E-Philanthropy: The Method and The Madness
Dateline: 2001
“Some may suggest that it is premature to even consider this issue, considering that nonprofits tend to be a few years behind their for-profit counterparts in utilizing the latest technology, but I disagree. Modern nonprofits need to be competitive and keep up with any technology that will help them be the best they can be. Next year may be too late.”
Gary Grobman, author of “The Nonprofits Organizations’ Guide to E-commerce”
The rate of online giving is seeing a steady increase every year. Though in its infancy, online donating is projected to follow in the footsteps of its effective counterpart, e-commerce, to greatly benefit everyone who is using the Internet for such purposes. As this trend continues to become more fashionable, organizations are beginning to take full advantage of the vast number of e-commerce solutions being presented to them; solutions that are requiring organizations to answer some very important questions.
A recent study has shown that “…18 percent of Americans with Internet access have made online donations and 69 percent have said they will make future online donations using a credit card.”
As this trend continues to gain momentum, we must assume that the caliber of donor will gain an increased awareness as well. Charity.com’s founder, Richard Ivey, predicts “that all donors will be “professional donors” within a few years, with access to the kinds of information about individual charities that has only been available to foundations and major donors in the past.” {...}