Most Popular Forms of Giving Charity: What Tops the List?

If you think dropping a few coins in a bucket outside a store is the main way people give to charity, you're way off. Today, giving has leveled up in ways most of us couldn’t have imagined ten years ago. Sure, classic cash and checks are still around, but they’re not the top choice anymore.

Now, it's all about convenience and trust. More people are giving online than ever before, and not just because it’s quick. You can donate from your phone in under a minute, and track every penny if you want. Plus, you get instant receipts—no more digging for papers during tax time. But what form actually gets the most traction? Is it those flashy charity events or the monthly debit from your account? The answer has some twists, and it matters for your impact and experience.

• Old-School Giving: Cash, Checks, and Events
• Rise of Online Donations and Crowdfunding
• Why Monthly Giving Takes the Lead
• Getting the Most from Your Charity Giving

Old-School Giving: Cash, Checks, and Events

Before the days of online charity and digital wallets, most people gave to their favorite causes with good old-fashioned cash, a checkbook, or by showing up at a community event. It's not just nostalgia—these methods still matter, especially for older folks and small, local groups.

Think about charity walks, bake sales, or galas. These charity events aren’t just a way to have fun or dress up—they pull in big donations. For example, in the US, over $3 billion gets raised every year from walks, runs, and other peer-to-peer fundraising events. A single charity dinner in a big city can sometimes pull in more than $500,000 in just one night. But these events take a lot of planning, and a chunk of the money often goes to covering the cost of the venue, food, or supplies.

Cash and checks have their own charm—they're super easy for one-off gifts or when you want to give quickly, like during those holiday bell-ringing drives. Lots of local food banks and shelters rely on these kinds of donations to keep their doors open. But let’s be real: they’re starting to feel a bit old-school next to all the digital ways to give. Plus, unless you get a receipt, tracking those gifts for taxes can be a pain.

• Cash: Fast, private, but hard to track.
• Checks: Good for larger gifts, sometimes needed for grant donations.
• Events: Fun and social, bring in groups, but cost more to run.

Here's a quick look at how much is still given the traditional way versus modern forms in the US (2024):

Physical giving isn’t dead, but it’s shifting fast. Want to support a local cause or just feel the energy of a group coming together for good? These methods still pack a punch—but it’s smart to look for receipts and check how much of your dollar really reaches those in need.

Rise of Online Donations and Crowdfunding

If you've ever clicked a "donate now" button, you're part of the online charity wave. Online donations are now front and center, with more than half of donors worldwide using the internet to support causes, according to the 2024 Global Trends in Giving Report. This isn’t just about big charities either—smaller organizations use platforms like GoFundMe and JustGiving to reach supporters they’d never meet in person.

Crowdfunding makes it easy for just about anyone to pitch in. Let’s say someone needs help with medical bills, setting up a campaign only takes minutes. Family, friends, and even strangers get to chip in directly. And when a crisis hits—like a natural disaster—people respond way faster online than with traditional charity drives.

Why are online donations so popular?

• They’re super convenient—you can give anytime, anywhere, from your phone or laptop.
• It’s transparent. You can usually see exactly where your money is going and watch progress in real time.
• Sharing campaigns on social media means more people get involved, fast.
• Most sites let you set up recurring donations, which helps charities plan and budget better.

And here's something surprising: Small donations add up fast. One study from Blackbaud found that about 30% of charity fundraising now comes from people giving online, and most of these are smaller, repeated gifts. Crowdfunding alone helps raise billions each year.

Bottom line: If you want your donations to have a real, trackable impact, online giving and crowdfunding are where it’s happening right now. Plus, you get to support causes and people almost instantly and feel more connected to what’s going on in your community—or even across the world.

Why Monthly Giving Takes the Lead

Monthly giving has quietly become the superstar in the world of charity donations. Instead of bigger one-time gifts, more people are choosing to set up small, automatic payments every month. It’s easy to see why this is catching on—just set it and forget it, but your impact keeps rolling in, month after month. Nonprofits actually rely on these regular gifts way more than one-off donations. According to the Nonprofit Source’s 2024 data, recurring donors give up to 42% more per year than those who give just once.

This makes a huge difference for charities trying to plan ahead. When they have a steady stream of donations coming in, they can budget and run programs without panicking about next month’s cash. Plus, groups with lots of monthly givers are less likely to face financial trouble in a crisis—like a disaster or an economic downturn—because their support base is much more stable.

It’s not just better for the charity. For the donor, monthly giving means you don’t feel the pinch of a big payment. Small amounts spread out over the year can easily fit into most budgets. Plus, you don’t have to remember when to give—one quick sign-up and you’ll help all year. Most major online charity platforms, like GoFundMe and JustGiving, now offer monthly options, so the setup is a breeze.

If you’re wondering how common this really is, check out some numbers:

The trend is clear—monthly giving is growing fast. And for fundraising, it’s a game changer. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck and truly help charities do their work, monthly giving is hard to beat.

Getting the Most from Your Charity Giving

Want your charity donations to stretch as far as possible? It’s not just about how much you give—it’s about how you give, and who you give to. Some forms of giving actually help you do more good without spending an extra cent.

First, always check if your chosen charity is transparent about where the money goes. A legit one will have clear info on their website and should be listed on rating sites like Charity Navigator or Guidestar. If you want to get the tax break (who doesn’t?), make sure you’re giving to a registered nonprofit. That way, you get a receipt you can use come tax season.

Monthly donations are becoming a heavy hitter. Over 60% of recurring donors give more during a year than those who make one-off gifts. Why? Turns out, smaller ongoing amounts don’t hit your wallet as hard, so you stick with it. Plus, charities love the steady support—it helps them plan better.

There’s more: if your job offers donation matching, grab it. Matching gifts basically double your impact. Some big tech companies even match donations 2:1, so your $50 becomes $150 just like that.

Track your donations so you know what you’re giving over time—and where it’s going. This can help you focus your support or make changes if needed. And don’t forget, online fundraising platforms often charge small fees. If you want every penny to count, look for ones that let you cover the fee or give directly on the charity’s site.

Here’s a snapshot of ways to get the best from your donations:

• Give monthly to spread out your support and help charities with budgeting.
• Use employer matching if available for instant impact boost.
• Check if your favorite fundraising platform has extra fees.
• Keep donation receipts for tax time.
• Choose well-rated nonprofits for transparency and results.

If you want to see how monthly giving stacks up, check out this simple table:

Make your charity giving count—pick the method that fits your life and stretches every dollar.