Abstract:
An improved method of raising funds may include offering products or services from third parties for sale to support the dreams, goals or purposes of the individuals involved and may extend for an indefinite period of time, and thus may be referred to as “dreamraising.” The dreamraising platform may find use with youth and charitable organizations, in an embodiment. The dreamraising platform may create relationships between three unique roles: organizations (any organization in need of raising funds); sellers (youths or other individuals affiliated with the organization); and supporters (purchasers who purchase from the sellers). Through the platform the sellers may create an online store, in which, while setting up their pages, sellers may identify their dream (their strongly desired goal or purpose) to be displayed on their online store page. The infrastructure of the platform enables sellers to sell products or services to their community of supporters. In addition to a customized fundraising page, the seller receives access to automated marketing provided by the dreamraising platform through the use of a sidekick communication platform. The dreamraising fundraising platform, along with the sidekick communication platform, provides the seller with sophisticated digital marketing to increase sales and the ability to track funds raised.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/241,505, filed Oct. 14, 2015, and entitled “System And Methods For Raising Philanthropic Funds”. This application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    a. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The instant disclosure relates to a system and methods for raising funds, including philanthropic funds, and in particular, the instant disclosure relates to a system and methods for providing a platform for others, especially youth and community organizations to assist in their efforts to raise funds. 
         [0004]    The instant disclosure further relates to a communication tool or platform that allows the user to send out messages about his or her fundraising activities to the user&#39;s contacts, along with posting the message to the various social media platforms, while also checking on the progress of the fundraising activities. The seller may receive access to automated marketing provided by the fundraising platform through the use of the communication platform, including providing the user with sophisticated digital marketing to increase sales and the ability to track funds raised. 
         [0005]    b. Background Art 
         [0006]    Fundraising for charitable, youth, and community organizations generally involves an individual going door-to-door, or reaching out to acquaintances in an unorganized fashion, to attempt to sell goods or solicit donations. Such fundraising methods are limited, however, in that the success of the fundraising campaign is necessarily limited in scope to a geographic area that can be covered by fundraisers and limited in time by the amount of time that fundraisers have available to spend on fundraising activities. 
         [0007]    Probably the most well-known example of fundraising by a youth organization is the sale of Girl Scouts cookies each year by the Girl Scouts of the USA. Each year members of the Girl Scouts sell boxes of cookies to raise money for their troop. The members may go from door to door in their neighborhood, sell to family members, or they may sell the cookies at various places of business, usually with the help of a parent that works at that business. The sale of Girl Scouts cookies is one of the major fundraiser for local Scout units and members of the Girl Scouts have been selling cookies since 1917 to raise funds. Each year, hundreds of millions of boxes of cookies are sold to raise money for the Girl Scouts. 
         [0008]    Other fundraising activities may involve a crowdfunding mechanism, such as Kickstarter, for example, in which fundraisers solicit cash donations for a specific purpose, sometimes in exchange for goods provided by the fundraising organization or individual. Such fundraising methods are also limited, however, in duration and scope to raising funds for a specific purpose and for a strictly defined period of time. 
         [0009]    It would be advantageous if there was a platform that established relationships between an organization that was in need of raising funds, a seller in some way affiliated with that organization, and supporters or purchasers that would ultimately purchase goods or services from the seller. The platform would facilitate the creation of an online store by the seller, and would allow the seller to identify his or her dream, or strongly desired goal or purpose, to be displayed on the online store page. The infrastructure of the platform could enable the seller to sell products to their community of supporters. 
         [0010]    It would further be advantageous if the platform detailed herein provided for a method of operating the fundraising platform, including the steps of generating a communication tool for participants in a particular fundraiser to share information and track sales of products or services. The communication tool would share information with parents and prospective participants in the fundraiser and the platform could utilize drip marketing to alert contacts of the fundraiser taking place. The platform could also alert the user and track sales. 
         [0011]    It would also be advantageous if the platform detailed herein provided for a method of operating the fundraising platform, including the steps of associating a seller of a plurality of products or services with an organization, wherein neither the seller nor the organization is a source of the plurality of products or services, and providing a web page graphical user interface that lists the plurality of products or services for sale, with the web page being associated with the seller. The method may further include the step of receiving from a purchaser, an order for at least one of the plurality of products or services along with payment for the order, and the step of diverting a portion of the payment to the organization and another portion of the payment to a source of the at least one product or service. 
         [0012]    The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0013]    An improved method of raising funds may include offering products or services from third parties for sale to support the dreams, goals or purposes of the individuals involved and may extend for an indefinite period of time, and thus may be referred to as “dreamraising.” The dreamraising platform may find use with youth and charitable organizations, in an embodiment. The dreamraising platform may create relationships between three unique roles: organizations (any organization in need of raising funds); sellers (youths or other individuals affiliated with the organization); and supporters (purchasers who purchase from the sellers). Through the platform the sellers may create an online store. While setting up their pages, sellers may identify their dream (their strongly desired goal or purpose) to be displayed on their online store page. 
         [0014]    The infrastructure of the platform may enable sellers to sell products or services to their community of supporters. Through a digital connection, the community of supporters may be linked to the seller. Thus, purchases made by the seller&#39;s supporters may be attributed to the seller. The seller may allocate funds to an organization of his or her choosing or allocate the funds to himself or herself. The dreamraising platform may also promote dreamraising events, in which, through the platform, sellers, supporters and organizations can be invited to participate in live events and competitions. 
         [0015]    Further, the dreamraising platform may promote the page on behalf of the seller to the community of supporters through professional marketing activities (either its own or using outside marking services). Organizations may be provided with the option to participate in fundraising events and/or competitions with other organizations. The platform teaches valuable life lessons such as marketing, analyzing and operating a business and encourages the desire to set and achieve goals. The platform may also generate activities and goals for the sellers, for example, sellers may be given the opportunity to participate in a 70/20/10 Spend/Save/Donate plan, where they are encouraged to donate 10% of the money they raise, save 20% of the money they raise and spend 70% of what they raise. Other goals and plans can be generated for the seller to choose. 
         [0016]    The platform could further provide for the generation of a communication tool for participants in a particular fundraiser, with the objective to share information and track sales of products or services. At the launch of an online fundraiser, the communication tool shares information with parents and prospective participants in the fundraiser. Participants or users of the platform can login, add contacts, and share the link to the campaign fundraising page through email, text or social media. Users can also import their contacts from their email service providers, such as AOL, GOOGLE, ICLOUD, YAHOO and others. Once the contacts are imported, drip marketing can be incorporated, or a drip campaign or similar automatic email campaign can be activated, sending information to the user&#39;s contacts alerting them of the fundraiser taking place. As sales are made, the platform can alerts the user and tracks the sales. Thus, through the fundraising platform and the communication platform, the users may receive access to automated marketing, which may include sophisticated digital marketing to increase sales and sophisticated reporting providing the ability to track funds raised. 
         [0017]    An embodiment of a method of operating a fundraising platform, including the dreamraising platform described above, may include a number of steps. The method may include associating, in a non-transitory, computer-readable memory, a seller of a plurality of products with an organization, wherein neither the seller nor organization is a source of the plurality of products and providing, based on instructions in the memory, a web page graphical user interface that lists the plurality of products for sale, the web page associated with the seller. The method may further include receiving, from a purchaser, an order for at least one of the plurality of products and payment for the order, and diverting a portion of the payment to the organization and another portion of the payment to a source of the at least one product. 
         [0018]    Additional objectives and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art after reading the specification in light of the drawing figures, however, the spirit and scope of the present invention, including the appended claims, should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    As stated herein, the objective of the present disclosure is to provide an improved method of raising funds including a platform for offering products or services from third parties for sale to support the dreams, goals or purposes of the individuals involved and may extend for an indefinite period of time. The platform provides for relationships between organizations in need of raising funds, sellers affiliated with the organization, and supporters or purchasers who purchase from the sellers. Through the platform, the sellers create an online store in which they can identify their dreams, goals or purposes, to be displayed on their online store page. 
           [0020]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram and data flow view of an exemplary embodiment of a system of raising funds, including philanthropic funds. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion that may find use for a seller raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of raising funds with the system of  FIG. 1  from the perspective of an organization raising funds. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of raising funds with the system of  FIG. 1  from the perspective of a seller raising funds. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of raising funds with the system of  FIG. 1  from the perspective of a supporter or purchaser. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 21  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 22  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 23  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 24  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 25  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 26  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 27  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 28  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 29  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 30  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) portion pertaining to a communication tool that may find use for an organization raising funds through the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0051]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram and data flow view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  10  of raising funds, including philanthropic funds. The system may include a plurality of organizations  12  (two such organizations  12   1 ,  12   2  are shown in  FIG. 1 ), a fundraising platform  14 , a plurality of purchasers  16 , a plurality of sellers  18 , and one or more product providers  20 . 
         [0052]    The fundraising platform  14  may be provided as a website, the website provided by a server including a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory, in an embodiment. Accordingly, one or more functions of the fundraising platform  14  described herein may be embodied in instructions in the memory that, when executed by the processor, result in a web page or web site having the underlying functionality. For example, one or more portions of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the fundraising platform  14  may be provided as web pages by a server. 
         [0053]    Each of the organizations  12 , sellers  18 , and purchasers  16  may be associated with one or more mobile and/or non-mobile computing devices (e.g., personal computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc.) through which the organizations  12 , sellers  18 , and purchasers  16  may interact with one or more aspects of the fundraising platform  14 , in an embodiment. For example, a server providing a GUI of the fundraising platform  14  may be in electronic communication with the computing devices of the organizations  12 , sellers  18 , and purchasers  16  for the organizations  12 , sellers  18 , and purchasers  16  to perform one or more of the tasks illustrated and/or described in this disclosure. 
         [0054]    The fundraising platform  14  may be configured for assisting organizations  12  to raise funds through sellers  18  by selling products provided by the product providers  20  to individuals that support the sellers in order to raise funds to support dreams of sellers  18 , in an embodiment. Accordingly, the fundraising platform  14  may be referred to herein as the “dreamraising” platform, the purchasers  16  may be referred to as supporters, and the organizations  12  may be referred to as dreamraising organizations. 
         [0055]    The organizations  12  may be or may include one or more entities that wish to raise funds, such as charitable funds. For example and without limitation, the organizations  12  may include schools, youth sports teams, youth activity groups, and the like. The sellers  18  may be or may include one or more individuals or other entities that wish to raise funds for themselves or for the organizations  12 . For example, the sellers  18  may include youths who attend or participate in one of the organizations  12 . The purchasers  16  may be or may include one or more individuals or entities that purchase the sold by the sellers  18 . The product providers  20  may include one or more providers of products appropriate for fundraising, such as foodstuffs (e.g., popcorn, candy, and the like), publications, etc. 
         [0056]    The fundraising platform  14  may provide a number of functions, which will be discussed in turn below. First, as will be described with respect to  FIGS. 2-6 , the fundraising platform  14  may provide an interface through which an organization  12  may organize fundraising activities. Second, as will be described with respect to  FIGS. 7-13 , the fundraising platform  14  may provide an interface through which a seller  18  may organize fundraising activities. Finally, the fundraising platform  14  may facilitate purchases of products from product providers  20 , with certain proceeds from those purchases going to the sellers  18  and/or organizations  12  and other proceeds from those purchases going to the product providers  20 . Such facilitation will be described with respect to  FIGS. 14-16  from the respective points of view of organizations  12 , sellers  18 , and purchasers  16 . 
         [0057]    The fundraising platform  14  may provide a means by which an organization  12  may raise funds. In furtherance of this purpose, the fundraising platform  14  may provide web site interface portions (e.g., web pages) through which an organization may organize its fundraising. Information entered or provided by an organization through these interface portions may be used in interface portions for sellers and purchasers to contribute to the organization&#39;s fundraising campaign. Although interface portions will be described below with reference to individual web pages, it should be understood that the fundraising platform, and the interface portions provided, are not limited to separate, individual web pages. 
         [0058]    First, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the fundraising platform may provide a fundraiser information entry interface portion  22 . The fundraiser information entry page  22  may accept input from the organization about a new fundraising campaign, and thus may include portions such as a fundraiser title  24 , a fundraiser tagline  26 , a fundraiser goal  28  (e.g., dollar amount), a fundraiser duration  30 , and/or other information. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the fundraising platform may further provide a fundraiser story entry interface portion  32 , which may include portions such as a fundraiser description entry  34  and a fundraiser video attachment portion  36 . The fundraiser story entry interface portion  32  may enable the organization to provide details of the fundraising campaign that inform sellers and purchasers of the purpose of the fundraising campaign (i.e., to “sell” the fundraising campaign itself). 
         [0060]    The fundraising platform may further provide a seller designation page  38  for the organization. On the seller designation page  38 , an organization may designate one or more sellers to be associated with that organization. The organization may designate sellers by entering information respective of one or more sellers in a seller entry portion  40 , and/or by attaching a file including information of one or more sellers at a file attachment portion  42 , in an embodiment. Sellers designated by the organization may be provided with invitations to associate with the organization, in an embodiment. When associated with an organization, a portion of the revenue of products sold by the seller may go towards the organization&#39;s fundraising campaign, in an embodiment. 
         [0061]    As noted above, sellers designated by the organization may receive an invitation to raise funds on the organization&#39;s behalf.  FIG. 5  is an exemplary embodiment of an invitation interface  44  in which an organization may design an invitation to designated sellers. For example, in an embodiment, the invitation may be an email. Thus, the invitation interface  44  may include an email drafting portion  46 . Once drafted by the organization, the invitation email may be sent automatically to designated sellers by the fundraising platform on behalf of the organization. 
         [0062]    Once the organization sets up the fundraiser, including inviting designated sellers to associate with the organization, the organization&#39;s fundraiser may be provided with a fundraising web page by the fundraising platform. An exemplary embodiment of an organization fundraising page  50  is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fundraising web page  50  may include a fundraiser information portion  52 , a seller information portion  54 , and a product sales portion  56 . The fundraising information portion  52  may include some or all of the information about the fundraiser provided by the organization (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The seller information portion  54  may include a listing, ranking, etc. of one or more sellers associated with the organization. Finally, the product sales portion  56  may include a listing of products for sale. The products may be selectable or sortable by a purchaser by seller, in an embodiment. For example, the product sales portion  56  may include a seller selection portion  58  (e.g., menu) that allows a purchaser to select a seller from whom the purchaser would like to purchase. Responsive to a selection of purchaser, the fundraising platform may list on the page one or more products  60  offered for sale by the seller. Through the product sales portion  56 , the fundraising platform may receive an order for one or more of the products  60  and payment for the order, in an embodiment. The fundraising platform may be configured to divert a portion of the proceeds from the sale to the organization, and a portion to the provider of the ordered product, in an embodiment. 
         [0063]    The fundraising platform may also provide a means by which a seller may raise funds, either personally or on behalf of an organization. The fundraising platform may provide web site interface portions (e.g., web pages) through which a seller may organize fundraising or associate with fundraising by an organization. Information entered or provided by a seller through these interface portions may be used in interface portions for purchasers to contribute to the seller&#39;s fundraising. 
         [0064]    First, the fundraising platform may provide a seller information entry interface  62 , an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the seller information entry interface  62  may include portions in which the seller may enter personal information such as a name  64 , a fundraiser goal  66 , a fundraiser duration  68 , and an organization election  70 , in an embodiment. 
         [0065]    The fundraising platform may further provide a dream entry interface  72 , an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in  FIG. 8 . The dream entry interface  72  may include portions in which the seller may enter a dream description  74 , a video  76 , one or more photos  78 , and the like. The dream information entered by the seller may be used by the seller to convince purchasers to purchase products to support the seller&#39;s dream (i.e., the dream may “sell” the seller him or herself). 
         [0066]    The fundraising platform may provide automatic communications with purchasers and potential purchasers on behalf of the seller, in an embodiment. Thus, the fundraising platform may provide a message entry portion  80  for the seller, shown in exemplary form in  FIG. 9 . The seller message entry portion  80  may allow the seller to input an email  82  or social network message that can be sent out to one or more potential purchasers. Such potential purchasers may be selected by the seller, in an embodiment, and/or by the fundraising platform, in an embodiment. 
         [0067]    Once the seller has provided information regarding the seller and the seller&#39;s fundraising, the fundraising platform may provide the seller&#39;s information and fundraising in a web page specific to the seller. An exemplary embodiment of a seller web page  84  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The seller page  84  may include a seller information portion  86  and a product sales portion  88 . 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-12  (where  FIGS. 11 and 12  are enlarged views of portions of  FIG. 10 ) as various embodiments, the seller information portion  86  may list the information provided by the seller, including the seller&#39;s dream  90 , a description of the seller&#39;s dream  92 , and the seller&#39;s name  94 . The seller information portion may further include a fundraising goal progress  96  which may be in the form of a progress bar, in an embodiment, and a list of supporters  98  (i.e., purchasers who have purchased product sold by the seller). The supporters may be ranked, and/or the seller information portion  86  may further include a social sharing portion  100  that allows a viewer of the seller web page to connect the seller&#39;s web page to one or more social networks, such as FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, GOOGLE PLUS, GOOGLE MESSENGER, INSTAGRAM and SNAPCHAT. In an embodiment, the supporters or purchasers  98  will have the ability to leave encouraging messages and the like to the seller to support the seller and the seller&#39;s dream, possibly in a drop down menu (not shown). 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 13  (where  FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 10 ), the product sales portion  88  of the seller page may include a listing of products  102  sold by the seller. Through the product sales portion  88 , the fundraising platform may receive an order for one or more of the products and payment for the order, in an embodiment. The fundraising platform may be configured to divert a portion of the proceeds from the sale to the seller or to an organization with which the seller is associated, and a portion to the provider of the ordered product, in an embodiment. 
         [0070]    The organization-specific and seller-specific functions of the fundraising platform described above may be provided in furtherance of the sellers and organizations selling product to raise funds. A description of the process of selling and purchasing products to raise funds will now be described from the point of view of an organization with respect to  FIG. 14 , a seller with respect to  FIG. 15 , and a purchaser with respect to  FIG. 16 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating a method  104  of fundraising through the fundraising platform of  FIG. 1 , from the point of view of an organization. One or more aspects of the method  104  may be performed by the fundraising platform, in an embodiment. At a first step  106  of the method, the organization may create a fundraiser (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIGS. 2-4 ). At a further step  108 , the fundraiser may “go live” (e.g., in the form of a web page, as shown in  FIG. 6 ). At a further step  110 , the organization may invite sellers to create individual seller pages within the organization&#39;s fundraiser (e.g., with the seller invitation interface shown in  FIG. 5 ). At a further step  112 , sellers invited by the organization may associate with the organization (alternatively, sellers may associate with the organization independent of an invitation from the organization) and identify their “dream.” 
         [0072]    Once sellers are associated with the organization&#39;s fundraiser, at a further step  114  of the method, the sellers may reach out to their network of supporters (i.e., potential purchasers) to advertise the fundraiser. For example, the fundraising platform may send an email or other communication on the seller&#39;s behalf. In response, purchasers may purchase product through a seller&#39;s page provided by the fundraising platform. 
         [0073]    Once a purchaser has purchased product, the method  104  may include a step  116  of labelling a purchaser as a supporter of the seller from whom the purchaser purchased product. The purchaser may then be advertised/shown on the fundraising platform as a supporter of that seller. In an embodiment, the method  104  may further a step  118  that includes dividing the money received for the purchaser&#39;s order. A portion of the money (e.g., 50%) may go to the organization, and the remaining portion may go to the provider of the purchased product. 
         [0074]    The method  104  may further include a step  120  of the fundraising platform advertising the organization&#39;s fundraiser to potential purchases. Funding for the advertising may be provided by providers of the products to be sold, in an embodiment. This advertising may be provided throughout the fundraising process. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , from the seller&#39;s perspective, a method  122  of fundraising through the fundraising platform may begin with a step  123 , in which the seller may build his or her own webpage, and then step  124 , in which the seller identifies the organization that the seller is selling for and identifies his or her “dream” that will be supported by fundraiser sales. Next, at an outreach step  126 , the seller may reach out to potential supporters through the fundraising platform. 
         [0076]    At a purchasing step  128 , purchasers may support the seller and the seller&#39;s dream by purchasing product through the fundraising platform and may then be labelled a supporter of the seller. In addition to purchasing products to support the seller and the seller&#39;s dream, supporters may be encouraged to purchase a subscription plan, to receive products over a period of time, such as monthly delivery of products sold as a three month, six month, nine month, or annual subscription plans, among other similar plans. As described herein, the fundraising platform can also be used to automatically or manually promote live events in support of the seller&#39;s dream. As such, through the platform, the sellers, supporters and organizations can be invited to participate in live events and/or competitions, all in support of the seller&#39;s dreams. At a further step  130 , the fundraising platform may divide the money received for the purchaser&#39;s order, with a portion going to the organization with which the seller is associated and a portion going to the provider of the product ordered. 
         [0077]    At a further step  132 , the fundraising platform may provide the seller with the option to change organizations with which the seller is associated. For example, a seller may initially be associated with his or her school for a fundraiser by the school for a field trip, for example. Later, another organization with which the seller is affiliated—for example, an after-school sports team—may begin a fundraiser to travel to a tournament. At that time, the seller may wish that his or her sales be credited to the sports team, rather than to the school, so the seller may wish to be associated with the sports team instead of the school by the fundraising platform. Thus, the fundraising platform may accept a request from the seller to change association from the school to the sports team. When the fundraising platform receives such a request, the platform may disassociate the seller from the school and associate the seller with the sports team. Thereafter, as indicated by a further step  134 , all sales by the seller will be credited to the sports team for as long as the seller is associated with the sports team by the fundraising platform. 
         [0078]      FIG. 16  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method  136  of raising funds through the fundraising platform, from the point of view of the purchaser. The method  136  may begin at a step  138  of the purchaser (i.e., supporter) receiving a message from a seller, such as an email, containing a hyperlink to the seller&#39;s fundraising page. The purchaser may follow the hyperlink to arrive at the seller&#39;s fundraising page, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in and was described with respect to  FIGS. 10-13 . 
         [0079]    At the seller&#39;s fundraising page, the purchaser may order one or more products offered for sale by or through the seller, as indicated by a further step  140  in  FIG. 16 . When the purchaser makes the order, the fundraising platform may associate the purchaser with the seller, as indicated by a further step  142  in  FIG. 16 . In a further step  144 , the seller may remit payment for the order (e.g., through the fundraising platform), and the payment may be divided (again, by the fundraising platform, in an embodiment) such that the organization with which the seller is associated receives a portion of the payment and the provider of the ordered products receives a portion. 
         [0080]    As a result, the purchaser may be listed as a supporter of the seller on the seller&#39;s fundraising page and may receive other communications and information from the seller, as indicated in a further step  146  of the method. For example, when the seller switches association to another organization for a separate fundraiser, or when the organization with which the seller is associated begins a new fundraiser, the fundraising platform may send a message (e.g., email or message over a social network) to the purchaser to alert the purchaser and to request the purchaser&#39;s support. 
         [0081]    The fundraising platform  14  of  FIG. 1  may also include a communication platform or tool  200  as set forth in exemplary fashion in  FIGS. 17-30 . Similar to the fundraising platform  14 , the communication tool  200  can be provided as a website, the website provided by a server including a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory, in an embodiment. Accordingly, one or more functions of the communications tool  200  described herein may be embodied in instructions in the memory that, when executed by the processor, result in a web page or web site having the underlying functionality. For example, one or more portions of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the communications tool  200  may be provided as web pages by a server. 
         [0082]    The communication tool  200  can be used by participants, users or sellers  18  of the fundraising platform  14  for a particular fundraiser or for fundraising activities. The objective of the communications tool  200  is to allow the sharing of information pertaining to the particular fundraiser and to allow the user  18  to easily track sales of products or services. 
         [0083]    In general and at the launch of the online fundraiser as detailed herein, the communication tool  200  shares information with parents and prospective participants or purchasers  16  in the fundraiser. Participants or users  18  of the platform  14  can login, add contacts, and share the link to the campaign fundraising page through email, text or social media. Users  18  can also import their contacts from their email service providers or contact management system, such as AOL, GOOGLE CONTACTS, APPLE ICLOUD, MICROSOFT OUTLOOK, YAHOO and others. Once the contacts are imported, drip marketing can be incorporated, or a drip campaign or similar automatic email campaign can be activated, sending information to the user&#39;s contacts alerting them of the fundraiser taking place. As sales are made, the platform can alerts the user and tracks the sales. 
         [0084]      FIG. 17  illustrates the welcome page for users  18  of the exemplary communications platform or tool  200  incorporated into the fundraising platform  14 . The exemplary welcome page allows the user  18  to either begin the registration process by selecting registration  202 , or if previously registered, selecting login  204  to login back into the communications tool  200 . 
         [0085]    If the user  18  is registering for the first time,  FIG. 18  illustrates the exemplary registration page where user&#39;s information is entered. Of course, as with all of the webpages described herein, the information entered and the report format can be different, depending on the needs of the fundraising platform  14 , without limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0086]    The exemplary registration information includes the user&#39;s first name  206 , last name  208 , email address  210  and the particular name or reference  212  to be used for the fundraising activities. The name  212  may be the same or different than that of the person registering, for example if a parent registers for a child. The reference  212  will assist in personalizing invites sent at a later time. 
         [0087]      FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate an exemplary passcode page to allow the user  18  to set up a passcode  214  for future access to the communication tool  200 . The user  18  enters a passcode  214  in  FIG. 19  and re-enters the same passcode  214  for authentication purposes in  FIG. 20 . The user  18  will use this passcode  214  for future access if they select the login  204  in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0088]    Once registered, the user  18  can get started setting up a message to be sent to potential purchasers  16 .  FIG. 21  illustrates an exemplary invite page in which the user  18  selects the invite button  216  to begin generating a message that will be sent to the potential purchasers  16  so they can support the user&#39;s fundraiser. Once the invite button  216  is selected,  FIG. 22  illustrates and exemplary message page in which the user  18  is allowed to create the message  218  to be sent to the potential purchasers  16 . The exemplary message may include the name of the participant  212 , the organization  12  receiving some or all of the fundraising funds, the goods or product provider  20 , a reference to additional information  220 , a goal or amount  222 , a date to reach that goal  224 , among other information as necessary. 
         [0089]      FIGS. 23 and 24  illustrate exemplary contact import pages in which the user  18  can import his or her contacts  226  (see  FIG. 24  for example). As an example,  FIG. 23  illustrates that the user  18  can access contacts  226  previously stored, and import those contacts from their email service providers or contact management system, such as GOOGLE CONTACTS  228 , YAHOO  230 , MICROSOFT OUTLOOK  232 , AOL  234 , APPLE ICLOUD  236  and others. Once imported, those contacts (and their email addresses) will be stored for sending the message  218 . As a further example,  FIG. 24  illustrates that to the extent the user  18  has not previously stored a particular contact  226 , the communication tool  200  allows the user  18  to add that contact to the list. The user  18  can switch between importing contact  238  and manually adding contacts  240  by selecting the proper button and receiving the import contact page ( FIG. 23 ) and the add contacts manually page ( FIG. 24 ), respectively. 
         [0090]    Once the contacts  226  have been imported into the communication tool  200 , the message  218  will be sent to the potential purchasers  16  through their contact information  226  (such as emails). The message  218  can be sent once, or a number of times through a drip marketing campaign, or through similar automatic email campaigns. The potential purchasers  16  will be informed of the fundraising activities and will be allowed to participate by purchasing products or services. In addition to a customized fundraising page, the user  18  receives access to automated marketing provided by the fundraising platform  14  through the use of the communication platform  200 . This fundraising platform  14  along with the communication platform  200  provides the user  18  with sophisticated digital marketing to increase sales and the ability to track funds raised. 
         [0091]      FIG. 25  illustrates an exemplary update generation page in which the user  18  enters the user&#39;s cell phone number (or similar unique access information)  242  and selects the get update button  244 . Once completed, the user  18  will receive updates when a potential purchaser  16  makes a purchase through the fundraising platform  14 , the total amount of sales to date and any other information set up through the communication tool  200 . The user  18  can also select the maybe later button  246 , which will send out a reminder at a later date to complete the update process. 
         [0092]      FIG. 26  illustrates an exemplary update page in which the user  18  is updated as to the particular fundraiser  248 , the amount received to date  250 , the number of potential purchasers  16  invited to participate  252 , a ranking  254  and a button to share the message  218  on social media  256 . Of course, the information reported and the corresponding report format can be different, depending on the fundraising platform  14 , without limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0093]      FIG. 27  illustrates an exemplary update page in which the user  18  is updated as to the potential purchasers  16  that have been added or invited  258  and whether they have made a purchase  260 . This dashboard provides the user with easy access to this pertinent information to allow for individual follow up, as necessary. 
         [0094]      FIGS. 28-30  illustrate exemplary social media pages in which the user  18  is provided a simple way to send the message  218  to the various social media platforms. For example, the user  18  can post the message  218  to his or her FACEBOOK account  262  ( FIG. 28 ), to his or her GOOGLE MESSENGER account  264  ( FIG. 29 ), or to his or her TWITTER account  266  ( FIG. 28 ), among the other social media platforms. 
         [0095]    Accordingly, the user  18  is provided with a communication tool or platform  200  that allows the user  18  to send out a message  218  as to his or her fundraising activities to the imported or manually entered contacts  216 , along with posting the message  218  to the various social media platforms  262 ,  264 ,  266 , and then check on the progress of the fundraising activities to see how the fundraising is proceeding, or for follow up purposes. 
         [0096]    It should be noted that, although the system and methods of this disclosure have been described with respect to embodiments in which sellers associate with organizations to raise funds to benefit the organizations, the fundraising platform may also find use in embodiments in which a seller raises funds for himself or herself. For example, a seller&#39;s “dream” may be an individual goal or activity, such as to travel to a tournament in an individual sport, for example. In such an embodiment, the fundraising platform may divide the funds received from a purchaser&#39;s order, divert a portion of the funds to the seller, and divert a portion of the fund to the provider of the goods. Further, in such an embodiment, the seller may have a page on the fundraising platform free of any organizational association. 
         [0097]    It should also be noted that, although the system and methods of the present disclosure have been described with respect to embodiments in which sellers sell products, the fundraising platform may also fund use in embodiments in which the seller receives cash donations from purchasers, without any underlying product or service being purchased. In such an embodiment, the entirety of the donation may be directed to the seller, in an embodiment. 
         [0098]    Still further, it should be understood that, in embodiments in which a seller sells products or services that a purchaser may desire on a regular basis, the purchaser may make regular purchases of those products or services through the fundraising platform to benefit the seller or the seller&#39;s associated organization even after the seller&#39;s or organization&#39;s fundraising campaign has ended. For example, if the seller sells popcorn to raise funds for a basketball team trip to a tournament, even after the needed funds are raised and after the tournament, a purchaser may purchase popcorn through the fundraising platform, and a portion of the funds from the order may be diverted to the basketball team for its needs. Thus, the dreamraising platform may offer fundraising for an indefinite period of time, in embodiments. 
         [0099]    Raising funds according to the present disclosure may provide many advantages. First, fundraising today ignores the dreams of the children who are raising the funds. In contrast, dreamraising may leverage and communicate their dreams to create a supportive community. Second, fundraising today is generally done on a campaign basis and is finite. In contrast, dreamraising may never end. And generally in known fundraising, youth or youth organizations have to market and sell their own fundraisers. In contrast, dreamraising may market to their community on their behalf and generate sales, profits and continual moral support. Dreamraising may provide a professional marketing machine and leverage its own marketing intelligence and data to help drive profits for each seller child. Fourth, the dreamraising platform may allow an organization to invite a child to sell on behalf of the organization. Anyone that purchases in support of the child may be permanently linked to the child. Any future purchases may be credited to the organization that the child has identified. The child may change the organization in which he/she has identified and the profits will be credited to the new organization. Fifth, organizations may have the option to participate in fundraising competitions with other organizations. Sixth, the platform may teach valuable life lessons, for instance, the platform may generate activities or goals for the sellers. For example, the sellers may be given the opportunity to participate in a program in which they spend, save and donate the funds received in particular percentages. Again as an example, and not limiting the present disclosure, a 70/20/10 Spend/Save/Donate plan can be encouraged where sellers donate 10% of the money they raise, save 20% of the money they raise, and spend 70% of what they raise. Other goals and plans can be generated for the seller to choose. 
         [0100]    Various embodiments are described herein to various apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims. 
         [0101]    Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment”, or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment”, or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional. 
         [0102]    Although numerous embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. All directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the any aspect of the disclosure. As used herein, the phrased “configured to,” “configured for,” and similar phrases indicate that the subject device, apparatus, or system is designed and/or constructed (e.g., through appropriate hardware, software, and/or components) to fulfill one or more specific object purposes, not that the subject device, apparatus, or system is merely capable of performing the object purpose. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0103]    Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.