How to prepare for digital fundraising surges

"When Fundraising Tech Hurts the Very Nonprofits It Claims to Help" In October 2025, GoFundMe automatically created 1.4 million fundraising pages for nonprofits, without their consent or knowledge. The company said it wanted to “make giving easier,” but the result was confusion, loss of trust, and real financial harm to small charities that rely on every dollar. Here’s what happened: * Hidden fees: GoFundMe charged standard transaction fees plus a default “tip” of up to 16.5% — money that went to GoFundMe, not the nonprofit. * No consent: Nonprofits never approved the pages, yet their names, missions, and logos were used. * Lost donations: Donors were redirected to GoFundMe instead of official nonprofit pages. * No donor access: Organizations couldn’t thank or re-engage supporters since they didn’t receive donor data. This incident hit small and community-based nonprofits the hardest, especially those serving poverty-affected areas that depend on grassroots giving and donor relationships. That’s why Lite Raise was built differently. Lite Raise is reimagining how community-based nonprofits, service clubs, and educational groups fundraise. Lite Raise helps organizations raise more money with less effort while solving the cash flow, compliance, and administrative challenges that hold them back. Unlike traditional fundraising tools, Lite Raise combines fast payment rails, AI-driven compliance, and white-labeled donor engagement tools into a single, affordable solution. By giving small and mid-sized nonprofits the same infrastructure as large organizations, Lite Raise unlocks billions in untapped giving potential. No hidden tips. No lost donor data. No unauthorized campaigns. Just a trusted, transparent fundraising platform controlled by and designed to help nonprofits grow. See the news clip here: https://lnkd.in/gNBk8zQG

"When Fundraising Tech Hurts the Very Nonprofits It Claims to Help" In October 2025, GoFundMe automatically created 1.4 million fundraising pages for nonprofits, without their consent or knowledge. The company said it wanted to “make giving easier,” but the result was confusion, loss of trust, and real financial harm to small charities that rely on every dollar. Here’s what happened: * Hidden fees: GoFundMe charged standard transaction fees plus a default “tip” of up to 16.5% — money that went to GoFundMe, not the nonprofit. * No consent: Nonprofits never approved the pages, yet their names, missions, and logos were used. * Lost donations: Donors were redirected to GoFundMe instead of official nonprofit pages. * No donor access: Organizations couldn’t thank or re-engage supporters since they didn’t receive donor data. This incident hit small and community-based nonprofits the hardest, especially those serving poverty-affected areas that depend on grassroots giving and donor relationships. That’s why Lite Raise was built differently. Lite Raise is reimagining how community-based nonprofits, service clubs, and educational groups fundraise. Lite Raise helps organizations raise more money with less effort while solving the cash flow, compliance, and administrative challenges that hold them back. Unlike traditional fundraising tools, Lite Raise combines fast payment rails, AI-driven compliance, and white-labeled donor engagement tools into a single, affordable solution. By giving small and mid-sized nonprofits the same infrastructure as large organizations, Lite Raise unlocks billions in untapped giving potential. No hidden tips. No lost donor data. No unauthorized campaigns. Just a trusted, transparent fundraising platform controlled by and designed to help nonprofits grow. See the news clip here: https://lnkd.in/gNBk8zQG

GoFundMe has created over 1.4 million donation pages for U.S. nonprofits without consent. Let me say that again for the people in the back: They are fundraising in your organization’s name without telling you. This isn’t just a tech snafu. This is a full-frontal assault on the very thing that sustains us: donor trust. The Donor Experience, Dumpster-Fired ▪️ A donor gives to your “GoFundMe” page, thinking they’re supporting your work. ▪️ You don’t even know it happened. ▪️ You get no usable donor data. ▪️ You can’t thank them. ▪️ You can’t steward them. ▪️ You can’t build a relationship. That’s not just sloppy. It’s sabotage. These are orphaned donors—lost in a transaction, unthanked, unrecognized, and unlikely to ever give again. You Built a Brand. They Hijacked It. These pages are using your EINs. Your public information. Sometimes even your outdated logos. They're also ranking higher than your official donation pages in Google search results. Let me be crystal clear: this is brand erosion by stealth. You’ve spent years cultivating your identity and your donor relationships. GoFundMe just slapped a tip jar on it and walked away with a cut. Show Me the Money (and the Fees) ▪️ A standard transaction fee (fine). ▪️ A default “tip” to GoFundMe (not fine). ▪️ An extra 5% surcharge on recurring gifts (absolutely not fine). And for what? A for-profit company capitalizing on your nonprofit’s goodwill while donors think they’re helping you. Spoiler: They’re not. Not really. Legal? Maybe. Ethical? Absolutely Not. We’re not attorneys, but many in the sector believe this behavior qualifies as unauthorized charitable solicitation. Which—hello—you could be on the hook for. So not only is this undermining your donor experience, it’s putting your compliance status at risk. That’s a legal mess you didn’t ask for and don’t deserve. Document everything. Be loud.   What to Do About It — Today There’s no one-size-fits-all here, but here’s a decision matrix to help: 1. Search First Go to https://lnkd.in/erhbtcNd and look up your organization by EIN or legal name. 2. Claim or Remove ▪️ Claim it only if you’re ready to dance with the devil (read: agree to GoFundMe’s terms, including binding arbitration). ▪️ Remove it by emailing: privacy-requests@gofundme.com dpo@gofundme.com   Or use the attached Cease and Desist with your information filled in. Or BOTH! Use the phrases “unauthorized charitable solicitation” and “trademark infringement”. 3. File a Complaint If they ghost you, go straight to: ▪️ Your State Attorney General’s Charities Division ▪️ The Federal Trade Commission   Need more help?   Join us tomorrow (10/24) in an open Zoom room from 12:30pm-2pm to take questions and provide further help and information.   https://lnkd.in/eeYfbfJG Thank you to Lynne Wester who originally posted this. TCN is grateful for your voice and leadership.

How to Win Donors in a Digital-First World Donor behavior has changed. In today’s digital-first world, generosity begins with a click, a share, or a scroll. Winning donors is no longer just about galas, brochures, or cold calls, it’s about meeting them where they are: online. So how can nonprofits and social impact leaders stand out? 1. Tell Human-Centered Stories: Donors are drawn to causes that feel personal. Use videos, testimonials, and visuals that highlight real stories of impact, not just statistics. 2. Optimize for Mobile Giving: Most donors will first meet your organization on their phone. If your website or donation process isn’t mobile-friendly, you risk losing support before you’ve even begun. 3. Leverage Social Proof: Showcasing donor testimonials, community endorsements, and transparent reporting builds trust. In the digital age, credibility is currency. 4. Embrace Personalization: AI and data tools now allow nonprofits to tailor appeals to individual donor interests. A message that feels personal is far more effective than a generic appeal. 5. Build Consistent Engagement: Donors want more than a thank-you note; they want to be part of your journey. Use newsletters, live Q&As, and social updates to keep them connected. In a digital-first world, the organizations that thrive are those that combine technology with authenticity. Donors don’t just give to causes, they give to stories they trust and leaders they believe in. “People don’t give to charities; they give through charities to change the world.” 👉 How is your organization adapting to digital-first fundraising?

Exciting update! Royer-Greaves, with support from Edge of Cinema in Exton, PA, is launching the production of four short videos. These videos will take center stage in our upcoming 2025 Video Campaign, highlighting RGS as a unique service provider, the significance of community partnerships, success narratives from clients, and recognition of our dedicated staff. Filming is set to begin in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates! 🎥 Video Campaign Outcomes: 💰 Increase donations: Video is a powerful fundraising tools. Donors are approximately 50% more likely to give after watching a fundraising video. 🫶 Build emotional connections: Videos are a highly effective way to convey the human side of a mission, build empathy, and connect with supporters on a deeper emotional level. 🤝 Demonstrate impact and build trust: Videos can show where funds are going and how they are making a difference, providing transparency and building trust with donors. ✍ Boost engagement and conversions: Placing a video on a landing page can increase conversions by approximately 80%, and including the word "video" in an email subject line can boost open rates. 📈 Increase reach and visibility: Social media algorithms favor video content, making it an effective way to reach a wider audience on social media platforms. 📚 Educate and inform: Videos can educate the public about critical issues, share updates, and showcase successes in a compelling and memorable way. 😊 Humanize the organization: Videos allow nonprofits like RGS to put faces to their work by featuring staff, volunteers, and the people they help, which can foster a stronger connection with the audience. 

🤕 The hidden problems behind “Donate Now” buttons 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. Donation data gets stuck in spreadsheets. Teams spend days fixing records. Donors wait for receipts. ⚠️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 - 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬. In our latest article, we explore: 🔹 Why most donation plugins fall short for growing charities. 🔹 How messy data and delayed syncing quietly hurt fundraising performance. 🔹 And what a truly unified giving experience looks like. ✅ It’s time for donation systems that do more than collect money; they should 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭. 💡 Our latest article breaks down what’s really causing the friction behind online giving and how integrated solutions like N3O’s Engage CRM and donation widget are helping charities finally unify their giving experience. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞: https://lnkd.in/dQHkvP-V #CharityTech #Fundraising #CRM #NonprofitInnovation #DigitalGiving

I’ve been reflecting on all of this GoFundMe stuff. I use to work there. Classy was part of my DNA. I still have many friends at GFM and I've seen things from the inside. Something that always anchored me at Classy were our values. And these weren't just corporate niceties or sayings we would put on shirts (although we proudly did that too). We lived these things every day. We would refer to them during strategy meetings. They were our backstop and north star. Adapt And Overcome Lead By Example Stand For Something Dream Big, Execute Smart Create Meaningful Value Always Be Learning Classy is gone now, but many of the people from those early days remain. Contrary to what many are saying, I actually don’t doubt good intentions were at play here. The idea of “making fundraising easier” is a strong one and aligned with our sector’s purpose. It's referenced every single day in the halls of GFM. At the same time, nonprofit organizations deserve control over how their brand, donor journey and data are represented. When platforms act unilaterally, it erodes trust. In that org-platform-donor triangle, trust is the currency. So here’s my take: • Platforms should ensure explicit, visible consent when onboarding an organization as a beneficiary. Communication and transparency first. • Default settings (e.g., tips, recurring fees) should be transparent and opt-in rather than buried or implied. • Nonprofits should be empowered with full ownership of their pages, donor data, branding and terms. • And all of us working in fundraising, tech for good, and mission-driven orgs should treat platform accountability as part of our sector’s infrastructure. It's the plumbing that makes everything else work. I believe we can use this moment not just to critique, but to elevate expectations and push for better systems. Our cause-centered, mission-driven corner of this world deserves no less. To my friends and former colleagues at GoFundMe: I know you care deeply about mission and impact. I share that ambition, and I welcome a dialogue (from the whole dang community) around how we make this ecosystem stronger together.

I'm fascinated by the depth and volume of the nonprofit sector's response to the GoFundMe debacle. Companies and even nonprofit entities have been setting up similar middleman donation projects for decades: Network for Good and Facebook fundraising pages, for example. And very few organizations are going to be directly affected by these pages. I think what's going on is the unleashing of frustration and exhaustion with tech platforms "helping" donors by ruining the experience of giving (and fundraising). The job of a fundraiser is now mostly about processing and analyzing data. It's about building and testing emails and figuring out how your software's reporting tools actually work. It's about talking to consultants and not, you know, listening to members and donors. It's become about trying to figure out how to game social platforms, sms, vertical video, connected TV and who knows what other VC-funded tech tools you have to wade through this year. It's about what AI can maybe do to optimize the experience and not about what getting to know people one on one can do to build a lasting relationship. I have no doubt that some GoFundMe users asked about ways to donate directly to nonprofits on their platform. Makes sense. But they could have just said "google it" and focused on their core business instead of trying to cannibalize nonprofits and their donors for a new line of revenue. Perhaps fewer people are giving because it's just not interesting or personal. Perhaps fundraisers flow so rapidly through organizations because it's just no fun anymore. I don't know...we spend so much time talking about the forests of data and optimization and reach that we forget to care for the needs of the humans who have hopes and dreams for their community.

Donor CRMs can be confusing for small nonprofits—let's clear up the biggest myths holding you back. Myth #1: CRMs are only for big organizations with huge budgets. Reality: Modern donor CRMs like MemberDrive are designed to be affordable and easy for small nonprofits, churches, and charities. No monthly fees, low transaction costs, and user-friendly interfaces make managing donors simple. Myth #2: A CRM is just a fancy contact list. Reality: It's much more. A good donor CRM tracks recurring memberships, pledges, donation history, and engagement. This gives you insights to build stronger relationships and boost fundraising. Myth #3: Setting up a CRM takes forever and requires tech expertise. Reality: MemberDrive's setup is quick and intuitive. You can start collecting donations with embeddable forms and automate recurring gifts without needing a tech team. Myth #4: You can't motivate donors with a CRM. Reality: Gamification features like leaderboards and social sharing tools in MemberDrive turn fundraising into a community effort, encouraging donors to give more and invite others. For small nonprofits, the right donor CRM isn't a costly burden—it's a powerful tool for growth. Ready to see how easy and engaging fundraising can be? MemberDrive is built to help you keep more of your donors and raise more money. What's the biggest myth you've heard about donor CRMs? Let's bust it together.

“Your Tools Should Grow with You” Every nonprofit hits that moment: when what used to work suddenly… doesn’t. If your team spends more time fixing systems than building relationships, you’ve likely outgrown your fundraising tools. In our blog, we explore how to identify that turning point — and how better technology can mean more time, trust, and transparency. 💡 Let’s make your tech work for your mission. Read here: https://lnkd.in/g2tmMCCG #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingTechnology #DigitalTools #CoatRackWebServices