Funds raised via internet fundraising info platforms increase 26 pct

BEIJING - The amount of funds raised through internet fundraising information platforms by China's public charity organizations in 2018 totaled 3.17 billion yuan (about $472 million), registering a 26.8 percent increase year on year, official figures showed Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the 20 internet fundraising information platforms designated by the ministry released a total of 21,000 messages that called for donations and were from around 1,400 public charity organizations last year.

The internet fundraising information platforms continued to focus on serving poverty reduction initiatives and primary level charity organizations in 2018, the ministry said, adding that the platforms provided support for the capacity building of small and medium-sized charity organizations.