Earlier this month, Vancouver-based Glacier Media announced the launch of its own community crowdfunding service initiative called FundAid. According to the Vancouver Courier, which is owned by Glacier Media, FundAid is will tap into its newspapers’ deep ties to its communities to help raise awareness for crowdfunding companies.
Former newspaper editor and spearhead of FundAid, Martha Perkins, stated, “The biggest challenge in any crowdfunding campaign is getting the word out. That’s what we’re good at. Our newspapers are built on a strong tradition of sharing stories and informations that matter to our readers.
FundAid helps crowdfunding campaigns by doing the following:
- Starting in the Lower Mainland, Glacier Media will be advertising FundAid in the community newspapers: the Vancouver Courier, WE Vancouver, North Shore News, Surrey Now, Langley Advance, Delta Optimist, Richmond News, Burnaby Now, Royal city Record, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times, Tri-Cities Now. Bowen Island Undercurrent.
- The ads will sometimes promote specific campaigns but will also draw attention to FundAid.
- Editors will be told of any campaign that might be of interest to their readers.
- When newspapers write about a campaign, a “donate now” widget will be embedded in the online version.
- Every newspaper will host FundAid campaigns on their websites.
- Glacier Media’s sales staff can also approach businesses who might want to get involved by offering perks or sponsoring a campaign.
President of Glacier Media’s community digital media and newspapers in the Lower Mainland, Alvin Brouwer, noted, “We see this as a way to do some good in our communtiies. Glacier Media has so many resources that can be put to work to help people raise the money that they need.”
FundAid is partners with Vancouver-based platform Fundrazr, which recently won the City of Vancouver Excellence Award for small technology companies. FundRazr is the easy, effective crowdfunding platform for everyone. Over 40,000 people, groups, and non-profits in 20 countries have raised more than $40,000,000 with FundRazr.
Projects that would benefit from using FundAid would be:
- Those raising money for a friend of relative who are facing financial hardship because of an illness or accident.
- Team owners looking to pay for equipment or travel costs.
- Remembering a love one by creating a lasting legacy through a memorial fund.
- Those celebrating their birthday or retirement by asking donations to their favorite charity.