Shashank Gandrapu started the crowdfunding platform Goodclap in 2018 because he wanted to do some good. "If we are privileged, then we have the chance to help others too and help make the world a happy place," says Shashank. Till date, they have initiated 500 campaigns and so far, 20,000 people have donated to them. So, while COVID-19 is shaking the country, how could he and his team stay behind? The good team at Goodclap curated a list of four to five NGOs whose work they have thoroughly verified and who are pulling out all the stops to help others during the lockdown. The crowdfunding team then encouraged people to donate to these NGOs and within four days, an amount of Rs 65,000 was crowdfunded. For the chosen NGOs, Goodclap's platform fee of 6 per cent has been waived.
But what if you really want to help but can't, at least monetarily, at this point in time? Don't let the broke blues hit you just yet 'cause Goodclap has a few other ways in which you can contribute. "For those who can't donate, they can adopt a campaign and do all they can — use social media to promote the campaign, encourage friends, family and acquaintances to donate and so on — to ensure that the campaign is able to accumulate the funds it requires," explains the 28-year-old. And you don't have to take up the task of crowdsourcing the whole amount, you can take up the responsibility of say, Rs 50,000 out of a Rs 3 lakh campaign. You can even get a separate URL for it. "Think of it as digital volunteering. You can reach out to people around the world and ask for donations," says the Vijayawada-born entrepreneur who informs that about 40 to 50 people have adopted campaigns so far. Since he knows DIG Sumathi Badugula and people at the Gandhi Hospital, all proceeds from the campaign go towards purchasing PPE kits, meals, sanitisers, face masks and more.
Goodclap has also created a goodness ecosystem by forming the Systematic Goodness Plan (SGP). Through this, subscribers can donate money directly to Goodclap and for every campaigner who raises money, say Rs 10,000 or so, they will match the amount from SGP's funds. Offline, they have conducted something called the Corporate Funding Challenge, through which a company can set a goal to raise a certain amount of money and then Goodclap will organise gamified versions of various challenges that employees can play to bag funds within two to three hours. They are going to take this online soon. "We are telling companies that they and their employees together can help the nation fight the war against COVID-19," he explains.
Would you like to donate?
- For PPE Kits: goodclap.com/donate-ppe-to-doctors
- For Face Masks: goodclap.com/donate-facemasks
- For Common Covid Fund: goodclap.com/let-us-fight-COVID-19
- For Meals: goodclap.com/support-bazaarnxt-fight-corona
For more on them, check out goodclap.com
