How the Internet Has Changed Charity and How We Donate Money
The internet has changed life as we know it in almost all aspects of society. It has stimulated rapid change in how we approach various day-to-day activities, including fundraising and donating to charities. Donating to non-profit organizations has improved significantly since the inception and widespread use of the internet. In recent years, there has been a great deal of focus on streamlining the entire donation process, mobilizing funds, and using these appropriately to achieve goals.
Here are some of the ways that the internet has changed philanthropy for the better.
Resource Mobilization
Technological advances have been harnessed by charities to help spread their message far and wide. The overwhelming majority of people with access to the internet use social media in one way or another. Therefore, non-profit organizations have used these platforms to disseminate content and encourage donations on a much broader scale.
Social media platforms provide an opportunity for charities to reach out to thousands of potential donors by sharing relevant and emotive content. Ultimately, this has been a massive boon for those looking to mobilize resources for charities and spread awareness about important causes. Thanks to social networks, non-profits have massively increased their outreach capabilities and encouraged more significant donations.
Fundraising Platforms
While charities themselves will generally use their own platforms and fundraising campaigns to generate money for their cause, the internet has given ordinary people a lot of power to make a difference. The rise in fundraising platforms partnered with social media platforms has significantly increased income for many non-profits.
Individuals can create their own campaigns to raise money for causes they care about using an online fundraising platform. These platforms generally optimize the fundraising drives to be spread far and wide via social networks, where they can reach hundreds, if not thousands of people. These online fundraising campaigns have made a massive difference to many charities, particularly smaller ones that may not have the resources to promote their own campaigns.
Greater Accountability
Thanks to innovations like blockchain technology, there is far greater accountability for charities and how they use their funds. Blockchain allows people to track and verify the utilization of money that is donated to non-profits, enhancing public trust and opinion. In essence, blockchain technology allows people to donate their money towards initiatives to solve specific problems. They can then track how these funds are used and managed to ensure they are used for their intended purpose.
Ultimately, accountability is one of the most important aspects of the charitable sector. If people don’t believe their money is going to the right places, they are less likely to donate. Therefore, blockchain technology has encouraged many more people to donate more enthusiastically.
Digital Marketing
Non-profit organizations have used digital marketing strategies to revolutionize their outreach and the dissemination of content. Digital marketing has enhanced communication between charities and donors to no end, thanks to the various channels that are now available.
The internet has allowed charities to share information on a much grander scale than they could before. So, whether they are trying to spread their message to the general public or major corporate donors, non-profits have a louder voice than ever before. As mentioned above, social media has been a boon for fundraising campaigns, but other forms of digital marketing are also powerful tools. For example, email marketing has become a staple of the charitable sector. Using personalized communications sent directly to the inboxes of donors, charities can engage their target audience in a targeted and effective manner.
Email marketing has also proved valuable for non-profits looking to encourage repeat donations. Generally, charities stand to gain a lot more if they can generate recurring donations from their audience. Using mixed media communications sent out by email, organizations can demonstrate the difference donations make. This creates a strong message that can stimulate repeat donations, ultimately helping these charities to achieve their goals.
Cashless Donations
Cash use has been declining for years. There has been a significant increase in the use of debit and credit cards to pay for goods and services in recent history. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this, and now cashless payments are more common than ever before.
The move away from cash has changed how many charities operate, but thanks to the internet, there is no shortage of donations. If anything, this point reinforces the importance of digital platforms as a means for generating funds. As a result, charities have begun to accept more cashless payments across all facets of their operations, both online and in the real world.
Conclusion
Overall, since its inception, the internet has impacted almost every aspect of modern life. The charitable sector is no different, and non-profits have successfully used digital platforms to expand their reach and increase their funding.
