Understanding and Engaging the Next Generation of Philanthropists, Part 2

Real results
Fundraisers have been looking for ways to actually raise funds through social media to little or no avail since the channel's inception. However, that is finally beginning to change as the sector understands the channel and its users more and more. In fact, give2gether currently has more than 100 nonprofits raising more than $4.2 million on its platform, including six campaigns exceeding $300,000. Music for Relief and Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund each have raised more than $300,000, and Save a Child's Heart, one of the first organizations to utilize the platform, has raised more than $700,000, showing the type of fundraising potential that's out there for organizations of all missions and sizes.

"Instead of saying give us money, we say forget about how much money you can give; instead of opening your wallet, open your social wallet. It's monetizing the social activity of this younger generation," Shafir says. " … If you think about it, it's not only about your next gift or your next donors; it's about growing an online constituency who will support you in the second, third and fourth campaign this year and beyond.

"These are the modern philanthropists out there who are changing the way not only that we give but the way we think of ourselves as socially responsible and involved in campaigns. We live our lives online. We do our shopping online. We do our giving and philanthropic activities online, and I think that's what this is all about."