Free Live Interactive Event: Future of Fundraising

Technology for nonprofit development and fundraising is quickly changing. In the TechSoup premiere our new #NPLive interactive series of video events, join us to discuss The Future of Fundraising online in the social media matrix on Tuesday, May 24 at 11 a.m. Pacific time. In this unique, online, interactive (free) event — first in a monthly series — you get to see, hear, and ask questions directly to our panel of experts.

Learn more below, and RSVP today to reserve your space.

Why Has Fundraising Online Shifted so Quickly?

2008 was a benchmark year in online fundraising history as Obama won the presidential election with 87% of funds coming through social networking. He raised $28 million online, of which “90% [of the contributions] were under $100, with over 250,000 contributors.” 

Nonprofits once limited to raising money through cookie sales, charity balls, and foundation grants now have access to almost limitless fundraising streams with new technology platforms, micro-funding models, and evolving culture of giving. The wide variety of choices and tools to integrate make this field exciting and challenging terrain for nonprofit leaders.

While there are many new and exciting organizations and platforms emerging we are speaking with three we know at the forefront — Causes.com, American Cancer Society, and StartSomeGood.com. Anyone interested in nonprofits and fundraising online is welcome to participate in this interactive chat, sharing questions and tips from the field. 

The Guest Speakers for NPLive: Fundraising

Jen Burton, Community Director of Causes
Fundraising Focus: Facebook

Causes is the largest Facebook fundraising application and most nonprofits are likely familiar with it. In 2007 when the platform launched, Causes grew in popularity and awareness as people used their Birthday Wish to raise money for their favorite nonprofit. In 2009, The Academy Award winning film The Cove used the activism platform to create one of the most successful causes, bringing together over 1 million people to end the dolphin slaughter in Japan. 

Jen recently spoke at TechSoup’s Online Community Meetup. She shared insights into the inner workings, vision, and future of Causes, along with best practices, success stories and sneak preview of now launched custom Facebook tabs. (Make sure to read the full recap on the TechSoup blog.)

Miles Orkin, National Director for Mobile and Web forAmerican Cancer Society
Fundraising Focus: Mobile

American Cancer Society has been fighting cancer since 1913. Nearly 100 years later, in 2009, they became the “official sponsor of birthdays,” launching a movement for more birthdays. On MoreBirthdays.com, people can support, give, and celebrate surviving cancer or loved ones by creating a birthday wish through e-cards, music video, or musician phone call.

In a recent talk on Why Mobile Matters, Miles points out, our phones are usually within an arms reach of us and become an “intimate and personal device.” Globally, people have more access to phones than the Internet. Cancer.org is an early adopter and nonprofit pioneer using this largely untapped fundraising technology.  

Tom Dawkins, Co-Founder of StartSomeGood.com
Fundraising Focus: Crowdfunding for local and global causes

StartSomeGood is a “crowdfunding” platform, inspired by the success of sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. It is the newest fundraising model of these three, and spreading wildly as a way to get individual projects or ideas off the ground. On the site, social entrepreneurs propose their idea or project, set a funding goal, and identify a “tipping point.” Friends and strangers then pledge to support the project; pledges will only be received if the project reaches the tipping point. More on how it works.

StartSomeGood was created after seeing a gap of types of projects and ideas they would want to support - social enterprises and amplifying social and environmental good ideas. Only having launched in March 2011, they just broke $25,000 in funds raised in ventures on their site, with donations ranging from $3 to $2,000.

We are excited to talk with all three about their organizations and platforms,  learn how nonprofits can best use these technologies, and have them answer your questions directly.

Join Us Online May 24 at 11 a.m. Pacific time

Join us on May 24 at 11 a.m. Pacific time for the first of our live interactive event series #NPLive on the Future of Fundraising, hosted by Evonne Heyning with Kristy Graves, Susan Tenby, Michael DeLong, and the Online Community and Social Media Team at TechSoup along with our special guests. 

RSVP today and share the word on Facebook and Twitter to invite other nonprofits to join us for this new series!

More About Our Speakers

Jen Burton leads the community and support efforts for Causes.com. She’s a native of the great, rainy, Pacific Northwest and has held customer service, product management, marketing and community management roles at some of the internet’s greatest game changers including Amazon, Slide, and Digg. She loves interacting with communities online. In her free time she can be found walking her tiny polar bear, tweeting, or updating her Facebook status. Over and over again.

Miles Orkin is the National Director of Web and Mobile at the American Cancer Society, where he directs strategy and implementation for cancer.org and other Society interactive initiatives, including the creation of a nationwide mobile program. Miles also guides Society presence and investment in emerging online tools and markets, and direct-to-constituent online fundraising. Miles has an extensive background in digital and traditional media for organizations including San Francisco State University, IconMedialab Barcelona, ThirdAge Media, CNET, Ziff Davis, Time Inc., and Thrasher Skateboard Magazine.

Tom Dawkins is a serial social entrepreneur and the Australian member of the StartSomeGood team. He previously founded Vibewire and was the first Social Media Director at Ashoka. He currently works at HopeLab and organizes the Black Rock City Farmers Market with his beautiful wife. They also jointly run the street art blog StreetSideSF.