Digital marketing for nonprofits in 2026
Nonprofits have it hard. They show up in the market like any other business, and they are forced to compete for their audiences’ attention in a very noisy marketplace. Still, as charitable organizations, they typically have a far smaller budget and fewer resources to do so. This can make the challenge of nonprofit digital marketing extremely difficult.
Many nonprofits see these obstacles and shrink away from the challenge. You’ve found this page because this isn’t an option. Fueling a mission takes strategy and hard work. To fuel your drive, let's explore what it takes to do nonprofit digital marketing in 2026.
Nonprofit marketing goals and tactics
Taking any marketing actions without a goal in mind will likely only result in a waste of money. Here are the most common marketing goals among nonprofits, along with the steps taken to achieve them.
Brand awareness
The first determining factor for whether or not a nonprofit succeeds or fails is whether or not people know it exists. Because of this, many nonprofits looking to get started in marketing focus first on brand awareness. However, as with most marketing activities, taking a scattergun approach to brand awareness is a waste of energy.
Here is a list of tactics for nonprofit brand awareness:
- Targeted display, social, or CTV advertisements at a specific demographic
- Content creation for traditional search, AI search, and social media discovery
Looking worthy of investment
Generally speaking, nonprofits ask people for money without providing anything in return. This means that before donating any money to a nonprofit, people need to have two things: full understanding of and belief in their mission, and full confidence that the donated money will be well-used to make an impact. Accomplishing takes captivating marketing without compromising clarity.
Here is a list of tactics for looking worthy of investment:
- A brand refresh and implementation
- Clear and transparent website copy and promotional material
- Photography and video of your real people, process, and impact
- A website that is both usable and visually compelling while also being regularly maintained
Nonprofit marketing examples
When developing your marketing strategy, it can be helpful to look to similar companies. Below are a few snapshots of nonprofits with noteworthy marketing stories.
How years of diligent digital marketing led to tens of millions in donations for Franciscan missions
Franciscan Missions funds the “sandals on the ground” efforts of Franciscan friars in nearly every war-torn and poverty-stricken area of the world. Doing so requires a steady inflow of donations. Years of multi-channel digital marketing have helped them to significantly grow their donor base as well as engage more with their existing supporters, all together adding up to millions in donations.
How the United Way of Greater Cincinnati created a digital experience that stands out at the national level
After changes in the design standards from United Way Global, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) needed a brand website that would help them communicate directly to each of their specific audiences. Through a series of marketing projects, they refreshed their message, redesigned their website to match the new global branding, and even created a custom web app to help their community.