So, you just found out your class has to raise funds? You’ll be glad to know that there are new, exciting and easier ways to raise money these days! Taking control of their fundraising by going online has helped many groups raise millions of dollars. A whole new generation in fundraising has been sneaking up, and online fundraising is now set to take center stage in the fundraising industry. To keep you in the know, here’s the 411 on some FAQs regarding online fundraising:
How does it work?
Online fundraisers can take many different forms, but 2 forms are taking the lead right now. For the purposes of this article, let’s call them 1) ‘True-Online’ and 2) ‘Traditional-Online’.
1) True-Online
A True-Online fundraiser takes place entirely online. Usually, the company you’re working with will supply you with an online fundraising store, which you register for and personalize online.
With True-Online, you also promote your fundraiser online. Some companies will add your campaign to a directory so that you can be ‘searched’ by friends, family and anyone else who comes across the main company website. Others will have built-in features like email invites that allow you to email a link to your online store to supporters.
A good online fundraising company will also provide you with reporting to show you how much you’ve sold, who has participated, and how much profit you’ve made. Typically, you receive profit checks on a monthly basis either through a service like PayPal, or through regular mail.
2) Traditional-Online
This form of online fundraising isn’t really online fundraising. Traditional-Online consists of providing products and information in an online setting. When you fundraise with a Traditional-Online fundraising company, you’ll be shopping for fundraising products and information through the company’s website, and then placing your order either online or by phone.
The products you purchase will actually be sold offline – which is a techie way of saying ‘out in the real world’. Basically, you buy a product (like chocolate or lollipops) online or by phone, receive your order, and then sell the product.
Essentially, it’s traditional fundraising that originates online. For the purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on ‘True-Online’ online fundraising.
What will I be selling?
The products in your online fundraising store will vary depending on the company you work with. Some will provide a variety of products (department store-style), some just one or two products (specialty store-style), while others allow you to choose from a list of products or stores you’d like to promote (mall-style).
All styles generally work the same way, but typically, you get a higher payout from specialty store-style companies (provide one or two products for you to sell). This is because the company will usually have a special deal with the product supplier, allowing them to purchase products at a lower cost, so that you can re-sell at a higher fundraising profit without having to sell over-priced products.
How do my group members participate?
For companies that provide a built-in email feature, group member participation is a breeze! You send emails to notify your group of your fundraising campaign launch, and then your group members access the same email feature to send email invites to their friends and family. The invites will have links to your store for supporters to easily access it and make purchases at any time. The idea is very similar to the “tell-a-friend” features you find on many websites.
When working with a company that does not provide a built-in email service, you may need to create your own ‘launch’ and ‘invite’ emails. To provide a link to your fundraising store simply type the address exactly as it appears in the address bar when you visit your store online. When you send ‘launch’ emails to group members, encourage them to either create their own invites with links, or simply to forward your email on to their friends and family.
The downside to creating your own emails is that these companies cannot track group member participation for you (and it means extra work on your end!). Companies with built-in features can usually provide you with reporting that shows which of your group members have participated in the fundraising campaign.
Is it safe?
Buying and selling online is actually quite safe these days. If it weren’t, big companies like eBay and Amazon wouldn’t be so popular. But not all companies use best practices, so you really should look into a company before working with them. Here are some things to look for when checking out an online fundraising company:
Are they certified by a third-party organization?
Look for logos from organizations like Thawte and VeriSign. These logos mean an outside organization has declared the website secure.
Do they have a privacy policy?
If you don’t see a link to a privacy policy anywhere on the site, run! Any reputable company will have a privacy policy that tells you exactly how personal information is used, such as mailing and email addresses. Look for a company that clearly states that the information you provide will not be shared or sold.
Do they ask for your credit card number when you try to register?
Unless there’s a cost to register, there’s absolutely no reason the company needs your credit card number. If you’re not making a purchase, and they ask for your credit card number, find another company! If there is a cost to register, you should consider finding another company anyway. There are many great fundraising companies that offer their online programs for free.
Are they a well-known company?
Ask people you know if they’ve ever worked with the company, or know of anyone else who has. There are also many online forums that discuss fundraising programs and ideas, as well as the different companies that provide them. Look around the company’s website to see if they are affiliated with a larger, better known company.
Can I actually raise money this way?
Yes! Online fundraising is becoming more and more popular because it actually does work. If you still aren’t convinced, most online fundraisers are free, so you aren’t risking anything to try it. A good idea if you’re new to online fundraising is to run a traditional fundraising campaign (for example, a chocolate or cookie dough sale), and a free online fundraising campaign alongside it. You know the traditional program will work, so the money you raise online will be icing on the cake!
Can you show me one that works?
Take a look here at ClassBrain. We offer a True-Online fundraising program through our free online magazine fundraiser with eFundraising. Your profit is 40% and you never spend a dime, so you won’t be risking anything to give it a shot. The program also has a built-in email feature, and provides you with campaign reporting to let you track sales and participation. The best part is, you can personalize your online store with text and an image or photo. What a great opportunity to showcase class photos and artwork!
In addition, if you need some major fundraising, they have a large selection of traditional fundraising products that you can use alongside your online magazine fundraiser including chocolate, lollipops, ScratchCards, cookie dough and more. If you’re still a bit uneasy about online fundraising, give them a call at
1-800-539-3990. Their consultants will answer all your questions, and can help you decide if an online fundraiser is right for you.
The benefit is that since eFundraising is a Traditional-Online fundraising company, they already have a great deal of experience helping people raise money, and aren’t brand new to the industry. Even though online fundraising is a relatively new phenomenon, with eFundraising, you won’t be dealing with amateurs. You can visit them online for a full listing of their products and services and even request a free fundraising information kit.
In short, there’s a lot of potential in online fundraising, and if you just give it a try, the payout to you could really boost your next fundraising campaign!
