When people rally for a cause, the model you choose shapes the momentum you can build.

Peer to peer fundraising and traditional crowdfunding often get mentioned in the same breath. Both rely on people who care about your mission. Both thrive on small actions adding up. But they work in very different ways. If you understand the difference, you can choose the model that matches your goals, your community, and your bandwidth. Many organizations eventually lean toward peer to peer because it expands your reach through real relationships, not only a central campaign page.

Donors connect fastest when a friend vouches for a cause. Peer to peer builds on that natural trust.

TL;DR: The quick answer

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a single campaign page where the organization makes the pitch and donors give directly on that page. Think Kickstarter or GoFundMe. The traffic comes from people you already reach through email, social, or paid promotion. It is simple to run, but the ceiling is often tied to the size of your audience.

What is peer to peer fundraising?

Peer to peer fundraising gives supporters their own mini campaign pages. Instead of sending everyone to one main link, you empower volunteers, donors, athletes, employees, or alumni to ask on your behalf. This usually brings in donors who would never have found you on their own. It also builds stronger engagement because supporters feel ownership over their campaign.

Why organizations often prefer P2P

This is where the models really diverge. Crowdfunding is quick to launch, and sometimes that is exactly what you need for a short, focused goal. But you are mostly talking to people who already know you. Peer to peer takes a bit more setup, but it gives you the most valuable resource in fundraising: warm introductions to new donors.

When someone shares a personal story about why they care, it reaches friends and family in a way your main campaign page cannot. A parent fundraising for a school, a runner sharing why a medical charity matters to them, an alum talking about a scholarship that changed their life. These stories carry more weight than any polished brand copy.

You can have a solid year with a good crowdfunding push. You can have a transformational year with a committed peer to peer team that feels supported and seen.

Which model should you use?

There is no single right answer. If you need urgency and simplicity, crowdfunding can be a smart move. If you want growth, new donor pipelines, and real community energy, peer to peer is usually the better structure. Many organizations use both at different times throughout the year.

The main question is not “Which platform?” It is “What story do we want our supporters to tell, and how do we make that easy for them?” Crowdfunding can host a strong pitch. Peer to peer turns that pitch into many personal invitations.

Turn supporter stories into shareable fuel

If you are thinking about peer to peer campaigns, focus on the supporter experience. Do they have a clear message to share? Do they feel proud of the content they post? Do they see the impact of their effort?

VidFlock helps you collect real supporter videos and turn them into polished, branded clips your community will want to share. Your fundraisers bring the heart. We help you give it a frame that travels.