How to Recruit Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers in Time for Spring Events

But scrambling to recruit peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising participants in January and February only gives you a handful of weeks to onboard dedicated supporters for campaigns planned in spring and the rest of the year. Rush the ask, and you'll see fewer commitments and more fundraisers who lose momentum halfway through.

Instead, start creating low-pressure P2P fundraising conversations during the holidays when your supporters are already bursting with generosity. You're building relationships with supporters who have fundraising potential, not damaging trust through last-minute asks.

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How to Recruit Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers

P2P participants deliver more value to nonprofit fundraising than dollars. Each fundraiser brings their own network of supporters—people your organization might not reach otherwise.

• Sharing personal stories that their networks can trust. Supporters communicate why your mission matters through their unique lens. Their Instagram or Facebook post can garner more engagement than your branded content. They embody trust you can’t buy, and the P2P approach leverages personal networks to raise awareness for your cause.

• Becoming future mission leaders. P2P participants are committed to the cause. They become so connected that they naturally graduate to leadership roles. They’re your volunteers, your committee members, and your major donors. Building a strong fundraising team and cultivating loyal supporters is essential; not only are you raising money for your campaigns, but you’re also nurturing relationships that compound over time.

• Positively influencing revenue. Seventy-five to 80% of P2P donors are new to your nonprofit. P2P fundraisers expand your reach, connecting you with people you'd never reach through traditional marketing. Each campaign multiplies your fundraising capacity beyond what your staff could accomplish alone.

Think about it: First-year fundraisers turn into team captains, then board members, and maybe even major donors. Starting conversations now means you're investing in your nonprofit’s future, as the P2P approach helps organizations build a base of champions and advocates.

Your best P2P fundraising candidates are in your database. You just need to identify and double down on the people who take action. 

But donation size isn’t everything. Engagement signals are just as important. Your $50 monthly donor, inviting her friends to every event, is a steady prospect. That $5,000 major donor is valuable, but if they never attend events, engage with your work, or give again, they may not be the right person to recruit as a fundraiser.

When reviewing your donor database reports, event records, and social media, create a running list of supporters who:

• Show up (rain or shine) to your events, year after year. You know them by name.
• Open campaign emails consistently and have a high click-through rate. They’re reading your content and absorbing it.
• Comment on and share your posts with their network.
• Volunteer. Bonus if they’re bringing friends and family members!
• Give valuable feedback, ask good questions, and stay tethered to your mission.
• Participated in and enjoyed fundraising for your previous campaigns. They’re already comfortable making the ask.

Prospects show their love through consistent engagement signals: comments, clicks, thought-provoking questions, and participation. They’re invested. Their enthusiasm alone will positively influence their networks. With your guidance, they’re the fundraisers your mission needs.

Recruiting enthusiastic participants now lays the groundwork for future participation and the continued growth of your P2P fundraising campaigns.

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How to Recruit P2P Fundraisers With Low-Pressure Conversations

Recruiting P2P fundraisers successfully is all about timing. Bring up P2P fundraising opportunities when supporters are primed to say yes: before or after attending an event, in automated thank-you emails, at donor meetings, or at volunteer appreciation gatherings. These moments feel natural because your supporters have already proved they care. The right timing helps you launch campaigns and encourages participants to start fundraising when their enthusiasm is at its highest.

December through January is the ideal window to introduce P2P fundraising to board members, when they're already planning their annual commitments.

Try these warm conversation starters you can tailor based on different audience segments. These approaches help keep fundraisers motivated and ready to participate, making it easier to encourage fundraisers to take the first step.

• For engaged supporters: "Have you ever thought about fundraising for us before? You're really good at getting your friends and others involved in our mission."
• For event regulars: "You're always so good about rallying your friends to attend our events. Want to turn your enthusiasm into something even bigger?"
• For community leaders with large social followings: "It’s really cool how much your network trusts your judgment on the things that really matter. We're looking for influential and inspiring supporters like you to take our mission to the next level. Would love for you to grow with us. "‍
• For board members: "Since you're in the middle of considering your involvement this year, have you thought about leading a P2P team?"

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How to Support Fundraisers After They Say Yes

From here on out, your job is to make fundraising feel like anyone can do it. Supporting fundraisers throughout the peer fundraising campaign is key to the campaign's success. Ongoing support helps participants continue fundraising and contributes to a successful campaign by keeping motivation high and providing the resources they need. 

The difference between fundraisers who excel and those who ghost the mission often comes down to your support—both emotional and technical.

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Give Them Simple Tools They'll Actually Use

Create a simple one-page cheat sheet that has three to four compelling impact stories, eye-opening statistics about your work, and templates for social media posts and emails. Share examples they can customize to help them find their own voice that resonates with their network.

Make it even easier with the right platform. Pledge It's P2P tools let fundraisers create personalized pages in minutes—they can customize their story, add photos, and set their own fundraising goals. Real-time progress tracking shows them exactly how close they are to their goal and which supporters have donated, giving them momentum to keep sharing and celebrating milestones with their networks.

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Set Realistic Goals and Check In On Them

Within 48 hours, send a welcome email walking them through page customization and sharing basics. Help them set goals that match their network and experience level, then stay in touch with regular encouragement and tips. Short, supportive check-ins make all the difference in keeping fundraisers motivated.

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Recognize More Than Just Your Top Fundraiser

From the highest earner to the most shared on social media, to first-time fundraising, everyone deserves the spotlight. Create multiple recognition categories and celebrate wins publicly throughout the entire campaign. When fundraisers see that everyone is valued in different ways, they’ll stay engaged and potentially come back next year.

Pledge It's leaderboard feature makes this easy. Beyond the standard top fundraiser rankings, you can create custom group leaderboards that showcase different participant categories. Recognize corporate teams competing against each other, compare different age groups, or highlight participants based on their relationship to your cause—alumni versus students, different geographic regions, etc.

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Put These Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Best Practices Into Action Today

Start conversations while your supporters are in the giving spirit, so you can enjoy a no-scramble January! 

Here are a few P2P fundraising tips to get you started:

For every peer-to-peer event, whether it's a fun run, bake-a-thon, or virtual challenge, it's important to have a clear fundraising plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and tools. This structure helps you engage supporters, maximize donations, and leverage matching-gift opportunities.

This week, pull your donor data and identify the supporters who bring the most engagement. You can even start by having one conversation with a serious advocate, listening for concerns and excitement, and blocking time on your calendar for follow-up discussions—small steps that still move you forward.

Remember, you're not recruiting for today. You're creating a hand-picked roster of go-getting champions who will happily amplify your mission for years to come. All future campaigns depend on the relationships you work on right now.

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