When raising money for a worthy cause like the Sooke Gathering Place, knocking on digital doors opens more avenues for donations.
“Although the Sooke Regional Communities Health Network (SRCHN) website is the primary tool for sharing information about SRCHN and its programs, social media has been a great tool for us to spread the word about the Sooke Gathering Place and the events we are offering as part of the project’s fundraising campaign,” said SRCN vice-president Mary Dunn.
“We have an amazing graphic designer, Sherry Robb, who updates the SRCHN website and designs our posters and ads, and the use of social media definitely helps getting a younger demographic involved.”
SRCHN has also been using online fundraising platforms, primarily Canada Helps, for some time, in part because the national platform helps fundraising campaigns reach a broader audience.
“Canada Helps also decreases the administrative burden by providing a donor management system and issuing tax receipts directly to the donors,” Dunn said. “Many donors see it as a credible way to fundraise, and it also brings in money through matching donations.”
Sooke resident Kindra Fenimore has worked for the past few years, assisting local companies and institutions in enhancing their social media presence.
“In today’s world, compared to even 10 years ago, young people especially rely on social media for things like fundraising,” she said. “My nieces are heavily involved in that, including organizing fundraising for birthday parties for their friends because you can reach a much broader audience in a much faster way.”
It’s rapidly replacing selling tickets or items door to door, she added.
The Sooke Gathering Place, an affordable housing facility for seniors that includes multi-generational community space, has raised $169,000 toward its goal of $2 million.
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