Whaaaat? This App Caps Donations at 3 Bucks!

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The new Spotfund app is taking an interesting approach to fundraising for charity by capping donations at $3. The theory seems to be that if you are only allowed to give a little, everyone will. The cap removes the social pressure to give until it hurts!

Co-founder and CEO Sanford Kunkel says, “There is a disconnect between a problem and its call to action. Say you’re watching the news on the Flint Water Crisis and want to help. First, you have to get up off the couch, get to your laptop and register for the one of the many organizations or GoFundMe pages open to this. Then you have to determine how much you want to give to really make a difference and which charity to donate to.”

Spotfund, only available for Apple’s ios devices, simplifies donating by allowing you to do it from your phone–if you’re like me you have it with you all the time–and by placing a ridiculously low cap on donations. Using the app removes the fear that you’ll discover a cause to which you’ll want to give next month’s rent and allows you the comfort that you can come back and make a donation to any cause that moves you any time.

Sanford says that Spotfund takes the worry out of donating. “It’s part of our core values to vet and identify the single best charities to include. There was a need for a product that’s conducive with the lifestyle of mobile first today and Spotfund provides that. We’re putting democracy into charity – it’s not just a donation platform, it’s an awareness platform.”

The first big challenge Spotfund has is convincing people that tiny donations actually help. “A challenge we’re facing is convincing people that giving $1, $2 or $3 can actually make a difference, as long as they can harness the power of your social network and inspire their friends to give, as well,” Sanford says.

Spotfund doesn’t help everyone in every circumstance–this isn’t GoFundMe. “One limitation is that funds raised through Spotfund must go to a registered nonprofit. This should give our users confidence that money will be going to the right place, but we understand that in some cases, people want to give funds directly to individuals, without having to go through a nonprofit,” he continues.

Sanford’s vision for Spotfund is to activate an entire generation of digital natives to giving in a way that is comfortable for them. “We’re changing what it means to be civic minded. By creating awareness and actually providing people the medium to make an impact, we’re putting the power of change directly in the hands of millennials,” he concludes.

On Thursday, July 7, 2016 at noon Eastern, Sanford will join me here for a live discussion about the app and how people are using it to enable change they care about. Tune in here then to watch the interview live. Post questions in the comments below or tweet questions before the interview to @devindthorpe.

Sanford Kunkel, courtesy of Spotfund

More about Spotfund:

Twitter: @spotfund

Spotfund is a mobile micro-donation platform that allows users to fund causes and current events with only $1, $2 or $3. With Spotfund, you can easily discover and donate to the stories the world is talking about. You can also create a story of your own to raise funds for a cause that matters to you. With donations capped at $3, the platform is designed for everyone looking to make a difference. And by closely integrating with major social networks, Spotfund helps turn conversations into results.

Sanford’s bio:

Sanford Kunkel is Co-Founder and CEO of Spotfund. Sanford oversees Spotfund’s strategic direction, branding initiatives and organizational culture. Sanford has a successful track record of bringing brands to market, having led several entrepreneurial ventures in real estate and hospitality. He co-created the downtown NYC hotel The Bowery House as well as The Surfrider Malibu, which is set to open across from the Malibu Pier in Fall 2016. Sanford holds a B.S. in business administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. His personal causes include historic preservation and groups advocating on behalf of small businesses.

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Devin is a journalist, author and speaker who calls himself a champion of social good. With a goal to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems by 2045, he focuses on telling the stories of those who are leading the way! Learn more at DevinThorpe.com!

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