Social media has massively revolutionised the way that you can raise money for charity. Gone are the days when you had to endlessly badger people to sign your battered sponsor form before you trudged around for hours after the event to collect in their pledges.
Now everything happens online – securely, safely and swiftly! But with so many Giving sites, which one really is the best one? We have done the research so you don’t have to, shining the spotlight on Giving sites each month to help you make the best choice for you and your good cause.
Welcome to Just Giving!
Just Giving were founded in 2001 and have helped to raise over $3.3 billion for worthy causes in 164 countries.
Users can locate their chosen charity from a drop down list and then create their own web page to explain to their friends, families and potential sponsors exactly what they are doing and why. There’s even a handy tracker so that you can watch your progress.
Donors can give anonymously or leave a message of support and their payments, which can be made on credit or debit card, are secure. If donors pay tax in the UK they can also ask for Gift Aid (this means the charity can claim back an extra 25p for every £1 you donate from the government.)
JustGiving describe themselves as a tech-for-good company and do charge a small fee to the charities that sign up with them, however this is all re-invested into the company, building innovative tools to make giving even easier. This has included adding features like Text Giving, so that users can create their own text number. All their donors have to do is text that number and they automatically give a set amount – no messing about with filling out pesky forms. Donors can also donate on the Just Giving Facebook app.
JustGiving Team Pages, mean that you and your friends can link all of your individual pages together to contribute to one big goal, whilst JustGiving Crowdfunding pages mean that you can even create your own cause. It might be a friend in need, or a local or overseas community that needs your help, simply tell your story and share it with the world. JustGiving will review all of the details and then give you 30 days to raise money before releasing the profits minus their 5% fee. In the past Crowd Funding pages have helped to raise money for everything from defibrillators in a village hall to surgery for a bulldog who couldn’t walk due to elbow abnormalities and needed surgery to correct the problem.
JustGiving promise not to share their data with other companies without users permission and they never sell or trade personal information with third parties. They also won’t upsell other services on the back of people’s generosity.
For more information or to set up your giving page visit www.justgiving.com