Fundraising is One of the Primary Activities of Most Nonprofit Organizations

Because most charities have very small, if any, independent revenue streams, these organizations rely on external funding (including charity donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and the government) to advance the charity's mission. This funding generally covers things such as:

• Employee pay.
• Rent or mortgage.
• Improvements to its facilities.
• General bills (to keep the lights on).

Charities have a diverse suite of fundraising activities to raise the money they need, including annual fundraising campaigns, capital campaigns, special events, and grant applications. This range of activities undertaken by the charities translates into opportunities for you, as a donor, to give in different ways and for different reasons, depending on what you can do and what is important to you.