GoFundMe is a for-profit crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for events ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations to challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses. Founded in 2010 by Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester in San Diego, California, GoFundMe has quickly become one of the world's most popular fundraising websites for personal causes and life events, distinguishing itself from other crowdfunding platforms by focusing on individual fundraising. The platform operates on a donation-based model, where GoFundMe takes a percentage from each donation as a fee for its services. This model has proven to be incredibly successful, with the site hosting over 50 million donors and raising over $5 billion as of 2020. GoFundMe's ease of use, combined with the power of social media sharing, has made it possible for campaigns to go viral, leading to significant donations. Did You Know? One of the most heartwarming aspects of GoFundMe is...

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Kickstarter is a global crowdfunding platform founded in 2009, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. It serves as a bridge between creators and individuals who support their ideas, enabling projects from various domains such as arts, music, film, technology, and design to come to life. Kickstarter operates on an all-or-nothing funding model, meaning projects must reach their funding goals within a specified time frame to receive any money. Since its inception, Kickstarter has become a pivotal platform for independent creators, helping to launch innovative products, groundbreaking films, and other creative projects. As of 2023, the platform has successfully funded over 200,000 projects, with millions of backers pledging billions of dollars. Did You Know? Kickstarter itself was crowdfunded. The founders used their initial supporters to fund the platform before it became the crowdfunding giant it is today. Additionally, Kickstarter is committed to a more equitable and sustainable fu...

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DonorsChoose is an innovative American nonprofit organization that has been connecting donors with public school teachers in need of classroom resources and experiences since its inception in 2000. Founded by Charles Best, a public high school teacher in the Bronx, New York, DonorsChoose emerged from a simple yet profound idea: to empower teachers to request materials and experiences directly for their students, making classroom dreams a reality through the support of individual donors. Operating on a unique model, DonorsChoose allows teachers across the United States to post classroom project requests on its platform. These requests can range from books to supplies for a science experiment, or even funding for a field trip. Donors can then browse and choose to fund the projects that resonate with them, contributing any amount they wish. Once a project is fully funded, DonorsChoose purchases the requested items and ships them directly to the school, ensuring that every dollar is sp...

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Indiegogo is an American crowdfunding website founded in 2008 by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Indiegogo was launched as a platform to raise funds for independent projects and has since evolved into a global crowdfunding engine that supports entrepreneurs and creators in bringing their dreams to life. Unlike some of its competitors, Indiegogo offers both fixed and flexible funding options, allowing campaigners to keep the funds they raise even if they don't meet their original goal, provided they choose the flexible option. Indiegogo is notable for its diverse range of campaigns, from tech innovations and medical breakthroughs to film projects and social causes. The platform has hosted over 800,000 campaigns in more than 235 countries and territories. One of the unique aspects of Indiegogo is its InDemand program, which allows campaigns that have met their goals to continue raising funds beyond the original deadline. Di...

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GlobalGiving is a pioneering platform in the realm of global crowdfunding, connecting nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country around the world. Founded in 2002 by Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle, both former World Bank executives, GlobalGiving has established itself as a leader in facilitating direct connections between donors and grassroots projects needing support. The platform allows individuals and organizations to find and fund social, environmental, and community projects across a vast range of sectors. GlobalGiving prides itself on its rigorous vetting process for projects, ensuring that donations are channeled to legitimate and impactful causes. This process includes a thorough legal and due diligence review, as well as the requirement for projects to provide regular updates to their donors. This transparency and accountability have been key to GlobalGiving's success and growth. One of the unique aspects of GlobalGiving is its commitment to providing fee...

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Fundly is a cutting-edge crowdfunding platform that has revolutionized the way individuals and organizations raise money for a wide range of causes. Founded in the heart of Silicon Valley, Fundly prides itself on its user-friendly interface and its mission to make fundraising as easy and accessible as possible for everyone, regardless of their technical expertise or the cause they are passionate about. Key Features and Offerings: - Versatility: Fundly is designed to support a diverse array of fundraising efforts, including personal health challenges, memorial funds, educational projects, and nonprofit initiatives, among others. - Social Media Integration: The platform stands out for its strong emphasis on social media integration, making it simple for users to share their campaigns across various social networks, thereby increasing visibility and support. - No Start-Up Fees: Fundly operates on a 'no money upfront' model, allowing users to create and launch their campaigns free of ...

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Network for Good is a unique social enterprise that has been at the forefront of empowering nonprofit organizations through innovative technology solutions since its inception in 2001. Based in Washington, D.C., this company has carved a niche for itself by providing software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms specifically designed to bolster fundraising capabilities and enhance donor management for nonprofits of all sizes. What sets Network for Good apart is its commitment to making charitable giving easier and more accessible to everyone. Over the years, it has facilitated over $2.5 billion in donations to over 125,000 nonprofits, showcasing its significant impact on the philanthropic landscape. Did You Know? Network for Good was initially founded as a collaboration between America Online (AOL), Cisco Systems, and Yahoo! This partnership aimed to create a platform that could harness the power of the internet to foster charitable giving, a vision that has certainly been realized and...

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Classy, Inc. is a prominent American software company that specializes in providing fundraising technology to nonprofits. Founded in 2006 by Scot Chisholm, Pat Walsh, Marshall Peden, and Joe Callahan, the company initially started as a beachside fundraiser before evolving into a leading technology innovator for social good. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Classy has played a pivotal role in modernizing the way nonprofits engage with their donors and manage online fundraising efforts. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to support nonprofit organizations in their fundraising endeavors, including crowdfunding, event management, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Classy's technology is tailored to meet the unique needs of nonprofits, enabling them to increase their impact through more effective fundraising strategies. Did You Know? - Classy was named after a bar where the founders hosted their first fundraising event, which was aimed at supporting cancer research. The s...

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Givebutter is a modern fundraising platform designed to provide a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools for nonprofits, educational institutions, clubs, teams, and other causes. Launched in 2016 by Max Friedman, Liran Cohen, and Ari Krasner while they were still college students, Givebutter has rapidly grown into a leading platform in the philanthropic technology space. The platform combines traditional fundraising capabilities with innovative features like social media integration, live event streaming, and transparent transaction fees, making it a favorite among younger, tech-savvy donors. Did You Know? Givebutter claims to have one of the industry's highest-rated customer support services, which is quite unique for a tech company in the fundraising sector. Additionally, the platform has facilitated over $200 million in donations, supporting more than 35,000 good causes worldwide. A fun fact about Givebutter is that its name was inspired by the founders' desire to "spread go...

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Penn State THON™, officially known as the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, is the world's largest student-run philanthropy. This remarkable event is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Founded in 1973 by the Penn State Interfraternity Council, THON™ has grown exponentially over the decades, both in size and impact. THON™ is a year-round fundraising and awareness campaign for the fight against pediatric cancer, culminating in a 46-hour dance marathon held every February at the Pennsylvania State University. Participants, known as dancers, remain standing and awake for the entire duration to symbolize their support and solidarity with children battling cancer. Did You Know? Since its inception, THON™ has raised over $190 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Children's Hospital, directly benefiting more than 4,000 families and funding critical research in the fight against pediatric cancer. The event n...

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