Thanks to the existence of the internet, non profit organizations have been able to get out into the public domain and spread their message further than they would’ve before the creation of it. Along with that, as the advancement of the web has gone forward, the things that people can make has slowly become more personalised.
Of course, in a world where everyone uses the internet as its the main source of media and news, non profit organizations have to establish a presence if they are to stand any chance of being noticed. However, with the help of emails, message boards, etc, people are able to easily reach out to non profit organizations, whether to contribute or to spread the word, along with the benefit of a place where everyone can see their purpose and how to help.
An example of this would be the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) which was established in 1961. It was started by a group of individuals looking for a way to defend nature from the growing incursion of human developments. Over the years, thanks to selfless work and effort, they have fought to keep nature protected, and with the help of grants and government deals, they have risen in popularity, securing deals to establish non development areas, where the natural world can thrive. Media is their main public relations tool.
Starting in 1998, The WWF started their very own website. Like most websites, it was confined to the coding of the era and its difficulties. We are able to see the original website with the help of the Wayback Machine, and this shows an effective, if simplistic, medium for the organizations messages. This enabled WWF to establish a certain independence from mainstream news.
These days, the website appears much more professional, with a cleaner look, that uses menus for all the information that could be needed. Into this website, they have added new ways in which the general public can continue to support them. In addition to this, new initiatives, such as animal adoption, and the merchandising of jewellery and clothing have been responsible for developing a further funding stream.
But its not just exposure that helps non profit organisations. With the existence of the internet, there is an easier access to fundraisers, which are made to help promote non profit organisations and charities. The existence of significant influencers has meant that money raising has managed to move from the hundreds to the tens of thousands, providing much more additional funding.
The spread of information has also helped people find their own ways to support non profit organisations. As an example , donorbloxblog provides information on 12 ways to give and collect money for no profits. (https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/ways-to-raise-money-for-nonprofit#:~:text=12%20Simple%20Ways%20of%20Effective%20Fundraising%20for%20Nonprofits,8.%20Ask%20for%20corporate%20sponsorships%20…%20More%20items)
References
donorbox, 2024, donorboxblog, Accessed on 18/10/24, https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/ways-to-raise-money-for-nonprofit#:~:text=12%20Simple%20Ways%20of%20Effective%20Fundraising%20for%20Nonprofits,8.%20Ask%20for%20corporate%20sponsorships%20…%20More%20items
World Wide Fund for Nature, 2024, WWF, Accessed on 18/10/24, https://www.wwf.org.uk/
Kahle, B, 2024, Wayback Machine, Accessed on 18/10/24, https://web.archive.org/