Internet fundraising has become the main channel for charity fundraising in Chongqing
At the inaugural “Western Charity Forum” held in Chongqing on October 16, Liu Guanglei, president of the Chongqing Charity Federation, highlighted the significant role of internet fundraising in the region’s charitable efforts. He stated that internet donations now account for over 60% of the federation’s total annual fundraising.
During his keynote speech titled “High-Quality Development of Internet Charity to Support Rural Revitalization in Western Regions,” Liu elaborated on the evolution of the federation, which began as the Chongqing Charity Association in 1994 and was renamed in 2024. Since 2016, the federation has actively implemented the Charity Law and the Chongqing Charity Regulations, emphasizing community-focused charitable actions, legal compliance, reform, and innovation. This approach has successfully transitioned the organization from traditional to modern philanthropy. Over the past eight years, it has raised a staggering 69.25 billion yuan, benefiting millions of disadvantaged individuals.
In recent years, the Chongqing Charity Federation recognized the potential of internet fundraising as a new growth area. Between 2016 and 2023, the organization made dramatic strides in online fundraising, transforming it from a negligible effort to one of significant national impact. Since 2019, it has consistently ranked among the top in the country for both funds raised and number of donors. In 2023 alone, the federation launched nearly a thousand donation projects, engaging 23.1 million participants and raising 788 million yuan. The normalization of online fundraising has led to annual totals exceeding 1 billion yuan.
Liu explained that the federation utilizes multiple internet donation platforms to diversify its fundraising efforts. By 2023, they had conducted fundraising activities on 12 national platforms, raising a total of 2.75 billion yuan, with most funds directed towards poverty alleviation and rural revitalization initiatives.
“Currently, internet charity is at a new stage filled with both opportunities and challenges,” Liu remarked. He believes that future internet philanthropy will contend with rapid technological changes, a wider array of charitable models, and increased demands for transparency and efficiency. As a crucial issue, finding ways to enhance the quality of internet charity and effectively support rural revitalization and shared prosperity will require collective research and strategic planning.
Looking ahead, Liu emphasized Chongqing’s commitment to innovate in internet charity, including exploring new methods, projects, and operational mechanisms for online fundraising. He aims to promote diverse fundraising channels and platforms, continuously develop new internet donation projects, and balance short- and long-term initiatives. Additionally, the federation seeks to strengthen charitable efforts at the grassroots level, with a particular focus on rural and community philanthropy, while fostering a multifaceted fundraising ecosystem.
