Online fundraising is quickly becoming the most popular way to donate money to a charity. Funds are instantly accessible, which is paramount especially if the money is for disaster relief, and everyone has access to the internet which means giving money is quick and easy. If you are thinking of setting up online fundraising, security can be a major concern. Pay attention to some simple tips to ensure your fundraising is successful.
1: Could You Use a Preexisting Donation Platform?
Firstly, consider using a pre-existing donation platform such as JustGiving or Giveforward. These platforms already have tight security measures in place protecting the donor’s personal and payment information. Joining one of these will mean that your charity will undergo a strict verification process to combat fraud. The process includes ensuring that you are registered as a charity with checks on the bank account used and on the board of trustees. Larger platforms hold the charity money in trust accounts which means if anything happened to the platform, the money would still be safe.
2: Security and the Law
If you decide to go it alone, you have to make sure that your donor’s information is safeguarded. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a security standard used by most businesses that accept branded card payments that reduce credit card fraud. You would need to register with the PCI DSS, and if your charity is going to be more than a one off fundraising event, validation of compliance will need to take place on a yearly basis.
3: Keep in Touch
Set up a system that keeps your donors updated from the moment they donate. Sending a receipt via text or email is a good way to do this - it reassures the donor that their money has reached you, and provides a record against fraudulent activity. Some platforms provide information on what the money has been used for, complete with accompanying photograph and stories of the benefits. While this won’t improve your security, it can make people want to donate again.
4: Security...Again
Your fundraising page will need a very high level of security. There are many companies out there that specialize in charity software packages, most of which are cloud centric. These packages include rigorous security checks on incoming and outgoing traffic on your page, data protection and payment services as well as the basic cloud services around antivirus and app help.
5: Accept as Many Payment Methods as You Can - But Start with PayPal
Include PayPal as a payment method. This may sound obvious, but there are still companies and charities that don’t. PayPal has options for discounts for non-profit organizations with rates starting at 30 cents per transaction and no monthly fees depending on your chosen package. PayPal uses its high security standards as a selling point, is PCI compliant and includes automatic fraud screening.
6: Consider a Comprehensive Fundraising App
If a package like that isn’t for you, there are interactive event and fundraising apps that can work in similar ways, as well as providing software to help you set up online auctions and real time developments to show all your donors. PayPal is the expected method of payment with these apps. High security comes as a part of the service, which can be tailored to your needs. They work best on cell phones, and have reported high success rates.
