crowdchange-website-2024

Raising Double: How Matching Gifts Transform Your Bottom Line

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:57:11 GMT

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What if every donation your nonprofit received had the potential to be doubled, without asking donors to give more? That’s the power of matching gifts.

However, every year, billions of dollars in corporate matching gift funds go unclaimed simply because donors don’t know their employers offer them, or nonprofits don’t make it easy to participate.

In this post, we’ll explore how matching gifts work, why so much potential goes unused, and how your organization can integrate them into your fundraising strategy to raise more, without more asks. We’ll cover:

What are matching gifts?
The untapped potential of matching gifts
Bottom-line impact: Real results from matching gifts
Integrating matching gifts into your fundraising strategy

For mission-driven organizations, matching gifts represent a massive missed opportunity. The programs can not only increase donation revenue but also deepen donor engagement and loyalty. Let’s dive in with the basics!

What are matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program that allows employees to amplify their charitable donations, often doubling or even tripling the impact of their original gift. When an employee makes a donation to a nonprofit, their employer may "match" that donation with an equal or greater contribution, depending on the company’s policy.

Here’s how it typically works:

An employee donates to a registered nonprofit.
The employee submits a matching gift request to their employer, usually through an online portal or paper form.
The employer verifies the donation and the nonprofit’s eligibility.
The employer sends a matching donation to the nonprofit, effectively doubling the original gift.

Most matching gift programs follow a 1:1 match ratio, but some companies go further, offering 2:1 or even 3:1 matches. Donation minimums and maximums vary, and some companies also match gifts from retirees and spouses.

The untapped potential of matching gifts

Despite the powerful impact of matching gift programs, the vast majority of eligible donations remain unmatched, resulting in billions of dollars being left on the table each year.

According to recent research , an estimated $4–7 billion in matching gift funds go unclaimed annually in the U.S. alone. Why? Most donors are unaware that their employer offers a matching program, and many nonprofits fail to actively promote or facilitate the process. In fact, 78% of donors are unaware if their company matches gifts , and even those who are aware often find the process unclear or cumbersome.

This gap between potential and reality represents a huge missed opportunity. For nonprofits, it’s a chance to increase fundraising revenue without asking supporters to give more. For donors, it’s a way to maximize the value of every dollar they contribute. And for companies, it’s an opportunity to deepen employee engagement and demonstrate a real commitment to social good.

The good news? This is one of the most fixable fundraising challenges. By raising awareness and streamlining the matching process, nonprofits can unlock this hidden revenue stream—and turn a single donation into something far greater.

Bottom-line impact: Real results from matching gifts

Matching gifts aren’t just a fundraising bonus—they can be a game-changer for your nonprofit’s bottom line. When effectively promoted and integrated into your donation process, matching gifts can significantly boost revenue, increase donor retention, and enhance campaign performance.

Consider this: organizations that actively promote matching gifts can see up to a 71% increase in response rate and a 51% increase in average donation size. Why? Because donors are more likely to give—and to give more—when they know their contribution will have double the impact.

Real-world organizations illustrate this clearly, with Double the Donation’s case studies providing insight into the following examples:

A mid-sized education nonprofit achieved a $50,000 revenue increase in one year by simply adding a matching gift search tool to its donation page and incorporating follow-up emails.
One national health-focused nonprofit found that 30% of eligible donors submitted matches after being properly informed and reminded, turning $100,000 in original gifts into over $180,000 in total donations.
Even small nonprofits have reported matching gift revenue making up 10% or more of their annual individual donations once they implemented basic awareness and automation strategies.

Beyond the numbers, matching gifts also build trust and loyalty. Donors feel more confident when their employers support their giving, and they’re more likely to return knowing their impact is amplified.

The takeaway? Matching gifts don’t just support your mission—they directly strengthen your fundraising results and long-term sustainability.

Integrating matching gifts into your fundraising strategy

To truly unlock the power of matching gifts, they need to be more than an afterthought—they should be a built-in component of your overall fundraising strategy. When thoughtfully integrated, matching gifts can boost every campaign you run and deepen your donor relationships over time.

Here are several practical ways to weave matching gifts into your approach:

1. Promote Matching Gifts Early and Often

Mention matching gift opportunities at every stage of the donor journey —from your website and donation forms to email receipts and thank-you pages. The more visibility you give to matching gifts, the more likely donors are to take action.

2. Use Matching Gift Tools

Platforms like Double the Donation can automate matching gift identification and follow-up. These tools integrate with your CRM and donation tools, too, making it easy for donors to search for their company’s program right at the point of donation.

3. Create Targeted Follow-Ups

After someone donates, send a follow-up email specifically about matching gifts. If possible, include employer-specific instructions or a direct link to start the match request. Personalized, well-timed nudges often lead to higher submission rates.

4. Make Matching Part of Campaign Planning

Incorporate matching gift promotion into your most significant fundraising moments—like Giving Tuesday, year-end drives, and peer-to-peer campaigns . Even better, set up temporary, exclusive matching challenges sponsored by companies to drive urgency and excitement.

5. Train Your Staff and Volunteers

Ensure your development team, donor services, and volunteers understand how matching gifts work and can answer donor questions. Internal alignment boosts consistency and effectiveness across all touchpoints.

6. Report Impact Back to Donors

When a match comes through, let the donor know. Share stories, numbers, or thank-you notes that show how their gift—and their employer’s support—made a tangible difference. This closes the loop and reinforces the value of participating.

By making matching gifts a routine part of your strategy rather than a one-off appeal, you create a scalable, sustainable source of revenue. And just as importantly, you make giving more rewarding for the people who support your mission.

Matching gifts are one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to increase your fundraising revenue. By making donors aware of their matching opportunities and removing barriers in the process, your organization can turn single gifts into doubled impact.

Whether you're running a year-end campaign or seeking to enhance donor retention, matching gifts should hold a central position in your strategy. Don’t leave money on the table—start unlocking the full potential of corporate matching programs with CrowdChange and Double the Donation , and watch your bottom line grow.

UK’s Greek Sing 2025: Breaking Records and Granting Wishes

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Tue, 13 May 2025 15:03:17 GMT

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UK’s Greek Sing 2025: Breaking Records and Granting Wishes

Each year, the University of Kentucky's Greek community rallies together for one of the campus’s most beloved and long-standing traditions: Greek Sing. Hosted for an incredible 52 years by Chi Omega, and proudly co-hosted this year by Beta Theta Pi, Greek Sing 2025 was more than just a night of performances—it was a powerful celebration of service, community, and hope.

Dancing for a Cause

Greek Sing brings together 31 Greek Life chapters for an evening of choreographed dance routines performed live at Rupp Arena, home to the eight-time National Champion Kentucky Wildcats. But the dancing is just the grand finale of a months-long philanthropic effort. Chapters fundraise and participate in events throughout the year, including a Launch Party, Bake Sale, and Wish Week, all leading up to the main event.

The heart behind it all? The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Every dollar raised goes toward granting life-changing wishes for local children facing critical illnesses.

Record-Breaking Fundraising

With a goal of raising $450,000, the organizers already had high hopes after last year’s historic total of $440,671.94. But Greek Sing 2025 exceeded expectations in the most spectacular way by raising a record-breaking $506,050.37.

To put that into perspective: with the average wish costing $10,000, this year’s event will help grant around 50 wishes for local children and their families.

Streamlining Success with CrowdChange

Behind the scenes, CrowdChange played a key role in making Greek Sing 2025 such a fundraising success. The chapter opted for a custom CrowdChange site to host Greek Sing and all related events, featuring their own logo and colors for a cohesive, branded experience. Keeping everything in one place made the organizers’ lives significantly easier, simplifying both promotion and management. The platform offered custom donation pages, team fundraising tools, and an engaging leaderboard that fueled friendly competition among the 31 participating chapters. Plus, the built-in admin reports made it quick and easy to keep tabs on how much they had raised collectively through all Greek Sing–adjacent events.

“Having a custom CrowdChange fundraising site made it so much easier to share our fundraiser,” the organizers said. “Team fundraising was incredibly beneficial. Each chapter was extremely motivated, and the leaderboard kept the energy high.”

A Moment to Remember

Of all the incredible moments, one stood out above the rest: when the nine honored Wish families entered Rupp Arena and received a standing ovation from thousands of cheering students. That moving welcome underscored the true purpose of Greek Sing—coming together in service of something bigger than ourselves.

“It is truly an honor to host this event and share our love for philanthropy with the University of Kentucky and all of its Greek Life chapters,” said the event team. “Our work is not done until every child awaiting their wish has their wish granted.”

Greek Week at URI: A Tradition of Competition and Giving

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:32:05 GMT

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Greek Week at URI: A Tradition of Competition and Giving

Each year, the University of Rhode Island’s Greek Life community comes together for Greek Week, an event that blends competition, school spirit, and philanthropy. With 11 sororities and 16 fraternities participating, the week is a chance for students to compete, connect, and most importantly, give back.

Planning Greek Week

Greek Week doesn’t come together overnight. The Philgramming team—a collaboration between the Programming and Philanthropy teams from the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils—leads the effort, meeting weekly in the month leading up to the event. Guided by their advisors, they work with Greek Week chairs from each chapter to ensure everything runs smoothly.

A Week of Competition and Events

Greek Week is built around competitive and philanthropic events that bring out school spirit while driving fundraising efforts.

The week kicks off with Opening Night, featuring a chariot race, a banner competition, and classic field games like tug-of-war, a water balloon toss, and a three-legged race.

Midweek, the Fraternity Classic hockey tournament draws a big crowd, with fraternities competing in a friendly but competitive game. The Mr. and Mrs. Greek Week Pageant follows, where contestants showcase their talents and compete in formal wear and interview segments.

One of the most meaningful events of the week is the food-packing initiative, held in partnership with The Outreach Program. This year, students packed 5,000 meals for low-income families in Rhode Island, which were then distributed to local churches and community centers.

The final two nights of Greek Week bring some of the most anticipated events. Greek Sing showcases creative performances representing their assigned Greek god. Then, there’s Lip Sync, where each sorority and fraternity pairing performs an eight-minute choreographed routine. Lip Sync also marks the final push for fundraising, with teams earning points based on how much money they’ve raised.

The Role of CrowdChange

CrowdChange played a vital role in organizing Greek Week’s fundraising efforts. As Kelsey Gil, the URI Panhellenic President, shared, “Working with CrowdChange made organizing this fundraiser significantly easier. Their platform provided us with the tools to stay organized, and their support made all the difference.”

Since 2021, the University of Rhode Island has used CrowdChange to manage Greek Week and other philanthropic events, raising a total of $1,357,882.80 to date.

Among the platform’s most valuable features were the Team Pages and Leaderboard tools. These allowed each sorority and fraternity pairing to track their fundraising progress in real time, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. The Leaderboard added a competitive element, encouraging teams to push their fundraising efforts to new heights.

CrowdChange’s personal pages within teams tool allowed individual students who went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts to truly stand out. This feature also streamlined the process for the participants, making it easy to share their pages, track their progress, and inspire more donations.

“I had the opportunity to meet with Abby over the summer, and she was incredibly helpful in explaining the platform’s features and providing valuable tips for navigating the website,” said Kelsey Gil. “She answered all of my questions and was always quick to respond to emails. She even scheduled virtual meetings when needed, which made everything easier. CrowdChange’s support was exceptional.”

With CrowdChange’s user-friendly platform and exceptional support, Greek Week exceeded its fundraising goals.

Beating Fundraising Goals

Greek Week 2024 went beyond expectations. With an initial goal of $100,000, URI Greek Life raised $173,000 through CrowdChange, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and The Outreach Program.

A Meaningful Impact

For many students, Greek Week is about more than just the events—it’s about the impact. Seeing the reactions from the organizations receiving donations was a highlight for those involved.

One student shared how their family was supported by Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2017 when their brother was hospitalized. Having experienced that generosity firsthand, they found it incredibly meaningful to now be on the giving side.

Greek Week continues to be one of the most exciting traditions at URI. With over 3,500 students in Greek Life, the event fosters new friendships and strengthens the community.

Want to keep up with URI’s upcoming events? Check out their fundraising page: https://urigreekweek.crowdchange.co/

P2P Fundraising with CrowdChange: Empowering Community Fundraising

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:00:36 GMT

P2P Fundraising with CrowdChange: Empowering Community Fundraising

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) fundraising has revolutionized how organizations engage with their communities, turning supporters into proactive fundraisers. CrowdChange is designed to optimize the P2P experience for our partners. In this post, we will explore the many P2P features available on CrowdChange, emphasizing how these tools can enhance your fundraising efforts and help you raise more money for your important cause.

Registration Options: Streamlining Participant Onboarding

CrowdChange offers a fully customizable registration process tailored to suit the needs of many different events. Here are the key features that you, the administrator setting up the event, can determine what you want to include and what you don’t want to include:

1. Flexible Registration Pages:

Participants can choose to register with or without personal and team fundraising pages, accommodating those who may not wish to actively fundraise but still support and participate in the event.

2. Unique Email Requirement:

To maintain clear and unique participant records, you can require each participant to register with a different email address. This simple yet critical feature helps streamline the process of sending updates, confirmations, and important information to participants.

3. Minimum Fundraising Requirements:

Organizations can set a minimum fundraising amount that participants must commit to when registering. Through this feature you can motivate participants to engage more actively in fundraising activities, fostering a greater sense of responsibility and dedication to your cause.

4. Multiple Registration Tiers:

Customize registration tiers to offer different levels of participation. These tiers can have different costs, unique benefits and can be set to close on specific dates. Offering multiple tiers allows participants to choose a level that fits their budget and commitment, making your event accessible to a wider audience.

5. Custom Questions and Waivers:

Tailor the registration process by asking custom questions. Use logical relationships between questions and registration tiers to gather detailed information for different participants. You can ensure compliance and participant awareness by including mandatory waivers.

6. Default Content:

Save time and ensure consistency by setting default content for personal and team fundraising pages, providing a template for participants to build upon. This content can include a compelling story about the cause, suggested messaging for potential donors, and standardized images or logos to maintain a cohesive visual identity.

7. Promo Codes:

Encourage early registration or provide discounts with promo codes. Different codes can be set up for varied discount amounts with different timelines, adding flexibility to your marketing strategy.

Blueprints: Simplifying Event Management

Managing large-scale events across multiple locations can be a huge undertaking. CrowdChange’s Blueprints feature simplifies this process:

1. Mass Scaling of Locations:

Ideal for signature events held in various locations, Blueprints allow for easy replication and management across all sites, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

2. CSV Upload for Locations:

Save time by uploading a CSV file containing all event locations, streamlining the setup process and reducing manual entry errors.

3. Resource Efficiency:

By simplifying the logistics of multi-location events, Blueprints save valuable time and resources, allowing organizers to focus on other critical aspects of their fundraising campaign.

4. Customized Admin Access

We understand that hosting large-scale, national events often involves regional staff or volunteers to help make it happen. To accommodate this, we offer different levels of access tailored to your needs. This flexibility allows you to grant your event hosts your chosen level of access ensuring they have the necessary permissions to perform their roles effectively while maintaining control over critical aspects of the event.

Super Teams: Fostering Competitive Spirit

Engage your participants through friendly competition with the Super Teams feature, perfect for corporate or national giving:

1. Team Nesting:

Allow teams to be nested under larger Super Teams, promoting collaboration and competition. This feature is particularly useful for corporate or national engagement.

2. Dynamic Leaderboards:

Watch the excitement build as teams compete for top spots on the leaderboards, driving increased fundraising efforts and participant engagement.

3. Corporate Engagement:

Showcase corporate involvement by highlighting Super Teams comprised of corporate partners, boosting visibility and recognition.

Milestones and Badges:

Motivate participants with milestones and badges. Awarding badges and prizes for achieving different metrics not only recognizes effort but also encourages continued participation.

Conclusion:

CrowdChange’s P2P fundraising platform is designed to make fundraising campaigns more effective and engaging. Its robust registration options, efficient event management tools, and dynamic team features provide a comprehensive solution for any organization looking to harness the power of community fundraising. By leveraging these features, you can streamline your fundraising efforts, increase participant engagement, and ultimately, drive more significant impact for your cause.

Donor Advised Fund Giving: A Game-Changer for Nonprofits

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:52:44 GMT

In the world of fundraising, you've likely encountered the term "Donor-Advised Funds" (DAFs). CrowdChange now offers DAFpay by Chariot, providing a streamlined way to donate from your DAF to support nonprofits effectively. But, what are they, why do they matter, and how are they transforming charitable giving?

What Exactly are Donor Advised Funds?

Imagine you have a piggy bank for charity. You put money into it whenever you can, and when you're ready, you distribute that money to your favorite causes. That's essentially how a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) works, but on a much larger scale. It’s like a charitable savings account, where donors can contribute money, get an immediate tax deduction, and then later decide which nonprofits to support with those funds.

How Big are DAFs?

DAFs are a huge force in philanthropy. Need proof? Check out the numbers below:

$229 Billion: There was over $229 billion in DAF assets at the end of 2022.
$52 Billion: In 2022 alone, $85 billion was contributed into DAFs, with $52 billion granted out to nonprofit organizations.
$117,466: The average DAF account balance was $117,466 at the end of 2022.
3 Million People: Nearly 2 million individual accounts accessed by 1.6 people on average means over 3 million people are using DAFs for their philanthropy.
1,151: There were 1,151 DAF sponsors managing Donor Advised Funds as of year-end 2022.

Why They’re Important

One of the key benefits of DAFs is flexibility. Unlike traditional donations made on the spot, DAFs let you contribute money whenever it suits you and distribute it to charities later. This flexibility empowers donors to plan their giving strategically.

Introducing DAFpay: Simplifying DAF Donations

Thanks to innovations like DAFpay by Chariot, donating from your DAF has never been easier. With DAFpay, donors can seamlessly support their chosen nonprofits online, integrating their charitable savings directly with fundraising efforts on CrowdChange.

Benefits for Nonprofits

For nonprofits, DAFs represent a reliable and potentially substantial source of funding. Previously, DAF donations were separate from typical fundraising efforts, but now, integrations CrowdChange means nonprofits can access these funds more efficiently, helping them achieve their missions more effectively.

Looking Ahead…

As DAFs continue to grow in popularity and accessibility, they are reshaping the landscape of philanthropy. More donors are empowered to make significant contributions, and nonprofits can count on more stable funding streams to support their initiatives.

Whether you’re considering setting up a DAF or already have one, you’re part of a movement that’s redefining how we give back. With tools like DAFpay paving the way, the future of charitable giving is brighter than ever.

Just a friendly reminder: DAF Day is right around the corner on October 10th! As a proud launch partner, CrowdChange is excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that is transforming how donor-advised funds are used. DAFs are now easier and more impactful than ever. Join us for DAF Day and make a difference together! For more details, check out our full press release .

Unlock the Power of Embedded Donation Forms

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:01:49 GMT

Unlock the Power of Embedded Donation Forms

When it comes to online fundraising, the importance of providing a seamless donation experience is key. Enter embedded donation forms, a game-changer for organizations looking to streamline their fundraising efforts while maintaining control over their donor journey.

So, what is an embedded form and how does it differ from traditional donation forms?

What is an Embedded Donation Form?

Unlike traditional forms that redirect donors to external platforms, embedded forms keep donors right where you want them – on your website! This means donors can contribute without being navigated away, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience.

The power of customization

One of the standout features of embedded donation forms is their high level of customization and integration. These forms can be tailored to match the look and feel of your website, creating a cohesive branding experience. They can also be embedded across multiple pages, allowing for targeted campaigns and personalized donation journeys. You call the shots, so you can make it reflect your organization’s personality!

Enhance donor engagement with impact statements

A key component of embedded donation forms is the inclusion of an impact statement. These statements, consisting of images and text descriptions, give your donors a clear picture of how their contributions make a difference, which creates an understanding of trust and transparency between your organization and the donor. Show the impact, and watch those donations flow in!

Navigating barriers to giving

Ever wonder what holds donors back from giving? Some common barriers to giving include donor apprehension and decision paralysis. By instilling trust, transparency, and showcasing impact, organizations can alleviate donor concerns and inspire confidence in their mission. Additionally, offering options for one-time and recurring giving caters to different donor preferences, further enhancing accessibility. Lastly, in a world that is full of distractions, we have a cart abandonment feature that reminds the donor to finish checking out if they exit out of the donation form but stay on the page. Sometimes the donor just needs reminding to complete the process.

Facilitating tribute gifts

Another notable feature of embedded donation forms is the option to facilitate tribute gifts, allowing donors to honour loved ones through their contributions. This feature not only expands the reach of fundraising efforts but also deepens donor engagement and fosters a sense of community.

Putting it to practice

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of embedded donation forms, it’s time to put it to action! Embed them strategically throughout your website, customize them to fit your organization’s needs, and watch the magic happen. It’s fundraising made easy – and effective!

University of Tampa - Greek Week 2024

tawnie@crowdchange.co (Tawnie Simpson) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:41:45 GMT

University of Tampa Greek Week 2024

University of Tampa’s (UT) recent Greek Week was an example of the power of community, collaboration, and compassion. This year, they chose to rally behind and raise funds in support for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay, a decision rooted in their desire to develop meaningful connections with local charities.

Throughout the week, UT hosted a series of events, each designed to encourage camaraderie and support for their chosen cause. From Sidewalk Chalk to Bubble Soccer, Greek Spirit Day to Greek Jeopardy, their agenda was packed with activities aimed at bringing the Greek community together for a common purpose and raising funds for their cause.

The Greek Variety Show was a highlight of the week for the UT community. The show was an incredible display of talent and teamwork; each team performed a 10-minute dance routine. It drew an audience of 950 students, with 280 participants taking to the stage.

Central to their success was the support of the CrowdChange team. Our platform streamlined their fundraising efforts and amplified their impact – helping them exceed their goal and raising nearly $100,000 more than in previous years! Using our peer-to-peer features, including team pages and live leaderboards, UT was able to build momentum and increase donor engagement in a way they never had before. Our new Venmo integration further facilitated donations, making it easier and faster than ever for students to contribute and spread the word.

Ultimately, UT’s efforts yielded outstanding results, with over $160,000 raised for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay. This unprecedented goal demonstrated the true power of teamwork and community spirit. As we reflect on the success of UT’s Greek Week, we are reminded of the profound difference we can make when we come together with purpose and passion. The CrowdChange team is overjoyed for the University of Tampa and we are grateful to have played a part in their success.

THE TERRY FOX FOUNDATION TEAMS UP WITH CROWDCHANGE & SALESFORCE TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:43:12 GMT

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The Terry Fox Run represents a prime example of a successful community-based fundraising event in North America. Over the last 43 years, they have managed to raise more than $850 million for cancer research. This monumental achievement has its roots in 1980 when 18-year-old Terry Fox, who had lost his right leg to osteogenic sarcoma, initiated a cross-country run to raise funds for cancer research. This marked the birth of the Marathon Of Hope. Although Terry passed away in 1981 at the young age of 22, his enduring spirit continues to inspire Canadians to contribute to cancer research.

About The Terry Fox Foundation

The Terry Fox Foundation has been instrumental in harnessing this wave of community support. The foundation organizes events at over 10,000 school run locations and more than 800 community run locations. The impact of these events is considerable, with a 14% year-on-year increase in participants and a 22% year-on-year increase in direct online donations. The community-run segment has also seen a 29% increase in teams created.

The Challenge

The success of these events, however, comes with its own set of challenges. The Foundation needed to secure a robust and intuitive fundraising platform that could efficiently manage its events across the country. This platform needed to offer best-in-class support to the Foundation's national teams and supporters, all while integrating seamlessly with Salesforce in real-time.

After a rigorous evaluation process, the Foundation chose CrowdChange as its online fundraising partner. The deciding factor was CrowdChange's Master Template feature, which enables the scaling of any fundraising event to many locations through a simple blueprinting process. The platform proved its mettle by accommodating the scale of the Foundation's events and the demands of more than 25,000 dedicated fundraisers.

Setting up the Event for Success

The Terry Fox School run collaborates with over 10,000 schools across Canada to create classroom teams and individual student fundraising pages. A Master Template was created, which housed the standard set of fundraising and donation settings for all school locations. This allowed the Foundation to launch all school locations in a matter of minutes.

Our simplified peer-to-peer workflow offered teachers and students a seamless process to create and share their fundraising pages. Any changes to fundraising and donation settings could be applied to all run locations from a single dashboard, ensuring a consistent and unified experience.

Similarly, for the Terry Fox Community Run, a single Master Template was created for all community-run locations. Proprietary search widgets enabled participants to search for a run team or participant quickly and easily. A Multi-Registration workflow allowed participants to register multiple participants, join teams, and create their personal fundraising pages, all in a single transaction.

Through our partnership with CrowdChange and Salesforce, we have been able to expand our reach, increase our efficiency, and raise more funds for cancer research. As we continue to evolve and grow, we remain committed to our mission of keeping Terry Fox’s dream alive.

For more information, visit

www.CrowdChange.co

What is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising? A Quick Guide

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:35:34 GMT

Peer-to-peer fundraising, also known as social fundraising, is a personal campaign that asks for donations in various ways.

Fundraising is one of the most important parts of any new business, product, or change in life. While everyone's free to follow their dreams, their dreams will meet a quick end if they can't secure reliable funding.

In the 21st century, peer-to-peer fundraising (P2P) has democratized the world of fundraising.

In the same way that YouTube made it possible for anyone to become an entertainer, and social media gave a platform for everyone's voice to be heard, peer-to-peer fundraising is a form of social fundraising that anyone can make use of when collecting donations.

But what exactly is peer-to-peer fundraising? How does it work? How do you make use of it for collecting donations in your fundraising campaigns?

This article will answer those questions, and teach you a bit about peer-to-peer fundraising along the way.

What Is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising?

If you've heard of the term crowdfunding, you're not that far off from peer-to-peer fundraising. Crowdfunding, which generates billions of dollars every year , is the general umbrella category that peer-to-peer fundraising falls under.

Peer-to-peer fundraising is the process of creating a fundraising campaign directly. You can share the campaign with your friends and family, and they can donate directly to you.

As you can see, peer-to-peer goes beyond typical online crowdfunding. It allows you to integrate the connections you make online with live in-person events. This sort of hybrid technology is what contemporary businesses need to move forward.

Why P2P?

P2P provides many new opportunities for forward-looking people looking to start ambitious projects by themselves.

It eliminates the barriers put up by proximity and prestige, and lets the market completely determine whether or not a business succeeds. Someone no longer needs to get a loan to pay for the damage that their locally beloved ice cream shop received during a storm. They can start a crowdfunding campaign, and if it's as beloved as it claims to be, people will donate and practically buy the ice cream shop back into the business.

P2P works because there are systems in place to ensure the safety of every transaction. The best crowdfunding services have many money verification applications that ensure your trust. They work together with these applications to make the transition of money safe.

Start By Setting a Goal

The first thing you need to do for your company, charity, or organization is to set up a goal. Setting a goal that's too high might mean you don't meet your goal. Depending on the P2P service, you might not even make money at all if you don't reach your goal.

However, you don't want to set your goal too low. This will make it easier to hit, but give you less to spend. You also might think people will stop donating once you hit your goal, however, you can always adjust your goal mid-campaign. You don't want to set your goal too high either so that it may not be attainable and make your campaign appear to be unsuccessful.

It's best to pick a certain thing (a very particular goal) you want to pay for with your P2P campaign. When you do this, you have a simple goal to accomplish when you get your money. It becomes extremely easy to let your customers know that you're putting their money to good use.

For example, if you're trying to buy more beds for a hospital wing or equipment for an animal shelter, you can start a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to fund these items. This is extremely doable and accessible.

Another thing to remember is communication is key. You will want to share your goalposts and your accomplishments with your donors to keep them in the loop.

Providing Benefits Always Helps

The main reason why people donate to your P2P campaign will always be your project. If people have faith in you, they'll be willing to trust you with their money.

However, for people on the fence, giving them exclusive benefits might help win their support.

One of the best parts of peer-to-peer marketing campaigns is that you can provide people with unique, tiered benefits for investing in your project.

For example, if they buy a ticket for a walkathon, you could throw in a custom t-shirt as an added benefit. Think outside the box when it comes to giving these additional benefits.

The Main Advantage of Choosing CrowdChange

Crowdchange is one of the most robust fundraising platforms on the market due to the ease-of-use and intuitive nature of the platform, and the comprehensive features available. Let's look at some features below:

It has all the features you might need for a successful fundraising campaign - you can switch them on or off depending on what you need or don't need.
It is mobile optimized - which means you don't need to be at a desktop to fiddle around with your campaign and make necessary changes.
It is highly secure - never worry about your data or your customer's data being shared with the world.
It can accept one-time donations, or monthly donations - if you wish to build a subscription-based fundraising campaign, you can.
It allows gift matching - if you wish to match donations CrowdChange allows you to do so effortlessly.
It has a merchandise sales option as well - if you wish to build your revenue stream from several different avenues, you can sell merchandise using CrowdChange.

The features listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more where this came from, so check out CrowdChange's website for more of its features .

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Is Important

As you can see, peer-to-peer fundraising is a fantastic option for any person looking to raise money in today's world. It allows you to interact directly with your customers and cut out the middlemen.

Take advantage of this way to make money and embrace the future of business and marketing.

For more information, check out our features .

How to Create an Online Fundraising Campaign

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:29:46 GMT

Whether you are a charity or sports team, it is beneficial to know how to create an online fundraising campaign.

A lot has changed since the dawn of 2020. Recent events have changed the way we get together, the way we view our communities, and the way we reach out to help others.

One notable change that organizations shouldn't overlook is the 30% increase in online giving we've seen in the past year or so. Online crowdfunding campaigns and fundraisers are at an all-time high, generating much-needed funds for charities, student groups, start-ups, and even individuals in need.

If you're getting ready to embark on an online fundraising campaign, you've come to the right place. We're here to set your online fundraising endeavors up for success.

Read on to learn everything you need to know to create a successful online fundraising campaign.

Step 1: Establish Your Beneficiary or Cause

First thing's first: who or what are you fundraising for? Keep in mind that establishing a specific beneficiary or cause for your online fundraiser produces better results than just fundraising for an organization, in general.

In other words, you're not just raising money for a food bank. You're raising money to feed members of your community. You're not raising money for your student organization, but to gain access to the equipment or activities you need.

We'll talk more about how to tell a story later. First, make sure that you pick a specific beneficiary or cause that you can summarize in the name of your fundraiser.

Step 2: Set a Reasonable Goal and Timeline for Online Donations

While you can leave your fundraiser open-ended, we often suggest establishing a monetary goal and a timeline for your online fundraiser. Even if ongoing funds are needed, consider breaking up an ongoing fundraiser into smaller goals with clear goalposts.

Why does a monetary goal and timeline matter? It helps to create momentum for your online fundraiser. People want to help you reach a goal, and seeing how much you still need or how much time is left to donate will incentivize donors to act fast.

What happens if you meet your goal? You can always make an announcement and raise it to keep bringing in donations.

Step 3: Select Your Online Fundraising Platform

Now, it's time to select your online fundraising platform. At CrowdChange, we offer online fundraising technology that is safe and seamless to use.

Share your CrowdChange link across platforms for easy access to that donation button. Using our platform, you can allow for set or custom donation amounts as well as one-time or recurring donations. We also make it easy to gift match, sell tickets, and sell merchandise as part of your online fundraiser.

We also offer the tech support you need to make sure that your online fundraising campaign goes off without a hitch.

Step 4: Create a Compelling Story

Once you have your CrowdChange fundraising page set up, it's time to think about copy. What are you going to say that will make people feel compelled to donate? How are you going to express the importance of raising funds for your beneficiary or cause?

One thing that marketing experts will tell you is that storytelling is a more successful tactic than sharing facts and figures. While those facts and figures can lend authenticity to your story, you want to ensure that you're creating an emotional connection for your donors.

Who will these funds help? Will these funds keep someone healthy or safe or make someone's dreams come true? Will these funds make it possible for your organization to keep making the world a better place?

People donate money to fundraisers because they want to make a positive difference. The copy of your fundraising campaign provides you with an opportunity to show exactly how those donations will create change.

Step 5: Identify Key Channels for Your Fundraising Campaign

How can you reach potential donors in a way that will make the largest impact? To figure that out, you may want to take a look at previous fundraising campaigns your organization has undertaken. Which marketing channels produced the largest response?

Common marketing channels include direct mail, email, and social media. If your donors respond best to direct mail, you can still send out pamphlets, postcards, or fliers directing recipients to your online fundraiser.

Nowadays, social media is an important tool. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are all great places to advertise your fundraising campaign. Not only will you reach your existing followers but interested donors can also easily share their posts with their own followers, increasing your reach instantly.

Using a mix of marketing channels is the best route. However, you should still identify your most lucrative or productive marketing channel and direct most of your time and energy to that channel.

Step 6: Send Your Fundraiser Out Into the World

Now, it's time for the moment we've all been waiting for: sending your fundraiser out into the world! You've set a goal and timeline, created a compelling story, selected your online fundraising platform, and identified your best marketing channels. Now, it's time to put all of your hard work into action.

Once donations start pouring in, we recommend staying active in your storytelling. How are the funds raised so far being used? What will further donations help you accomplish?

Don't forget to thank your donors and keep sharing your CrowdChange link until your goals are met and you've had a successful online fundraiser!

Starting an Online Fundraiser? CrowdChange Can Help

Fundraising planning can feel overwhelming, especially if you're pivoting to an online fundraising campaign for the first time. Our guide will get you through those early hurdles and set you up for a smooth and successful crowdfunding campaign.

Want to find out more about how CrowdChange can help you create the perfect online fundraiser? Contact us and we'll answer any questions you may have and set up a free demo for you to try out. We're certain that CrowdChange will be a perfect match for your organization or cause.

How Fundraising Software Can Help Your Cause

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:25:08 GMT

Setting up a fundraiser is not easy, but fundraising software can make time-consuming tasks easier. Learn more about the benefits here.

With more than 170,000 charities in Canada, getting the word out on your nonprofit can seem daunting. A growing number of nonprofits are turning to fundraising software to boost donations. Software allows for fundraising automation and other benefits.

Has your nonprofit taken advantage of online and app-based revenue solutions? Read on to learn about the benefits of fundraising software.

What Can Fundraising Software Do for Me?

If you are not utilizing fundraising software solutions, then you may be spending excessive time reaching donors and collecting donations. When data does need to be transferred from one area to another, for example, the tasks can take several hours or longer.

CrowdChange's fundraising solutions let you handle all your fundraising tasks from one portal. Your donors will appreciate the sleek and elegant software that allows for quick and convenient donations. Fundraising software allows for boosted donations and easier record-keeping for your nonprofit organization.

How Does Fundraising Software Work?

CrowdChange's software solutions seamlessly integrate with your existing payment processors. Our software applications link with popular payment processor partners so your donors can easily contribute to your cause.

Once CrowdChange plugs into your organization's CRM, you can begin a robust peer-to-peer campaign program that allows for easy social media sharing.

Manage your fundraising projects from a dashboard that delivers real-time updates on contributions. From the dashboard, you can download detailed reports on each fundraising campaign and other important insights.

Benefits of Fundraising Software

Whether your fundraising relates to school activities or alumni events, CrowdChange can provide your nonprofit with a wide range of benefits. Consider these advantages before signing up for our popular services.

1. Tracking Donor and Attendee Activity

Keeping track of who donated or attended your events can be time-consuming. CrowdChange's software solutions automatically track those numbers. You can download reports to see how your efforts went after each event, and with our ticketing functions, you can see in real-time who has checked into an event.

Our software can help you notice donor trends (like increased giving) that might otherwise be missed. This can be a great help when it comes to maintaining donor relations.

2. Consistent Branding

Consistent branding helps your organization, school group, or charity stand out. CrowdChange's donation portals and communications are designed to help your nonprofit appear professional.

Your campaign efforts will be instantly recognizable by your supporters. The look and layout of your campaigns are customizable. You can add your organization's logo and choose the right color scheme to build a consistent brand.

3. Save Time

Fundraising software can be integrated into accounting software and campaign reports. Launching a campaign is easy whether you using your mobile or desktop. No more digging through past contact lists. Simply update the language of your campaign and let CrowdChange handle the work of collecting and processing donations.

4. Simplify Reporting and Accounting

Sure, you can hire an accountant to track every dollar and cent that you raise or spend. That will cost your organization significantly. Allowing CrowChange to collect and organize that information can save you time and money. Simply download the report and send it to your organization's accountant for record-keeping.

5. Build Transparency

Your donors will appreciate the improved transparency that our online platform provides. As your organization gains access to easy-to-download reports, that information can be forwarded to the government, foundations, and donors as needed. Providing reports on your website is another way to build trust with your donors.

6. Make Giving Easy

If there is a Golden Rule to charitable giving, it is to make giving as easy as possible. This is why we work with popular payment processor partners like Paysafe, Braintree, Stripe Payment, and Billhighway. Any newsletter, smartphone app, or online payment portal will be easy to navigate.

8. Secure Online Donations

By using CrowdChange's online platform, your patrons will enjoy our safe and secure payment platforms. Our cloud-based software accepts one-time, monthly, and annual donations.

Launch Your Next Campaign Using CrowdChange's Fundraising Solutions

Fundraising software is a valuable resource that will boost contributions. It can also improve your organization's brand and image. Your staff and volunteers will notice the benefits as well.

Whether you represent a fraternity or another organization, let CrowdChange help you raise the most for your cause. Fill our online contact form and a member of our team will respond shortly. Our diverse team strives to always provide the best in customer service.

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:37:24 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:37:24 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality

When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication

Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO

Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free

Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand

A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

jared@crowdchange.co (Jared Allen) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:37:22 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.

crowdchange-website-2024

Raising Double: How Matching Gifts Transform Your Bottom Line

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What are matching gifts?

The untapped potential of matching gifts

Bottom-line impact: Real results from matching gifts

Integrating matching gifts into your fundraising strategy

UK’s Greek Sing 2025: Breaking Records and Granting Wishes

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UK’s Greek Sing 2025: Breaking Records and Granting Wishes

Dancing for a Cause

Record-Breaking Fundraising

Streamlining Success with CrowdChange

A Moment to Remember

Greek Week at URI: A Tradition of Competition and Giving

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Greek Week at URI: A Tradition of Competition and Giving

Planning Greek Week

A Week of Competition and Events

The Role of CrowdChange

Beating Fundraising Goals

P2P Fundraising with CrowdChange: Empowering Community Fundraising

P2P Fundraising with CrowdChange: Empowering Community Fundraising

Registration Options: Streamlining Participant Onboarding

1. Flexible Registration Pages:

2. Unique Email Requirement:

3. Minimum Fundraising Requirements:

4. Multiple Registration Tiers:

5. Custom Questions and Waivers:

6. Default Content:

7. Promo Codes:

Blueprints: Simplifying Event Management

1. Mass Scaling of Locations:

2. CSV Upload for Locations:

3. Resource Efficiency:

4. Customized Admin Access

Super Teams: Fostering Competitive Spirit

1. Team Nesting:

2. Dynamic Leaderboards:

3. Corporate Engagement:

Milestones and Badges:

Conclusion:

Donor Advised Fund Giving: A Game-Changer for Nonprofits

What Exactly are Donor Advised Funds?

How Big are DAFs?

Why They’re Important

Introducing DAFpay: Simplifying DAF Donations

Benefits for Nonprofits

Looking Ahead…

Unlock the Power of Embedded Donation Forms

Unlock the Power of Embedded Donation Forms

What is an Embedded Donation Form?

The power of customization

Enhance donor engagement with impact statements

Navigating barriers to giving

Facilitating tribute gifts

Putting it to practice

University of Tampa - Greek Week 2024

University of Tampa Greek Week 2024

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THE TERRY FOX FOUNDATION TEAMS UP WITH CROWDCHANGE & SALESFORCE TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR CANCER RESEARCH

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What is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising? A Quick Guide

Peer-to-peer fundraising, also known as social fundraising, is a personal campaign that asks for donations in various ways.

What Is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising?

Why P2P?

Start By Setting a Goal

Providing Benefits Always Helps

The Main Advantage of Choosing CrowdChange

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Is Important

How to Create an Online Fundraising Campaign

Whether you are a charity or sports team, it is beneficial to know how to create an online fundraising campaign.

Step 1: Establish Your Beneficiary or Cause

Step 2: Set a Reasonable Goal and Timeline for Online Donations

Step 3: Select Your Online Fundraising Platform

Step 4: Create a Compelling Story

Step 5: Identify Key Channels for Your Fundraising Campaign

Step 6: Send Your Fundraiser Out Into the World

Starting an Online Fundraiser? CrowdChange Can Help

How Fundraising Software Can Help Your Cause