Laurel Ackerman

More and more, nonprofit organizations are giving constituents the tools to rally support for them and get donation pledges online. Online fundraising can be especially useful for annual, pledge-driven events like walk-a-thons; seasonal campaigns like an awareness month or during the summer for a “virtual” lemonade stand; or just as an ongoing, grassroots way constituents can support a cause. Laurel Ackerman, marketing director for Firstgiving, an online fundraising service, says that’s because using the Web is a more efficient way to ask for pledges — much easier than calling on the phone or going door to door to friends and neighbors. Participant