Finding purpose in the digital fundraising space

When I think about how I came to lead raisin, I can’t help but smile at the serendipity of it all.

For years, I had been making donations to causes deeply personal to me, completely unaware that I was using a platform called “A.K.A. raisin”. One day, while completing a donation, I noticed “akaraisin.com” in the URL and wondered, “Who are these folks?” A quick search revealed we were practically neighbours, living just kilometres apart.

I soon learned that A.K.A. raisin was part of a company with an impressive legacy in the nonprofit space.

In 1997, Assadour Kirijian and Matthew Myers started A.K.A. New Media as an interactive agency, award-winning digital experiences and creative, but always with an eye towards social impact. As a result of these engagements and in response to a critical need in the charitable space, they collaborated with leading causes in Canada to launch AKA raisin in 2006 – a modular suite of online fundraising and event management tools built to empower fundraisers worldwide.

This discovery came at a pivotal moment in my professional journey. I had just completed a nearly decade-long chapter building another purpose-driven software company and was soul-searching for what might be next. I wanted to find something where I could apply the lessons I’d learned, do meaningful work, and continue to grow.

I’ve always believed that the most extraordinary teams are built around shared purpose, accomplishing what seems impossible when united by a mission that matters.

In February 2023, my private investment firm GoodCapital, partnered with Assadour and Matthew to become the next generation of ownership and invest in the innovation needed to help your mission and the people you serve long-term.

Having now been CEO for a little over two years, and having met/visited so many of the organizations we serve across Canada and the US and seeing your impact first-hand, I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside passionate colleagues dedicated to empowering the important work you do every day.

Unifying to better serve you and your supporters

For your organization to strengthen that human connection that makes giving possible, your entire digital presence needs to show its true colours. The special spark that makes you distinct needs to shine through.

We’ve observed something important while working with hundreds of you over the years: your supporters don’t see your website and fundraising tools as separate entities. They see one organization and one brand. Every touchpoint influences their connection to your cause.

Yet, the reality for many of you is that these functions are often separated internally. Marketing handles the website, development manages campaigns, and events operate independently. This creates disconnected touchpoints that can weaken supporter connection and turn technology into a source of friction rather than connection.

Our organization also had a separation historically: A.K.A. New Media operating as traditional agency, designing and developing digital presences and creative services (winning some amazing awards along the way), and AKA raisin powering fundraising through software and technology.

We’ve realized that our greatest value to you is an approach that mirrors your supporters’ experience and combines award-winning creative with technology.

raisin is now one organization supporting you across the entire supporter journey. 

For your cause to have one “go-to” team for all digital needs not only simplifies your operations but allows you to receive more objective advice on what actually works long-term with 30,000 successful campaigns under our belt, rather than just acquiring more technology for technology’s sake. It’s this combination of expertise, track record of success and great software that yields the sustainable fundraising growth your mission deserves.

The journey we’re on

We’re taking what we’ve learned from helping organizations like yours and building something better.

With a rich dataset of over one million donors per year, deep team experience, and the successes we’ve shared with clients like you, we’re combining this knowledge with new technologies and investments in talent to build raisin 2.0.

This process is underway – with raisin Analytics, the “Super Starter” onboarding for peer-to-peer and upcoming revamp to the donation experience (with embedded form options) – and has already revealed some profound results. In a study of donor motivations last year, we found that 40% of donors give because they or someone they cared about were affected by the cause they support. What’s more, this personal motivation remains durable across gift amounts.

Our research confirms what we’ve always believed:

Giving is deeply personal, and technology should enhance these human connections, not diminish them. 

Our vision for helping you get there centres around three transformative approaches.

The power of creativity

We won’t just help you be more clever with tactics like donation arrays that change depending on what device your visitors are using. Instead, we’ll help you be more creative with your entire supporter journey, and in ways are that meaningful to the human on the other side. This means ensuring your fundraising tools reflect your brand, integrate with your favourite platforms, and turn routine interactions into opportunities for deeper connection. Because your relationship with supporters should transcend transactions and show your true colours and what makes your org special.

Deep learning for your campaigns 

Rather than creating a campaign and waiting for results at the end, we’ll help you generate feedback and optimize in real time to drive performance. As busy nonprofit professionals, you don’t need more data. You need clear answers. Our analytics tools will translate complex campaign data into clear, actionable insights and quick pivots, giving you the confidence to make bold decisions and the proof to celebrate your success with stakeholders.

Tapping into community 

Giving is infectious. We can help you tap into the personal and professional networks of your fundraisers more effectively, making it not only easier but allowing the authenticity of each fundraiser’s story to shine through. We understand that your supporters see one unified relationship with your cause, and every digital touchpoint influences that connection. Your supporter experience should transcend transaction and become personal, inspiring, exceptional, and authentic.

My Promise to You

As we move forward as one unified company under the raisin brand, our commitment remains steadfast: to strengthen the human connection that makes giving possible.

We’re here to serve growing nonprofits that value meaningful supporter relationships, seek unified digital experiences, want to transcend transactional giving, and need expertise to elevate their digital presence. 

The technology landscape will continue to evolve, but the core of what matters won’t change: the personal connections between people and the causes they care about. Our unified approach is designed to nurture these connections at every touchpoint. 

I’m incredibly excited about this journey we’re on together.

By bringing our creative and technical expertise under one roof, we’re positioned to help your cause not just survive but thrive through an uncertain world.