A quick stroll through history shows how we’ve always figured out ways to pool our pennies for good causes—no fancy marketing required.
Back in medieval Europe, monks wandered town to town with collection baskets, gathering coins for the needy and church repairs. Fast forward to 17th-century Italy, where public lotteries funded roads and canals—everyone loved the thrill of a chance to win something while contributing to the city’s development.
Jump to the 1900s: school bake sales turned kitchens into mini-fundraisers, and by the 1970s, telethons had us glued to our TVs, calling in pledges for everything from hospitals to disaster relief.
Today, sites like GoFundMe and online raffles allow you to start a global fundraiser in minutes. What’s next? Who knows—but one thing’s for sure: we’ll keep inventing new ways to come together for a cause.