In 2025, creators face a familiar but tougher question: Should I focus on YouTube Shorts or TikTok? Both platforms dominate the short-form video space, each with billions of users and distinct cultures. But for creators who want not just visibility but fundraising power, choosing where to focus can make all the difference.

Let’s break down what’s working on each platform right now, what’s changing in 2025, and how creators can use both to build not only income but impact.

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The Numbers Don’t Lie

Both YouTube Shorts and TikTok have massive reach, but their ecosystems are evolving in different directions.

• YouTube Shorts now logs over 70 billion daily views, according to YouTube’s 2024 Creators Report.
• TikTok still leads in cultural influence, with over 1.5 billion active users, based on DataReportal’s Global Digital Report.

But reach alone doesn’t define success. What matters for 2025 is where your audience engages, stays, and supports you beyond the screen.

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TikTok: Fast Growth, Fast Impact

TikTok remains the best platform for discovery. Its algorithm still excels at pushing content from new creators into fresh feeds, helping even small accounts gain visibility overnight.

Creators like Keith Lee, who turned food reviews into community giving campaigns, prove that TikTok can power both virality and generosity. TikTok’s built-in donation features and partnership tools (like TikTok for Good) allow creators to integrate fundraising directly into trends and storytelling moments.

The challenge? Retention. TikTok’s short attention spans make it hard to build long-term relationships unless you consistently connect your cause to a broader story.

To thrive here in 2025:

• Focus on emotional storytelling and fast hooks.
• Participate in trends that naturally align with your mission.
• Link to fundraising hubs or platforms like Giveable in your bio or pinned videos.

TikTok is your awareness machine. It gets eyes on your message but you’ll need another layer to convert that attention into sustained giving.

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YouTube Shorts: Sustainable Visibility and Trust

YouTube Shorts may not be as viral as TikTok, but it wins in stability. The integration with long-form videos and monetization tools means your content keeps working long after it’s posted.

A viewer might discover you through a 15-second short, then binge your longer videos, subscribe, and become part of your community. That journey builds trust and trust drives fundraising.

Creators like MrBeast and YesTheory use Shorts to funnel audiences into bigger narratives and social-good projects. Because YouTube prioritizes library value, your content compounds over time, helping you maintain consistent exposure without chasing every new trend.

If you’re focused on long-term fundraising, YouTube is the stronger foundation. You can:

• Link your fundraising campaigns directly in video descriptions.
• Use community posts and live streams to update supporters.
• Offer behind-the-scenes clips showing how funds are used.

According to Think with Google, 59% of viewers use short-form videos to decide which creators to support further. That means Shorts can act as the first step in your fundraising funnel.

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Monetization and Fundraising Potential

When it comes to direct monetization, YouTube Shorts currently offers better options. Its Partner Program now includes revenue sharing for Shorts ads, while TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta remains limited in payout and availability.

However, TikTok excels at spontaneous giving. Through interactive features like live gifting and challenge donations, creators can rally audiences around causes in real time.

The smartest creators use both:

• TikTok for storytelling and viral reach.
• YouTube Shorts for credibility and deeper conversion.

Imagine this: you launch a 30-second TikTok about a local environmental cleanup, link to your Giveable campaign, and then post a YouTube Short that shows the results funded by that support. That full-circle narrative is what turns one-time donors into loyal patrons.

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Where Should You Focus in 2025?

If you’re new or building audience fast, TikTok is your best launchpad. Its algorithm rewards experimentation and quick creativity.

If you already have a story, a mission, or long-form content, YouTube Shorts helps you scale sustainably. Its connection to search-based discovery and long-term retention makes it ideal for ongoing fundraising.

But in truth, you don’t have to choose. In 2025, the most successful creators are hybrids. They use TikTok to spark curiosity and YouTube to build trust.

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The Future of Fundraising in Short-Form Content

Short-form video isn’t just about entertainment anymore. it’s about empowerment. Creators are turning fleeting moments into meaningful movements. Whether it’s rallying fans around a school project, medical fund, or social cause, short videos now serve as the bridge between awareness and action.

By combining both platforms, you can:

• Expand your storytelling reach.
• Keep your audience informed and inspired.
• Build a unified fundraising journey across every screen.

That’s where Giveable steps in. The platform helps creators turn their TikTok and YouTube audiences into sustainable giving communities. You can manage recurring campaigns, track impact, and invite supporters to join causes that grow with you without leaving your content flow.

Your audience is ready to give. Meet them where they watch. Start with Giveable today.