SimplyGiving partnership with Hati.my to benefit thousands of non-profits

• Malaysian online directory of nonprofits launching e-commerce tools
• This would empower local communities to reach more supporters

KUALA Lumpur-headquartered SimplyGiving.com said it has formed a long-term partnership with online directory Hati.my, which lists thousands of non-profit organisations.
 
Hati.my's visitors can now actively support their chosen cause by donating or fundraising on its website, SimplyGiving.com said in a statement.
 
SimplyGiving.com is an online platform which allows users to donate and contribute to causes they care about, through what the company describes as “peer-to-peer fundraising.”
 
According to a report by Nielsen and PayPal, it is estimated that the e-commerce market in Malaysia will be worth RM5.76 billion (US$1.81 billion) by 2015, representing a 316% growth since 2010, SimplyGiving.com said.
 
Despite this growth, the non-profit sector has struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing technology and e-commerce landscape in Malaysia, it added.
 
“Technology can be intimidating for non-profits which lack the internal skills to get online,” said its chief executive officer Kristofer Rogers. “In some cases, Hati.my is their only online presence.”
 
“Yet donors are increasingly looking at online options to support their favourite charity or cause. By making it simple to add online donation capabilities to their Hati.my page, this partnership will help local causes connect with their supporters, and reach beyond their local footprint to find new donors and fundraising opportunities,” he added.
 
The partnership was launched in August, with communications going out to all Hati.my members inviting them to take part.
 
“The Hati.my project is run entirely by passionate volunteers who have grown the website into the largest online database of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in Malaysia,” said Hati.my team leader Susan Tam.
 
“The partnership with SimplyGiving.com allows us to continue to grow by introducing more capabilities that we know will be welcomed by our communities.
 
“There will be no upfront costs for organisations to get started, which means any organisation can participate.
 
“We felt that this was important for the smaller – but just as deserving – non-profits that we work with,” she added.
 
Tam also said that the partnership would be an opportunity for Hati.my to update its listings to the most up-to-date information, and SimplyGiving.com will be assisting it in this.
 
SimplyGiving.com claims that since launching in 2010, it has helped nearly 20,000 people support more than 300 non-profits in 16 countries across Asia, creating the largest online giving community in the region.
 
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