 Desert AIDS Project is one of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS services providers in the U.S. For nearly seventeen years it has organised the Desert AIDS Walk, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support vital programs and services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
In 2004 some 1,500 people took part in the Desert AIDS walk. The walkers had raised $230,000 in 2003 with no online fundraising, and all funds came in on the day of the event.
The objectives for 2004 were to raise more money, expand the donor base and get funds to the charity before the event.
The solution was for Desert AIDS Project to give walkers the opportunity to raise funds online and to promote this facility among walkers. Desert AIDS Project did this with links on its website, emails to walkers and links in printed materials.
The results were impressive.
Comparing fundraisers who raised funds online versus those that did not, online fundraisers:
- raised on average 42% more than those who didn’t
- received on average 61% more donations online
- were more than 3 times as likely to raise over $1,000
- raised 34% of funds from outside California, versus 8% offline
“Fundraisers that used online fundraising pages raised on
average 42% more than those who did not. Online fundraising helped
to grow our event with very little effort on our part,” said
Jeff Rinderle, Senior Development Associate, Desert AIDS Project.
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