How Small Climate Nonprofits Are Removing Barriers to Donations
Small non-profits are improving their communities and restoring ecosystems across the world, but they often face organizational and financial challenges that slow them down. One of them is making it easy for people to help.
Obstacles to Good Intentions
People who care about the climate and the planet want to contribute, but in the overall chaos that is daily life, there’s usually a moment of inspiration and motivation that organizations need to catch. But the moment of willingness can be pretty fragile, and a percentage of people will give up if faced with obstacles.
The most common obstacles are slow or confusing donation pages, supporters from other countries not being able to donate, or payment providers holding funds long after campaigns end, or freezing them because there was a sudden spike in donations.
For small organizations, youth groups, or volunteer-led orgs, the issue is also limited time and resources to sort out these issues. The staff is minimal, and the timelines are urgent or seasonal. And research shows that the ease and convenience of payment is key to successful campaigns.
But many youth-led orgs now know how to set up systems for online payments that are fast and effective, making sure everyone who wants to donate can do it.
Different Options for Different Orgs
There are two main options for non-profits. One is the most standard bank account, while the other includes instant fintech accounts.
Most nonprofits do well with standard accounts, although they can have issues like long account verification and setup, with a lot of documentation. International donations can also be an issue, as well as account freezes that disrupt the org’s ability to work.
For urgent campaigns and international donations, some orgs use an online merchant account with instant approval. This is a less well-known but safer and faster option, with strong fraud prevention and cybersecurity tools. It can also help you get donations while you’re still setting up your nonprofit legal status (helps in disasters or time-sensitive moments when the community needs immediate help and donations). They’re typically created for small to medium orgs, as they provide extra safety infrastructure.
Basically, new options on the market allow orgs to onboard faster, access their funds faster, and set up simplified, smoother donation pages.
So while it’s not a very exciting topic, it’s good to know organizations are working to improve their crowdfunding systems to attract new donors and reduce the number of donors who give up.
If you’re a part of a small non-profit, consider removing friction to improve your donation stream:
- Have a clear donation page
- Ensure people can donate in different ways (cards, crypto, international donations)
- Ensure credibility and trust
- Ensure mobile-friendliness
- Ensure familiar payment options are available
