Who is Max Friedman? Givebutter CEO puts philanthropy and humanity first

  • Max Friedman is the CEO and co-founder of Givebutter, which has revolutionised the way nonprofits raise money, providing a platform for nonprofits that integrates tools across multiple categories through a transparent tipping or fee model.
  • In addition to his work at Givebutter, Max is also active in philanthropy. He is a member of the Council for Human Education, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping schools worldwide achieve financial independence and sustainability. Max’s passion for driving positive change extends to his contributions as an occasional contributor to Fast Company’s Leadership section, where he shares insights and perspectives on leadership, innovation, and social responsibility.
  • As a new competitor in a donation-based platform, what sets Givebutter apart is its commitment to accessibility and transparency. This approach ensures that organisations of all sizes, especially smaller nonprofits, can use and benefit from Givebutter’s powerful fundraising tools without financial barriers.

If you search for Max Friedman in your browser, you might only be able to get Maxwell Jacob Friedman, the American professional wrestler. So who is Max Friedman, the new Internet star, and what’s his story with Givebutter? This article gives you the answer.

Max Friedman: innovative son of Texas

The name Max Friedman may not be familiar to you, but you may have heard of Givebutter, the innovative online fundraising platform he co-founded. He is the CEO and co-founder of Givebutter, which has revolutionised the way nonprofits raise money.

Givebutter provides a nonprofit fundraising and donor management platform for nonprofits that integrates tools across multiple categories through a transparent tipping or fee model. Includes donation forms, fundraisers, events, auctions, donor management (CRM), email, SMS, direct mail, and more. More than 35,000 nonprofits use the platform.

Through Givebutter, Max leads efforts that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in donations each year, enabling thousands of nonprofits to achieve their missions and make a tangible impact in communities around the globe.

Marks calls Austin, Texas, home, where Givebutter was born. In addition to his professional efforts, Max enjoys spending time with Givebutter’s beloved pet mascot, Buttercup, demonstrating his commitment to creating a nurturing and vibrant community both inside and outside Givebutter.

Max’s leadership and dedication to social impact have also attracted attention outside the fundraising arena. Recently, Marks was named to Forbes’ prestigious 30U30 Social Impact List along with his co-founders, Li Ran Cohen and Ari Krasner, highlighting their significant contributions to creating positive change in the world.

In addition to his work at Givebutter, Max is also active in philanthropy. He is a member of the Council for Human Education, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping schools worldwide achieve financial independence and sustainability. Max’s passion for driving positive change extends to his contributions as an occasional contributor to Fast Company’s Leadership section, where he shares insights and perspectives on leadership, innovation, and social responsibility.

Givebutter: Raise more, pay less, give better

Givebutter, a non-profit fundraising and CRM platform provider based in Austin, Texas was founded by Max Friedman, Li Ran Cohen and Ari Krasner in 2016.

From left, Liran Cohen, Max Friedman and Ari Krasner

Since its inception, the platform has become a rapidly rising force in the non-profit fundraising space, and Max Frienmam’s unique strategic vision and leadership have played a key role in keeping the platform at the forefront of the industry, becoming one of the fastest-growing and most-watched platforms in the industry.

The social recognition of the Givebutter platform is reflected not only in its excellent user ratings on platforms such as GetApp, G2 and Software Advice FrontRunners but also in the numerous accolades and certifications it has received, This includes being certified as a “Best Place to Work” in 2021 and 2022.

Givebutter is a revolutionary fundraising platform that provides a comprehensive set of tools and resources for change-makers around the world. With Givebutter, nonprofits and individuals can seamlessly manage all aspects of their fundraising efforts, from creating and launching campaigns and events to managing donations and donor relationships through a powerful CRM system. This integrated approach has enabled Givebutter to reach more than $300 million in donations to more than 1 million change-makers worldwide.

A recent $50 million investment from Bessemer Venture Partners‘ BVP Forge further highlights Givebutter’s trajectory and impact in the nonprofit space. This significant investment comes at a time when Givebutter is experiencing exponential growth, with donations totalling more than $1 billion in one year. Max Friedman expressed his excitement about the investment, emphasising that it is not only financial support for Givebutter but also renewed support for the change-makers and nonprofits the platform serves.

Also read: Google.org launches generative AI accelerator for nonprofits

A new competitor in crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a form of fundraising that asks a large number of people to support a cause by donating a small amount of money in a short period. Crowdfunding is done online, usually through social networking sites. This makes it easy for supporters to share a cause that they are passionate about with their peers. 

There are two main models of crowdfunding: donation-based and investment. In donation-based crowdfunding, backers contribute a monetary donation toward an overall goal for a project or cause. These contributors might receive a reward for donating. Crowdfunding for nonprofits falls into donation-based funding. Investment crowdfunding is when businesses in need of capital sell ownership stakes in the form of equity or debt. Investors become owners or shareholders, giving them the potential for financial gain. 

Also read: Perplexity’s ongoing fundraising spree

Some of the most well-known crowdfunding sites are GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo. While many of these websites claim to be free, they typically mean it is free to start or sign up. Crowdfunding sites need a way to make money, and they do so by building a percentage-based fee structure. 

As a new competitor in a donation-based platform, what sets Givebutter apart is its commitment to accessibility and transparency. Unlike traditional fundraising platforms that charge high subscription fees, Givebutter uses a unique tipping or fee model where users can choose to pay a transparent fee based on their preferences. This approach ensures that organisations of all sizes, especially smaller nonprofits, can use and benefit from Givebutter’s powerful fundraising tools without financial barriers.

Crowdfunding has become an essential way to raise money for businesses, individuals, and nonprofits alike. It can help startups find investors to get off of the ground or funds to move forward with specific projects. Whatever the case, it can be difficult to sift through all of the noise to find the right crowdfunder for you as you consider site features, fee structures, and more.

Raise more, pay less, give better is the slogan of the give butter platform, and in this spirit, under the leadership of Max Friedman and other founders, Givebutter has and will continue to remain committed to its mission of helping organisations and individuals create positive change in their communities and beyond.

Max Friedman’s leadership continues to drive Givebutter’s innovation and growth as a trusted partner for nonprofits seeking to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Monica-Chen

Monica Chen

Monica Chen is an intern reporter at BTW Media covering tech-trends and IT infrastructure. She graduated from Shanghai International Studies University with a Master’s degree in Journalism and Communication. Send tips to m.chen@btw.media

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