Frequently Asked Questions

Q&A for Nonprofits

We are more than a platform; we are your partners

• What does ConnectAID offer?

  Our observation is that there are millions of nonprofits around the world. Most struggle to finance their work, spending huge amounts of money trying to raise funds. The COVID-19 crisis makes it even harder for nonprofits to raise sufficient funds to keep up their more than ever necessary work on the ground.

  On the other hand, many individuals and companies would like to donate but do not know where to do so. According to recent studies, about 3 out of 5 donors would like to give more, and 4 out of 5 say that knowing where their money goes and understanding their impact would encourage them to give more.

  ConnectAID, a purpose-driven social network, offers a new approach to international solidarity. NGOs and partner associations only communicate on the platform concerning their projects, their progress and impacts. The idea is to reassure donors who have all too often lost faith, and to involve them as actors in achieving sustainable development. We offer our members a greater sense of meaning through more information sharing and more visibility of the impact of their generosity. We do this through a social network based on virality, therefore encouraging a snowball effect.

• Why a new communication tool?

  Our goal is to increase humanitarian and social impact on the ground and to work together to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the International Solidarity Network, organizations receiving donations have access to a new communication tool that responds to their needs while exclusively targeting an involved audience. This way, they can inform members in real time about progress and changing realities on the ground, while raising the funds they need to guarantee the sustainability of their actions. As an additional option, ConnectAID also offers tailored guidance and multilingual communication services, allowing nonprofits to focus solely on their field work.

• What is special about our fundraising platform?

  ConnectAID is the only viral donation network exclusively assisting nonprofits. Unlike most crowdfunding platforms, ConnectAID does not operate on an “all-or-nothing” principle. All amounts collected on the platform go to the project holders. Moreover, together, as partners, we look for sponsors, donors, ambassadors and volunteers to support your work.

• Are there administrative registration fees to become a partner?

  Remember that we are more than just a new platform; we are your partner. To ensure of your involvement in the platform and to cover for some of our administrative costs and selection process, we ask our partners for a small registration fee (50 Euros per year as a launch offer). Registration fees will only be charged if your partnership application is successful, after which you will obtain access to a dedicated space for your project and begin to attract donors, both individuals or from the private sector.

• What are ConnectAID’s support fees?

  All donations are directly transferred to the account created for your nonprofit, without going through ConnectAID. In addition to external bank charges (see Stripe) our nonprofit partners contribute to the International Solidarity Network by automatically returning a percentage of the sums collected– up to 9% (+ tax). Fees will be reduced in the future depending on the amounts you raised, as ConnectAID's objective is to lower its commission as soon as possible. They represent your investment into a professional team that can provide you with substantive fundraising and outreach services for your projects. They are used to develop and improve the social network, as well as to search for new donors and sponsor corporations, volunteers as well as ambassadors, which is something that other platforms do not offer.

• How does ConnectAID allow partner organizations to save time and money?

  For any nonprofit, fundraising has a cost. Nonprofits are well aware of this fact. Statistics show that up to half of the sums collected by a nonprofit through fundraising goes back into fundraising efforts. ConnectAID aspires not only to channel donations directly to projects that really need them, but to leverage and pool this collection process while also significantly reducing the costs needed to do so.

  For small organizations, the platform can replace the need for an expensive website, for a donation collection system and even for communication and/or fundraising staff. The network also allows organizations to post job or volunteer opportunities and may serve as a headhunting platform for large organizations looking for smaller ones to implement projects.

• Who can become a partner?

  NGOs, international organizations, nonprofit associations and foundations responding to our selection criteria are invited to contact us to apply for a partnership. ConnectAID will review the projects and legal documents of each structure on a regular basis to validate partnerships. The Payment Service Provider mandated by ConnectAID to manage financial transactions will also act as a filter for the legal identification of grant recipients.
  Our next round of application will be held in October 2020.

  If you wish to become a partner, please check your eligibility below and contact us. We'll be happy to have you onboard!

  Check if you are eligible for a partnership

• What are the eligibility criteria for nonprofits to join ConnectAID?

  Our social network gives donors more confidence in their philanthropy. In order to receive funding through the platform:

  • Projects must be carried out by nonprofit organizations recognized as “of general interest”, therefore able to issue tax receipts to donors (NGOs, associations, federations, etc.).
  • Projects must be on-going, and directly benefiting local populations. Projects must also demonstrate positive, measurable and sustainable impacts for their beneficiaries and their communities.
  • The nonprofit must be legally incorporated in one of the countries authorized by our payment service provider (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia Preview, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil and Romania). The organization’s sustainable development projects however, can be carried out in any part of the world.
  • Organizations must have at least three professional staff working for them (we are sorry but right now we can not accept small associations)
  • All projects must respond to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the international community.
  • All nonprofits and projects must be validated by ConnectAID.

   

  Please respond to our questionnaire to see if you are eligible to apply.

  Check if you are eligible for a partnership

• Which domains of intervention do the projects cover?

  Today more than ever necessary with the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the most vulnerable populations, our platform addresses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the international community. These objectives form the core of the 2030 Agenda and cover all development issues. The projects selected by ConnectAID to receive funding through the platform must focus on one or more of these goals. A nonprofit can have several projects listed on the platform. Each project is linked to one or more goals, which facilitates the search and selection process by donors.

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• Are there registration fees to become a partner?

  Remember that we are more than just a new platform; we are your partner. To ensure of your involvement in the platform and to cover for some of our administrative costs and selection process, we ask our partners for a small registration fee (50 Euros per year as a launch offer). Registration fees will only be charged if your partnership application is successful, after which you will obtain access to a dedicated space for your project and begin to attract donors, both individuals or from the private sector.

• What are ConnectAID’s support fees?

  All donations are directly transferred to the account created for your nonprofit, without going through ConnectAID. In addition to external bank charges (Stripe) our nonprofit partners contribute to the International Solidarity Network by automatically returning a percentage of the sums collected– up to 9% (+ tax). Fees will be reduced in the future depending on the amounts you raised, as ConnectAID's objective is to lower its commission as soon as possible. They represent your investment into a professional team that can provide you with substantive fundraising and outreach services for your projects. They are used to develop and improve the social network, as well as to search for new donors and sponsor corporations, volunteers as well as ambassadors, which is something that other platforms do not offer.

• What information must be provided in order to become a nonprofit partner?

  After our selection process, the creation of a payment account requires the provision of the following information and identification documents:

  • The legal name of the nonprofit organization or association
  • The identification number verifying the organization’s registration and status
  • A valid identity document from the natural person representing the nonprofit organization
  • A RIB/BIC account number indicating the organization’s name and IBAN
  • A document describing your project(s)
• Are transactions secure?

  The collection and transfer of funds between donors and organizations are fully secure and reliable. Donations received on behalf of third parties are not collected through ConnectAID, but through an accredited Payment Service Provider. Beneficiary organizations take over external bank charges and collect donations directly through the payment institution, subject to European regulations relating to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

• What are the different options and future categories of nonprofit projects on the platform?

  ConnectAID offers three categories of services:

  • Independent Projects
    Your registration as an independent project will allow you to collect donations through ConnectAID with a brief presentation of your project. You will also have access to a «Donate» button and link for your website in order to start collecting funds. As this service is free (subject to approval of partnership), you will have a 3 month trial period to reach a minimum number of donors. The donations received will go towards the realization of your on-going project.
  • Option to promote your project page: Vetted Projects
    This option will give you the possibility to create a full presentation page for your nonprofit as well as a complete public project page which donors will be able to search by SDGs and countries. This option will also allow you to create posts through which your donors can follow your actions on the ground. The bi-lingual content will be written by your organization in accordance with our guidelines. It will further be monitored and validated by our communication experts in order to respect homogeneity throughout the site. Ask us for a quote.
  • Option to outsource your communication : Vetted and Certified Projects
    We can enhance the way that you communicate your mission and goals to your target audience by assisting with writing and creating your web pages on the platform. ConnectAID and its partners will coordinate and provide guidance, collecting your inputs from your field workers and therefore helping you to attract more individual and corporate donors. Do not hesitate to ask us for a quote.
• What additional services can be offered by ConnectAID?

  ConnectAID’s team of professional communication experts and designers offer a variety of optional communication services to nonprofits wishing to improve their visibility and to raise more funds:

  • We can create and design your professional, personalized project page: ConnectAID assists you in telling your story in a clear and compelling way in order to attract more donors. Upon receiving background information about your project, we formulate your page content in both French and English and create a visually appealing design that can attract donors.
    
    
  • We can take care of your coordination and communication needs: Staff on the ground may not always have the right set of needed communication skills and often need guidance on how best to communicate with their donors. ConnectAID can act as a coordinator to provide guidance and coordinate your nonprofit’s communication needs.
    
    
  • We can provide professional graphic design and web development services: Whether you need to design your logo, website, annual report, or brochure, ConnectAID’s professional designers can enhance the way that you communicate your mission and goals.
    
    Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in our tailored communication services!

Our purpose is to make your life easy and help you save time and money so that you can concentrate on your mission.