If a fundraiser is to be successful, it needs two things — a high level of engagement and a platform where it can be seen by as many people as possible. YouTube ticks off both of these marks with more than 2 billion active users per month across 91 countries around the world. It is no wonder then that more than 78% of marketers agree that it's the most effective marketing platform, but what if it's not available in your region? How to donate on YouTube if you can't access the video-sharing platform in the first place?
In this article, we'll go over everything that you need to know about running a fundraiser on YouTube and how to get it done even if the platform is banned in your region. Let's get right to it!
How Can You Donate on YouTube?
It used to be that fans could donate directly to creators by merely clicking on a button on the video. Of course, that is no longer the case today as YouTube has opted to limit the option to US-registered non-profit organizations only (YouTube Giving).
Now it's not to say that it's no longer possible to raise funds on YouTube. There are other options available to anyone looking to start a YouTube fundraiser:
Encourage subscribers to sign up for a paid membership
For one thing, you can encourage subscribers to sign up for a paid membership in exchange for exclusive content such as premium videos, loyalty badges, and custom emojis.
Encourage subscribers to donate to you via an external membership platform
Another option is to encourage subscribers to donate to you via an external membership platform like Patreon, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo. It's similar to YouTube Channel memberships except that creators have more control over their fundraiser.
Now that you have a good idea of how to run a fundraiser on YouTube, let's go back to the core of this article — what if YouTube is unavailable in your region? Well, you'll be glad to know that there is still a way to get around such restrictions.
To read more on how to get YouTube in a restricted area, read Three Ways to Watch YouTube Videos Blocked in Your Country.
How Subscribers Can Donate On YouTube Despite Restriction
As mentioned, not all countries allow their citizens access to YouTube. YouTube is banned in countries that practice strict internet censorship. Even if you do have access to YouTube, you may not be able to make donations to YouTube Giving. At present, only subscribers in less than 50 countries can donate via YouTube Giving.
So, how to donate on YouTube in spite of all the restrictions?
Nothing can or should put a stop to charitable causes. If you truly want to support an NGO or any non-profit channel on YouTube, you’ll need to use a VPN.
By using the best VPN for YouTube, you can replace your existing IP with one from the country where YouTube is not banned. By replacing your IP address, you’ll bypass any geo-restriction and gain access to YouTube.
In the case of making a donation through YouTube Giving, connect to a VPN server in a country where the feature is supported for subscribers. YouTube will then recognize you as a subscriber in the countries where YouTube Giving is accessible.
Why is YouTube Fundraiser Blocked in Some Regions?
YouTube can get blocked in certain regions for various reasons — to comply with local laws or national security legislation. Some countries even force a standing nationwide ban on YouTube to curb government criticisms or prevent citizens from accessing content that they deem inappropriate.
Some of the countries that currently ban YouTube or have done so in the past include the following:
- China
- Iran
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Turkmenistan
- Tajikistan
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Brazil
- Finland
- Germany
- Indonesia
- Germany
- United Arab Emirates
- Russia
- Thailand
Do you live in Pakistan and are wondering what happened to YouPak, the YouTube alternative? You might like: How to Watch ClipMega (YouPak) Unblocked.
How to Fundraise on YouTube Despite Censorship
So let's suppose that you are located in a region where YouTube is currently unavailable. Well, the good news is that there is a way to get around this censorship and raise funds on the YouTube platform. You can use what's called a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service to unblock access from just about anywhere in the world.
A good VPN service can defeat censorship by encrypting and routing internet traffic to a VPN server that's located in a region where YouTube is freely accessible — United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, etc. VPNs can also hide your real IP address and offer robust cybersecurity solutions such as AES 256 encryption that prevents any third party from intercepting your personal information.
For more on VPNs, read: What is a VPN?
Best VPN to Fundraise on YouTube
So which VPN should you use to bypass the censorship and allow people to donate on Youtube? You will find hundreds of VPN services on the market today, and some of them do a better job than others when it comes to ensuring data security and bypassing YouTube censorships around the world.
If you're not sure which VPN service to use, then you might want to consider the following recommendations:
FEATURES | NordVPN | PIA | Assguard |
| Voice call-friendlyconnection speed | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| AES-256 encryption | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Number of countries | 59 | 45 | 50+ |
| No-logs policy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 24/7 Customer support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No of devices | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| Supports chain VPN connections | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost (per month) | $11.95 | $9.95 | $7.95 |
Summary
So there you have it — all that you need to know about running a fundraiser on YouTube even if it's not available in your region. Most marketers would agree that YouTube is the place to be if you're looking to tap into a vast pool of audience that genuinely cares about your offerings. With a good VPN, you'll be able to bypass any sort of censorship and help people donate on YouTube.
