Why donate to a ‘Long Tail’ Nonprofit?

Why You Should Donate to Long Tail Nonprofits

Nonprofits are not all equal. Some are big and well-known, with large donor bases and marketing budgets. Others are small and obscure, with limited resources and visibility. These are the long tail nonprofits, and they deserve your attention and support.

What are long tail charities?

The term “long tail” comes from a theory by Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine, who argued that the internet has enabled niche products and services to thrive and compete with mainstream ones. He illustrated this with the music industry, where online platforms allow bands with niche genres and fans to sell their songs without relying on physical stores or record labels.

The same logic applies to nonprofits. There are a number of large aid organizations that dominate the nonprofit sector and receive most of the donations in any country, especially high-income countries. But there are also many, many thousands of small, local and grassroots initiatives that work on specific causes and regions that are often overlooked or neglected by the mainstream donors. These are the long tail nonprofits.

Why should you donate to long tail nonprofits?

There are many reasons why you should consider donating to long tail nonprofits. 

• They make a real difference in the world. Long tail nonprofits often work on issues that are urgent, complex and underfunded, such as human rights, environmental protection, animal welfare, education, health and social justice. They have a deep understanding of the local context and needs, and they can deliver effective and innovative solutions that have a lasting impact. The power of that local understanding and direct delivery is not to be underestimated.
• They are transparent and accountable. Long tail nonprofits usually have low overheads and administrative costs, and they can show you exactly how your money is spent and what results it achieves. They also have direct communication channels with their beneficiaries and supporters, and they can provide feedback and stories that demonstrate their impact. Take a look at the examples shared by the Better Giving social media accounts. There’s some incredible work going on.
• They are diverse and inclusive. Long tail nonprofits represent a wide range of causes, cultures, perspectives and voices that enrich the nonprofit sector and society as a whole. They often work with marginalised and vulnerable groups that are excluded or discriminated by the mainstream systems. They also empower local communities and individuals to take action and participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
• They are adaptable and resilient. Long tail nonprofits are flexible and responsive to changing situations and needs. They can quickly adjust their strategies and activities to cope with challenges and opportunities. They also have strong networks and partnerships with other organisations and stakeholders that enable them to collaborate and leverage resources.

How can you donate to long tail nonprofits?

One of the main challenges that long tail nonprofits face is raising funds and awareness for their work. They often lack the resources and skills to reach out to potential donors and supporters. That’s why platforms like Better Giving exist: to connect long tail nonprofits with people who want to support them.

Better Giving enables donors to donate to long tail nonprofits and create long term financial stability through increasing the number of ways people can donate online. It includes sch as DAF payments, stocks and crucially, cryptocurrencies.

This single donation form greatly reduces costs for the nonprofit and enables both direct giving for immediate use and then allows the nonprofit to build savings for long term sustainability. 

Better Giving’s technologies can benefit long tail nonprofits in several ways:

• They can reduce transaction costs and increase efficiency: The transactions are fast, cheap and secure, which means that more money can reach the intended beneficiaries without delays or losses. Plus, they don’t have to pay ridiculous upfront subscription fees before they raise a single cent!
• The income on deposits comes from different yield options: Nonprofits can choose how Better Giving creates yield – the savings account realising about 4% on average and a managed investment account that has historically achieved about 20%.
• They can enable new forms of giving and engagement: Such technologies can facilitate new ways of donating, such as micro-donations (small amounts of money given frequently), crypto-donations (donating digital currencies – Better Giving allows both ‘fiat’ donations such as dollars, euros or GBP as well as a range of crypto currencies), and large sums from such as DAFs, held by many high net worth individuals and foundations.
• Long Term Sustainability: Long tail nonprofits usually have no ability to benefit from savings and investment accounts cheaply, such as those loved by the largest nonprofits to the tune of billions of dollars. Now they do.

How to help? How to benefit?

Long tail nonprofits are an important part of the nonprofit sector and society. They work on issues that matter, they deliver results that last, they represent diversity and inclusion, they adapt to change and challenges.

They deserve your attention and support.

You can donate to long tail nonprofits through Better Giving. By doing so, you can make a difference in the world while supporting causes that align with your interests and values.

You can register: If you are a long tail nonprofit yourself, then why not register for a Better Giving account today. It’s free to do so, there are no upfront or annual subscription charges! If you are based in the USA, then you already have an account ready to claim. 

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 Anderson C (2004) The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More [Online] Available at: https://www.wired.com/2004/10/tail

Farrer & Co (2018) Blockchain – what charities need to know [Online] Available at: https://www.farrer.co.uk/news-and-insights/blockchain–what-charities-need-to-know-about-distributed-ledger-technology