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Group Fundraising Resource

October 27, 2006 in General Fundraising, Media, Nonprofit, Web, Multichannel Fundraising

Just a quick note to point you to a most excellent article by Peter Deitz, “Social Networking and Group Fundraising.”  Actually, this article points to the main web post, “How to Use the Internet for Group Fundraising”.  Peter has written one of the most practical pieces I’ve read on the subject of how to approach a viral fundraising campaign.  Here’s an excerpt:

In the last four years, the number of websites that help individuals design and implement their own group fundraising campaigns has exploded. Networks of friends, family, and activists can now raise money effecitvely and collectively for any number of causes. But with all the options available, sometimes it is difficult to know which platform to choose and how best to put it to use.

This guide features:

  1. 5 questions to ask yourself before starting a fundraising campaign, and
  2. 3 factors to consider when choosing a group fundraising platform.

The phenomenon goes by several names: viral fundraising, team fundraising, grassroots fundraising, group fundraising, and even network-centric fundraising. In each case, the concept is the same.

An individual or group creates a page on a website and sets a fundraising goal on behalf of a non-profit organization or project. The initiator then emails friends and family requesting financial support for the cause.

On occasion, friends and family are so enthusiastic that they forward the announcement to their individual networks. Sometimes news of the project reaches the “blogosphere” or catches the attention of a journalist.

Suddenly thousands of people are responding and the fundraising goal is met in record time. Well, that’s the best case scenario. More often than not, close friends, family, and a few anonymous philanthropists come through with the cash needed to meet the fundraising goal.

Very good stuff.  Thanks Peter.

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