By Sheri DeCarlo
Originally published in www.torontonicity.com on February 17, 2012

Image from: act.mtv.com

Did you know 86 per cent of Canadian social networkers are on Facebook? Of the over 500 million people on Facebook, more than 250 million now access it through mobile devices. Smartphone sales now surpass computer sales globally. As Bob Dylan sang, "the times … they are a changin'."

"If you're looking at your phone, I won't be offended, I'm just going to assume you're so engaged, you have to Facebook, Twitter [the information] out," says Claire Kerr, Director of Digital Philanthropy at Artez Interactive, to begin her presentation on "Social Media, Fundraising And All That Good Stuff" at TELUS House as part of Toronto's Social Media Week taking place February 13 - 17, 2012.

Of the top 50 non-profit organizations in North America, 92 per cent are active on at least one social media site. Depending on the type of charity, location and circumstances, 10 - 15 per cent of funds raised come in online. Online activists are seven times more likely to donate compared with other supporters. One half of Twitter's audience is mobile. It's important to be aware that your audience is mobile," says Kerr."

"We know that you are more likely to raise 40 per cent more online than those people who don't use social media in North America," says Kerr. This means for a fundraising event, if participants use social media, they raise significantly more than event participants that do not. "Organizations should be focused on helping our supporters in raising funds online because that's where you see ROI," says Kerr.

Online volunteering gives web savvy Canadians the opportunity to help Canadian not-for-profit organizations, directly from their computers. Recently launched Koodonation, supported by Koodo Mobile, introduces the unique concept of non-profit organizations challenging online volunteers to provide a variety of services including blogging, copywriting, logo design, marketing, research, and more.

"Microvolunteering is a great way for busy individuals to give back to the community, in a way that fits their schedule with no requirements for travel; this means you can volunteer at 3 a.m. from your couch," says Jennifer Robertson, Director of Communication, Koodo Mobile. Over 2,800 microvolunteers and over 160 non-profit organizations have registered, and 131 challenges have been completed to date. It doesn't replace traditional volunteering - it complements it and encourages our community to get involved, and at the end of it all, that is what is so great about it," says Robertson.

Fundchange is another great place where community projects and social media meet to fund change one project at a time. Sponsored by TELUS, Fundchange allows charities to post projects up to $5,000 and present them to potential donors, who in turn share them with their network. Sometimes, the way donors - especially younger donors - get engaged is because they identify with or believe in a specific project and because their own crowd of peers are also doing the same." Charities have posted 54 projects to date on Fundchange with a total of $55,000 funded from over 200 individual donors.

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