How UNFPA turbo-charged their donor revenue by 311% in just 12 months

About UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN’s program to support women’s sexual and reproductive health. With partners in more than 150 countries, UNFPA provides critical access to health services for women and girls at risk of maternal death, gender-based violence, and harmful cultural practices. It’s mission is to build a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

The challenge: in-house tools couldn't meet international needs

As a mission-driven organization, UNFPA prioritizes impact over technology development, which makes maintaining custom fundraising tools resource-intensive with limited returns. And UNFPA had complex fundraising challenges common to international organizations, including:

• Missing localized payment options: Expanding into new markets in South America and Africa required offering regional payment methods to meet donor expectations.
• Unreliable processing during donation spikes: When crises brought in high-volume donations, UNFPA needed a platform that could handle processing without losing donations.
• Clunky data management: The team needed seamless integration of donor data across platforms such as Salesforce and Google Analytics.

Plus, fresh donor retention strategies were always top-of-mind, especially turning the massive influx of one-time emergency donations into steady revenue during non-crisis periods.

The solution: global-friendly donation tools

UNFPA needed a dedicated donation platform that could handle their complex needs without burdening the team. Fundraise Up’s online donation platform was that perfect match. With global fundraising features built into the donation form, all UNFPA has to do is toggle features off and on.

UNFPA feature-favorites:

• Global payment options: with dozens of global payment methods and 130+ currencies, UNFPA has enabled global donor participation.
• Suggested donation amounts: Tailored donation suggestions, based on donor location and other non-PII data, help earn maximum contributions.
• Adaptive cost coverage: The option for donors to cover transaction fees reduces operational costs for UNFPA.
• Impact descriptions: Clear communication on how donations are used has improved donor engagement and satisfaction.
• Integrations: Seamless integrations with Salesforce, Stripe, and Google Analytics have streamlined operations and reporting.

“UNFPA now has the right tools to attract monthly donors and keep them coming back,” says Cesar. “And the features allow us to keep donors for longer.”

The results: features wildly surpass expectations

Since adopting Fundraise Up, UNFPA has seen its donor retention rates soar from 50% to 80%+, demonstrating a substantial increase in donor loyalty and repeat giving. Additionally, 84% of donors now choose to cover transaction costs, which helps maximize the funds available for UNFPA’s programs. And Fundraise Up’s mobile-optimized donation forms have seen 85% of donors giving through mobile devices, reflecting the importance of a convenient giving experience.

UNFPA has also seen a 5% increase in recurring revenue just from Fundraise Up’s pre- and post-donation upsells. But most impressively, UNFPA has achieved a 311% average year-over-year growth in donation revenue.

This growth is the natural result of putting donor experiences first. When nonprofits meet donor expectations, it’s easy for donors to give (and give again). And with Fundraise Up’s donor-centric tools in place, UNFPA is poised to fulfill the potential of even more women, girls, and young people around the world.