Webupon

If you’ve got a cause to support and want to raise funds, the internet is definitely the place to do it. If you make full use of the tools it offers you can get your message to thousands of potential donors for next to nothing. All it takes is a little time and know-how and your non-profit can be on the receiving end of a welcome flood of donations.

Firstly it is important that you build a good contact list of like-minded individuals who may be interested in donating to your cause. The easiest way to build up a mailing list is through Social Networking websites such as Care2 , Facebook , Greenopolis , Helpalot and the like. You will need to be an active member of these sites. Fill out your profile, join groups, get involved in discussions and mention your cause at every opportunity, search member profiles for other people who may be likely to support your cause.

Once you have started to build a contact list, there are all sorts of fantastic tools on the internet to help you launch your fundraising drive. Here is a list (by no means exhaustive) and short description of just some of them to get you started.

Facebook has a great application called Causes. If your cause is an charity registered in the USA you can add it to the application and recruit your Facebook friends to get involved. If its not, then you can use related causes to draw people’s attention to it.

SixDegrees.org allows you to create a badge to raise awareness (and donations) for any of about a million charities and place it anywhere online – your Facebook profile, your blog, your website . . .

ChipIn.com is a similar concept only you can use their widget to raise funds for any cause you like – from saving the rainforest to realising your dream wedding. You can embed the ChipIn Widget on your website or create your own Chipin page at your name.chipin.com.

PeerDreams.com , Fundable.com , DropCash.com , PledgePage.org and FundraiseOnline.co.nz are all similar sites that let you set up and promote a fundraising campaign for your cause .

Pledgebank.com is a great site designed to help people get things done – especially things that require the efforts of more than one person. How It works is that you make a pledge, set some sort of target and get people to commit to your pledge. You get a free pledge page and help with promotion.

‘Click to Donate’ is an easy way to raise funds for your organisation. People are always more excited about donating when they don’t have to actually front up with the cash!! Avanoo.com offers exactly that – a way for your non-profit to have its own FREE click to donate button splashed around the internet. Simply register with them, get your supporters to add your badge to their website, blog, or social media profile and reap the benefits.

All the best for your online fundraising efforts!