Sure. There's an article I wrote back in April of 2000 called You don't have to have a website to raise funds on the Internet in the "Funding" section here at TechSoup. In fact, I contend that a website alone won't raise funds. You need a relationship with a donor, and that means a communication channel. e-mail is a great channel. Ask for e-mail addresses on your direct mail appeals, petitions, sign-up sheets, and even from phone callers. Then send them frequent, meaningful, customized and action-oriented e-mails about what you're doing. Invite them to go to your helping.org page and give online, or to call, write, come to the event, whatever. Don't forget to get them to pass along the e-mail. I'm doing a viral program now for a client that is seeing five responses from pass-along names for every initial recipient.<:LINEBREAK:>By the way, although all of the above is possible without a website, I still think you should have one.

I got an email the other day... The first part was a tad emotional but basically said "For the 1 1/2 years that I have put up our website, we have not gotten 1 donation. Doesn't anyone care in what I do? If the website can be changed in any way please let me know how."<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Well, the website could be a lot worse but isn't "professional" by any means. But, you can't just put up a website and figure it will rake in money hand over fist. That is a serious misconception by a lot of people. I think it is a tool that you have to use properly just like any other tool.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Kelly

KellyQ, you're right. A website is a tool that can help increase communication, allow for personal contact, and help stimulate a relationship. But people give because other people ask, and there isn't enough relationship building and asking going on in cyberspace. I see it changing though... and that's good. What are YOU doing to raise funds online, Kelly?

Ha Ha. I would have to say we aren't doing anything, in the big scheme of things. None of the organizations will pay even $25/mo to set up a shopping cart for online shopping, and one would not even pay a server fee. I bargained for that server by doing the ISP's website in exchange for the space. On that one, I've tried in vain to get the EIN number so we can at least sign up with helping.org so we can advertise a place people can go to donate online with us. It is all discouraging to say the least. They have the usual Amazon.com bookstore, but the traffic on that site is so paultry as to be useless. The first goal I think is to get the number of visits to the pages up before planning any serious fundraising (or fund getting).

KellyQ,<:LINEBREAK:>You're right, having any donation features on the website won't work unless people GO there, and people won't GO there unless it has (a) content for their needs; and (b) a plan to attract them there. But that's not the topic for this thread. This thread was, "Can you raise funds without a website?" And the answer is "yes, but it's much easier if you HAVE a site" The retail store analogy works to a point. Can you sell stuff without a store? yes. Is it easier to store stuff, display stuff, and be found if you have a store? yes. Does having a store mean people will come? NO!!! not without advertising. There are plenty of nonprofits who'd appreciate your web ideas and talents. Go find some.<:LINEBREAK:>Rick Christ

Yes, you can raise funds without a website, but it can be a useful tool in raising funds. Fundraising is about relationship building. Websites can be a part of that process, but not the whole or even major portion of the process. Online giving accounts for a VERY small amount of donations to nonprofits. As a stand-alone method, it is probably the least effective means of fundraising. This year, because of responses to the terrorist attacks, online giving has probably increased significantly, but I don't expect it to continue. From the most recent survey by Independant Sector, www.independantsector.org, "Among the 60% of respondents with internet access, 13 percent used the Internet to find out about charitable organizations. Of this subgroup, 12% actually made a donation via the web. While online giving is likely to grow in the future, these online donors still represent a small portion of the online community (less than 2%)."