New Crowdfunding Platform Using Shoes as Currency

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Funds2Orgs, a for-profit social enterprise, is reinventing crowdfunding with the launch of "Shoe Funding." On Funds2Orgs's new website www.shoefunding.com entrepreneurs and others hoping to raise funds for a special endeavor can earn money by collecting new and gently used shoes.

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Here's how it works:  Groups and individuals run national campaigns asking supporters to pledge a certain number of pairs of shoes to donate. These shoes can be dropped off at a local collection center or a mailing label can be printed. Once the shoes are collected, Funds2Orgs pays the fundraiser for each donated pair.

Funds2Orgs has been organizing shoe drives to support microenterprises in developing countries since its inception in 2013, but this new web-based crowdfunding platform enables users to collect shoes across the U.S., as opposed to just in their own city. Local "Shoe Funding" campaigns have already raised more than $1 million for schools, charities and religious groups in a little over a year.

"In the past, those hoping to raise money needed to ask others to dig into their wallets for support, but now they can simply dig into their closet," said Funds2Orgs founder and CEO Wayne Elsey. "Not everyone has money to spare, but most have at least one pair of shoes they can part with."

Campaigns are managed on www.shoefunding.com.  Participants create customized fundraiser webpages to include information on their fundraising mission, goals and to share images, videos and progress with their followers. 

Ideal "Shoe Funding" drives might include:

• Schools, churches and nonprofits funding new programs, mission trips, class trips, equipment or facilities
• Entrepreneurs looking for seed capital to fund a new business, microenterprise, invention or endeavor
• Individuals looking to support people in need or special causes

Take Heather Beam, a mother who utilized the Funds2Orgs shoe drive program to help fund the costly process of adopting a child from the Philippines. In six months, Heather collected $2,500 towards adopting 14-year-old Christine, who will be joining the Beam family in May.

The good news is, once the donated shoes are received, Funds2Orgs will then sell them for a nominal fee to budding entrepreneurs in developing nations, such as Haiti and Guatemala, to resell for their own microenterprises.

Call 407-930-2979 or visit http://funds2orgs.com.

Contact:
Michelle Friedman  
BoardroomPR
(407) 973-8555
Email

SOURCE Funds2Orgs

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http://funds2orgs.com