If you run a non-profit that relies on donations, getting those donations has recently gotten easier. In November, Facebook announced new tools to help non-profits raise money online. The improvements come primarily in the form of a dedicated place called Fundraisers to collect donations from your non-profit Facebook page, and an improved “Donate” button that doesn’t require users to leave Facebook and allows them to give right from the news feed.
Facebook’s VP of Product Management, Naomi Gleit, writes:
"With more than 150 million people around the world connected to a cause, Facebook is a global community of volunteers, donors and activists coming together to make the world a better place.
People raise money for disaster relief, they search for missing children, and they bring attention to the issues they care about. We’ve seen from our community that when people take action, lives are changed. We know we can do more to enable these connections.
Today we’re testing fundraisers – a new tool – and improving our Donate button, to allow people to donate to charities without leaving Facebook. We hope these features help nonprofits reach new supporters, engage their community and get the valuable funding they need to continue their good work.
In 2013, we first tested different ways for nonprofits to fundraise on Facebook. As a company we have also partnered with organizations to create donation campaigns after major natural disasters, like the Nepal earthquake. And we hope these new tools will help these groups do even more."
*Screenshot of Facebook Fundraisers for desktop and mobile
Why this change could be powerful:
This change will be useful for both non-profits and the people who desire to donate to them, potentially increasing donations and making the process easier for everyone involved. The ease of use alone could make a big difference, but that’s not all.
Other significant aspects of Fundraisers that can also help drive awareness of causes are progress tracking and storytelling. You're able to track progress toward a goal right on your non-profit page, to show the success and motivate people to give until the goal is met. Organizations are also able to tell their story and what they're trying to accomplish, thus drawing in people sympathetic to the cause.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can request more information from Facebook here.
It’s always good to see an organization help people, and it’s even better when technology can make the process easier and more successful. To find out what technologies can help your business whether you run a non-profit or for-profit organization, contact us today.
Since 2002, Half a Bubble Out has been dedicated to providing marketing, advertising, and small business consulting that meet the needs of our clients. We specialize in powerfully telling stories through Inbound Marketing to grow your business filled with more passion and provision. Based in Chico California, we serve clients throughout Northern California and across the country to New York.
