With Mother’s Day around the corner we wondered what auctions on our site were going to help mothers, or women in general. Then we thought: Who’s heading up these online auctions that will benefit women? The answer is often other women.
Celebrate Her Strength — Give With Impact
This Mother’s Day, support missions led by and for mothers. Launch your auction now and let every bid reflect gratitude, empowerment, and change.
Launch Your Mother’s Day AuctionAccording to a 2014 study, women make up about 75% of the nonprofit workforce. However, this same study points out that nonprofits are overwhelmingly more likely to be led by a male CEO. This speaks to just one of the many power imbalances that women experience around the world. Globally, women tend to make less money over their lifetimes and are less likely to hold public office or managerial positions. Women also face more serious issues like domestic abuse and sexual violence at higher rates than men do. And many if not all of these inequalities are worse for women of color.
- In the United States we have no mandated parental leave, that helps parents of newborns and infants during the most involved stage of parenthood.
- We have no state-sponsored childcare, meaning families must pay a significant percentage of their monthly earnings towards childcare, or rely on someone who is not working (Remember how women are less likely to earn as much money as men over their lifetimes?)
- The US’s maternal mortality rate is exponentially higher than countries of similar wealth and resources (and it rose during the pandemic). Why do pregnant and postpartum Americans die at double the rate of the same population in the UK, or triple that of countries like Sweden or Australia?
We might be painting a dark picture, but there are plenty of people and organizations fighting to advance women’s causes: everything from supporting young, single mothers to promoting women who own small businesses. Some of them can be found right here, where you can bid on their items or simply donate to their organization.
This Mother’s Day, take some power back by giving to nonprofits that help mothers. They might be nonprofits that help single mothers, or teen mothers, or mothers fleeing domestic violence. Or, they might be nonprofits run by mothers, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). We recommend you take some time to get to know these worthy causes. Perhaps, if you have a hard-to-shop-for mother of your own, you might consider donating in her name as a Mother’s Day gift.
National and International Nonprofits that Help Mothers
The National Birth Equity Collaborative
The NBEC is fighting to improve Black maternal mortality rates. This nonprofit is introducing hands-on solutions like implicit bias training for healthcare workers as well as behind-the-scenes work on data collection, so that we can better understand the health outcomes of Black mothers leading up to and after birth.
Helping Hands for Single Moms
With the mission of helping low-income single mothers earn college degrees, this nonprofit offers a variety of services, from scholarships and tech assistance to holiday gifts for the kids and even professional and legal guidance. Helping Hands for Single Moms helps lift families out of poverty.
Heifer International
Though this nonprofit helps everyone in a chosen community with a variety of agricultural programs, they focus mainly on empowering women in these communities. By supporting female entrepreneurs and promoting financial independence, Heifer International helps give women the means to escape repressive homes and food insecurity.
Nonprofits Closer to Home
Don’t forget to help out your neighbors. Plenty of smaller nonprofits do important work in your area, by founding shelters, offering scholarships, and providing important support services to mothers and their families. Be sure to Google or simply ask around if there are opportunities to donate to or volunteer with organizations near you.
We wanted to highlight a few of the charity auctions we’ve hosted lately that raised money to support women and girls.
The Cennea Thorla Guidry Scholarship Foundation Mother's Day Auction
This auction helps fund a scholarship that is awarded to domestic abuse survivors.
This event benefitted Jana's Campaign, a national organization fighting gendered violence, and the local Kansas Willow Center Domestic Violence Center.
Go Red for Women at Windham Hospital
This auction benefited the national American Heart Association and the Windham Hospital Cardiac Rehab program in Connecticut.
Mother’s Day Every Day
Mothers, mother figures, and folks with the ability to bear children are at a disadvantage due to society’s outdated attitudes towards gender roles. Nonprofits not only help moms out, they often advocate for policy that will help make lasting change for the better. Childbearing can become safer, childrearing can become more affordable, and women can achieve parity with men—economically, politically, socially—but not without a fight.
Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 14th in 2023.
Works cited:
https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/barrier-bias/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/maternal-mortality-ratio/country-comparison
Unsplash image credit: Markus Winkler
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should our nonprofit run a Mother’s Day campaign?
Mother’s Day is a built-in moment for gratitude and giving. Donors are already looking for meaningful gifts, tributes, and experiences—perfect for “in honor of” donations, e-cards, and gift bundles that support your mission.
When should we start planning and promoting a Mother’s Day fundraiser?
- 6–8 weeks out: define offer(s), line up sponsors, build pages.
- 3–4 weeks: launch presales and e-card previews.
- Final 10 days: daily reminders, shipping/pickup cutoffs, last-minute e-cards.
How do “in honor of Mom” donations and e-cards work?
Add a dedication option on your donation form. Donors enter a name and email or mailing address; your system sends a personalized e-card (or printed note) explaining the gift and its impact. Offer scheduling so it arrives on Mother’s Day.
What Mother’s Day offers convert best for nonprofits?
- Donation + e-card with impact line.
- Bloom bundles: flowers or plants with a donation built in.
- Brunch boxes or bakery preorders with pickup windows.
- Experience vouchers: museum day, class, garden tour, or spa partner.
How can we celebrate Mother’s Day inclusively and with sensitivity?
- Acknowledge different paths to motherhood and diverse family structures.
- Offer opt-outs from Mother’s Day emails and alternatives like “Honor a Mentor.”
- Use person-first, non-assumptive language and multiple card designs.
What messaging makes a Mother’s Day appeal compelling?
Lead with a brief, personal story tied to your mission and a specific outcome (“$50 funds a postpartum care kit”). Keep copy warm, grateful, and action-oriented with one clear CTA.
How should we set donation tiers or prices for Mother’s Day gifts?
- Offer 3–5 tiers with short impact lines (e.g., $25, $50, $100, $250).
- Anchor with a generous option and include a custom amount field.
- For bundles, protect margin and cap quantity to manage fulfillment.
How can local businesses support a Mother’s Day campaign quickly?
Secure a sponsor to underwrite e-cards or offer a matching gift hour. Partner with florists, cafés, spas, or markets for gift bundles; include logo placement and social shout-outs as benefits.
What should our campaign page include to maximize conversions on mobile?
- Single-column layout with wallet pay and minimal fields.
- Dedication option + e-card previews and delivery scheduling.
- Suggested amounts with impact lines and a visible deadline.
Do you have a simple email and social plan for Mother’s Day?
- Launch (3–4 weeks out): announce offers and e-cards.
- One week out: last shipping/pickup reminders.
- Final 72 hours: “It’s not too late—send an e-card instantly.”
What event ideas pair well with a Mother’s Day theme?
- Garden party, tea, or brunch with mini silent auction.
- Floral workshop or pottery/painting session (ticket + donation).
- Walk/run honoring caregivers with peer-to-peer pages.
Should we create a public “tribute wall” for honorees and messages?
Yes—if opt-in and moderated. Display first names or initials, short messages, and photos only with permission. Offer a private option for those who prefer it.
Any accessibility or imagery guidelines we should follow? (General information)
- High-contrast text, labeled fields, alt text for images, and captioned video.
- Use diverse, authentic images representing different families and ages.
- Keep forms keyboard-friendly with clear error states.
This is general information, not legal advice.
How do we handle fulfillment for physical gifts or brunch boxes efficiently?
- Set clear pickup windows and location with signage and QR check-in.
- Use timed slots to prevent lines; send reminder texts the day before.
- For shipping, publish cutoffs and tracking approach up front.
Can we leverage employer matching or corporate gifts for Mother’s Day donations?
Yes—include a “Check for a match” prompt on the form and receipt, list your legal name and tax ID, and ask sponsors to fund match hours during the final push.
Which KPIs indicate our Mother’s Day campaign is on track?
- Total raised vs. goal and daily pace.
- # of e-cards sent and average gift.
- Conversion rate on mobile and match utilization.
What should our receipts include for Mother’s Day gifts and donations? (General information)
Include organization name, date, amount, and whether goods/services were provided (and FMV for any purchase component). This is general information, not tax advice.
How do we follow up after Mother’s Day to keep supporters engaged?
- Thank donors within 48 hours with photos and a short impact story.
- Invite honorees to join your list (if appropriate) or share your work.
- Offer a gentle upgrade to monthly giving tied to ongoing care for families.
Should we use ambassadors or peer-to-peer pages for Mother’s Day?
Yes—equip board members and volunteers with personal pages, a share kit (images + short copy), and a friendly leaderboard by donor count to keep it inclusive.
What are common Mother’s Day fundraising mistakes and how do we avoid them?
- Burying the dedication/e-card option on the page—make it prominent.
- Missing shipping/pickup deadlines—publish cutoffs clearly.
- One-size-fits-all messaging—offer alternatives and opt-outs.
💡 Try this in ChatGPT
- Summarize the article "Mother’s Day Fundraisers: We’re Not Gonna Take It" from https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/mothers-day-nonprofits/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
- Turn the article "Mother’s Day Fundraisers: We’re Not Gonna Take It" (https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/mothers-day-nonprofits/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
- Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "Mother’s Day Fundraisers: We’re Not Gonna Take It": https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/mothers-day-nonprofits/.
- Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this fundraising ideas topic using the article at https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/mothers-day-nonprofits/.
Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.
