'Many Seeds can plant a large field': Grimsby-based app raises money for not-for-profits

27 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED ON TO BENEFIT.

Jordan Hambleton started making his app with one thought: that small gestures can make a big impact.

With that, the Grimsby man developed an app called Many Seeds that raises money for non-profits by having the user simply watch an advertisement.

“Essentially we've taken the way that YouTube makes money or similar companies like that, and we've created a platform so that not-for-profits can make money in the same way,” he said.

He explained that after users go to their app store and download the free program, it will pop up in their notifications on their phone once a day and invite them to watch.

“The money that the advertiser paid for that ad is then transferred to the not-for-profits that that person individually picked,” he said.

The grandson of Donna Beckett, who started the Niagara Life Centre, Hambleton said he’s always had a soft spot for not-for-profits, and wanted to find a way to help once donations took a hit because of the pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic, their revenues through fundraising have been challenging, to say the least,” he said. “They still really haven't come back to pre-pandemic levels, especially with events and things like that. So I think there's a real need for it.”

Additionally, Hambleton said, using advertising just makes sense.

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, in Canada, companies spent $9.62 billion on online advertising in 2020 alone.

“If you can imagine just taking a small sliver of that and the impact that that could have … I think it would just be astronomical,” Hambleton said. “It's definitely a growing area. I don't think we're going to see less online advertising in the future … it's part of our daily life and a normal thing at this point. So why not use it for some good?”

Another benefit to the app, Hambleton said, is that it provides another avenue for these organizations to raise money.

Traditionally, Hambleton said, people either give their own money to charity, or they ask others to sponsor them in an event like a race or a golf tournament.

“Those are all great things, but this is just something a little bit different so that people don’t have to do either of those things, but still have a positive, real, tangible impact on the not-for-profits that sort of tug at their heartstrings and matter to them,” he said.

It also promotes a sense of belonging to an organization, Hambleton said, and may encourage people to volunteer, or get involved in other ways.

As for the name “Many Seeds,” Hambleton said, it’s inspired by a quote that stuck out to him.

“Many seeds can plant a large field, and the idea of the system (where) everyone's having a small daily impact, but overall, the fundraising can be significant,” he said. “So it's something that everyone can contribute a little piece to and really be a part of something great.”

Many Seeds is available on the app store now, and Hambleton said 27 local not-for-profits have already signed up to benefit.

Any organization looking to get involved, or anyone looking to learn more, can visit Many Seeds at many-seeds.com.