People to People Networking: Why Web 2.0 tools Work for Fund Raising

There is a new wave of communication tools, and they are immensely powerful. People are gradually beginning to see the value of Web 2.0 tools in a variety of sectors, and this value is advocate engagement.

Whether these advocates are customers, partners, referrers, sponsors, supporters or fundraisers, the common denominator is awareness-raising through people to people networking.

The United Nations, a customer of The Community Host, is using the Community Server platform to engage the youth of today and provide an online meeting place where the next generation of budding world leaders can share their thoughts quickly, efficiently and interactively with their peers.

I wonder what scenario prevailed before the advent of Web 2.0? I can imagine what it would have been like for anyone involved with charitable causes. Organisations with high ideals and worthy goals would be frustrated in trying to raise awareness or funds through traditional and expensive media channels or by knocking on doors. These channels would be limited to big budget organisations and the smaller charities or companies, despite their equally worthy causes, would struggle to claim wide support because they would only be able to supply anecdotal evidence as to the sincerity of their objectives. How would they prove that there was rising support, and proof of the success of the funds already raised?

Web 2 changes all of this – dramatically - by introducing the conversation factor, getting people talking to people about the causes they are supporting, whatever their size, whether local, regional, national or international. Dialogue matters and over time a conversational wiki builds up online, thus showing potential funders – including those all-important celebrity and commercial funders - that there is a wide interest in this cause.hanks to Web 2.0 tools, smaller charities who traditionally found it difficult to raise funds will benefit greatly. Through viral marketing campaigns via forums, blogs, share buttons and wikis, supporters will do more than just make a donation; they will get people talking to people about the cause, and will inject a buzz into it.

Anthony Kirrane is the Director of The Community Host, a proactive SaaS provider offering enterprise class community hosting options. With exceptional expertise in running sites with traffic expectations in excess of a million hits per month, preferred Telligent Systems partner The Community Host is dedicated to serving any organisation seeking a high performance, scalable and customisable online community solution courtesy of award winning, world-leading community networking systems such as Community Server and Evolution. For more information call 01277 365530 or visit http://thecommunityhost.co.uk

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