This article is part of our Digital Skills series!
Every post is packed with expert tips, time-saving tactics, and best practices to help you raise more money, faster.

 ‣ Levelling Up Your Social Media Marketing

 ‣ Using Al to Make Your Fundraising Easier

 ‣ How to Raise More Money with Every Email

 ‣ How to Create a Digital Fundraising Strategy (feat. Zoe Amar)

Feeling the pressure to get digital fundraising right? You’re not alone.

According to the 2025 Charity Digital Skills Report, 60% of UK charities say they’re struggling to make progress with digital fundraising. And it’s the same things continuously holding them back: tight budgets, little time, and not enough money to grow the team’s skills.

But a digital strategy isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential!

In this post, digital strategist and report co-author Zoe Amar shares why a strategy matters and how to build one that gets your charity up to speed, fast.

Zoe Amar: what the data says and what to do next

Insight from Zoe Amar, digital strategist & co-author of the Charity Digital Skills Report:

The 2025 Charity Digital Skills Report showed us that 44% of charities have a digital strategy in place, which has declined from 50% last year. That is worrying.

However, just over a third (34%) of charities are advancing with digital. And encouragingly, almost two-thirds of charities (63%) have progressed with digital this year.

Whilst that’s down from the 76% who had progressed last year, any progress in the current climate of squeezed finances and changes in donor behaviour are a hard-won victory. 

What the report is telling us here is that when it comes to strategy not all charities are equal, and that’s a gap that we want to close. Everyone should have the tools to develop a strategy, with a clear vision of where digital is going to take you and how to get there.

How to develop a digital strategy

As your strategic ambitions evolve, they are likely to need upskilling. Here’s how to create a strategy that puts you ahead now and acts as a roadmap for the future.

1. Talk to your supporters

Begin by talking to your donors and other supporters. What do they need from charities like yours? Which other causes are they supporting online? How are they using digital channels and how might those behaviours be changing?

2. Review how your channels are performing

Reviewing your own performance, as well as similar charities’ digital channels. Both will provide the data and insight you need to move forward.

3. Map out your team’s skills

Finally, no strategy development process is complete without mapping the digital skills of your team. You need to know what their capabilities are, or they will not be able to deliver the strategy.

“A good digital strategy is always more than a plan. It’s your map for navigating the path ahead.”

It helps you deliver what you’ve committed to, informs decision-making at each step of delivering the strategy, and helps address new opportunities that might come your way. 

For example, within the next month you are likely to see at least one new exciting way to use AI to help your digital fundraising…do you have the right strategy to make the most of its potential? 

Read our report: https://charitydigitalskills.co.uk/

Note: Digital Learning Grant applications for 2026 are now closed.

Last chance to boost your fundraising skills – for free!

Time’s running out to apply for the Digital Learning Grant. If selected, you’ll get expert support to grow your confidence and run stronger campaigns in 2026!

What’s included:

• 1:1 coaching in digital fundraising and strategy development
• Live workshops to solve real challenges you’re facing at work
• Exclusive networking opportunities with your peers
• On-demand courses you can dip into at your own pace

Only a few days left… Apply now and set yourself up for success!