Fundraising Thermometer: The Complete Guide (Templates + Best Practices)

There is something almost magnetic about a fundraising thermometer. You see the red bar creeping toward the goal line and you think, "We're so close -- I should chip in." That simple visual nudge has powered church building campaigns, PTA playground funds, and million-dollar capital drives for decades, and it works just as well on a website as it does on a poster board in the lobby.

This guide covers everything you need to know about fundraising thermometers: what makes them effective, when to use one (and when a leaderboard might work better), template options, milestone strategies, placement, conversion best practices, and a step-by-step walkthrough for creating a digital thermometer-style tracker with MakeTheBoard.

What is a fundraising thermometer?

A fundraising thermometer is a visual progress indicator that shows how much money has been raised toward a specific goal. The classic version looks like a mercury thermometer: a vertical bar that "fills up" from bottom to top as donations come in. Modern versions might be horizontal progress bars, circular gauges, or animated counters, but the psychology is the same.

You set a public goal -- say, $10,000 for new band uniforms -- and every time a gift comes in, the thermometer rises. Donors see exactly how far the campaign has come and how far it still has to go.

Why thermometers change donor behavior

The effectiveness of a fundraising thermometer is not a guess. It is grounded in several well-documented behavioral principles:

• Social proof. When people see that others have already given, they feel more comfortable giving too. A thermometer at 60% says "lots of people believe in this cause."
• Goal gradient effect. Donors are more likely to give when the finish line is in sight. A thermometer at 85% creates urgency that a plain text update never could.
• Transparency. Showing real-time progress builds trust. Donors can see their gift move the needle, which makes the act of giving feel tangible.
• Loss aversion. Nobody wants to see a campaign stall just short of the goal. When the thermometer is close but not quite there, people rally.

In short, a fundraising thermometer turns passive awareness into active participation.

When to use a thermometer vs a fundraising leaderboard

A thermometer and a leaderboard both track progress, but they serve different purposes. Choosing the right one (or using both together) depends on the dynamics of your campaign.

Factor	Fundraising Thermometer	Fundraising Leaderboard
Best for	Unified group goal	Competition between teams or individuals
Psychology	"We're all in this together"	"Let's see who can raise the most"
Donor experience	Collaborative, inclusive	Competitive, exciting
Ideal campaign	Capital drives, annual funds, disaster relief	Peer-to-peer, team challenges, giving days
Complexity	Very simple to set up	Requires tracking per team or person
Example	Church roof repair fund	Fraternity vs. sorority charity week

Use a thermometer when the campaign has one shared goal and you want everyone to feel like they are contributing to the same pot. This is the right choice for most nonprofit annual appeals, PTA fundraisers, and church building campaigns.

Use a leaderboard when you want to spark friendly competition -- for example, tracking which department or team has raised the most during a giving day. Check out our fundraising leaderboard page for ideas on setting that up.

Use both when you have a top-level campaign goal (thermometer) and underlying team competition (leaderboard). For instance, a school fundraiser might show a thermometer for the whole school and a leaderboard for each grade.

Template options: printable vs digital

Before you build anything, decide whether your thermometer should live on paper, on a screen, or both.

Printable thermometer templates

A printable fundraising thermometer is a PDF or image you print out and color in by hand. They are still surprisingly common in churches, schools, and community centers.

Pros:

• Zero technology required
• Visible in a physical space where people gather
• Tactile and nostalgic -- people enjoy watching someone color in the next segment
• Free (just print and go)

Cons:

• Manual updates only -- someone has to be there with a marker
• Cannot be shared online or embedded on a website
• Gets messy if the goal changes or you need to erase
• No real-time updates for remote supporters

Best for: Small, local campaigns where most donors walk past the display regularly (church hallway, school office, break room).

Digital thermometer templates

A digital fundraising thermometer lives on a website, in an email, or on a screen at an event. It updates automatically or with a few clicks.

Pros:

• Updates instantly -- donors see progress in real time
• Can be embedded on your website, shared on social media, or projected at events
• Looks polished and professional
• Accessible to remote donors and supporters
• Easy to adjust the goal if the campaign overperforms

Cons:

• Requires a tool or platform (though free options exist)
• Less impact in spaces without screens

Best for: Any campaign that has an online component, which in 2026 is nearly all of them.

Hybrid approach

Many organizations do both. They put a printed thermometer in the lobby and embed a digital one on their website. The key is keeping both in sync, which usually means one person is responsible for updating the physical version when the digital number changes.

Update cadence and milestone strategy

How often you update the thermometer -- and how you celebrate milestones along the way -- can make or break donor momentum.

Short-term campaigns (1-14 days)

Short campaigns like giving days, flash fundraisers, and event-based drives need frequent updates.

Cadence	When to use
Real-time	Giving days, live events, telethons
Every few hours	Week-long campaigns with online donation pages
Twice daily	Short campaigns that also accept cash/check gifts

For a 24-hour giving day, real-time updates are essential. Donors checking back throughout the day need to see momentum to stay engaged. A digital thermometer that auto-updates is ideal here.

Long-term campaigns (1-12+ months)

Capital campaigns, annual funds, and building drives move more slowly. Updating too frequently when the number barely changes can actually be discouraging.

Cadence	When to use
Weekly	Annual fund drives, capital campaigns
After each major gift	Quiet periods where a big donation shifts the needle
At milestones	Combine updates with celebration announcements

Milestone planning

Do not just set a goal and hope for the best. Break the campaign into milestones and plan communications around each one.

Example milestone plan for a $50,000 campaign:

Milestone	% of Goal	Thermometer Reading	Communication
Launch	0%	$0	Announce the campaign with goal and thermometer
Early momentum	10%	$5,000	"We've raised $5K in the first week!" email
Quarter mark	25%	$12,500	Social media post celebrating progress
Halfway	50%	$25,000	Major update, video from beneficiaries, matching gift push
Three-quarter mark	75%	$37,500	"Only $12,500 to go!" urgency messaging
Final push	90%	$45,000	"We're so close" email with strong CTA
Goal reached	100%	$50,000	Celebration announcement, thank donors publicly
Stretch goal	110%	$55,000	"You blew past the goal -- let's keep going!"

Each milestone is a reason to communicate. And every communication is an opportunity to share the thermometer image and invite another gift.

Placement: where to put your fundraising thermometer

A thermometer only works if people see it. Here are the most effective placements, roughly in order of impact.

1. Your donation page

This is the single most important placement. When someone is already on the page deciding whether to give, a thermometer showing progress toward the goal provides the final nudge. Place it above the fold, near the donate button.

2. Your website homepage or campaign landing page

Add a thermometer widget or image to your homepage during the campaign. It signals that the fundraiser is active and important. Link it directly to the donation page.

3. Email campaigns

Include a thermometer image (or a styled progress bar) in every campaign email. Even a simple text-based version works:

[=========>          ] 62% -- $31,000 of $50,000

Update the image before each send so donors see real progress between messages.

4. Social media

Share thermometer screenshots or graphics on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Milestone moments (25%, 50%, 75%, 90%) make natural social posts. Add the donation link in every post.

5. On-site physical displays

Print a large thermometer poster for your lobby, fellowship hall, break room, or event venue. For galas and live events, project a digital thermometer on a screen so attendees can watch it climb in real time.

6. Internal communications

Do not forget your own team. Share progress in staff meetings, Slack channels, and internal newsletters. When employees see the thermometer climbing, they become ambassadors who spread the word.

Conversion best practices

A thermometer builds excitement, but excitement does not automatically translate into donations. These best practices close the gap.

Always have a donate button nearby

This is the single most important rule. Every time someone sees your thermometer -- on your website, in an email, on social media -- there should be a clear, visible way to give. A thermometer without a donate button is a missed opportunity.

• On your website: Place the donate button directly next to or below the thermometer.
• In emails: Include a prominent "Give Now" button within one scroll of the thermometer graphic.
• On social media: Always include the donation link in the caption or bio.

Show the dollar amount, not just the percentage

"$37,500 of $50,000" is more compelling than "75%." Real numbers make the campaign feel concrete. Show both if you can, but never skip the dollar figures.

Use round-number goals (mostly)

Goals like $10,000, $25,000, or $100,000 feel achievable and clean. Avoid oddly specific goals like $47,832 unless there is a compelling reason (e.g., "That's the exact cost of the new playground equipment"). A specific-to-the-penny goal can actually work well because it shows you did your homework.

Set a realistic but ambitious goal

If you set the goal too high, the thermometer will sit at 15% for weeks and donors will lose faith. If you set it too low, you will hit 100% early and lose the urgency that drives gifts. A good rule of thumb: set your public goal at about 80-90% of what you actually hope to raise, then celebrate with a stretch goal if you exceed it.

Seed the thermometer before launch

Nobody wants to be the first donor. If possible, secure a few leadership gifts before the public launch so the thermometer starts at 10-20% instead of zero. This creates immediate social proof and momentum.

Celebrate every milestone publicly

When you hit 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, make noise. Send an email. Post on social media. Update the thermometer graphic. Thank donors by name (with permission). Public celebration reinforces giving behavior and encourages the next wave of gifts.

Create urgency near the end

When the thermometer is at 85% or higher, shift your messaging to urgency: "We're only $7,500 away!" or "Just 47 gifts to go!" The goal gradient effect is strongest in the final stretch, so increase your communication frequency as you approach the finish line.

Include donor counts alongside dollar amounts

"$37,500 raised by 412 donors" is more powerful than the dollar amount alone. It tells potential donors that this is a community effort, not just a few big checks.

How to create a fundraising thermometer with MakeTheBoard

You do not need design skills or custom code. MakeTheBoard lets you create a clean, professional progress tracker in minutes that you can share anywhere.

Step 1: Sign up and create a board

Go to MakeTheBoard and create a free account. From your dashboard, click New Board. Name it after your campaign -- for example, "Spring Gala 2026 Fund" or "New Roof Campaign."

Step 2: Set up your tracker

Add a single entry to represent your campaign total. Set the starting value to your current amount raised (or zero if you are just launching). You can use the board's description or title to display the goal amount so visitors know the target.

Step 3: Customize the appearance

Use the color picker to match your organization's brand colors. Choose a background and layout that fits the context. A clean, bold look works best for fundraising displays.

For detailed setup instructions, check out our getting started guide.

Step 4: Update as donations come in

Click the score to update it whenever new donations arrive. The board updates in real time for anyone viewing it, so your website visitors, email recipients, and event attendees always see the latest number.

Step 5: Share it everywhere

MakeTheBoard gives you a public link for your board. Use it to:

• Embed on your website by linking or iframing the public board URL
• Share on social media with a direct link
• Project at events by opening the link on a big screen
• Include in emails by linking to the live board

The board is mobile-friendly, so donors on phones and tablets get a great experience too.

Step 6: Add team competition (optional)

If your campaign has multiple teams -- like departments, classes, or chapters -- add each team as a separate entry on the board. Now you have a fundraising leaderboard alongside your overall goal tracking. Donors can see which team is leading and rally behind their group.

For more ideas on team-based fundraising displays, visit our fundraising leaderboard page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set the right fundraising goal?

Start with your actual budget need, then factor in your donor base and past performance. If your last campaign raised $30,000 and your list has not grown dramatically, setting a $100,000 goal will feel unreachable. A good target stretches your donors but feels achievable. Consider setting the public goal slightly below your internal target so you can celebrate a "stretch goal" after hitting 100%.

Can I track offline donations (cash, checks) on a digital thermometer?

Yes. Simply add the offline amount to your digital total manually. With MakeTheBoard, you update the number with a click, so it takes seconds to fold in a check that arrived in the mail. The key is having one person responsible for updating the digital tracker when offline gifts come in.

Should I show individual donor names on the thermometer?

A thermometer itself usually does not show names -- it is a single progress bar. But you can pair it with a donor wall or giving leaderboard that recognizes contributors. If you want to show names, a fundraising leaderboard alongside the thermometer works well.

What if we exceed our goal?

Celebrate it loudly, then set a stretch goal. Update the thermometer to show the new target. Donors love seeing a campaign blow past 100% -- it signals success and community momentum. On MakeTheBoard, you can simply update the displayed goal in your board title or description and keep tracking.

How is a fundraising thermometer different from a fundraising progress bar?

They are the same concept in different shapes. A thermometer is vertical and uses the classic mercury-rising metaphor. A progress bar is horizontal and feels more modern. Both communicate the same information: current amount vs. goal amount. Choose whichever fits your design better.

Should I use a thermometer for team-based fundraising?

For team-based campaigns, a leaderboard (ranking teams by amount raised) is usually more effective because it adds competitive energy. But you can use a thermometer for the overall campaign total and a leaderboard for the team breakdown. Check our fundraising leaderboard guide for setup tips.

What is the best free fundraising thermometer generator?

Several tools let you create a basic thermometer. MakeTheBoard is a strong option because it updates in real time, works on any device, and does not require any technical skills. The free plan is generous enough for most small to mid-size campaigns. If you need more boards or features, take a look at our pricing page.

How do I keep donors engaged after the thermometer stalls?

Every campaign hits a plateau. When it happens, try these tactics: share a story from a beneficiary, announce a matching gift challenge, break the remaining amount into smaller micro-goals ("Just 20 gifts of $50 gets us there"), or recruit a new ambassador to share the campaign with their network. Update the thermometer even for small movements -- any progress is worth communicating.

Wrapping up

A fundraising thermometer is one of the simplest, most effective tools in a fundraiser's toolkit. It turns an abstract dollar goal into a visual story that donors want to be part of. Whether you tape a poster to the wall or embed a live tracker on your website, the principles are the same: set a clear goal, update often, celebrate milestones, and always make it easy to give.

Ready to build yours? Sign up for MakeTheBoard and create a fundraising thermometer in minutes -- no design skills, no code, completely free to start.