TECHNOLOGY

Jonathan Schieman Digital Marketing Specialist, ARTA

You don’ t need a cape, a cowl, or a grand entrance to be a hero, but did you know you can be a hero without even leaving your home?

Everyday, countless Canadians use crowdfunding platforms, like GoFundMe or Fundly, to raise money for meaningful causes. You could help someone cover unexpected medical costs, support a local community program, or provide aid to those impacted by disaster. These platforms are helpful ways that, as GoFundMe says,“ turn compassion into action.”

What Is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a simple idea with huge impacts. Basically, you share a cause that is important to you and invite others( the crowd) to donate to that cause. The crowd comes together to share and fundraise for a common purpose.

Within these collected micro-moments of kindness and compassion, heroism can occur in the online space. Even if your donation is no more than the price of a coffee, the combined small acts of kindness from friends, community members, or even complete strangers, can be life changing for those on the receiving end.

GoFundMe, one of the largest and most-trusted crowdfunding platforms, has been in existence since 2008. It empowers users to organize, advocate, and collect donations in a safe, secure, and userfriendly way.

Turn Your Cause into Action

With crowdfunding, you can do more than just support causes created by others, you can champion your own great cause. This type of digital, grassroots fundraising can impact others and bring a little more positivity back into our world.

Community change and meaningful impacts begin when we decide to turn care into action and help build a brighter future for others.

• Accounts that have little information, no details of how funds will be used, or don’ t share who the organizer is.

• Generic or stock images. Use Google Images to see if their pictures have been stolen.

• Does the story seem credible? If something seems too dramatic or lacks substance, it could be a red flag.

• Links in emails or social media that don’ t lead to the official crowdfunding website.

• Concerns raised by other donor comments.

38 | arta. net HEROES