A calendar fundraiser asks each supporter to donate the dollar amount that matches a day of the month: $1 on Day 1, $2 on Day 2, all the way up to $31 on Day 31 — for a total of $496. You can scale it up or down (Day 1 = $5, Day 31 = $155, etc.), and you can run it for any length of time. It's a popular format with school groups, sports teams, scout troops, clubs, PTAs, churches, and small nonprofits because the ask is simple, friendly, and easy to share.
Why It Works Well Online
The math is obvious, the ask feels low-pressure, and the format is built for social sharing. When a group runs one, the biggest unlock is peer-to-peer fundraising — every participant gets their own page and link to share with their own friends and family. That compounds reach dramatically compared to a single shared link.
What to Look For in a Platform
- Per-participant pages with unique shareable links (peer-to-peer support)
- Editable photo, message, and goal for each participant
- Built-in card payments (Stripe, Square, etc.) with reasonable fees
- Free or low-cost to start — no upfront minimums or contracts
The Options
Givebutter — Free to use (it runs on an optional tip from donors). Strong peer-to-peer feature where every participant gets a sub-page they can customize. Highly flexible — works well for a calendar campaign even though it isn't a built-in template. A great default for most groups.
Cheddar Up — The simplest option on this list. Per-person collection pages, online payments, almost no learning curve. Lighter on "campaign" branding and fancier features, but if you just want each member to have a page that takes payments, it's hard to beat for speed.
99Pledges — Built for a-thon style fundraisers (jog-a-thon, read-a-thon, math-a-thon), but the per-participant page structure works just as well for a calendar campaign. Especially worth a look if you might run a-thons too.
TeamFi — Geared toward groups and teams, with support for calendar / day-of-the-month style campaigns and individual participant pages. A more specialized option worth comparing against the others.
Snap! Raise — More of a guided, full-service campaign run with a dedicated rep. Strong for big goals but a heavier lift than a self-serve calendar fundraiser, and the fees reflect the white-glove model.
Doing it solo? — If it's just one person raising money rather than a group, you don't need peer-to-peer features. A single Givebutter, GoFundMe, or even a Stripe Payment Link page with the calendar amounts listed in the description does the job and skips the setup overhead.
Quick Recommendation
For most groups, Givebutter or Cheddar Up are the easiest free starting points. TeamFi or 99Pledges are worth comparing if you want a more campaign-shaped template out of the box. Whichever you choose, confirm current fees before signing up — platforms change pricing more often than you'd think.
One More Thing
A calendar fundraiser is a great way to cover near-term costs, but if your group is also working toward something larger — new equipment, travel, programs, scholarships — foundation grants are worth looking at in parallel. Most groups don't realize how much grant funding is sitting out there for them.