Donations aren't the only things that GiveForward has raised recently. We're very close to closing our $500,000 round and expect to have it completed by Dec 31st, said Ethan Austin, co-founder of the Chicago-based micro-donation web company that held a table at both midVentures25 and midVenturesLAUNCH. Austin and his co-founder Desiree Vargas Wrigley told midVentures that GiveForward plans on using their investment capital for improving our technology, expanding our customer service staff, and business development, specifically reaching out to hospitals and non-profit partners in the cancer community around the country.
We first met GiveForward at midVentures25. For a company whose main mission is to help raise money for those in need without needing to qualify as a 501c3, GiveForward's service has already helped raise nearly $3 million in donations. Our site focuses primarily on helping people raise money for loved ones' medical expenses. Donations come in for expenses related to chemotherapy treatments, organ transplants, and living and travel expenses while undergoing treatment, Wrigley said. Both founders are passionate about giving back to the community. Before GiveForward, Wrigley worked as an independent consultant for Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors. Austin continues to give back by volunteering for Imerman Angels, a cancer-support organization and serves on the steering committee for a Chicago-based nonprofit that working towards putting solar panels in Chicago public schools.
Regardless of all they've done so far, they realize that they still have a lot of work to do in the fundraising community. Wrigley revealed that in the cancer community alone, newly diagnosed patients spend $25 billion a year in out of pocket expenses. And, 62% of bankruptcies are caused by medical related debt. With success comes growth. According to Wrigley, GiveForward is hiring. We are hiring a graphic designer/marketing person, one more PHP developer, 1-2 fundraising coaches, and 1-2 business development people. Congratulations to the GiveForward team!
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