How to get more from Facebook birthday fundraisers in 2025

Every year, millions of people swap birthday gifts for good by asking friends to donate to a cause they care about. Facebook makes this easy with built-in birthday fundraisers, which have already helped nonprofits raise over $1B.

For supporters, it’s a simple, familiar way to rally their friends and family behind a cause that matters to them. For nonprofits, it’s an opportunity to raise funds while expanding their reach to connect with more first-time donors.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how Facebook birthday fundraisers work, why they matter, and how to make every birthday donation go further.

Key takeaways

• Facebook birthday fundraisers remain a popular way to give 🎂 Facebook prompts users before their birthday, making it seamless for supporters to start a fundraiser.
• They’re an easy entry point for first-time donors 💡 Supporters can quickly set up a fundraiser and invite friends and family to give.
• You have options for how to run birthday fundraisers on Facebook 🔀 You can create a fundraiser directly on Facebook or use Givebutter’s Facebook integration.
• Givebutter enhances the experience 🧈 Every Givebutter campaign link shared on Facebook or Instagram comes with a donate button, campaign image, and progress bar—plus faster payouts and richer donor data.
• Smarter fundraising combines reach with stewardship 💛 Nonprofits can maximize impact by encouraging birthday fundraisers and building relationships with new donors afterward.

How to set up a birthday fundraiser on Facebook (recommended way)

If you have an active Facebook account, you’ll usually see a notification a few weeks before your birthday inviting you to create a fundraiser for a nonprofit. 

You can either set up your fundraiser directly on Facebook or share a Givebutter fundraising campaign link for added features and flexibility. Thanks to Givebutter’s Meta fundraising integration, every campaign link you share turns into a post that automatically displays a donate button, campaign image, and progress bar. 

✍️ Before you begin: Make sure your nonprofit has a Facebook Page, is verified on Givebutter, and is approved for Meta’s fundraising tools—this is a one-time step that ensures you can raise money for them on Facebook and Instagram.

1. Find the campaign link 🔗 

Head to your nonprofit’s Givebutter page (donation form, fundraising page, or event campaign) and copy the URL.

2. Share on Facebook 📱

Paste the link into a post, and Meta will automatically pull in campaign details, including the donate button, campaign image, and progress bar.

3. Encourage your network to give 🎉 

Tag friends, write a personal message about why this cause matters to you, and invite people to donate instead of buying gifts.

⭐ Why nonprofits love it: With Givebutter, nonprofits get faster payouts and full donor data for follow-up. Plus, thanks to the Givebutter Guarantee, your nonprofit always keeps 100% of funds raised when optional donor tips are enabled.

🎉 Why supporters love it: With Givebutter campaign links, donors can give using their favorite payment methods like Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. 

Alternatively, you can also set up a birthday fundraiser directly on Facebook. Their built-in tool makes it easy to choose a nonprofit, set a goal, and share with friends, and Facebook also covers processing fees for these types of fundraisers.

Why Facebook birthday fundraisers are worthwhile

Birthday fundraisers on Facebook can feel like a win-win: you get to celebrate while rallying friends to support a cause you care about. For many supporters, it’s their first time giving to a nonprofit—and that kind of visibility is hard to ignore.

Nonprofits can expand on these campaigns by pairing Facebook’s built-in tools with Givebutter to access more data, flexible payment options, and faster payouts. Together, they create a seamless supporter experience and long-term opportunities for engagement.

Here’s what both supporters and nonprofits should know:

Why supporters love them 🎂

✅ Easy and free to set up: People are familiar with Facebook, and their birthday fundraiser is built in—plus it’s free for individuals to launch.

✅ Good social visibility: Supporters can easily share fundraisers with their networks, including friends and family members.

✅ Great entry point for first-time donors: A birthday fundraiser is an easy route into online giving—ideal for people who don’t normally take part in fundraisers.

✅ Feel-good factor: Turning a celebration into a charitable moment feels meaningful without being complicated.

How nonprofits can get even more value with Givebutter ✨

🧈  Faster payouts: Facebook processes birthday donations through PayPal Giving Fund on its schedule (typically 15–45 days). With Givebutter, funds are usually available within 3–5 business days.

🧈 Deeper donor insights: Every contribution through Givebutter includes donor contact info, making it easy to thank supporters and build lasting relationships.

🧈 More ways to give: In addition to debit/credit card and PayPal payments, Givebutter offers Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH—so supporters can give in the way that’s most convenient for them.

🧈 Built-in stewardship tools: Givebutter makes it easy to follow up with birthday donors through automated thank-you messages, campaign updates, and future invitations—helping turn one-time gifts into ongoing support.

👉 Bottom line: Facebook birthday fundraisers are an easy entry point for supporters, and pairing them with Givebutter’s Meta fundraising integration helps nonprofits take celebrations further by streamlining giving and unlocking more insights and flexibility.

More to explore

Get the complete guide to Facebook fundraisers →

How nonprofits can recruit and inspire more birthday fundraisers

Many supporters launch Facebook birthday fundraisers on their own—but with the right encouragement, nonprofits can inspire even more people to donate on their special day. Try these strategies:

• Promote “Donate your birthday” campaigns 🎂 Add this option to your website and giving menu, with simple instructions for sharing your Givebutter campaign link on their Facebook profile or even launching their own peer-to-peer fundraiser.
  
• Engage your top supporters 💌 Use your nonprofit CRM to identify loyal donors or fundraisers and invite them to host a birthday campaign with extra support or recognition.
  
• Show social proof 👀 Share stories from past fundraisers on your nonprofit’s social media platforms, highlighting their impact to inspire others.
  
• Make it fun 🎉 Suggest realistic fundraising goals, add a challenge element, or recruit a community influencer to lead by example.

When nonprofits make it easy—and exciting—for supporters to fundraise, birthday campaigns can spark new donor relationships and bring in extra gifts throughout the year.

More to explore

Discover 30+ social media fundraising ideas →

Celebrate smarter with Givebutter

Combine the familiarity of Facebook with the flexibility of Givebutter to host an impactful birthday fundraiser. Together, they can take your online fundraiser to the next level while helping your chosen cause keep more of the funds raised. 

Make this your best birthday fundraiser yet. Support a nonprofit already using Givebutter, join a peer-to-peer campaign, or invite your favorite organization to sign up—it’s free and only takes a few minutes.

FAQs about how to do a birthday fundraiser on Facebook

Here are answers to the most common questions supporters and nonprofits have about Facebook birthday fundraisers.

Are Facebook birthday fundraisers legit?

Yes! Facebook birthday fundraisers are real, helping nonprofits raise over $1B. And with Givebutter’s Meta fundraising integration, nonprofits get the same Facebook and Instagram visibility—plus faster payouts, full donor data, and even more ways for supporters to give.

How can we thank birthday fundraiser donors?

With Givebutter, every donation captured through the Meta fundraising integration is connected to your campaign in real time. That means you always have access to donor names and contact info—plus built-in donor engagement tools that make it easy to send instant, personalized thank-you messages.

How do payouts work for Facebook birthday fundraisers?

With Givebutter’s Facebook integration, donations made via campaign links are deposited directly into your account—often within 3–5 business days—so nonprofits can access and use funds quickly. If you set up a birthday fundraiser directly on Facebook, donations are processed through PayPal Giving Fund, and nonprofit organizations can expect payouts to arrive within a few weeks. 

What’s the best alternative to Facebook birthday fundraisers?

The best alternative isn’t leaving Facebook behind—it’s upgrading it. With Givebutter’s Meta fundraising integration, you can keep the reach of Facebook birthday fundraisers with some added advantages: faster payouts, full donor data, and more giving options like Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.