(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web host and domain name registrar Fasthosts Internet (www.fasthosts.co.uk) has reported a 27 percent increase in the number of .org domains registered by non-profit customers over the past year, lending weight to the theory that many non-profits have initiated or grown web-based projects in response to the global recession.
According to Fasthosts’ data, .org has out-grown in percentage terms many other non business top-level domain suffixes, indicating an increase in the number of non-profit and charitable projects being launched in the first half of 2009. Showing the highest demand over all other non-business domains, .org registrations grew by 27 per cent over the past 12 months compared to the same period in 2008.
“It is pleasing to note the growth of the .org community and witness the remarkable difference that the web can deliver to non-profit organisations,” Fasthosts chief marketing officer Steve Holford said in a statement. “In challenging economic times, such groups are wise to leverage the efficiencies and visibility that online projects can offer.”
As many UK charities have reported falls in donation income since the economy slowed down, however, growth in .org registrations may suggest that non-profit bodies have stepped up investment in their online efforts, where they can get extremely cost-effective and scalable channels for gathering support and participation for causes, and taking donations directly from a website.
Close to the original concept of the Internet — collaborative and intended for good causes — the .org public interest registry marketing director Lance Wolak said the latest contributions of the .org community have been “truly inspiring.”
“They have not only helped to galvanize interest in various causes, but have given non-profits as well as individuals and commercial organizations an unprecedented means to inspire, educate, collaborate, and ultimately change the world as we know it,” Wolak said in a statement.
Holford added, “Just as the recession has led UK businesses to step up e-commerce efforts, the Internet is the right logical step for non-profit groups to broaden their reach and safeguard their revenues.”
