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Uruut Named a Top 10
Atlanta Startup
as the Crowdfunding Platform's First Project Surpasses $100K
Goal
Nonprofit fundraising
startup gets national media attention, announces new
board member and wraps up
successful opening raise
October 8, 2013
(ATLANTA) -
Today, UruutTM,
a collaborative nonprofit online fundraising platform,
announces that by all indications it has completed the
largest opening raise of any donation-based crowdfunding
site. This achievement comes with the announcement of new
high-profile board member, Doug Shipman, and shortly after
being named one of Atlanta's
top 10 startups by
tech media outlet, The
Next Web.
Uruut's first project, the
Ashford Park Education Foundation's (APSEF) campaign to
build a new outdoor classroom, launched on July 10 with 90
days to reach its goal of $100,000. With a platinum
sponsorship of $35,000 from Ed Voyles Automotive Group, an
additional 40 business and foundation sponsors and hundreds
of individual donations, the school reached its goal on
October 3 with five days left in the campaign.
Uruut is the only online
fundraising platform built specifically for nonprofits that
supports contributions from individuals, businesses and
foundations. As a result, close to 60 percent of APSEF's
donations came from businesses and foundations making
this crowdfunding project an industry first, and setting
Uruut apart.
"We
are thrilled with the success we've seen as Uruut's first
project owner and excited to turn our dream for an outdoor
classroom into a reality," said Shawn Keefe, president of
APSEF and parent of first and fourth graders. "Uruut
enabled us to execute a campaign of this size by providing
the platform and tools necessary to run an effective
campaign. As a result, we are on our way to delivering a
major project that will be core to Ashford Park School's
curriculum, our students and the vitality of our community."
With the initial success of
its beta launch, Uruut got the attention of new board
member, Doug Shipman, a leader in the effort to build the
National Center for Civil and Human Rights, serving as its
CEO since 2007.
"We
are thrilled to have Doug join our list of very talented
board members," said Mark Feinberg, Uruut's co-founder and
CEO. "His experience in a range of industries, as well as
knowledge of both the nonprofit and private sectors bring
rich connections and expertise in corporate social
responsibility."
"I
am excited to be a part of Uruut's mission to strengthen
communities," said Shipman. "There are countless local
projects that simply do not receive the funding necessary to
reach their goals. The recent rise of crowdfunding has
proven very successful in helping with underfunded projects,
but until now we haven't seen a platform built specifically
for nonprofits with the capability to accept donations from
all three funding."
sources. For this reason, I
truly believe Uruut will transform the traditional
fundraising model and empower communities across America.
Shipman's role on the Uruut
board of directors will focus on providing the team added
expertise in the area of nonprofit management, fundraising
and strategy.
Since launching its public
beta period on July 10, Uruut has continued to gain momentum
successfully funding two projects and attracting dozens more
to its platform. Nonprofits and civic organizations
interested in receiving funding through Uruut's platform can click
here to apply
for public beta consideration.
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About Uruut
Launched in 2013, Uruut helps
nonprofits fulfill their missions by increasing their
fundraising success. The social enterprise startup has
developed the first crowdfunding platform built from the
ground up to support donations from all three nonprofit
funding sources individuals, businesses and
foundations. Nearly $60 billion flows to non-profits each
year from businesses and foundations, and Uruut helps
non-profits capture this through its industry-first
platform. To learn more, visit uruut.com and
follow @uruut on
Twitter
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