Why we believe that crypto crowdfunding will continue to grow in...
Read moreThis article takes a look at the variety of people who launch fundraising campaigns and the reasons they turn to crowdfunding!
Crowdfunding and fundraising are growing in popularity. You can see crowdfunding in the newspapers, on TV and probably in your local community!
With the visibility of crowdfunding rising, you might wonder who starts an online fundraising campaign. The answer is that anybody can launch a campaign! At GoGetFunding we have seen first time fundraisers who have been inspired to deal with a situation head on. We’ve had experienced fundraisers who work hard to raise funds for worthwhile causes. We’ve even seen fundraisers banding together to tackle specific larger issues.
Let’s take a look at some of the common categories of people who use crowdfunding and why they might turn to fundraising.
Many people start crowdfunding to raise money for personal reasons. Often this is when they are going through hard times and need a little extra help. There are lots of reasons people might be put in a situation where they need financial assistance, from high medical bills or vet bills, legal fees or simply to get back on their feet.
Individuals may turn to fundraising to raise money to travel or volunteer. Others may want to follow a dream and need financial backing to do so, such as getting a book published or paying for higher education. This young woman was accepted into the Master of Environmental Engineering programme at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). She needed help to pay the registration fee. Her campaign was funded at 105%. She starts university this year!
People even raise funds for their wedding and honeymoon, often asking for donations instead of gifts! We have seen many happy couples asking for donations towards their honeymoon as a wedding gift, and with great success!
If a loved one is going through a hard time financially, those who care about them often step up to help them out by fundraising. This often comes into play when the individual is struggling and may not feel comfortable or able to raise funds themselves, for example if they are unwell and trying to pay their medical bills. Remember if you are raising funds for a loved one, it’s a good idea to get their permission unless you are very close to them and know that they would welcome your help.
Loved ones may even step up to raise funds for legal fees, as Sven’s friends did when he was arrested campaigning for animal rights. They ran a successful campaign to fund a lawyer for their friend!
Sometimes people will raise money to pay for a loved one’s funeral or memorial. Funeral costs are on the rise and are often out of reach for people who do not have savings or funeral plans which cover all the expenses. In their loved one’s memory, many people will set up a campaign to give them the send off they truly deserve.
Charities often use crowdfunding to raise funds to continue their work. There are plenty of running costs for charitable organizations; often they get very little, if any, government funding, and must pay for these costs out of pocket. Some charities may raise money for specific costs, such as a new piece of equipment or an animal charity financing a specific animal’s vet bills. A heart-warming example is this animal charity who turned to our site to fund a Doberman called Ho’s prosthetic limb surgery. They managed to meet and completely smash their goal, at 327%!
Individuals or groups may start campaigns to support charities which they connect with emotionally. Often people run fundraising events to raise awareness of a charity which has helped them or a loved one in the past, or which does a lot of work in their local community. When raising funds on behalf of a charity always ensure that you have their permission to raise funds using their name. A letter from the charity confirming that you are affiliated to them goes a long way to prove your campaign is trustworthy.
Start-up businesses often use crowdfunding to pay for their initial costs. The costs involved in getting a business off the ground and getting through the first year can be daunting. Often unexpected costs arise. Rather than give up on their dream, they reach out for help.
Existing businesses may raise funds for running costs if they are struggling. They may seek help to fund a new piece of equipment or a renovation of their premises. This UK business struggled when a supermarket chain opened in the local area. Rather than give up, they turned to crowdfunding to raise funds to renovate their building and add in new features which their competitors didn’t offer. This way they could stand out in the local community and start to make a profit again. They met their target at 101%.
Local communities often band together to raise money for local projects. These projects are often to improve the opportunities for local people, to restore local buildings or to provide safe places to socialize. We have seen many campaigns in deprived countries raising money to train locals so that they can support their families and have the tools to make a living.
Sometimes communities raise funds to help a member of the community who is struggling, or who needs a little extra assistance. This community in South Africa is raising money for a much-loved teacher, to fund her retirement. Their campaign for their beloved teacher is ongoing.
When there are times of crisis such as natural disasters, we often see charities, individuals, groups of people and the local community trying to help those who have been affected.
In Socotra, an already struggling community was hit by two cyclones which left people dead, injured, suffering and without food, water or shelter. This amazing woman stepped up to run a campaign for a charity which was providing food, shelter and support to those affected. They surpassed their goal at 162%!
People even use crowdfunding to raise awareness of social issues, and to fund protests for social movements. Often people feel helpless in the face of social problems which have a wide-reaching impact; they want to do something proactive to help. Protesting or helping those affected directly by the issues at hand gives them an outlet for that desire.
In Scotland, an amazing woman called Claire started a grassroots organization called Scottish Action For Refugees (SAFR), who provide support and vital supplies to refugees in the UK and other areas of the world. Her campaign was extremely successful, greatly exceeding her target at 1685%!
Getting started with crowdfunding can be simple, especially with GoGetFunding which has a user-friendly format. We even assign you a personal fundraising coach to help you along the way! Running a campaign does require effort, though. You need to be willing to put time into promoting your campaign, keeping donors up to date and even running fundraising events if you choose to.
The effort can be so worth it! Even if you don’t reach your target, our crowdfunding website allows you to keep all the money you do raise. So really, you don’t have anything to lose!
Whatever the reason you may need financial help, crowdfunding can help you to raise what you need! You never know how successful you could be! If you’re ready to get started, click here and launch your fundraiser today!
References
Investopedia, Chizoba Morah, (2019), “Business Startup Costs: It’s in the Details”
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