In an article for HIGGS, Giannis Chatzibeis, founder of the non-profit crowdfunding platform Give & Fund, looks at what crowdfunding can and cannot do for society.
A valuable but complementary tool
According to the author, crowdfunding platforms expand the options available to people and organisations for funding, communication and community empowerment. Their campaigns can inspire and highlight solidarity. On their own, however, they do not change society. Education, culture and values do. This is why, he observes, societies with a strong culture of volunteering and giving tend to be more active in crowdfunding too. Drawing on his experience, he stresses the need for education with a humanistic focus that fosters judgement and empathy in young people.
How Give & Fund began
The author, a Paralympic swimmer with a disability in his left arm, qualified in 2013 for the Para-Triathlon World Championships in New Zealand. In the middle of the economic crisis, however, there was no way to fund the trip. Looking into how athletes from other countries managed, he found that American fellow competitors had raised significant sums through crowdfunding. A Hungarian athlete, by contrast, had raised very little, which the author attributes to cultural differences. This sparked the idea of a Greek platform with clear terms and transparent fees, one that would act as connective tissue for society.
Early challenges
Until then, NGOs relied mainly on membership fees, events, bazaars and small sponsorships. The crisis hit not only organisations but also artists, athletes, volunteers and people with health or study needs. In 2013–2015 many people, especially older ones, were not familiar with online payments. This changed substantially with the capital controls.
The author concludes that crowdfunding is about more than raising money. It creates connections, builds trust and shows that behind every campaign there is a story and people seeking the support of a community.
Read the full article (in Greek) on HIGGS