by Meg Garlinghouse
Three months ago I had my first experience leading a crowdfunding campaign. I joined a team of returned Peace Corps Volunteers to help raise funds for a first of its kind, world-class documentary about the legacy and future of Peace Corps. This experience reinforced my belief that the world wants to help – you just have to ask them.
Crowdfunding has arrived. It is hard to go on social media without seeing a reference to someone raising money for some important cause, new venture or tragic event. In 2014 $16.2B dollars was raised through crowdfunding platforms and that number is believed to have hit $34B last year.
It does seem that this new way of raising money is truly redefining the face of philanthropy – no longer the 65 year old retiree at a rubber chicken fundraising dinner on a Thursday night – it is now the 28 year old millennial who made a $10 donation and then shared the campaign with her 1,200 followers on Instagram.
