A multimedia showcase for charities that need your help

Tags: charity | fund raising | video

A new website that shows charity fundraising videos and allows people to share them on other sites is to be launched at the end of this month.

The website, hoping to launch on March 23, is called See the Difference, and organisers want to raise £500m for charities in the first five years.  Charities can upload videos to the site for free but will be charged five per cent commission on donations made through See the Difference.

The new website will be packed full of video stories from charities of all types and sizes, and will focus on specific projects and things they do, to show exactly how a difference can be made if they receive more funding.  The charities taking part will have to promise to spend donations on the projects specifically shown in the videos, so people are aware exactly what they have contributed to. This transparency sets up a kind of contract between donator and charity - with the latter agreeing to precise terms to ensure those parting with their money feel happy using the site.

The site's founders hope that videos posted on the site will be shared on other social networking sites such as Facebook to encourage more people to give. Sharing charity links on Facebook is becoming increasingly common, so if their site proves popular with users we are likely to see more of See the Difference in the social networking forums.

The type of work undertaken by See the Difference is popularly known as ‘crowdfunding' as it attempts to gain supporters through video-based digital storytelling.  The most promising aspect of this website so far is the status of its high-profile backers and endorsers, who include the RSPB's head of Individual Marketing and the editor of Heat Magazine.   See The Difference has attracted media attention with their ambitious target of raising £500m over the next five years, which is almost unheard of in this type of crowdfunding website.  The aim is to show users how they can ‘change the ending' to some of those stories.

Charities involved could be based in the UK or beyond, and will try to demonstrate how small amounts make a big difference, and to inspire people to share the concept with friends and make an impact in the third sector.  The website organisers will provide information for donators as to when their project has raised all the money it needs and is ready to take on the promised task. Each charity also makes a "feedback promise", to send a picture or a simple message once the project has started: to keep them up to date with the progress their money has helped to make.  See The Difference hopes the charities will be able to show the benefits of the money they receive through the website in only a few months. 

Visitors can also suggest charities that they think deserve to be displayed on the website. They ask that users tell them all about their favourite charity, who's in charge and an email address if possible and they will try to get the organisation involved. The best way to do this is to email the website organisers at: change@seethedifference.org.

The organisers are also looking for supporters. They ask anyone who's interested to join them on Facebook and tell their friends all about it through the homepage.

Find out more about the project at: http://www.seethedifference.org

Or through their recently launched Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/seethedifference.org