If you give your products or services away for free, asking for donations could be a viable approach to still generate revenues. This approach worked well for instance for Wikipedia, which is financed through donations to a large extend.

When and how to apply Donation:

Individual donors have the potential to be the best source of revenue for your nonprofit, whether they contribute $10 per month for a year or $5,000 with a single check.

Nonetheless, it is essential to remember that each donor is unique and must be treated as a person, not a wallet. Aim to strengthen your relationship with them and encourage them to continue giving in the future.

Companies desire to enhance their corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Your organization can be the recipient of this philanthropy if you ask for it!

In addition, these companies can be future partners for your organization. You can leverage employee relationships to build stronger partnerships with their employers.

Well-known companies that use this pattern are Ted and Wikipedia.