Hi, I’m developing a next-generation crowdfunding platform for non-profit fundraising. From what we have seen, it is aeffective tool, more about it below. I’m working with two other cofounders, both of whom are evangelical Christians. We get along well in general, but that I strongly believe in effective altruism and they do not.
We will launch a second pilot fundraising campaign in 2-3 weeks. My co-founders have arranged for us fund raise for is a “church planting” missionary organization. This is so opposed my belief in effective altruism I feel uncomfortable using our effective tool to funnel donors’ dollars in THIS of all directions. This is not the reason I got involved in this project.
My argument with them is that we should charge more to ineffective nonprofits such as colleges, religious, or political organizations, and use that extra to subsidize the campaign and money-processing costs of the effective non-profits. I think this is logically consistent with earning to give. But I am being outvoted two-to-one by people who believe saving lives and saving souls are nearly equally important.
So I have two requests:
1. If anyone has advise on how to navigate this (including any especially well written articles that would appeal to evangelical Christians, or experience negotiating with start-up cofounders).
2. If anyone has personal connections with effective or effective-ish non-profits, I would much prefer to fundraise for them than my co-founder’s church connections. Caveat: the org must have US non-profit legal status.
About the platform: the gist our concept is that we’re using a lot of psychology and biases and altruism research to nudge more people towards giving and also nudge them towards a sustained involvement with the nonprofit in question. We’re using some of the tricks that made the ice bucket challenge so successful (but with added accountability to ensure that visible involvement actually leads to monetary donations). Users can pledge money contingent on their friend’s involvement, which motivates people in the same way that matching donations motivate people. Giving is very visible, and people are more likely to give if they see friends giving. Friends are making the request for funding, which creates a sense of personal connection. Each person’s mini-campaign has an involvement goal and a time limit (3 friends in 3 days) to create a sense of urgency. The money your friends donate visibly increases your impact so it also feel like getting money from nothing—a $20 pledge can become hundreds of dollars. We nudge people towards automated smaller monthly reoccurring gifts. We try to minimize the number of barriers to making a donation (less steps, fewer fields).
Effective Altruism vs Missionaries? Advice Requested from a Newly-Built Crowdfunding Platform.
Hi, I’m developing a next-generation crowdfunding platform for non-profit fundraising. From what we have seen, it is aeffective tool, more about it below. I’m working with two other cofounders, both of whom are evangelical Christians. We get along well in general, but that I strongly believe in effective altruism and they do not.
We will launch a second pilot fundraising campaign in 2-3 weeks. My co-founders have arranged for us fund raise for is a “church planting” missionary organization. This is so opposed my belief in effective altruism I feel uncomfortable using our effective tool to funnel donors’ dollars in THIS of all directions. This is not the reason I got involved in this project.
My argument with them is that we should charge more to ineffective nonprofits such as colleges, religious, or political organizations, and use that extra to subsidize the campaign and money-processing costs of the effective non-profits. I think this is logically consistent with earning to give. But I am being outvoted two-to-one by people who believe saving lives and saving souls are nearly equally important.
So I have two requests:
1. If anyone has advise on how to navigate this (including any especially well written articles that would appeal to evangelical Christians, or experience negotiating with start-up cofounders).
2. If anyone has personal connections with effective or effective-ish non-profits, I would much prefer to fundraise for them than my co-founder’s church connections. Caveat: the org must have US non-profit legal status.
About the platform: the gist our concept is that we’re using a lot of psychology and biases and altruism research to nudge more people towards giving and also nudge them towards a sustained involvement with the nonprofit in question. We’re using some of the tricks that made the ice bucket challenge so successful (but with added accountability to ensure that visible involvement actually leads to monetary donations). Users can pledge money contingent on their friend’s involvement, which motivates people in the same way that matching donations motivate people. Giving is very visible, and people are more likely to give if they see friends giving. Friends are making the request for funding, which creates a sense of personal connection. Each person’s mini-campaign has an involvement goal and a time limit (3 friends in 3 days) to create a sense of urgency. The money your friends donate visibly increases your impact so it also feel like getting money from nothing—a $20 pledge can become hundreds of dollars. We nudge people towards automated smaller monthly reoccurring gifts. We try to minimize the number of barriers to making a donation (less steps, fewer fields).