SocialForAction’s Mission and Impact
Sakal has stewarded several social initiatives over the past several decades with many of the initiatives going beyond Sakal’s own regional markets, addressing needs across the country. Social impact and social change remains the core of the Sakal’s beliefs even today and with this Sakal is introducing its own Crowdfunding platform – Social For Action. We belief that the role of media today has changed from being an advocate of social causes to being the facilitator or the agent of social change itself.
Social For Action addresses the many challenges of giving (such as difficulty in discovering the right causes, trust deficit, and overall donor apathy). We share stories of (pre-qualified) individuals and groups with a network of its trusted community and partners, who either specialize in providing and supporting the local communities by promoting products or can connect with the cause to help with a donation.
1. Overview of SocialForAction’s mission and vision
Mission: To use technology & local knowledge to simplify raising funds for creative ideas, causes, charities and other sectors. In the process we want to spur non-profit giving, innovation, accountability and transparency while creating a marketplace that rewards the truly creative and efficient.
Vision: We desire to see every Indian contribute 2% of their income to charities. As lack of transparency is one thing which stops most of us from contributing to NGOs. We are trying to address this problem using our innovative model. We believe that with the effective use of technology and introducing crowd-funding to the Indian public, we can create a much effective giving culture.
2. Explanation of how the platform works
A fundraiser campaign is a unique page created on Social For Action. A campaign will have the information, photos, and documents that you have provided while setting up the campaign. A campaign is linked to multiple payment options, and donors can access this page to make a donation. Every donation made through the page is reflected in the progress bar.
You can set up a fundraiser campaign as an individual and raise funds for yourself, a group, or a social cause. You may attach supporting documents (medical documents, photos, videos) related to your cause on the campaign page to build trust. Please click here to see tips on how to start a fundraiser campaign.
Patient’s records, hospital bills and doctor’s note are often proved to be effective in getting donations.
1. Start your campaign
- Set your fundraiser goal
- Tell your story
- Add a picture or video
2. Share with friends
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Share on social media
3. Manage donations
- Accept donations
- Thank donors
- Request to withdraw funds
Past successful campaigns and impact
Water scarcity in Vegare-Mandavkhadak village resolved through ‘Social For Action and Neuman & Esser Engineering India Pvt CSR Initiatives’
‘Social for Action’, a website was started to inform people about the social activities of Sakal Social Foundation. The website received a tremendous response which led to the launch of a new digital platform to bring social service organisations and patrons together and get crowdfunding for various causes. Every week, it provides information about one NGO.
Along with that, through ‘Social for Action’, efforts are being made for the development of villages and citizens by taking into account the basic problems of rural Maharashtra and the issues that directly concern the citizens.
The construction of a pipeline in a village was one such effort. Sakal came to know about the drinking water issue faced by the residents of Vegare-Mandavkhadak village situated in a remote region in Mulshi taluka, Pune district. Through ‘Social for Action’, the construction of a pipeline from a water tank atop a hill in the village down to the settlements was completed. Neuman & Esser Engineering India Pvt. Ltd from Bhosari extended a helping hand to ‘Sakal’. Thanks to these efforts, the villagers now have a 24-hour water supply near their homes, bringing great relief to the womenfolk of the village.
Let’s find out about this project…
The Vegare region (taluka Mulshi), in the Mutha river basin in the Pune district, is inaccessible even today. Mandavakhadak is the end of this region spread over three main sections. Every year, post-January, the village faced severe water scarcity. Villagers, especially women, had to spend hours collecting water from natural springs and even climb down a valley to fill water at night. With a single well in the Bhugaon side of the region, a spring near the village crematorium and a pond for animals, their water sources are extremely limited. In the months of May and June, water had to be filled in drums using small bowls for providing later to animals. Women had to walk a distance of at least 1.5-2.5 km to fill water. They had to fill containers by collecting water in small bowls and then carry the containers over their head.
While the Vegare village lies to the east of the region, to the south is Bhugaon in Lavasa, to the west is the Tamhini area and to the north is Warak village. Around 150-200 people belonging to 30 families live here in settlements in Mandavkhadak, Bavdhanevasti, Akhadevasti, Dhebevasti and Kokarevasti. Their chief source of livelihood is cattle farming. But when humans have to struggle to get water, one can only imagine the plight of animals.
Recently, a water tank with a 3-lakh litre storage capacity was built on a hilltop by the Zilla Parishad. Water is released into it from the village well. But most settlements are at a distance of 1.5-2 km from the water tank and in the absence of a pipeline, the water couldn’t reach the settlements and the homes. Daily ‘Sakal’ noticed this and undertook the work of laying down a pipeline from the water tank to Mandavkhadak, bearing its cost too. Neuman & Esser Engineering India Pvt. Ltd from Bhosari in Pune extended financial help from its CSR funds. Besides, with the help of Meenanath Kangude, Sarpanch of Mandavkhadak, the villagers participated in the digging work to lay down the pipeline.
Like Mandavkhadak, the ‘Social for Action’ campaign will be carried out by daily ‘Sakal’ in different rural areas of the state to solve various citizens’ problems and for this, an appeal is being made that philanthropic individuals, various organisations, industrial establishments and information technology companies, etc. should come forward to help under CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
There is a need for collective help and funds for social welfare projects and philanthropic activities of many organisations. By opening the link https://socialforaction.com, benevolent individuals, IT companies, CSR companies and non-resident Indians can get information about various such social welfare campaigns. They can also click the ‘Donate Now’ button and make online donations through ‘Social for Action’ website. Every donor making a donation through this crowdfunding will get a receipt for the donation and the 80G certificate for a 50% rebate in the Income Tax.
Bicycle for Girls for Helping them to Continue their Education
When you are travelling towards the world-famous Ajanta Caves from Aurangabad, in Fulambri taluka, you will find Pimpalgaon Gangdev, a small, beautiful village located on the road leading towards Rajur Ganapati. The village has a Zilla Parishad school that conducts Std 1 to 8 classes. The school was founded in 1959. Currently, there are 4 teachers and 95 students there.
Although there are English medium schools at barely a 5-km distance from Pimpalgaon, the number of students in the ZP school is increasing by the day due to the quality education imparted and the amenities provided there.
The Pimpalgaon Gangdev school has classes till Std 8. For further studies, students have to travel to the nearby Pathri village. Public transport turns out expensive for them, so most students walk for 5-6 km to reach Pathri. Many parents have discontinued their daughters’ education because they don’t want to send the girls for further studies outside the village. A cycle bank project needs to be undertaken so that the girl students can travel to and from the school. Social for Action had made an appeal for the cycle bank project through ‘Samajbhan’.
Pune-based Suryadatta Group of Institutes has responded to the appeal and extended support. Soon, cycles will be distributed among the Pimpalgaon girl students. People from all social strata need to support this so that the cycle bank and toilet projects reach the maximum number of remote rural schools. Generous individuals, IT companies, CSR companies and non-resident Indians can extend financial help for the project.
And more more such successful projects and their impact can be seen by following the Success Story link on Social For Action: https://socialforaction.com/success-stories
Why Corporates Should Collaborate with SocialForAction
It’s more efficient than traditional fundraising.
When you’re an early-stage company focused on building your business and attracting seed capital, you might not be able to afford all the time and attention that pursuing traditional financing demands. Compared to applying for a loan or seeking out accredited investors yourself, setting up a successful crowdfunding campaign on Fundable or another platform is far more efficient and effective in getting your message out to the right people. With the right platform, you can tell your business’s story, produce a quick video, set up some enticing rewards, and benefit from having everything in one centralized location where potential backers can find you.
It’s a place to build traction, social, proof, and validation.
A strong, highly visible crowdfunding campaign can provide validation and social proof that’s vital in charting your path forward. When potential customers show interest in your startup’s product or service, you’ve generated social proof—demonstrating that other people believe in what you’re doing. Once early adopters vet and buy into your idea, others are more likely to follow suit. Social proof is translated into traction—whether it’s a large number of backers, pre-orders, or media attention—that’s invaluable as you pitch to other investors.
It’s an opportunity for crowdsourced brainstorming to refine your idea.
Hear your would-be backers poking holes in your business plan or asking some tough questions? Take it in stride and accept it as free, crowdsourced brainstorming. The basis of a startup is finding some important, unmet need that your customers have, and deciding to be the one to do something about it. Thus, it’s important to seize any opportunity for customer feedback and consider it in planning your startup. One of the greatest things about crowdfunding is how close it gets you to your customers, giving you a chance to engage them and field questions, complaints, feedback, and ideas. You never know—your company’s next great idea could come from somebody who isn’t even on your payroll.
It gains you early adopters and loyal advocates.
The people that power your idea’s social proof are your early adopters and potential brand advocates. They’re the people who believe in your story, product, or service, enough to stake their money on its longevity and long-term success. These early adopters are key to the success of your crowdfunding campaign and the momentum you keep after closing, being the ones most likely to share your vision with friends and family and promote it through their social networks.
It doubles as marketing and media exposure.
Press coverage will create more eyes on your campaign and create lasting brand awareness for your startup. This can come in the form of a feature story on a popular news station, blog, or print publication, and is a great way to bring in backers outside of your personal network. A good feature story or Twitter mention can create a powerful snowball effect, putting you in touch with major investors you might not have otherwise reached. Whether they read about your new product on a popular blog or hear about your innovative campaign from a friend, a successful crowdfund is a great way to capture new investor interest.
Crowdsourcing has grown into an excellent way for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to validate their business, find capital and early adopters, and get the exposure they need to grow. To recap, some of the most powerful ways a crowdfunding campaign can help build more startup momentum than other financing methods are:
- It’s more efficient than traditional fundraising.
- It generates traction, social proof, and validation.
- It’s an opportunity for crowdsourced brainstorming to refine your idea.
- It gains you early adopters and loyal advocates.
- It doubles as marketing and media exposure.
Benefits for Causes
There are several advantages of crowdfunding that make it an attractive option for causes.
1. Its a relatively low-risk way to raise capital.Crowdfunding is a relatively low-risk way to raise capital for your business. Unlike traditional methods such as bank loans or venture capital, you don’t need to put up any collateral or equity in your business. And if your crowdfunding campaign is unsuccessful, you won’t be liable for any debt
2. Its a great way to test-market your product or service.
Crowdfunding is also a great way to test-market your product or service. If people are willing to invest in your business, its a good sign that theres demand for what you’re offering. And if your campaign is successful, you’ll have proof that theres a market for your product or service.
3. It can help you build buzz and generate publicity.
A successful crowdfunding campaign can also help you build buzz and generate publicity for your business. If you can get people talking about your business, it can lead to more customers and sales down the line.
4. Its a relatively fast and easy way to raise capital.
Crowdfunding is a relatively fast and easy way to raise capital for your business. Unlike traditional methods such as bank loans or venture capital, you can get funding within a few weeks or months. And if your campaign is successful, you’ll have the money you need to grow your business.
5. It can help you build relationships with potential customers and partners.
Crowdfunding can also help you build relationships with potential customers and partners. By engaging with people who are interested in your business, you can create valuable relationships that can benefit your business in the future.
If you’re looking for a way to raise capital for your small cause, Social For Action crowdfunding may be the right option for you. With its low risk and fast turnaround, its an attractive option for many non profits. And if you can generate buzz and build relationships, it can be a valuable tool for raising awareness and generate funds.
How to Collaborate with SocialForAction
1. Steps to create a campaign
1.1. Start your campaign
- Set your fundraiser goal
- Tell your story
- Add a picture or video
1.2 Share with friends
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Share on social media
1.3. Manage donations
- Accept donations
- Thank donors
- Request to withdraw funds
2. Best practices for campaign success
1. Think about your total investment goal
When setting your investment goal try to make it as low as possible. Calculate how much money you need to cover your campaign goal and any extra expenses, including the fee that the platform takes. Do not look at crowdfunding as a way to make profit at this stage. A target of £800 that is exceeded is much better than a target of £5,000 which is unsuccessful.
2. Market your crowdfunding campaign
Marketing your crowdfunding campaign is central to its success. Crowdfunding platforms will host your project but it is your responsibility to promote your campaign before it starts. Set aside time before your campaign launch to use social media, press, networking, exhibitions, local radio and promotional materials to create a buzz around your project. Aim to have a number of interested investors ready to back your project on day one of your campaign.
It is also very important to plan promotion of your crowdfunding campaign during the campaign as you may experience a lull after the initial launch.
3. Gain social proof for your project
Talk to your friends and family about your project – are they willing to invest in your project? If the answer is no, it is unlikely that investors with visibility of thousands of competitive projects would want to back you. Ask your family and friends for feedback and learn from it.
If your family and friends are interested in investing, this can be a great sign that you have a good idea – make sure that all these people are ready to start funding your project on the first day of the crowdfunding campaign. This will help to create a buzz around your project and can encourage other potential backers to invest.
4. Research similar projects for inspiration and tips
Some crowdfunding platforms do not take down campaigns once they have finished (whether successful or unsuccessful), this is a great opportunity to research similar projects to your own and see what works well and what doesn’t.
5. Create a video that captures your audience and promotes your project clearly
Set aside a video budget to make sure that it is interesting and clearly presents the benefits of your project. When planning the content, create a video that can be used for future marketing opportunities to get the most for your money.
6. Communicate effectively and honestly with all your backers and potential backers
Make sure you communicate clearly about what your project is, what it is trying to achieve, how much money is needed to make it a reality and what you will deliver and when. Answer all questions that are directed at you. When possible answer the questions publically but in some cases you may prefer to reply privately.
When you do have backers, make sure that you keep them up to date with your product and always let them know if you do not think you will make a deadline you had previously set.
7. Be creative if you are offering rewards
If you decide to go for reward crowdfunding, let your potential backers know what’s in it for them and make your rewards interesting if you can. One option is to offer different rewards for different levels of investment – this can encourage a potential backer to add more to their investment.
8. Collaboration options for long-term impact
Crowdfunding’s role in the impact sector has grown in recent years thanks to its unique way of raising funds to support social organisations and enterprises, attracting retail investors and philanthropists to social innovation and enabling them to participate as funders of societal solutions. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to accelerate this growth, with increasing demand from social start-ups struggling to access financial resources and rising public interest in crowdfunding.
The report “Accelerating the SDGs – The role of crowdfunding in investing for impact” focuses on impact crowdfunding platforms, i.e. investors for impact pooling and managing resources from individuals, as well as public and private sector agencies, to enable social purpose organisations to maximise their social impact, and taking a highly engaged approach to support their investees. Impact crowdfunding platforms can be either grant-based crowdfunding platforms or social investment crowdfunding platforms.
It highlights that crowdfunding platforms can amplify the impact they generate if they find ways to collaborate with other investors for impact, such as foundations, impact funds or financial institutions, or with different types of impact crowdfunding platforms.
For example, foundations can help crowdfunding platforms reduce the risk of campaign failure by providing anchor investments (e.g. providing the first 20-30% of the investment to trigger a campaign), or through match-funding instruments whereby the foundation can match the contribution of the crowd. Crowdfunding platforms can also cooperate by e.g. sharing deal flow with impact funds or banks and financial institutions that support social organisations and enterprises with different repayable instruments, such as debt or equity.
Collaboration between impact crowdfunding platforms and other investors for impact brings key opportunities to the impact ecosystem. Crowdfunding platforms can detect trends, such as the type of supporters attracted, provide insight to policy makers and generate indicators which can help forecast the potential market traction of a product or service. Collecting and leveraging data, for instance by sharing due diligence reports or campaign KPIs, will avoid duplicating efforts and facilitate the development of partnerships.
Conclusion
Social For Action fiercely committed to its purpose and work with a burning desire to deliver impact. Empathy is why we’re together. Social For Action aim to provide unconditional respect, freedom & support to each other.
Wish to start a fundraiser at Social For Action? Well, it is a hassle-free and straightforward procedure. Most importantly, with Social For Action, withdrawing of funds takes place smoothly whenever you desire. If you are wondering what’s going on with your money, don’t worry. Our team of experts can explain the entire procedure of fundraising in a simplified manner. Join us today to become a part of our strong team of millions of supporters. Bring a change to the world by becoming a part of Social For Action.
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