(Cincinnati) Business Courier Reports on ViewSource’s Success in Establishing Web Fundraising for WGUC-FM


Public Radio Station Uses Web Site for Fund Raising

Rachel Melcer
5/5/2000

(Cincinnati) Business Courier
Industry Column: Technology

E-commerce is not just for businesses anymore. It's increasingly being used by nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funds. 

WGUC-FM classical public radio, for example, used its Web site (http://www.wguc.org) to raise money during its annual spring drive -- and got so many contributions online that it was able to cut its on-air solicitations by a full day. That was good news for listeners who were anxious to hear Mozart's greatest hits, rather than a commentator hitting them up for donations. 

About 17 percent of its total spring drive pledges came on the Internet -- $30,510 of the total $181,173 raised. And this season's online giving was up from the last fund drive in January, which netted 10 percent of its pledges on the Web. 

"It's becoming very common because it's a way nonprofits can use the medium to ../showcase what they are all about and, without being very intrusive, allow people to make their own decisions. Based on the merit of the organization, shown through the Web page, they can decide whether they want to contribute or not,'' said John Harris, founder and CEO of ViewSource Media, which designed and manages the WGUC-FM site.