For schools, nonprofits, churches & events
Free Fundraising Thermometer Generator
Name your campaign, set the goal, and enter what you've raised. Download the thermometer as a PNG, print it as a poster, or make it a live thermometer that updates on your website as donations come in. No sign-up.
Want it to update itself?
A download is a snapshot. A live thermometer updates on your website and on the big screen at your event every time you log a donation. Free, no credit card.
Make it a live thermometerHow to Make a Fundraising Thermometer
- 1
Set a goal people can picture
Pick one total for one campaign, and name it after what the money buys (“New Playground Fund” beats “Spring Drive”). A concrete goal gives donors a finish line to push toward.
- 2
Start with what you already have
Enter pledges and early gifts before you launch. A thermometer that opens at 20% looks like momentum; one sitting at zero looks like nobody has given yet.
- 3
Pick a color and make it
Red is the classic, but matching your school or organization color makes it feel official. Download the PNG, print it, or make it live.
- 4
Update it on a schedule
Refresh the total after every event, or at least weekly, and announce milestones at 25%, 50%, and 75%. A stale thermometer stops motivating anyone.
Printed Thermometer or Live Thermometer?
Both are free. Most campaigns use the printed one for the hallway and the live one everywhere people are looking at a screen.
Printed or downloaded
- Made in the generator above in under a minute
- Best for bulletin boards, church lobbies, school hallways, and newsletters
- A snapshot: download or print again when the total changes
Live on MakeTheBoard
- Log a donation from your phone and every screen updates instantly
- Best for your campaign page, a gala or telethon big screen, and share links
- Embed it on your website with one line of code, free on every plan
Where to Put Your Fundraising Thermometer
A thermometer only works if people see it more than once. Put it everywhere your supporters already look.
Your campaign or donation page
Embed the live thermometer right above the donate button so visitors see how close you are at the moment they decide.
Galas, auctions & telethons
Put it on the big screen and log pledges from your phone. The room watches the bar rise in real time.
School hallways & church lobbies
Print a poster-size thermometer and update it after each collection. Kids and congregations love coloring in the progress.
Newsletters & email updates
Drop the downloaded PNG into each update so supporters see progress without clicking anything.
Social media posts
Share a fresh image at every milestone, or post the live link so followers can check in whenever they like.
Next to a donor leaderboard
Pair the thermometer with a live leaderboard of top classes, teams, or donors to add friendly competition to the total.
Real-Time Tracking and Shareable Links
Everything you need to show fundraising progress, built in from the start.
Live Donation Tracking
Every donation is reflected instantly on your thermometer. Donors see their impact the moment they contribute, which encourages others to give.
Goal Progress Display
A rising thermometer gives donors a clear visual of how close you are to your fundraising goal: urgency that flat numbers can't match.
Donor Recognition Wall
Highlight your top donors or show every contributor by name. Public recognition builds goodwill and motivates larger gifts.
Campaign Website Embed
Paste one line of code into your fundraising page, blog, or nonprofit website. The thermometer updates live without any manual refresh.
Brand Your Campaign
Upload your nonprofit's logo, pick your brand colors, and add a custom title so the thermometer looks like part of your official campaign.
No Donation Fees
We never charge transaction fees or take a cut of your donations. Every dollar raised goes to your cause.
Watch Your Goal Come to Life
The classic thermometer fills up as donations come in. Supporters see real-time progress and feel the momentum building toward your goal.
Create a fundraising thermometer
Recognize Your Supporters
Show recent donors and top contributors alongside the thermometer. Public recognition encourages others to give and makes donors feel valued.
Explore the donor leaderboard
Display at Your Fundraising Event
Put the thermometer on a big screen at your gala, auction, or telethon. Log donations from your phone and watch the crowd cheer as the bar rises.
Set up a TV display
Pair It with a Donor Leaderboard
Show your fundraising thermometer next to a live donor leaderboard for the best of both worlds. The thermometer drives urgency toward the total while the leaderboard recognizes your top supporters and inspires more giving.
Explore the donor leaderboard
A Fundraiser Thermometer for Any Campaign
Enter a clear target amount and watch the total rise in real time as donations roll in. This charity thermometer works for any campaign goal (membership drives, building funds, or giving days), keeping supporters focused on the finish line.
Create a fundraising thermometer
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The free plan lets you create up to 2 thermometers with 15 entries each, no credit card required. Upgrade to Pro ($24/mo) or Premium ($52/mo) for higher limits, custom branding, and CSV exports.
Yes. Every thermometer gets a unique embed code. Paste it into your website, campaign page, or any page that supports HTML embeds. The display updates in real time.
MakeTheBoard is a display and tracking tool. You process payments through your existing platform (PayPal, GoFundMe, Stripe, etc.) and log donations in MakeTheBoard to update the thermometer.
Yes, on a paid plan. Pro lets you invite up to 3 teammates to each thermometer and Premium removes the limit. Each person logs donations from their own device and the thermometer updates instantly. On the free plan, one person updates the thermometer and everyone else watches it live through the share link.
Currently, donations are added by the thermometer's owner or its admins. On Pro and Premium you can add admins so your team can log contributions as they come in.
Absolutely. While the thermometer is popular for donation tracking, you can use it for membership drives, volunteer sign-ups, event registrations, or any target with a number.
Yes. The thermometer doubles as a live donation tracker and fundraiser tracker: log each gift as it comes in and the bar fills to show exactly how much you've raised toward your goal. As a donation thermometer it works for one-off campaigns, recurring giving days, or season-long drives, so supporters always see an up-to-date running total.
Pick a goal amount, give your campaign a name, and your fundraising thermometer is live in seconds. Log donations as they come in and the bar fills automatically, with no design tools or downloads required. You can then share the link or embed it on your page.
Yes. The same goal thermometer works for any target with a number, not just dollars. Set your goal, update the total, and the thermometer shows exactly how close you are, whether you're tracking donations, sign-ups, or items collected.
Yes. The generator at the top of this page is a free fundraising thermometer template: set the goal, name the campaign, pick a color, then download it or print it. For a version that updates itself, make it live and share or embed it. You can also browse the ready-made goal tracker & thermometer templates.
Yes. Enter your campaign name, goal, and amount raised in the generator above, pick a color, and press Download PNG. You get a high-resolution image for your newsletter, social posts, slides, or email, with no sign-up.
Yes. Fill in the generator at the top of this page and press Print for a full-page thermometer sized for a poster, hallway, or bulletin board. Reprint it whenever the total changes, or make it a live thermometer and put it on a screen instead, so it updates itself.
Ready to Launch Your Fundraiser?
Create a fundraising thermometer in seconds. Free to start, no credit card required.