In today's digital age, the landscape of fundraising for charities and organisations has evolved rapidly to make use of new technology. A traditional fundraising strategy is being supplemented, and in some cases, replaced by innovative online platforms that streamline the donation process and empower both donors and recipients alike. One such platform making waves in the realm of online fundraising is Giftwhale.
The Changing Face of Online Fundraising
Gone are the days of relying solely on in-person events or direct mail appeals to raise funds for charitable causes. While these methods undoubtedly have their place, the digital era has opened up a world of possibilities for charities and organisations seeking to expand their reach and engage with supporters on a deeper level. By creating online wish lists, organisations and charities can specify their needs and preferences, making it easier for supporters to contribute items that are truly needed or desired.
New supporters can be driven to interact with an online donation page through the charitable organisation's social media. Raising awareness of the type of event or overall goal using social media posts on a regular basis can help create and nurture donor relationships. Social media, whether Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of the other platforms, can then allow the fundraising team to promote current gift programs or a fundraising plan. A simple link out to an online fundraising donation form will help keep followers engaged, especially if they can quickly see the specific major gifts that you are most in need of.
Introducing Giftwhale: A Game-Changer for Organisation Fundraising and Charity Donations
Giftwhale is a revolutionary online platform that allows charities and organisations to create and share wish lists for online donation purposes. Whether it's funding a specific project, purchasing essential items, or supporting ongoing initiatives, Giftwhale provides a user-friendly and transparent way for supporters to contribute to causes they care about.
Benefits of Using Giftwhale for Fundraising
Using Giftwhale for donation purposes offers several benefits that can work for you in different ways:
1. Transparency
Transparency is key in the world of online fundraising, and Giftwhale delivers on this front by allowing charities and organisations to clearly outline their needs and preferences. Donors can easily view and contribute to wish lists, knowing exactly how their contributions will be used and the impact they will make.
2. Convenience
Convenience is another hallmark of Giftwhale. With just a few clicks, supporters can browse wish lists, select items to donate, and complete their contributions securely and efficiently. Crucially, supporters can reserve items, and donate, all without having to register for an account. No more cumbersome donation processes or guesswork about what items are needed most.
3. Customisation
Charities and organisations can tailor their wish lists to reflect their unique priorities and initiatives. Whether it's medical supplies for a healthcare organisation, school supplies for an educational program, or household items for a shelter, Giftwhale empowers recipients to specify exactly what they need as well as prioritising any items that are most urgently needed. This works for both long-term fundraising ideas or more urgent disaster relief events, and any crowdfunding campaign in-between.
4. Engagement
Sharing wish lists on platforms like Giftwhale can help organisations engage with their supporters and foster a sense of community around their cause. In-built features such as 'Thank You' notes allow you to send a customisable thank you to your supporters as and when they donate, creating a more personal connection between the gift giver and the beneficiaries. Insights and analytics on your wish list usage and reserved item clicks can be linked with marketing materials and other email and blog fundraiser campaigns to build a richer picture of how your nonprofit fundraising strategy builds up more traction for your online giving and peer fundraising.
5. Meets Specific Needs
Giftwhale is not tied to listing items on a wish list from particular stores. You can add items from any store, online or offline, using links, descriptions, photos or any combination of those together. So if your need is niche, or you are looking for a donation of second-hand items, you can add that as an item simply by listing a text description of what you are requesting.
Overall, using Giftwhale for donation purposes can help organisations and charities effectively communicate their needs and receive support from donors in a streamlined and efficient manner.
Real-Life Success Stories
The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and Giftwhale has already helped numerous charities and organisations achieve their fundraising goals. From small grass-roots initiatives to large-scale campaigns, Giftwhale wish lists have proven to be an invaluable tool for mobilising support and driving meaningful impact for nonprofit fundraising.
Phoenix Zoo
One such case study on the use of Giftwhale online wish lists being used by an organisation is Phoenix Zoo. As one of the largest non-profit, privately funded zoological parks in the USA, Phoenix Zoo relies exclusively on its own earned income and the support of members, donors and the local corporate community to provide funds for operations and capital improvements of exhibits and guest experiences. Many of their departments have a wish list of items that will help them to enhance the experience for both their animals and their visitors.
Towards the end of 2023 Phoenix Zoo were looking for a new platform to host their online wish lists and after they reached out to us we were able to reassure them that Giftwhale had the key features they were looking for. They decided to make the switch for all their donation lists and subsequently moved all of their wish lists over to Giftwhale in order to give them more flexibility in listing items across different online stores. It's fair to say they haven't looked back and the end result is a fantastically organised set of wish lists across all of their departments and animal groups that lay out their donation requests clearly for their supporters and new donors.
If you would like to see just how good their wish lists look then head over to their donation wish list page and click on any department to explore further. You can see how easy it is to select and donate a gift yourself if you would like!
“Giftwhale has really helped the Zoo work with the wish lists more collaboratively through departments and made the process easier as well. It’s lightened the workload and made it so it’s easier for the keepers and other employees to update their own items as needed."
Getting Started with Giftwhale
So, how can your charity or organisation harness the power of Giftwhale for your fundraising efforts? It's easier than you might think. Simply sign up for a business account, create your wish list, and start sharing it with your supporters. With Giftwhale's intuitive interface and robust features, you'll be on your way to reaching more of your online fundraising goals in no time.
Join the Movement
In conclusion, the world of fundraising is undergoing a digital transformation, and Giftwhale is at the forefront of this movement. Many non-profits and charitable organisations leverage technology to streamline their organisation fundraising efforts and make it easier for supporters to contribute in meaningful ways. By harnessing the power of online platforms like Giftwhale, charities and organisations can unlock new opportunities for engagement, transparency, and impact. Join the movement today and see how Giftwhale can help take your organisation fundraising efforts to the next level.
What is the best way to create a fundraiser online?
The best way to fundraise online is to leverage social media platforms and fundraising websites. Create engaging content, tell a compelling story, use visuals, and engage with your audience. Utilise email marketing, influencer partnerships, and online events to reach a wider audience and encourage donations. Charities, organisations or individuals can utilise crowdfunding platforms like Giftwhale, GoFundMe or Kickstarter to set up online donation portals on their websites for easy contributions, host virtual fundraising events such as online auctions or webinars, or leverage social media to reach a wider audience for charity donations.
What are the benefits of online fundraising compared to traditional methods?
Online fundraising offers a wider reach, lower costs, ease of sharing on social media, real-time tracking of donations, and the ability to engage donors through personalized online campaigns. It also allows for seamless integration with online payment platforms, making transactions quick and secure.
