your fundraising Campaign. This allows you to create different Campaigns for different organizations. You can also fundraise for multiple organizations within the same Campaign.
- Go to Campaigns in the left menu and select NEW CAMPAIGN. This will take you to Campaign Setup.
- Answer a few questions to help us understand your Campaign’s needs, then select the fundraising Component(s) you want to use:
- On the Organization step, use the search bar to find the organization(s) you’re fundraising for:
If you’re fundraising for multiple organizations in one Campaign, select Add another organization to add as many as you need:
Note that this list only includes registered US 501(c) charity organizations. If you can’t find the organization you’re looking for, delete the Campaign you just created and reach out to the nonprofit organization you want to fundraise for. 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.
- Complete all other setup steps. When you’re done and ready to start fundraising, go live:
What fees apply to CSR fundraising campaigns?
RallyUp has partnered with Pledge to collect and distribute funds to the charity organization(s) on your behalf. This prevents fraud and gives donors confidence that their donation will reach the intended charity.
Pledge charges a 3% fee per transaction plus a $5 disbursement fee per payment sent to each beneficiary organization. RallyUp does not receive any portion of these fees. Payment processing fees and Platform Fees (if applicable) still apply.
How-to: See If Your Funds Have Been Sent Yet (Donor Advised Funds)
Good to Know
The name(s) of the charity organization(s) will be displayed on your Campaign Page and cannot be removed. This lets donors know exactly where their money is going and gives your fundraiser credibility.
How do I get started with CSR fundraising?
Click here to create a free account and start building your corporate fundraiser. You can test out your Campaign before going live by selecting the “Preview” button at the top of any page in Campaign Setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CSR fundraising on RallyUp?
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) fundraising on RallyUp allows for-profit businesses to raise funds on behalf of registered US 501(c) nonprofit organizations. It is designed for corporate giving programs, including corporate matching, employee giving campaigns, and other company-sponsored charity fundraisers. Funds are collected by Pledge (a RallyUp partner) and sent directly to the nonprofit, ensuring transparency and donor confidence.
Can I fundraise for multiple nonprofit organizations as a CSR?
Yes. CSRs can include multiple benefiting organizations on a single Campaign, or create separate Campaigns for each organization. You select the beneficiary organization(s) during Campaign Setup.
Can international companies use CSR fundraising on RallyUp?
Yes, international companies can use CSR fundraising on RallyUp. However, international CSRs can only raise funds for US 501(c) organizations. If you want to raise funds for a non-US charity, the organization must invite you to fundraise on their behalf through RallyUp. See: How-to: Allow Supporters to Fundraise for Your Organization
Where do the funds go when I run a CSR fundraiser?
Pledge (a RallyUp partner) collects funds and sends them directly to the nonprofit organization(s) at the address(es) registered with the IRS. Pledge charges a 3% fee per transaction plus a $5 disbursement fee per payment sent to each beneficiary organization. RallyUp does not receive any portion of these Pledge fees.
How can I check if my CSR fundraising funds have been sent to the organization?
Pledge collects funds and automatically sends them to the nonprofit after your Campaign ends, using the address registered in the IRS database:
How-to: See If Your Funds Have Been Sent Yet (Donor Advised Funds)
An employee wants to fundraise personally, not as part of the company. What should they do?
If an employee is fundraising in their personal capacity rather than as a representative of the company, they should register as an Advocate instead. See: Understand: Advocate Fundraising