PayPal Customers Can Now Fundraise Up To $20K

PayPal has rolled out new enhancements to its Giving platform as a way to boost crowdfunding and charity donations, a press release says.

The Giving platform works to give customers an option to help raise money for important causes and help people during the holiday season, the release says, with PayPal now offering the option to create customized fundraising campaigns through the Generosity Network to help raise up to $20,000 over 30 days.

U.S. charity organizations aren’t expecting to do as well this year as they did last year due to the economic effects of the pandemic. Over 65 million people have filed for unemployment, and with that, many of them have been relying on fundraising opportunities in their own communities of family and friends — but PayPal’s Generosity Network aims to connect those people with a larger network, the release says.

The release says the Giving platform offers several options to donate. Users can donate while they shop, adding $1 donations onto purchases made online, and they can donate credit card rewards from Chase, American Express, Citi, Discover and Capital, which will be converted automatically to an equivalent donation amount. Users can choose to donate to any of numerous charities in the site or mobile app whenever they choose, the release says.

Oktay Dogramaci, VP at Giving with PayPal, said the company has been facilitating donations for things like grocery deliveries and campaigns of support for teachers, frontline workers and others amid COVID-19 this year.

“The Generosity Network was designed to provide an accessible, easy and secure way for our customers to raise money on behalf of causes and connect them with millions of PayPal customers who can offer their support this holiday season and beyond,” he said, according to the release.

PayPal also recently debuted a new service with Venmo, in partnership with American Express, for the new Amex Send & Split service, to offer payment splitting, money sending and other such services. Splitting purchases could be good for customers looking to divide up expenditures for food or gifts.