Facebook birthday fundraisers rake in $300 million in first year

Since Facebook birthday fundraisers debuted a year ago, users have raised more than $300 million for nonprofit organizations, according to a new post from Asha Sharma, the company's head of product for social good.

More than 750,000 nonprofits can receive donations via Facebook. St. Jude, Alzheimer's Association, the American Cancer Society, Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry, and the ASPCA are among the nonprofits that received the most money since the tool launched.

Celebrities like NBA star Stephen Curry took advantage of it to raise money for Nothing But Nets, an organization that fights malaria. The Golden State Warriors point guard hoped to raise $30,000 for his 30th birthday and instead got $82,000.

Less famous folks also made use of the tool. Valentine Toohey Smith wanted to help charity: water, an organization with a mission to bring clean water to people in 24 developing countries, and started a fundraiser for her daughter's 12th birthday. The mother and daughter ultimately raised $2,161. Not too shabby, Valentine.

With such clear user interest in the tool, Facebook wants to make birthday fundraising even more effective. The social media platform has added a new function that should help you figure out which nonprofit organizations best match your interests.

Facebook will now provide more information about each organization, including its mission, location, and how many people liked their Page. The change should make it easier to distinguish between nonprofits and get a clear sense of how your donation could make an impact.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

This is the latest set of updates Facebook has made to its fundraising tools. In November 2017, the company announced it would eliminate the fee it collected on donations to nonprofit organizations. Earlier this year, Facebook made it possible to match donations and add organizers when planning a new fundraiser.

Other additions, like the ability to raise money for personal causes, such as baby supplies and volunteering, have made it easier to fundraise as an individual.

The anniversary of the birthday fundraiser tool comes at an opportune time for Facebook, which has struggled to maintain public trust in the wake of debates over privacy settings, data collection, and controversial comments made by its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In other words, now is an ideal time to remind the world that sometimes Facebook can be a force for good.