Author: Kayla Barnes
We’re back with another installment of our Beyond the Basics blog series where we dive into features from the YourCause solutions that help level-up customer programs without increasing costs. Today’s spotlight: Peer-to-Peer Fundraising!
Curious about other features we offer that help you go Beyond the Basics? Check out previous posts from this series, spotlights on Disaster Relief, Engagement Elements, and Segmentation.
Fostering Peer-to-Peer Connection with YourCause
Within our employee engagement tool, CSRconnect, clients who run giving programs can take advantage of our Fundraising feature. This feature provides a unique way for employees to support their individual passions. Employees can create and manage individual fundraising pages to raise money for eligible nonprofits, as well as explore and donate to fundraisers created by their peers.
Employees creating a Fundraising page can configure the fundraiser name, description, photo, video, associated nonprofit, currency, goal, date range, custom designation, and have the option to make their fundraiser private or public.
Client administrators have the ability to enable external sharing which allows employees to share their fundraiser with family and friends outside the platform, who can then donate to the effort via credit card. Administrators can also add internal and external donor disclaimers to convey their company’s message regarding peer-to-peer fundraisers.
Did you know that JustGiving is part of our company, and one of the largest peer-to-peer fundraising sites in the world? JustGiving has raised over £6 billion for causes around the world!
Customer Success Manager Spotlights
Madison Nowlin
What do you love about our Fundraising feature?
I love that the CSRconnect Peer–to–Peer Fundraising feature allows end users to be in the driver’s seat by engaging with fellow coworkers in an experience that supports the organizations they are personally passionate about. Creating an individual Fundraiser page is a seamless experience, and the ‘My Fundraising’ report is readily available for fundraiser creators to quickly view the giving activity directly benefiting the causes they care about.
What are some creative ways you’ve seen clients, and their users, leverage Fundraisers?
The most creative way that I’ve seen a client leverage Peer–to–Peer Fundraising is by using this feature to host their annual ‘Giving Campaign’. This is done by enabling the feature for a few weeks each year and allows employees to come together and raise funds for organizations that are
About Madison:
Madison Nowlin has been with Blackbaud for 4 years and is based outside of Dallas, Texas. She loves making an impact in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility on a day-to-day basis. Causes near and dear to Madison’s heart include those related to child and family services, youth development, and shelter and homeless services.
important to them, while supporting the communities in which the employees live and work. During this time, the client collects data on employees that have participated in the Fundraiser(s), and they use this information to host raffles, talent shows, and more.
I have also seen great success with enabling the Fundraising and Groups feature at the same time to allow employees to have their own space to promote associated fundraisers and volunteer opportunities, share photos, and more.
What advice do you have for CSR professionals who are looking to start offering peer-to-peer fundraising to their employees?
There is no better time than the present to empower your employees to share their philanthropic passions with their coworkers! With the upcoming enhancement to allow client administrators the ability to review unique Fundraisers prior to being published within their CSRconnect community, you can allow your employees to host this crowdfunding experience while ensuring they remain aligned with your giving culture and strategy.
Liz Rush-Smyth
What do you love about our Fundraising feature?
Fundraising in CSRconnect is just so easy to navigate! Features like individual Fundraiser Pages and the Totals Thermometer are intuitive and easily translated to new and inexperienced users. When it comes to new-adopter modules, Fundraising is my favorite.
What are some creative ways you’ve seen clients, and their users, leverage Fundraisers?
When many of my clients moved to remote work during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fundraising stepped in to build team competition and camaraderie while supporting a cause. Passing a hat around the office for donations is so 2019! Now, we track engagement and team fundraising competitions via this digital tool. And – leadership loves it due to the dashboard-like interface.
About Liz:
Liz Rush-Smyth has been with Blackbaud since 2021 and is based in Austin, TX. As a former Corporate and Foundation Fundraiser, Liz is passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility and the impact that it can have on a community. In her free time, Liz volunteers in Austin’s green spaces and for child health causes.
What advice do you have for CSR professionals who are looking to start offering peer-to-peer fundraising to their employees?
Start small! Fundraising pages don’t need to be part of a broader strategy if you’re not quite there. End users can choose their favorite cause and share their charitable ask amongst colleagues, as well as external contacts. Friends and family can help boost fundraising totals as you build internal team interest and enthusiasm.
