# Facebook introduces matched giving to its fundraising platform

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/05/08/facebook-introduces-matched-giving-fundraising-platform/
- Published: 2018-05-08T11:40:53+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Facebook has started to allow charity supporters in the US to add a matched giving
offer on the fundraising page they set up. They can pledge to match total donations
from between $5 and $2,500.**

The option is now presented to individuals when they create a fundraising page for
their selected charity.

The pledge is made at the beginning of the campaign in the set-up options. Facebook
makes it clear that the individual pays the pledged amount at the end of the fundraising
campaign.

## Advertisement

 

![Facebook fundraisers - setting up process](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2018/05/facebook-fundraisers-screenshots-201804.jpg)

Setting up matched giving for a Facebook fundraiser

 

It also clearly explains how it works. “If you pledge to match $50 and raise $25,
you’ll only pay $25. If you raise $100, you’ll pay $50.”

 

https://www.facebook.com/facebook/videos/10157313820906729/

 

[Facebook removed charges](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/11/30/facebook-eliminates-charges-online-donations/)
for nonprofit fundraising in November 2017, so charities receive 100% of donations
and matched pledges.

In announcing the matched giving functionality, Facebook shared an example of a 
campaign.

“David Smith lost his sister in a car accident in 2013, and this year for his birthday,
he started a fundraiser for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He told family
and friends that if he could raise $100, he would match their contribution. People
rallied around the cause and raised $2,360 — more than 10x his original goal.”

Although launched initially in the US, fundraisers in the UK and Europe have reported
seeing the option available to them as individuals, but the roll-out is clearly 
not yet complete.

To be clear, the matching option is only for individuals. Facebook pages (or organisations)
can not offer a matched giving function. So this is not (yet) a tool for corporate
fundraisers to exploit. Also, its roll-out has come too late for this year’s London
Marathon event, so charities will have to wait until 2019 to see how well it can
be used in that context.

 

## Personal cause fundraisers

Facebook has also made some changes to personal cause fundraisers, where individuals
can fundraise for personal or family need.

Individuals now have a broader range of categories to select from. Family categories
now include options such as new baby suppliers and adoption. New categories include
travel for medical needs, educational trips and volunteer programmes. The latter
might prove particularly useful for the many young people who seek to volunteer 
internationally during a gap year.

Facebook has also removed the fee it charges for personal cause fundraisers. Originally
Facebook explained this fee was to cover payment processing and security activities
such as fraud prevention. Personal cause fundraisers now will simply incur a small
payment processing fee. 

 

## Crisis Response

Facebook has also announced more social good developments at its recent F8 developments
conference.

It has expanded its Crisis Response service, which it launched last year as a place
where people can get information about recent crises and [access Safety Check, Community Help and Fundraisers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/09/15/facebook-fundraisers-included-crisis-response-centre-tools/).

Soon, people affected by a crisis are able to share firsthand accounts of timely
information, like road closures and damage photos and videos, making it easier to
get real-time updates. The feature will be “rolling out later this year”.

 

![Facebook Crisis Centre - sharing firsthand information](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2018/05/facebook-crisis-sharing-firsthand-information.jpg)

Facebook Crisis Centre – sharing firsthand information

 

## Blood donations

Facebook has expanded its recent feature enabling people in India, Bangladesh and
Pakistan to register as blood donors via Facebook. Now, ‘Blood Donations on Facebook’
will make it easier for people who want to donate to find opportunities nearby. 
Later this month, people in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will be able to view 
nearby blood donation camps, requests for blood donations and blood banks from one
place on Facebook.

 

 * **[Facebook launches personal fundraising tool in the UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/11/09/facebook-launches-personal-fundraising-tool-uk/)(
   9 November 2017)**
 * **[The strategic opportunities of Facebook’s suite of donation tools](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/12/20/strategic-opportunities-facebooks-suite-donation-tools/)(
   20 December 2017)**
 * **[Facebook tests birthday fundraising option](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/05/11/facebook-tests-birthday-fundraising-option/)(
   11 May 2017)**

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