Just over a year ago, Campax decided to switch to RaiseNow – and since then, a lot has changed in their fundraising. We spoke with Matthias Meier, Head of Fundraising at Campax, about the positive developments and tangible results, and have summarised the key takeaways for you and your own fundraising success.
Discover the results Campax has achieved in digital fundraising since switching to RaiseNow – from optimised processes to sustainably improved outcomes. Here’s what you can expect in the success story:
.jpg)
“If someone donates 20 Swiss francs, we actually receive the full amount. That’s a huge benefit – and thanks to our opt-out model, over 90% of donors now do it.”
Campax is a Swiss multi-issue campaigning organisation active in areas such as climate justice, gender equality and animal rights. Under the leadership of Matthias Meier, Head of Campaigns and Fundraising, the organisation has built a strong digital fundraising programme. To keep pace with rising demands and key social issues, Campax made the decision to move away from their former solution and switch to RaiseNow.
The reasons were clear: more reliability, better integration, a structure built for nonprofits – and features like "Cover the Fee" that reflect how modern fundraising actually works.
These features help Campax turn digital engagement into measurable fundraising results. In our conversation, Matthias shared practical insights into the organisation’s approach – from opt-out fee coverage and A/B testing to the technical foundations that make or break performance. Campax knows what to look for in a solution – and how to turn good tools into real impact.
With a strong online community and a large mailing list, online fundraising is central to Campax’s strategy. Around 70% of total income comes from individual donations (offline & online), with the rest from foundations. To stay independent, the organisation avoids sponsorships. While print mailings still bring in high single gifts, the real volume is digital – and that’s where tools matter most.
Since switching to RaiseNow, several features have stood out as especially effective. In our conversation with Head of Campaigns and Fundraising, Matthias Meier, we explored the key elements behind Campax’s digital success:
Campax is a multi-issue campaigning organisation based in Zurich. Whether it’s climate justice, animal rights or gender equality, their goal is to mobilise people around the causes that matter – and to do so quickly, clearly and with digital reach. Alongside their own campaigns, they also operate the ACT platform, which enables individuals and other organisations to launch their own petitions and campaigns, supported by Campax with technology and know-how.
One of the most impactful changes for Campax has been the introduction of the "Cover the Fee" feature – set as opt-out by default. This small configuration change has delivered major results. We’ve seen the difference that makes – also in petition settings,” says Matthias.
“Wherever we had to switch to opt-in for data privacy reasons, conversion rates dropped. With opt-out, you just reach so many more people.”
Opt-in means the donor has to actively select a box to cover the fee – they choose to say yes. Opt-out means the option is pre-selected – and donors only untick it if they want to say no.
Even with high donor volume, transaction fees can quietly reduce the net income from each gift. Campax needed a solution that preserved more of each contribution – without creating extra steps or friction for their supporters.
By activating "Cover the Fee" through RaiseNow and applying the opt-out model, Campax made it easy for donors to cover the transaction fee voluntarily. The default setting meant donors didn’t have to actively select a box – and could still deselect it at any time.
“The obvious benefit is that when someone donates 20 francs, we actually receive the full 20,” explains Matthias, Head of Campaigns and Fundraising. “The acceptance is just incredible - it really shows that people want to make sure their full donation reaches the organisation.”
The outcome has been exceptional: “We saw an acceptance rate of over 92 % on donations via RaiseNow Hub. These are absolute dream numbers”. Originally, Campax had aimed for 80%. “We really didn’t expect it to be that high. Opt-in versus opt-out clearly makes a huge difference.”
This one setting – often overlooked – has made a measurable financial impact. And it speaks to something deeper: people want their donation to count. With "Cover the Fee", RaiseNow offers a feature built for real-world fundraising – shaped by behavioural insights and grounded in nonprofit needs. A small option. A big win. And only one of the ways RaiseNow helps ensure that donations reach where they’re meant to go.
A key improvement for Campax since switching to RaiseNow has been the use of embedded donation widgets directly on their own website. Unlike their previous setup with standalone external pages, this change offers a more seamless experience for supporters – and more flexibility for the team.
“The forms are just much more appealing. The overall look and feel is more elegant – and the fact that they live on our site makes the whole donation experience feel smoother,” says Matthias.
Design also plays a role: “What I personally really like is that little lock icon that says ‘Secure donation via RaiseNow’ – it’s a small detail, but it really reassures me as a donor.”
.png?width=200&height=200&name=Untitled%20design%20(42).png "Secure Donations Campax")
A key prerequisite for data-driven fundraising strategies is high data quality. Beyond design, the Tamaro widget enables Campax to define donation purposes using a three-level structure. This allows them to assign donations not only to broader campaigns but also to specific actions within a campaign – such as a protest or a print ad. This significantly simplifies tracking and analysis.
“With the three-level purpose structure, we can now track how much came in for a protest on 10 August and how much for a newspaper ad on 20 November – something we simply couldn’t do before.”
Alongside the Donation Forms, email remains a critical channel for Campax. Through long-term testing, they found that higher message frequency actually leads to higher donor activity – despite common complaints about too many emails.
“People sometimes say we send too many messages – but the group that receives the most emails is actually the one that donates and signs the most.”
The team also runs regular A/B tests on subject lines and suggested donation amounts. Customising the form to match the topic or campaign audience has helped increase gift sizes across the board. Thanks to RaiseNow’s clear parameters and backend logic, the team now has a reliable basis for evaluating campaign performance, understanding donor behaviour, and planning for growth.
Another way to support data-driven fundraising is to check the RaiseNow Digital Fundraising Study 2025. The study provides six chapters on key metrics for fundraisers, including donation amounts, seasonal donation dynamics and preferred payment methods - based on real donations from over 7.000 organisations. .
Campax didn’t just choose RaiseNow for the technology – another key reason behind the switch was the support and collaboration they receive from the RaiseNow Customer Success Team. Regular check-ins and open exchanges of ideas have proven especially valuable during busy campaign periods or when testing new strategies.
“You can tell RaiseNow comes from the nonprofit world. They understand our perspective – they’re not just a tech provider ” says Matthias.
Different Packages & Tailored Support - At RaiseNow, support isn’t one-size-fits-all - organisations are individual and they have different needs. Whether you're just starting out or managing complex fundraising programmes, our Customer Success packages are designed to match your needs. From onboarding to optimisation, we offer guidance that’s relevant, responsive, and grounded in the realities of the nonprofit sector.
Read more about Customer Success at RaiseNow here, because real impact needs more than just software – it needs a collaboration with someone who understands how fundraising really works.
With a deep understanding of nonprofit needs also comes a noticeable drop in technical friction. Campax now experiences significantly fewer issues – particularly in areas that previously required manual workarounds. One such example: when payment methods expire for recurring donations, supporters are automatically asked to confirm or update their details. This used to be a pain point for the team - now no manual actions are needed.
“Since we switched, I’ve only had to explain how to update a payment method twice. Before, it was a constant issue – and we lost people along the way,” says Matthias, Head of Campaigns and Fundraising.
Recurring donations play a crucial role for organisations, as they create predictable income and allow for more strategic budget planning. Every month, every confirmation counts.
For larger organisations, recurring donations often represent around 10% of annual total donation volume – a substantial share. You can read more about this in our Digital Fundraising Study 2025. We’ve dedicated a full chapter to this topic. Read the full report here – for free nonprofit sector.
The Campax story shows how ONE decision – switching to RaiseNow – led to measurable results. With the "Cover the Fee" feature alone, the team now receives more money per donation. By switching to RaiseNow, the team unlocked smarter donation flows, stronger data insights, and more reliable recurring income – all backed by a collaboration with someone that truly understands the nonprofit space.
From "Cover the Fee" and embedded forms to campaign tracking and tailored support, every feature now serves one goal: making digital fundraising easier, more effective, and more aligned with how people actually give.
“We see it in the numbers – and we feel it in our daily work: RaiseNow just works. Whether it’s design, data or functionality – RaiseNow aligns with how we operate. And the results confirm it.”
The Campax story shows that the greatest opportunity lies in expanding digital fundraising – and that, when done right, it leads to higher donation volumes. Every organisations should strengthen their digital setup - Campax offers a clear message: the right tools make a difference. Not by magic, but by giving fundraising teams what they need to plan, analyse and grow – at the pace their mission demands.
Want to engage in more efficient online fundraising? Contact us to see how the RaiseNow solution could unlock more revenue for your organisation.
Take a look at our Success Story Overview right here and
dive deeper into the world of RaiseNow's Customers!
