How Charities Use the Internet to Connect with the World
The past few decades, we’ve seen charities across the globe make their way to the digital world. They’ve made an effort to reach out to people all over the world for support. Thanks to modern innovations, new and old charities have found success on the net. Here’s just how charities use the internet to help increase awareness and support.
A Face to the Organization
Having an online presence creates the face of an organization. We’ve already talked about why having a website is important for a business. Charities are very similar because they’re in the business of helping others. People will always look for a website if they want to know more about something. Because of this, it’s very important for any non-profit to have a website where people can get to know them. Having a website is how charities use the internet to share information, like the charity’s origins or how they help. Most importantly, their site becomes a one-stop for audiences to find everything they need to know. Whether a charity is global or local, it definitely needs to find a place on the world wide web.
Social media accounts are especially great for getting people engaged. Having a Twitter or Instagram is how charities use the internet to post about the work they do. This could mean sharing information on relief efforts, upcoming fundraisers, and personal stories from people they’ve helped. Social media also gives non-profits the chance to directly interact with a worldwide audience. They can do this by making frequent updates, and by replying to the people who respond to these posts. A well-run account gives an organization its own personality, making interactions with people feel more genuine.
Connecting with People
Having a presence on the internet is not only a great way to build a charity’s public reputation. It also helps connect a non-profit to people who will help it grow. Whether it be volunteers, donors, or hired professionals, a charity needs people to prosper. Social media can also be a great tool for gravitating people towards an organization. They can show people who the charity helps, how it improves lives, and calls for people to join their cause.
Furthermore, charities will often use other platforms like LinkedIn, which connect organizations to qualified individuals like volunteers, employees, and business partners. For example, if an environmental charity wants to hold a concert to raise money to protect the rainforests, they would need assistance from people in the entertainment industry. Or, if a non-profit wants to find volunteers to help with disaster relief they might want to reach out to people with medical or first-aid training. Overall, having connections with as many people of different backgrounds as possible helps an organization to grow and thrive.
Online Donations and Crowdfunding
Another way that non-profits have been changed by the digital world is how they’ve used online programs to raise money for their charities. In this new age of online banking and digitized payments, it’s great for both a charity and its donors to have the option to make donations online. And it’s so easy to hit “share” and spread awareness for a non-profit’s donation page across the internet. Donors will often do exactly that, letting people who follow them know that they support that charity and encourage others to do the same. With the right people sharing on social media, a charity can get donations from hundreds or even thousands of people in a matter of days.
One of the biggest game-changers for non-profits is the creation of crowdfunding projects. To elaborate, “crowdfunding” is a type of fundraiser where people support a cause. These are usually projects that need financial backing to get off the ground or events to donate money to people in need. For instance, an organization might use a site like Kickstarter to raise money to build a school in a rural village. Or a non-profit group could start a GoFundMe page to help gather donations for a family who lost their home in a hurricane. Crowdfunding projects usually have a set time limit to meet their goals, so there’s an extra incentive for donors to help sooner rather than later so the goal can be met. These types of fundraisers have truly revolutionized how organizations can raise money for the sake of helping others.
Quality Training with Online Learning Platforms
Non-profit organizations have also taken advantage of the internet to help them train their volunteers. Through the use of online learning platforms, organizations can give quality training to their volunteers. This better equips volunteers to help contribute to their organization in a safe and effective way. A good example is the eLearning tools used by International Federation of Red Cross: their free-to-use learning platform instructs new volunteers on personal safety, first aid, international relations, and the organization’s history. Online learning platforms are also quite cost-effective since non-profits would save on hiring instructors for teaching seminars. And these programs are not limited to volunteer training. Organizations can also use them on their public websites to inform people about their non-profit.
Good Will in the New Age
The world is becoming more and more modernized with each passing day. Along with that, it’s reassuring to see that it is easier than ever to do good things for others. There is no shortage of people willing to give what they can to all those in need. Whether people donate money, volunteer their time, or hit “share” to spread the word, every bit makes a world of difference to a charity giving to a great cause.