opyHow Technology Can Improve Philanthropy
Technology has improved the world in many ways by bringing us closer and making things more efficient. This is also the case for the nonprofit sector. Many of the obstacles that used to get in the way of helping causes are no longer there. One of the first ways it has been transformative is in the way people now think of the word philanthropy.
For many years, philanthropy was associated with gifts from wealthy patrons and/or large sums of money. Because technology has made giving so much easier, it is now possible to donate to a cause you are passionate about, even if you have very little money of your own. Websites like GoFundMe provide insight into details about a specific charity or person who needs help. Crowdfunding, in general, is able to harness the power of the masses in order to obtain thousands of small gifts that add up to substantial support. JustGiving is another great platform to search for a cause to support, ranging form 5K races to funding a specific community project.
In the past, philanthropists would gather at large galas to hold fundraisers or charity auctions. Unless they held blind auctions with bidder numbers, people knew who was donating or bidding. There was no anonymity. Because of the internet, it is now very easy to support as many causes as you like, free from disclosure. It also goes the other way. It is very easy to campaign for a cause you care about via social media. Many people use their birthdays as a way to increase awareness about a cause.
If a person is shy, they don’t even need to leave their house to donate. There are mobile text organizations such as The Mobile Giving Foundation which engages with donors via a smartphone network. Some major relief efforts were obtained after natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, and the Ebola outbreak.
Unlike in the past, people who support causes want to see where their money is going and want to feel fulfilled by the results. Organizations have responded with a greater ability to inform donors exactly what the latest news is. Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a portal that lets donors receive updates and ask questions about how a cause or project is moving along.
Originally published at http://alanrasof.org on November 24, 2020.