These days, the internet has become a place for just about everything, including raising the funds needed to start a project or raising money for charity. This aspect of the Internet, where people pool resources for a unified purpose, is often called crowdfunding or crowdsourcing.
Nonprofit
For many non-profit organizations, such as charities and even individuals, crowdfunding presents a unique opportunity to spread the word and solicit much-needed support for a worthy cause. It adds another option for one of the most critical aspects of charity work, which is the need to generate funds or receive donations that are vital to maintaining operations.
The Internet
Of course, the Internet is a logical choice for requesting assistance. This is because the Internet, with its expansive reach that transcends geographic borders, abounds with users who are genuinely willing to provide help and assistance to the causes that matter most to them. With billions of users in every corner of the world, there are bound to be people who can be trusted to support a project or campaign.
The challenge
Therefore, the challenge for nonprofit organizations and individuals is to find an avenue through which to reach these individuals. This is addressed by the availability of numerous websites that offer crowdfunding capabilities to individuals or organizations. These sites aim to help them set up campaigns and apply for support.
Why crowdsourcing is the way to go
There are many advantages to be gained from crowdsourcing. On the one hand, the costs of launching campaigns are minimal, in any case. Unlike traditional forms of marketing campaigns that use print and broadcast media, all of which require cash up front, setting up an online campaign to promote a charitable cause rarely requires a large budget. Often all it takes is a reliable internet connection, effective campaign materials, and of course, a worthwhile cause.
largest audience
Second, crowdfunding tends to attract a larger audience. Given the nature of the Internet, it is very easy to send campaign information to a list of potential customers. These potential customers can pass on such information to people they know. The key is to draw the most attention to your campaign from people who are likely to support your cause. The wider the audience, the higher the chance of getting more pledges or donations.
Save time
And third, the fact that the campaign is hosted on a crowdsourcing website greatly reduces much of the laborious and time-consuming tasks involved in applying. There is no need for activities such as door to door visits as well as cash collection and check cashing. With crowdfunding, nonprofit staff members can spend more time on other important tasks essential to the actual execution of projects.
magic bullet
Keep in mind, however, that crowdsourcing shouldn’t be viewed as a magic bullet that can cure an organization’s budget problems. While it is true that turning to crowdfunding can be a great way to tap into much-needed support, this only becomes apparent if the campaign is done right. Above all, it is important that the importance of the campaign is highlighted and its impact underlined. Only by appealing to the heart of a willing audience can a charity campaign be truly effective.