When (and How!) to Use a Fundraising Thermometer

A fundraising thermometer –drawn with permanent marker and filled in with a highlighter — was a staple for elementary-school fundraisers back in the day. In today’s digital age, it’s easy to get a similar visual for your campaign… without having to pull out the highlighters and poster board.

When to use a fundraising thermometer

Fundraising thermometers are a great way to get donors excited about a campaign. Donors love seeing a visual representation of their contributions and how they move you closer to your goal. Thermometers also build enthusiasm among supporters; people love seeing thermometers fill up, and they may be inspired to give if they can see that you’re getting close to your goal.

So when’s the best time to use a fundraising thermometer? They’re great for:

• Crowdfunding projects
• Funding a specific purchase (like a playground or community garden)
• In-person fundraising events (like rallies or dinners)
• Digital fundraising events (like Giving Tuesday)
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• And more!

How to use a fundraising thermometer

Fundraising thermometers are a versatile tool, and they’re especially handy if they’re already synced to your online fundraising tool. In that case, you should be able to paste a bit of code into nearly any page on your site and have a visual representation of your campaign’s progress. To track your fundraising, just:

• Set a fundraising goal in your dashboard
• Choose the style of thermometer you want to use (if you have more than one option — Qgiv has simple progress bars in addition to thermometers)
• Generate your thermometer
• Paste it into the website where you want it displayed.

Want to learn how Qgiv’s fundraising thermometers can help you build excitement among your donors? Check out this page for more information or ask us to send you some information!

Hey Qgiv clients!

Qgiv clients: if you’re already using Qgiv, we can help you set up your thermometer! Just give us a call at 888-855-9595 or send the Customer Experience team an email. We’ll be happy to show you how to get it up and running.