Virtual Economics

It’s no surprise that consumers are spending more money online. From digital goods and services to retail consumer goods, e-Commerce sales continue to grow worldwide. In addition to our everyday online purchases, consumers also are increasingly giving digital donations and making philanthropic gifts online. We all want to consider ourselves to be gracious, giving people; however, how much do we actually give?
A new infographic from nonprofit consultancy Convio, shows that the Internet is the fastest-growing channel for nonprofit fundraising. Since 2008, nonprofits have received donations totaling more than $1 billion from online sources. Moreover, the average donation is rising as well. Last year, the average online contribution rose to $91.94, an increase from $67.47 and $80.80 for 2008 and 2009, respectively.
To maximize this fundraising channel, nonprofit organizations must improve their customer experience and streamline the payment process. By reducing and eliminating anxiety commonly associated with online transactions, organizations will increase conversion rates, resulting in more donations for their cause.
The same techniques that Plimus uses to help vendors build customizable order pages can assist charitable organizations update their online presence with single-click gifting capabilities and repeat donor features to help reduce the barriers to online donations. Like any online business, it’s vital that nonprofit organizations also leverage a payment platform that is seamless for donors.
What do you think of the growing support for social giving? Will this trend continue in the coming years? We’d love to hear from you … let us know.
Plimus offers a flexible, hosted E-Business platform that helps companies worldwide to market, sell, and distribute digital goods and services online.