Founders of CharitySub Tap Into Two Trends in Charitable Giving
There are so many charitable startups these days, that it is hard to keep up. The field of websites through which we can donate to various charities has also grown to dozens from the few just a short time ago.
I gave up a while back even keeping a running list of them all. But recently I was attracted to a brand new charity website called CharitySub.org.
I am fond of small charities, those that find it difficult to get noticed and to raise funds beyond their local areas. CharitySub is focused on small charities and on crowdfunding. But, Amy Crews, one of four cofounders of the site, says they are also tapping into a growing interest in monthly giving. At CharitySub, monthly giving is called a subscription. What a cool idea! We subscibe to all kinds of things now, from streaming video services to iPad apps. Why not for charity? And this subscription is so small, we'll hardly miss it.
The charming website and giving portal was dreamed up by Jim Crews, Amy Crews, Brian Cantrell and Alexis Winslow. The premise is simple: CharitySub teams up with three small charities (clustered around a single theme) each month. Donors pledge to give $5 per month, picking one of the featured charities to receive their gift. The amount is small but when combined with many other givers, the total gift can have a big effect for a small organization. Not to mention the opportunity to make a national splash.
I was rather entranced by the design of CharitySub's website, which shows more sophistication than many startups, and talked to Amy Crews by email about what she and the CharitySub team are hoping to accomplish:
How did you come up with the idea for CharitySub?
I currently write a monthly health newsletter for Dietsinreview.com, which I have been writing since 2009. In each issue I have a 'giving back' section, where I highlight a charity to my subscribers. Surfacing great charities and causes has always been important to me.My husband Jim, one of the four co-founders of CharitySub, is also passionate about giving back, but felt there was a hole in the way people give. The key factors being where to give and how much to give.
The idea for CharitySub really came to be from three core areas we wanted to address in the realm of giving: Surfacing relevant causes that need awareness, identifying good charities that are working hard to make an impact and lastly how much to give. By addressing these three areas CharitySub came to be, telling the story of a new cause each month, along with three great charity partners tackling that cause. As a CharitySub member, you agree to contribute $5/month and select one of the three featured charities to support.
How do you plan to get the word out? There are so many online services these days where people can donate to a variety of causes.
We are very much in our infancy, having launched at the beginning of this year, but are already garnering press both online and in print about our initiative. Each month provides a unique opportunity to engage with new publications and press based on our featured cause and driving awareness for that specific cause.
What makes CharitySub different?
We are educating individuals on needs that exist nationally and plan to evolve to a global scope as well. Through our storytelling of causes and charities each month, members learn about the real needs and real solutions that they can help impact. Additionally, we report back to our members on how the collective funds given to each organization were put to use. This brings our communities' 'giving' full circle as they are able to connect back to the organization on the impact made.
How do you find the charities that you raise money for?
The charities we partner with are based on the featured monthly cause, along with the following criteria:
- Impact: The priority within the organization is to create as much impact as possible, meaning a significant percentage of funds raised are used in program implementation to drive results.
- Finances: The organization is fiscally responsible, in good financial standing and sustainable, showing signs of being able to continue its mission for months and years to come.
- Transparency: It is key for organizations we partner with to be open about data sharing as it pertains to the great work they are doing and their needs. This allows us at CharitySub to share with you the impact of your donated dollars
Can you tell me how much of my donation actually gets to the charities?
The full $5 minus credit card processing fees is presented to the charity at the end of the month.
Who is your audience for CharitySub?
The audience for CharitySub is really anyone. We selected the $5 monthly subscription to enable anyone to participate in a subscription for giving and feel empowered to make an impact each month.We currently are in our first month and will be providing our three charity partners with funds at the end of January. Our current focus is on Childhood Obesity along with our three featured partners. In each of their videos, they speak to how the funds of subscribers will be put to use.
We'll be checking back with CharitySub to see how they are doing. Meanwhile, do check out the very creative and charming website and the featured charities.
