Can Donating Be as Addictive as Fast Fashion? Lessons from E‑Commerce

Donating shouldn’t feel like a chore—it can be engaging, fun, even addictive (in the best way!). A standout session from Salvation Army Australia at the US Fundraising Congress argued we should treat donations like buying something exciting rather than giving something up. That e‑commerce mindset is exactly where online fundraising is headed.

1️⃣ Think Beyond the Same Target Group

Algorithms keep recycling the audience you designed yesterday’s print‑inspired ads for. That’s your old crowd.

• Problem: Same content ⇒ same audience ⇒ growth stalls.
• Solution: Use AI to create diverse ads for different personas, then let platform algorithms match fresh creatives to fresh donors.

2️⃣ Scale Testing on Autopilot

Digital fundraising’s edge is speed: launch, learn, iterate—fast. But manual test‑and‑learn strains teams.

• Solution: AI agents like Online Oscar spin up, run, and optimise experiments while you set strategy.
• Benefit: real‑time optimisation without adding head‑count.

3️⃣ Make It Fun for Fundraisers

Approving mountains of content can feel like… work. Reduce friction and add a spark of fun.

• Solution: A Tinder‑style swipe interface for green‑lighting AI‑generated ads.
• Recent test: 75 % approval rate on first‑round, fully AI‑generated creatives.
• Result: “content liquidity” without overwhelming your team.

Who hasn’t dreamt of swiping right on fundraising ads? 😉

Why It Matters

Adopting e‑commerce tactics lets nonprofits:

1. Reach new donors beyond the usual suspects.
2. Deliver personalised journeys at scale.
3. Make fundraising fun & effective for staff and supporters.

It’s not just about raising more—it’s about competing with for‑profit brands for attention and winning.

💡 Ready to Level‑Up?

Curious how Oscar can turbo‑charge your online fundraising while keeping the process exciting? Drop a comment or message me—we’ll turn donations into the next big thing your audience can’t resist!