Toronto’s Artez Interactive announces Facebook-powered social fundraising app

At f8, Facebook’s developer conference, Toronto-based Artez Interactive, which specializes in multi-channel fundraising solutions, announced a new Facebook app that enables friends to share the charities and social causes they support through the Facebook Platform.

“We know Friendship Powered Fundraising is extremely successful,” said James Appleyard, CEO & Chairman, Artez Interactive. “In fact, door-to-door fundraising has evolved to include online, social and mobile channels. This enables fundraisers to be where their supporters are and tap into their network of friends, family and colleagues. With this new app on Facebook, donors will be able to share with their friends what they support and engage their networks in social and charitable initiatives.”

The Artez feature works in the following way: When a donor is on a charitable site enabled with this new app, a box will appear after they have completed their donation to ask, “Spread the word….share with friends” on Facebook?” When a donor agrees, her Facebook News Feed is updated with “Kiran Balladin has donated to ABC charity with Artez Interactive.” No confidential information or contribution amounts are posted, rather a simple message highlighting the donor’s action for a worthy cause.

In addition, the charitable organization receives a positive personal brand endorsement to an entirely new network, ultimately increasing the charity’s own brand profile and reach. And as donors interact with the app, their friends can discover the charities that they care about.

The app is similar to Vancouver-born FundRazr, a product of ConnectionPoint Systems, which was a 2011 NVBC Competition finalist and winner of the Vancity Social Venture prize.

Artez created the app for several charities who will soon launch the feature including Free The Children, Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian Red Cross, Kids Help Phone, and SickKids Foundation.

“Free The Children is pleased to be one of the first charitable organizations to use this Facebook app,” said Marc Kielburger, Co-founder, Free The Children. “With this new feature we will be able to increase the awareness of Free The Children and inspire action by more supporters, we’re really excited about its potential.”