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Published December 23, 2022
For years, sports and school programs have been searching for new ways to raise funds for their organizations. There are a decent number of options available, but one of the newest ones that some people have tried is online fundraising. This format takes out the sales aspect of fundraisers and turns the process more into a crowdfunding experience.
There is a lot of confusion about what this new format entails. This can lead to many misconceptions that simply aren’t true. Today, we wanted to take the time to cover some of the most common myths about online fundraising platforms and debunk them for you. That way, you can look into this format with a bit more clarity.
You Won’t Make as Much Money
The first thing people think when considering online fundraising is they won’t make as much money. These types of fundraisers focus entirely on the exchange of money and ask nothing in return. Most other fundraisers have students or athletes selling something in order to get a portion of that sale back as revenue for their organization.
While some people might be less inclined to give money if they get nothing in return, this is rarely the case. Many people buy from fundraisers as a way to support others. If they wanted a candy bar, they could get it much cheaper from the store. Plus, since none of that money goes toward the stock of a product, much more of what’s given goes directly to the organization.
People Aren’t Willing To Give Online
Back in the day, you might have been able to make an argument that people are not willing to donate money to others online. However, the world has changed drastically in recent years. Websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have proven that millions of people are willing to give money to others online, so they’ll likely do the same for organizational fundraisers.
You Won’t Be Able To Sell as Effectively
One potential upside to selling products in person is that you have to make face-to-face contact with people. This can make the sale of asking for money much easier. Sending someone an email won’t have the same impact.
However, no one said you have to stop with the email. You can follow up on all the invites you send with a phone call. This will ensure the person knows about the email on top of giving you the opportunity to sell them on the idea of donating some money to your organization.
Not Everyone Who Would Give Is Online
The final myth surrounding online fundraising platforms that we’d like to debunk is that not everyone uses the internet. This concern mainly arises when referring to grandparents and other older people who could potentially donate. While there are certainly some people who refuse to use the internet, more people are online today than ever before, and that includes the older generations.
Despite that fact, Vertical Raise still implements strategies to help with this issue. Our online fundraising platformdoes more than send emails. It also utilizes social media and text messages to reach potential donors. This helps us reach an even wider audience that isn’t always accessible through the email standard of this fundraising format.