The basics of Facebook challenges and why they work so well for P2P Fundraising

Jobelle Santos
Editor
8
Min to read

Facebook Challenges have become one of the most popular fundraising strategies, and it’s no wonder given Facebook’s track record—raising over $7 billion through its Facebook and Instagram fundraising tools. There’s no denying that it helps organisations and charities raise money, spread awareness, or build a sense of being in a community. 

But what are these Facebook challenges, and how can they be applied in social fundraising? Let's explore it further.

How Facebook challenges work in social fundraising

In general, an organisation sets up a goal, like walking or running a certain number of miles in a month, reading or a marathon a few books, or giving up sweets or alcohol for a certain period of time. Individuals who share the same interests or were encouraged by families or friends sign up — often through a Facebook group — commit to the challenge and motivate others to donate in support. 

The feeling of community is one of the reasons why Facebook Challenges is so effective. By creating a Facebook group, charities can keep their participants informed, encouraged, and excited about the challenges. Having multiple people in this setting fosters a sense of unity — imagine having a handful of accountability partners to keep you motivated and going while celebrating the progress.

You can create a challenge that inspires participants and maximises impact with a clear plan and the right steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you launch a Facebook challenge that keeps people involved and achieves your goals.

Step-by-step guide to launching a Facebook challenge for fundraising success

The process of running a Facebook challenge from start to finish involves several key steps, from planning and setup to ongoing management and post-challenge follow-up. Here’s a breakdown of the main stages to guide you:

  1. Set your goals: Define your fundraising amount target, participant numbers, and timeline—30 days works well. Craft a message to inspire your audience to join.
  2. Choose an activity: Pick a simple, fun task like walking or daily exercises. Provide clear instructions for participants to share their progress online.
  3. Create a Facebook group: Use a private group to connect participants, share updates, and link to your fundraising platform for easy donations.
  4. Connect to a fundraising platform: With Facebook’s fundraising tools no longer available in EU, you’ll need an external platform to manage donations. Choose one that integrates seamlessly with your campaign to make donating easy for participants and supporters.
  5. Promote your challenge: Attract participants through social media, and or email campaigns. Encourage sharing and involve influencers for wider reach.
  6.  Engage participants: Kick off with a welcome post, share regular updates, celebrate progress, and foster a supportive community.
  7. Support the group: Stay active by answering questions, encouraging participation, and addressing issues to keep motivation high.
  8. Celebrate success: Share results, recognise contributors, and highlight the impact made to leave participants feeling proud.
  9. Follow up and keep in touch: Thank supporters, invite them to future campaigns, and gather feedback to improve your next challenge.

Also - check out the GivePanel blog for a complete step by step guide.

What is the secret behind the success of Facebook challenges?

Facebook challenges succeed because they tap into the power of a platform almost everyone uses daily. With its massive reach, Facebook is an ideal space for fundraising, especially when paired with the fun and interactive nature of challenges. These campaigns are popular because they’re easy to join, enjoyable to participate in and foster a strong sense of purpose and community. Their versatility is another major strength—they can be tailored to raise funds, spread awareness, or encourage positive habits.

A well-organised Facebook challenge creates excitement and urgency. Participants invite friends, share updates, and celebrate milestones, which builds momentum and draws more people in. As participants post about their progress, your cause gains greater visibility, often leading to an increase in donations.

The success of Facebook challenges often comes down to understanding what motivates people to take part and actively fundraise. So, what exactly drives people to join in and contribute? Let’s explore the key factors that make participation so compelling.

What drives participation in Facebook fundraising challenges?

Several factors contribute to why people are motivated to participate in and fundraise through Facebook challenges. These campaigns tap into a mix of personal, social, and emotional triggers that help bring people on board. Here’s what tends to drive participation:

  1. Social Influence and accountability: Seeing friends, family, or colleagues participate encourages others to get involved too. Facebook’s social design enables easy invitations, updates, and friendly challenges among users, creating a ripple effect. Making a public commitment through a Facebook challenge also boosts accountability, as participants are motivated to stay on track and achieve their goals.
  2. Purpose and meaningful impact: Many individuals want to support a good cause but can feel intimidated by traditional fundraising methods. Facebook challenges provide a clear, step-by-step approach, making it easier to contribute. Participants can directly see how their efforts support a meaningful mission, fostering a stronger connection to the charity or cause. 
  3. Community and belonging: Facebook challenges usually include a group space where participants can interact, share updates, and cheer each other on. This fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie, with everyone united by a common purpose. When participants see others sharing their experiences and challenges, it boosts motivation and strengthens the feeling of being part of a supportive community.
  4. Fun and friendly competition: Challenges add an element of excitement and enjoyment compared to standard donation requests. Including “fun” activities—like counting steps, trying a vegan diet for a month, or doing daily exercises—makes fundraising feel more like an adventure than a task. Friendly competition also encourages participants to go the extra mile, often leading to greater engagement and increased fundraising results.
  5. Achievability and personal growth: People are motivated by setting and reaching goals, particularly when these goals contribute to self-improvement, like fitness or habit-building challenges. A well-crafted challenge offers a clear, attainable goal that is challenging yet rewarding. The accomplishment felt at the end provides a strong sense of satisfaction and leaves participants with a lasting feeling of achievement connected to the cause.
  6. Simplicity of participation: Facebook’s platform is widely used, making it straightforward for participants to join, engage, and raise funds without requiring extensive setup or technical knowledge.
  7. Offer Incentives for Completion: Adding rewards or recognition for those who complete the challenge can be a powerful motivator. This could be as simple as digital badges, shout-outs in the group, or even a small prize for top fundraisers. Incentives give participants an extra reason to stay committed, and recognising their efforts helps them feel valued and appreciated, which strengthens their connection to the cause.

By leveraging these motivational elements, Facebook challenges foster a sense of excitement, connection, and purpose, drawing people in and inspiring them to raise funds actively. When a challenge is accessible, meaningful, and enjoyable, it naturally encourages engagement and support.

With all these factors making Facebook challenges so impactful, it’s clear why they’ve become a mainstay in social fundraising. However, with Meta’s recent shutdown of its fundraising tools in the EU, many organisations are left wondering how to keep these successful campaigns going.

Conducting Facebook challenges without Meta’s EU fundraising tools

With Meta’s recent decision to close its fundraising tools in the EU, there is now a number of organisations that seek alternative methods to continue with Facebook's challenges. Luckily, several platforms can step in to fill the gap. BetterNow is one such alternative, enabling tools to facilitate social fundraising campaigns on a platform other than Facebook's inherent features.

If you’re interested in learning more about using platforms like BetterNow for social fundraising, stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll detail how to set up your challenges and keep the momentum going

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