Find out how to use the Internet to raise money for your group.

Here are three simple reasons your group should be fundraising online:

•     Your members can reach their supporters across the US. 
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•     You can easily keep track of your fundraising progress.
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•     You will find new supporters online.  
  

So where do you start? Here are our top recommendations for online fundraising.

1.  Online Magazine Fundraising

With about 4 subscriptions per household in the US, magazines remain one of the top product fundraisers. With 700 magazines to choose from - including Sports Illustrated, Oprah, Newsweek, and Better Homes and Gardens - everyone can find something they want.

MagFundraising lets you do a complete fundraiser online, with your group's own online magazine store personalized with your photo, information about your group, and your goal.

2. Online Auctions

Most of us have ordered something on eBay at some point, or at least know someone who has. But did you know that you can put the power of online auctions to work for your organization? Online auctions can be run on their own or in combination with an event.

eBay, the top online auction website, offers different options for schools and non-profits: you can allow individual sellers to donate a portion (or all) of their profits from their sale to your organization, or your organization can sell items directly.

Another great program is offered through CMarket, a company specializing in online fundraising auctions. CMarket will help you plan, promote, and hold your online auction, with years of online auction fundraising experience to ensure your success.

3. Online Donations

It's easy to collect donations online, whether you have a website or not. Here are some of the top online donation tools:

• FirstGiving: If you are raising money for a registered non-profit (check Guidestar to know if your organization is registered), you can set up a fundraising page on FirstGiving and add special FirstGiving badges to your Facebook, Myspace or blog pages.
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• ChipIn: ChipIn allows any group or individual to set up an online fundraising page and get fundraising badges - a good option if you are raising money for an individual or other cause that can't be found on Guidestar.
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• Facebook: If your group has a lot of Facebook friends, you can even raise money on Facebook alone, using groups, pages, and fundraising applications such as the Causes application.

4. Online Grants for Schools

A special mention has to go to one of our favorite projects, DonorsChoose.org. Teachers submit proposals for their classroom projects, explaining what they need to raise money for.

We love this site because anyone can support what they feel is a deserving school project, from desperately needed learning aids to simple things like a carpet so that students can be comfortable during group activities.

When supporters read your story, they can use the tools on DonorsChoose.org to set challenges and promote your idea to their contacts through tell-a-friend tools and blog badges.


Do you have an online fundraising idea to add to this list? Let us know !