Crowd Funding

Volume 6

While browsing the World Wide Web, I came across www.indiegogo.com, an online site, set up to give individuals from all over the world, the opportunity to set up their own platform, in order to raise money for various projects, events and causes. Up until today, I was completely unaware that a site such as this one existed; therefore, I was very intrigued by the concept of the site, the international audience that it reached, as well as, the generosity of those that donated.

As I browsed through all the different categories, I noticed that while all of them had a decent amount of money donated the majority of the large donations were for causes that dealt with health. For example, Michelle Combs Fundraiser the supports a wife and mother of two, as she enters into stage four of breast cancer. With a goal of $25,000 for alternative cancer treatments, the campaign as already earned over $13,000 with 105 more days to go! Other example was shown through the Go Alex! Fundraiser , which has already raised nearly $14,000 for the family of Alex, a 38 year-old husband and father of two who is currently battling esophageal cancer. Surpassing their goal of $10,000, Go Alex! Fundraiser and the Michelle Combs Fundraiser are prime examples of the generosity and compassion that overflows in our world.

While the campaigns on health required no perks to donate, outside of the indescribable joy you’d feel afterwards, some campaigns actually had what they considered “benefits” to your contribution. The Ethical Fashion Missionary, for example, was geared to fund the tuition and personal expenses of an inspired fashion student as she prepared to travel to the University of Ideas, in Biella, Italy. In order to make you feel like your contribution would be put to good use, if you donated a certain amount of money, you were “awarded” prizes, ranging from customized postcards, to free babysitting and business consultations. A great form of customer appreciation; this form of fundraising is a win-win with the idea of the cause being fulfilled and the giver being honored.

The interesting thing about the site is that with a valid email account, anymore can set up a campaign and begin to earn money for their cause. With no cause or campaign too big or too small, it’s amazing to see what causes people are truly passionate about and how many other people in the world share in their passion.