Crowdsourcing: Teamwork makes the dream work
October 18, 2014
Our lecture this week provided us with the following definition for crowdsourcing:
Crowdsourcing is the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call.
Crowd funding, a type of crowdsourcing, allows individuals the opportunity to finance projects that they put together through websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe. People use these websites for a wide variety of things like start up costs for a business, surgeries, recording albums and more. It allows users to put their ideas in front of a great deal of people who are eager and willing to help, in many cases.
In the past, I have contributed to different campaigns that people have set up to help pay for funeral expenses for a loved one they had that passed and to help a band get on the road for the summer. In both cases, I was a stranger to these people. So, you never know who will come across your link and want to help you if your project pulls on their heartstrings or they share a common interest.
The above image is my friend Natalie Rosado on her last mission trip to Honduras. Quite recently I actually posted a link to Natalie’s funding campaign for her trip to Peru over the winter holidays this year on my blog. Natalie and her sister Rebekah are going to be delivering toys, tooth brushes, socks and shoes to different orphanages in December and they are short on their goal. Their project is listed on GoFundMe, and I encourage everyone to watch their video and see the passion these two young women have for making a difference.
These ladies are doing everything they can to raise money for their trip including selling their own possessions and holding car washes (If you live near Tampa, FL, their next car wash is November 1st!).
Realizing how important it is to them to help these children, and how important their contributions will be to the children in Peru, I made a few bracelets to help them try to raise money to go. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of my bracelets went to them and I am happy to report that they received a $100 check last week. I still have three bracelets left on Etsy if anyone wants to snag one. The reason they are red and white is because they are representing your donation to the Peru mission trip–that way each time you see it, you can be reminded of the difference you helped to make in a child’s life. I have also fulfilled custom orders through email and Facebook for people who requested different colors. Below are some of those custom bracelets… because I will still make anyone anything they want if they are willing to donate to my friends’ campaign.
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TAGS: crowd funding, crowdsourcing, GoFundMe, Kickstarter, mission trip, Peru, MMC5427
Hi, Megan!
What a great project to participate in! Thank you for doing that. It looks GoFundMe has also been a successful site for raising support and finances. Missions trips are well-worth the time and effort, generally for both parties involved.
I live in the Tampa area! Maybe I will see their car wash on that day – thanks for sharing that info!
Hey CJ,
The thing I find the most difficult about these crowd funding websites is that there are so many worthwhile causes so it’s hard to pick who you want to support and who you can’t. I cannot wait to see the pictures my friends take and hear the stories they bring back. Some of the stories Natalie told me from her last trip were heartbreaking so it is really inspiring that there are really strong people out there who are able to do things like this.
If you happen to go to their car wash, just make sure your car is extra dirty! haha. They are such nice people.
Hey Megan, it’s great to hear (or read) about the benefits crowdfunding can have. I think this kind of trends are bringing people together and increasing our sense of community. Definitely, we haven’t seen the whole potential these platforms can have. Not only for raising money, but other kind of resources as well. I’ve notice how important is, for example, to have a project aimed to satisfy an epic objective or necessity. I think people can be more interested in those things are more possible to make them feel they are contributing event if they are not giving much. This crowdsourcing (or crowdfunding) platforms make us believe big ideas and awesome ideas can really come to life. Thanks for sharing your thought. I look forward to support your friend.
Hey Pedro,
I agree with you! It is really encouraging that crowd funding websites can draw people together to make different goals happen–and in many cases these are not goals that would have been met if it wasn’t for these types of websites! It is really neat to just sit and browse some of the different campaigns that people have going and how creative some of them are. Though, I will admit that sometimes I get confused how certain campaigns get funded for thousands of dollars for such silly things (like someone wanting a burrito), and how it becomes difficult for people who may have lost their job due to downsizing and they need an extra $50 to buy food for their family. To me, there is such a big difference in the two. Either way, it is still neat that we have the capabilities to spread the word and help people. And thank you!!!