Glossary
Fundraising

Fundraising Thermometer

By: Alec Hollingsworth
Updated:  
July 2, 2025

Definition:

A fundraising thermometer is a graphic tool that visually displays progress toward a fundraising goal, encouraging donations by showing collective impact.
A fundraising thermometer is a visual tool used by nonprofits to display progress toward a specific fundraising goal. The thermometer typically shows the target amount at the top and fills up as donations come in, providing an engaging and easy-to-understand update for donors, supporters, and team members. This tool is often integrated into online campaign pages, newsletters, or event signage to motivate giving by illustrating how close the organization is to reaching its goal. By making fundraising progress public and visible, organizations can harness the power of social proof and urgency, encouraging more people to contribute and helping to sustain campaign momentum throughout the fundraising period.

Key Takeaways

  • Visually tracks progress toward fundraising goals
  • Motivates donors by showing real-time results
  • Enhances transparency and campaign engagement

Why It Matters

It motivates donors, increases transparency, and can boost overall fundraising success.

Real World Example

Imagine a nonprofit running an online campaign to raise $10,000 for a community garden. They add a fundraising thermometer to their Keela donation page. As donations arrive, the thermometer steadily fills, showing supporters how close they are to reaching the goal. When the thermometer hits 75%, the organization shares a social media update celebrating the milestone, which encourages more donors to contribute. By the end of the campaign, the thermometer reaches 100%, and the nonprofit celebrates publicly, thanking donors for their collective effort and visually demonstrating the impact of every contribution.

How Keela Helps

With Keela, you can easily embed a customizable fundraising thermometer widget into your campaign pages. This feature automatically updates as donations are processed in Keela, providing real-time progress tracking for both your team and your supporters. By integrating a fundraising thermometer, you can engage your community and inspire increased giving through visual storytelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fundraising thermometer?

A fundraising thermometer is a visual tool that displays progress toward a specific fundraising goal, filling up as donations are received.

How does a fundraising thermometer increase donations?

By showing real-time progress, it motivates donors to give, creates a sense of urgency, and encourages people to help reach the goal.

Can I use a fundraising thermometer with Keela?

Yes, Keela allows you to add an automatically updating fundraising thermometer to your campaign pages, making it easy to track and share progress.

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