Ever considered online fundraising?

By Ethel Bangwayo
Strategic Engagement Officer, Herts CVS Group

At a time when traditional sources of funding are drying up, a number of voluntary sector organisations are exploring alternative options. This post is a summarised version of a recent article run by Third Sector magazine outlining the various players on the online fundraising market.

JustGiving
Fundraisers create individual pages with text, photos and videos. These can be publicised via email or the site’s Facebook application. Supporters can make a one-off payment or create a direct debit.
www.justgiving.com

Bmycharity
Charities get a customised website where visitors can fundraise, sponsor, make one-off donations or set up regular payments. Charities can upload videos photos and interactive elements on to the site, which also allows them to sell tickets for events.
www.bmycharity.com

My Charity Page
Charities can promote events on their pages. Fundraisers enter events and set up individual fundraising pages. Charities and fundraisers can blog, join friends’ groups, send messages and upload photos and videos to their pages.
www.mycharitypage.com

Global Giving UK
Individuals give a minimum of £5 directly to vetted grassroots charity projects in more than 70 countries. Projects receive payment when donations reach £250 or more. Donors get regular progress reports from the field by email.
www.globalgiving.co.uk


The Big Give
The site is for major donors who choose from projects uploaded by UK charities and donate online or directly to the charity. Major donors can create match funds so online donors can double the value of their gifts.
www.thebiggive.org.uk

MyGift
Fundraisers set up individual pages on the site to promote their activities and receive donations. Site visitors can make donations directly to the charity. Charities can design their own pages with external links and create news and fundraising updates.
www.mygift.org.uk

Virgin Money Giving
Charities can customise their own web pages and include links to events or information. Fundraisers can set up individual pages with text, fundraising history, photos, information on activities and a countdown calculator to each event; they can also create fundraising teams or groups.
www.virginmoneygiving.com

If your organisation is seeking new funding sources, it may be worth investing a bit of time comparing these sites. Please note that some of them charge a fee and/ or commission for providing the service so you may want to shop around before settling on an option.

Happy fundraising!