Technology and its impact on social causes

Thanks to countless charities and nongovernment organisations (NGOs), many impoverished communities and individuals are getting the help they need. The driving force behind these groups are the donations being made by supporters worldwide, but getting a ton of support is easier said than done. However, with the advent of technologies and new techniques, these groups have fewer things to worry about.

Social media and the internet, in general, are great ways to increase awareness regarding a social cause, says Ad Week. Many NGOs have taken notice of the potential benefits of taking a social cause online, and as of 2018, these groups have become more aggressive when it comes to using the internet.

According to a report by Tech Report, 92 percent of the NGOs worldwide now have a website, and this allows them to gain better recognition. These groups are also more aggressive now when it comes to reaching out to backers as 63 percent of them regularly send emails asking for support and donation.

In terms of social media usage, 93 percent of NGOs have a Facebook page, 77 percent have a Twitter profile, 57 percent have a YouTube channel, 56 percent have a LinkedIn profile, and 50 percent use Instagram. Not surprisingly, 71 percent of NGOs agree that social media is an effective tool for fundraising as it allows them to reach out to a generation that is more inclined to using smartphones and social media platforms.

By setting up websites and social media accounts, these groups remove geographical barriers between them and the backers from all over the globe. Simply put, they are increasing their recognition online substantially, and as compared to NGOs that don’t take their cause online, their pool of potential supporters and backers is far greater.

The benefits of technology for social causes and NGOs don’t stop there, too. NGOs and charities have also stepped up their offering in terms of how they accept payment. Tech Report notes that 72 percent of NGOs accept online payment. They also accept credit cards, PayPal, direct debit and even cryptocurrencies as a form of payment.

The use of technology for social causes is still evolving as more entrepreneurs and companies are realising how easier it is to make an impact socially.

XPO²’s disrupting platform in the fundraising industry

With NGOs and nonprofits gaining more attention online, French-American entrepreneur Dom Einhorn has taken it upon himself to become a part of the growing industry. He believes that charitable fundraising is ripe for disruption. Einhorn has been working with NGOs for over 20 years now and a socially responsible investor for a longer time, and he looks to meld his experiences through founding Exponential, Inc. (XPO²).

XPO² is a cause-related technology marketing firm that NGOs can rely on to gain a great boost in funding their social causes through a unique rewards-based platform — a Kickstarter for non-profits, if you will.

XPO² offers a selection of services to help out social causes, which includes marketing, fundraising, and investment support. Moreover, its impact investing platform maximises fundraising through the cashless contribution option. This is where backers gain access to deals and discounts from trusted merchant partners — and a percentage of their transactions are then given to qualifying NGOs.

Einhorn has indeed created a disruptor in the fundraising community, and NGOs who partner with XPO² are able to capitalise on the growing global e-commerce market.

Einhorn also believes that backers will be more interested in supporting causes if they see the extent of what they are doing. He says, “An important part of what we are setting out to accomplish consists in creating a new paradigm of transparency and accountability” through which they will be able to show backers the impact of their donations in a “visually-compelling way,” thus promoting a steady stream of support.

Technology is making a great impact on the industry of charities and social causes, and hopefully, it will continue to provide help in the coming years. The collaboration between these two sectors will help resolve more social problems and aid more people.

Article taken from press releases sent for consideration.