Intimate technologies for affective development: how crowdfunding platforms commodify interpersonal connections

Recently emerged as transformative fundraising tools for development causes, crowdfunding platforms leverage the ‘feelingful ties’ that connect individuals in pursuit of non-governmental organisation (NGO) fundraising. Focussing on research conducted 2018 with Indian platform LetzChange, this article frames ‘intimate technologies development’, exploring how they different forms social and digital capital from their NGO partners to shape power relations within sector. By examining train local staff market projects digitally affective ways media, I demonstrate influence modern technological recreate bonds spaces purpose mobilising donors. show must navigate complicated landscape social, financial inequalities created process. Through analysis specific practices, reveal LetzChange compels its invest emotional labour into campaigns, inevitably creating apprehension around depletion capital. argue practices like fall short inclusive aims reinforce existing top-down sector by financially instrumentalising interpersonal connections staff.