New Ways of Fundraising

With my graduate degree being in Educational Technology, I find new uses for technology amaze me!  When I was at my PSO, they mentioned a new way of fundraising by using the social resources of the web.  I had lunch today, with a fellow VISTA, and she made mention of Crowd Funding, which I hadn't heard of it, but then I described www.hopemob.org and www.donorschoose.org.  To my amazement, we were talking about the same thing!  What are your thoughts on this idea?  I know there are a ton of grants out there that can be written, but what about just making your plea to the public?  I think the odds are just as good anyway you try!  At the time of my PSO, April 19, 2012, was the first day of www.hopemob.org so this is a REALLY new idea.

Yesterday, I was filling out an initial survey for a grant and they said" of everyone that will complete the survey less than 2% will go on to receive funding."  I was kind of surprised by this number!  My wonderful supervisor said that a number like that is very normal among foundations that give grants.  She then said when I receive my first grant, "I'll give you a big party!"  Because grant writing is a very competitive field.