The Internet is still a relatively new phenomenon, and as a result, how non-profit organizations can benefit from it have yet to be fully explored. As younger people take the place of the older generation, comfort with the Internet will be even more widespread, and it will play an even more significant role in fundraising for non-profit organizations. Even now, online fundraising methods available to nonprofits are broad and varied and growing daily.
Launching a campaign with old media requires a significant budget. This is not a problem for major charities, as many have large budgets. Fortunately for small non-profits, there are cost-effective ways of raising funds. A fundraiser promoted using social networks can gain exposure for a small nonprofit at a low cost. With a little budget, a charity can draw attention to itself and its services.
The ease with which people can give to a non-profit is another essential benefit of the internet. One of the most basic forms of requesting donations from the public is for a charity to install a "Donate" button on its website or social network profile. This means givers can donate to a non-profit by clicking a button. These buttons will grow in popularity as people become more comfortable executing online transactions. Note also that social networks are among the most popular websites on the Internet. These sites are where people spend their time online and are an excellent way for a non-profit to gain market exposure with an audience that is more comfortable with technology. As a result, the audience within a social network may be considerably different from those approached via radio, television, or direct mail requests.
Adopting new methods of getting funds, such as online fundraising, is heightened for non-profit organizations in challenging economic times. During economic downturns, many non-profit organizations see their funding dry up even as the need for their services increases dramatically. A charity needs to maximize its resources, utilize its staff and funds for the best effect, and the Internet provides efficient ways of doing this. Venturing into the online marketplace and taking advantage of the Internet's benefits may give a struggling non-profit the publicity and fundraising boost it needs.
Charity auctions have always been popular methods of raising funds as people get to combine the feeling of winning something with the knowledge that they are simultaneously giving to a cause. Also, the competitive aspect of auctions should not be discounted as bidding frenzies can send prices soaring. The main benefit of using an online auction service like Biddingowl.com is that it provides the user with ways to improve significantly the ease with which charity auctions are promoted and managed.