CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation

A Project

Presented to

The Faculty of College of Arts and Sciences

Iloilo Science and Technology University

La Paz, Iloilo City

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science & Information Technology

By

Hanna Jane Calanuga

Carl Catoto

Anne Monique Palmaira

Jessie Rey Prandas

May 2024
 Chapter I
Introduction

Background of the study

(State the issue and challenges on relief operation in the current situation and provide supported data or l

A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society

involving widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses and impacts,

which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own

resources (UNISDR, 2009). The Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone countries in

the world, has a history of being hit by various types of disasters such as typhoons,

floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. As reported by the National

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as of December 2020, a

total of 145 disasters occurred in the country, affecting over 2.5 million people and

causing damages amounting to PHP 22.7 billion (NDRRMC, 2020).

The effects of disasters in the Philippines are often devastating, leading to loss of

lives, homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The most vulnerable sectors, such as the

poor, women, children, and persons with disabilities, are usually the most affected

(Government of the Philippines, 2019). In Iloilo, recent events have further highlighted

the region’s vulnerability. In July 2023, Typhoon Egay caused heavy rainfall that flooded

70 barangays in Iloilo City, prompting the evacuation of 489 families. This event is a
stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by natural calamities in the area. The

agricultural sector often bears the brunt of such events, with a report noting damages

amounting to PHP 14.5 million in agriculture alone, including rice crops, corn, fishing

boats, and livestock. On February 8, 2024, a fire incident in La Paz District killed a call

center agent and a college student. Similarly, in March 5, 2024, a residential area was

hit by fire at the Barangay Airport, Mandurriao District causing severe damage to the 36

houses and partial damages for 14 houses (Iloilo City Disaster Risk and Reduction

Management Office).

In response to the frequent disasters in the country, there is a need for an

innovative system that can facilitate effective and efficient disaster relief efforts.

CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation system

aims to address this need by developing a crowdfunding innovation system that will act

as a centralized hub for coordinating donation efforts, ensuring the efficient allocation

of resources, and will offer transparent reporting to stakeholders. This system aims to

address the inefficiencies and challenges in disaster relief efforts by providing a

comprehensive, transparent, and user-friendly platform for both donors and relief

organizations.

Objectives (revised objectives see below)

This study aims to design and develop a platform for disaster relief operation.

Specifically, this study aims to:

Manage Partner’s Account (LGU and NGO)

Manage crowd funding campaign

Accept donation in-kind, cash and online payment

Track movement of in-kind donations

Notification for the donor upon receipt through badge only

Mapping for drop-off points

Generate the audited financial statement

 Conceptual Framework (Revise the description base sa IPO)

Input Process Output

User Registration Evaluation

Fundraiser Information “CrowdRelief:
Empowering Disaster Evaluate System
Donor Information Manage Donation
Rlief Through Based on ISO
add donation
Donation Cash and In- choose Crowdfunding 25010
kind Information donation type Innovation”
mapping
Campaign Information disaster location
Manage Campaign
create
campaign
archive
campaign
Realtime Donation
Monitoring

In the Input stage, the system collects User Information and Donor Information. These

inputs are important for personalizing the user experience and managing the platform.

The Process stage is where the system takes action. It begins with User Registration,

which includes choosing the donation type, adding a donation, mapping the disaster

location, creating a campaign site, and deleting a campaign. The system then moves to

Real Time Campaign Monitoring, allowing for continuous oversight of active campaigns.

The final step in this stage is to Generate Reports and Analytics, which involves

producing financial statements, project progress documentation, and recording

donation registration. The Output stage is the final result of the system, represented as

"CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation." This

suggests that the system's goal is to create an innovative platform that enhances

disaster relief efforts through crowdfunding mechanisms.

Definition of Terms

To provide a clear understanding of some terms used in this study, the researchers

define the following terms.

Disaster. Serious disruptions to community functioning that go beyond local

coping capacity. (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,

n.d.)

In the context of the CrowdRelief system, it is an event that meets specific criteria for

eligibility to receive support assistance through fundraising efforts.

Fundraisers. Individuals or entities responsible for collecting money from various

sources for a specific cause, organization, or project. (Lectera, 2011)

In the CrowdRelief system, it refers to the authorized fundraisers such as LGU’s and

NGO’s who can create, manage, and track crowdfunding campaigns for the people

affected by the disasters.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). A voluntary group of individuals or

organizations that is not affiliated with the government, that is formed to provide

services or to advocate a public policy. (Karns, 2024)

In the CrowdRelief System, verified NGOs can create campaigns for the people affected

by the disaster.
 Local Government Unit (LGU). Institutional units whose fiscal, legislative and

executive authority extends over the smallest geographical areas distinguished for

administrative and political purposes. (System of National Accounts, n.d.)

In the CrowdRelief System, verified LGUs can create campaigns for the people affected

by the disaster.

Campaign. A campaign is a well-planned sequence of actions, strategies, and

messaging designed to achieve specific marketing objectives within a predetermined

time frame. (Decktopus, 2024)

In the CrowdRelief system, it refers to the feature that allows authorized fundraisers to

create and manage campaigns tailored to specific disaster situations, and send

confirmation to the donors.

Donors. individuals or entities that voluntarily transfer property, assets, or funds

to others without expecting anything in return. (Gelber, 2024)

In the CrowdRelief system, there are users who make donations and can view donation

reports to track the progress of the campaigns they have donated.

Donation. Money or goods that are given to help a person or an organization.

(Cambridge Dictionary, 2024)

In the context of the CrowdRelief system, it is a web-based interface where users can

make monetary or in-kind donations directly, and authorized organizations can create

campaigns to facilitate donations for disaster-affected individuals.

 Real-Time Monitoring. Delivers continuously updated information about systems,

channels, or queues within the same queue manager. It provides data streaming with

low or zero latency, ensuring accurate insights without delay. (Obkio, n.d)

In the context of the CrowdRelief system, it refers to the integration of real-time

updates on monetary donations and campaign progress through comprehensive

reports, providing transparency and accountability.

Mapping. Specialized maps dedicated to finding a specific location, showing how

to go from here to therein the clearest possible way. (Business Maps Ltd, n.d)

In the CrowdRelief system, it refers to the mapping functionality that displays specific

disaster locations in Iloilo and the location for drop-offs for the in-kind donations.

Report. To give an information or description of something to someone.

(Cambridge Dictionary, 2024)

In the CrowdRelief system, it refers to the feature that generates comprehensive

reports on total donation amounts, donors, campaign progress, and financial

statements, facilitating informed decision-making and transparency.

Crowdfunding. a financial model that involves raising funds from many

individuals, typically through online platforms, to support a specific project, business, or

cause. (Miglo, 2021)

In the context of the CrowdRelief system, it provides a way for individuals and

organizations to raise funds collectively to support disaster relief.

Significance of the Study

The CrowdRelied platform will act as a centralized hub for coordinating donation

efforts, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources, and will offer transparent

reporting to stakeholders. The findings of this study will benefit the following:

Disaster-Affected Individuals and Communities. The platform facilitates

efficient and targeted relief efforts, ensuring that aid reaches those people who are

affected by the disaster.

Donors. They can track where their donations are going and how they are being

used, which can increase their confidence and willingness to donate.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Local Government Units

(LGUs). They can create and manage campaigns tailored to specific disaster situations.

This can enhance their ability to respond effectively to disasters and ensure that

resources are allocated where they are most needed.

General Public. The platform can raise awareness about ongoing disaster relief

efforts and encourage more people to contribute. It can also serve as a reliable source

of information about disaster-related news.

 Future Researchers. The data and insights gathered from the platform can be

valuable for researchers studying disaster relief efforts to improve disaster response

protocols.

Scope and Limitation

The CrowdRelief platform will provide access accounts for partner NGOs and

LGUs within the municipalities of Pavia and Santa Barbara, empowering them to create

crowdfunding campaigns to support disaster-affected individuals. It will facilitate both

monetary and in-kind donations, offering various payment options and detailed drop-off

location information within Pavia and Santa Barbara. Additionally, the platform will

enable fundraisers to upload documentation for in-kind donations and ensure donors

receive notifications upon receipt. It will also feature audited financial statement

generation and a real-time monitoring dashboard for tracking donations and campaign

progress.

However, this study does encounter several limitations. While standard protocols will

ensure data privacy and security, advanced cybersecurity threats may not be fully

addressed. Additionally, technological constraints and resource availability may limit the

implementation of advanced features. The geographic scope is confined to the

Municipality of Pavia and Santa Barbara, potentially limiting broader reach. Variability in

user adoption and engagement levels could impact platform effectiveness, while real-

time monitoring capabilities may be hindered by data availability. Budget constraints

might restrict the development and testing of certain features, and compliance with

legal and regulatory requirements could pose additional limitations. Finally, scalability

testing may be limited within the study period due to time and resource constraints.

These limitations should be acknowledged and addressed to optimize the platform's

development and effectiveness in supporting disaster relief efforts.

 CHAPTER II
Review of Related Systems/Literature

(Look for a study that uses crowdfunding, discuss how they handle the relief operation then state the resu

This chapter contains the related literature, studies and serves as the platform

for this research. These include the different techniques,processes, frameworks and

tools used in the development of the study.

Community-Based Disaster Relief Management System

This study is focused on how information systems (IS) can help address these

issues and in turn enable the organization to perform their operations efficiently. The

proposed IS solution is a community-based disaster relief management system

(CBDRMS). A community-based approach is deemed more effective in the current

situation as government help commonly fails to reach local sectors. A CDRMS will help

communities maximize all their resources efficiently and help out more affected areas

and victims. Disaster relief performed in order to alleviate a disaster’s impact and

reduce its potential for long term casualties. Because of this, fast and immediate

response is highly reliant on efficient operations which could be aided by a properly

developed.

The system consists of the processes of disaster reporting, planning and

acquiring donations, volunteer allocation, relief goods procurement, delivery and

distribution, and generating reports. Disaster reporting involves member’s reports and a

particular area affected by a disaster. Planning includes identifying affected members’

nearby stockist centers and fund estimation. Local governments unit coordination

involves identifying the needs of the communities. Acquiring donations involves how

donations, whether cash or in-kind are managed,together with donor contacts and

donation history. Volunteer allocation consists of how volunteers are scheduled and

assigned tasks to them. Relief goods procurement, delivery, and distribution involve

how the inventory of relief goods is done at the moment it is procured, delivered and

distributed. Finally, the post-operation meeting consists of the reports being generated

at the end of the relief operations which are financial,operations and donations report.

Engaging donors on crowdfunding platform in Disaster Relief Operations

(DRO) using gamification: A Civic Voluntary Model (CVM) approach

Natural disasters have caused significant financial and economic losses. One

prominent way to combat these losses is crowdfunding. Donation-based crowdfunding

platforms have been the backbone for disaster relief operations (DRO), but the

engagement of donors with these platforms needs significant attention. This study aims

to understand how gamification is used as a tool for understanding the behavior of

donors on crowdfunding platforms for DRO. The study uses the Civic Voluntary Model

(CVM) to propose the conceptual framework and collects empirical data from 321

respondents to test the hypothesis. The study uses information quality and

voluntariness as moderating variables and the model also controls for ownership of the

crowd funding platform and previous experience of donation. The results confirm that

gamification positively impacts the behavior of donors, which then leads to higher
participation in crowd funding channels. Both information quality and voluntary

behavior of donors have significant moderating effects that help in understanding the

behavior of donors and their participation in crowd-funding platforms. The results

indicate that previous experience of making donations does not have a significant

impact on the behavior and actions of donors. The study thus brings a fresh perspective

to using game mechanics along with understanding the quality of information on crowd-

funding platforms to attract and sustain donations in DRO.

Gofundme

GoFundMe is a widely used crowd funding platform that enables individuals,

groups, and organizations to raise funds for various causes. Whether it’s covering

medical expenses, supporting disaster relief efforts, or funding creative projects,

GoFundMe provides a user-friendly platform for creating personalized fundraising

campaigns. Users can set up their campaigns, share them with their networks, and

collect donations from supporters. One of the key features of GoFundMe is its

accessibility. Anyone can create a fundraiser without any upfront fees, making it an

inclusive option for those seeking financial assistance. The platform allows fundraisers

to share their stories, upload images, and provide updates to keep donors informed

about the progress of their campaigns. GoFundMe has facilitated millions of successful

fundraisers across the globe, helping people come together to make a positive impact.
Donorbox - Disaster Relief Fundraising

Donorbox is a powerful crowdfunding platform specifically designed to support disaster

relief and emergency fundraising efforts. When unexpected events like natural

disasters, pandemics, or conflicts occur, nonprofits and organizations can turn to

Donorbox to create successful fundraising campaigns. Some key features and tools

provided by Donorbox for disaster relief fundraising are nonprofits enable to launch

crowdfunding campaigns that unite donors toward a common goal. These campaigns

focus on raising emergency funds for disaster relief. Organizations can share impact

stories, provide critical updates, and engage with their supporters to encourage

emergency donations. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, donorbox facilitates peer-to-peer

fundraising, allowing supporters to create their own fundraising pages and rally their

networks to contribute. This approach leverages personal connections to amplify the

impact of disaster relief efforts. Text-to-Give, donorbox offers text-to-give functionality,

making it easy for donors to contribute via SMS. During emergencies, quick and

convenient donation methods are crucial, and text-to-give provides an efficient way for

supporters to participate. Event Ticketing, whether in-person or virtual, fundraising

events play a vital role during and after disasters. donorbox’s event ticketing feature

allows nonprofits to organize events where people can donate physical items (such as

food, clothing, or personal care items) and make monetary contributions. Spreading

Awareness, donorbox recognizes that spreading awareness is essential during disasters.

Nonprofits can use social media, email marketing, and direct mail to share updates and

ways people can help.

Donate-ng

Donate-ng is a digital crowdfunding platform in Nigeria that empowers individuals and

charities to raise funds for various causes and projects. It offers a user-friendly

interface for both donors and organizations, allowing users to easily browse through

different projects and contribute to the ones they find meaningful. The platform

employs secure payment processing to ensure the safety of transactions. Whether it’s

supporting medical expenses, education, community initiatives, or disaster relief,

Donate-ng provides a seamless way for people to come together and make a positive

impact. Founded with a mission to connect those in need with generous donors, the

platform has been operational for over nine years, facilitating successful campaigns and

helping dreams become reality. With a user-friendly interface and transparent

processes, Donate-ng stands as a go-to portal for crowdfunding in Nigeria, fostering a

spirit of collaboration and compassion among its users.

 CHAPTER III
Methodology

Project Description

CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation is

a web-based system that aims to manage donations for disasters. It will act as a

centralized hub for coordinating donation efforts, ensuring the efficient allocation of

resources, and will offer transparent reporting to stakeholders. This system aims to

address the inefficiencies and challenges in disaster relief efforts by providing a

comprehensive, transparent, and user-friendly platform for both donors and relief

organizations.

The system is accessible to all users who have a user account. The users will

register their accounts to access the system. Fundraisers need to provide proof of

legitimacy, which the administrator will verify to be authorized to manage donations.

Fundraisers such as LGU and NGOs are authorized to create crowdfunding campaigns in

the area for the people affected by the disaster. The donors can browse the campaigns

which they may have an option to donate whether in-kind or cash. For in-kind donation,

donors can view the drop off map to locate the nearest drop off point. For cash

donation, donors can contribute using their preferred method whether it's direct bank

transfer, or through GCash. Once the donations are received, a confirmation will be

sent to the donor confirming that the donations were received by the fundraisers. The

fundraisers could manage the campaigns and donation, they can upload reports for
total amount of donation, donors, campaign progress, and financial statement for

transparency.

The reports generated by the system provide relevant data needed for keeping

donors informed about the status of their donations. The system could help simplify and

speed up the way fundraisers manage reports with accuracy and precision. Less time is

needed to organize reports since everything is stored in the system and retrievable.

Development Process

Own development process, discuss how agile process applied on development of the system

Figure 1. Agile Development Process Model of the CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster

Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation

 The researchers use Agile Development Process in developing CrowdRelief:

Empowering Disaster Relief Through Crowdfunding Innovation as shown in Figure 1.

This method was selected due to its feasibility and convenience when developing a

system with a limited timeframe as well as delivering a product that the end user or the

client envision. This development methodology comprises distinct stages, including

Requirement, Design, Develop, Test, and Deploy.

The requirements phase for this system specifies the needs of the clients which

are the fundraisers. Few activities were done to fully understand the functions of the

system. Researchers conduct an interview with the fundraisers in order to understand

the project requirements and expectations from the fundraisers' perspective. This

ensures that the developed system meets the needs of both fundraisers and donors.

The researchers collected functional and nonfunctional requirements in order to

identify flaws and other helpful suggestions to enhance the system’s performance. To

show what the system should perform, the researchers created UML Diagrams based on

the functional requirement gathered. These include use case diagrams (see figure 2)

class diagram (see figure 7) activity diagram (see figure 3 to 5) and finally sequence

diagram (see figure 8 to 11).

In the design phase, the researchers created a user interface that will be used

by the system in order to carry out the functions specified in the requirements phase.

This was done by making wireframes of how the system will look as well as making

prototypes of the system.

 In the development phase, the researchers created the backbone of the

system. Prototypes were made and will be presented for the clients to check whether

the requirements and intended functions were satisfied by the system.

In the testing phase, the researchers conducted various tests such as usability

testing to assess how intuitive the platform is for users, functionality testing to ensure

that all features work as intended, performance testing to evaluate the platform's

responsiveness under different conditions, security testing to ensure the data is stored,

transmitted, and processed securely. The researchers also have conducted user

acceptance testing to gather feedback from potential donors and fundraisers about their

satisfaction with the system and its ability to meet their needs. Throughout these

testing activities, researchers identified areas for improvement, and iteratively refined

the system to enhance its effectiveness in empowering disaster relief efforts through

crowdfunding innovation.

After the testing phase, deployment was done by releasing the system to the

end users. The researchers will collaborate to ensure the software is installed correctly,

configured and provide end-users with training to ensure they can effectively use the

system.

Requirements Analysis

The CrowdRelief platform's functional requirements should allow users to easily

sign up and manage their accounts, with both NGOs and LGUs having their own

equivalent accounts. Furthermore, verified NGOs and LGUs should be able to create and
manage crowdfunding campaigns, setting goals, and deadlines. On the other hand,

Donors have options to contribute monetary donations through various payment

methods, as well as donate in-kind items with detailed specifications. Fundraisers must

have the ability to upload documentation showcasing donated items and their

utilization. A notification system should be in place to confirm donations for donors and

alert administrators of significant campaign progress. Financial reporting features

should allow fundraisers to access reports on funds raised and expended. The platform

should incorporate a real-time monitoring dashboard, offering users immediate updates

on fundraising progress.

On the other hand, non-functional requirements include ensuring robust security

measures to safeguard user data, particularly financial information, and encrypting all

communications. The platform's usability should cater to users of varying technical

proficiency, ensuring a straightforward donation process. Performance should remain

consistent even during periods of high user traffic, with minimal delays in donation

processing and campaign management. Scalability is crucial to accommodate growing

user numbers, with the platform able to expand its resources seamlessly. Reliability is

paramount, with the platform expected to maintain high uptime and possess backup

systems to prevent data loss. Compliance with legal regulations governing online

fundraising and user data privacy is essential. The platform should also prioritize

accessibility, ensuring it is usable by individuals with disabilities through features such

as readable text and compatibility with assistive technologies. By meeting these

requirements, the platform aims to provide a user-friendly, reliable, and secure tool for

facilitating disaster relief fundraising efforts.

Use Case Diagram

(Generalized the admin as user)

 A use case diagram is a visual model that depicts key system functions accessed

outside the system and the actors that interact with those functions. A use-case

diagram shows a model scenario in which individuals interact with a system using a

series of specialized symbols and connections (Jacobson, 2021).

Figure 2. Use Case Diagram of CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through

Crowdfunding Innovation

As shown in Figure 2, a user can register their account by entering personal

information, including their name, contact details, email address, and password. After
registering, they must select their role: fundraiser or donor. They can then log in using

the email and password they created. Once logged in, users can manage their account

by updating their profile information, resetting a forgotten password, or viewing their

dashboard. Updating the profile allows users to edit their personal details, like name

and contact information. The forgot password feature helps users retrieve a forgotten

password by sending a reset link to their email. The dashboard provides an overview of

their activity on the platform. When finished, users can log out of their account.

If you are the fundraiser, you’ll first need to upload proof of legitimacy. Once an

admin verifies and approves your account, you can start creating and managing

fundraising campaigns. Managing your donations includes viewing the total amount of

donations received, both in cash and in-kind donations (goods or services donated).

Once the campaign is complete, you can upload reports or documentation related to

the campaign and, finally, close the campaign.

As a donor, you'll start by browsing campaigns on the system's dashboard. This

allows you to explore various campaigns and find ones that align with your interests.

Once you find a campaign that piques your interest, clicking on it might reveal

additional details, including a map that locates the disaster area supported by the

campaign. Here, you can decide to donate either cash or in-kind goods. For cash

donations, you'll likely be able to choose a payment method such as Gcash, Maya, or

bank transfer. For in-kind donations, the platform might allow you to specify the type

and quantity of items you'd like to donate. Additionally, you might be able to view a

map showing drop-off locations for your in-kind contributions. Once you've completed
your donation, you'll likely receive a notification confirming your receipt. Finally, the

system might offer transparency reports, allowing you to see how the donated funds

are being used.

Admins start by logging in to the system, likely using an email address and

password. A crucial responsibility lies in verifying submitted documents from potential

fundraisers and approving legitimate ones to ensure platform credibility. Similarly,

admins review campaigns created by approved fundraisers, ensuring they meet system

guidelines and objectives before granting approval. To monitor system activity, admins

have access to a dashboard displaying the number of fundraisers, active campaigns,

and potentially total donations received. From this central hub, they can also delve into

the details of individual campaigns. Finally, admins can manage their own accounts,

updating profile information or passwords as needed. Remember, the specifics of admin

functionalities might differ depending on the system. Always refer to their instructions

for the most accurate information about admin roles and responsibilities.

Activity Diagram (ma based dapat sa use case diagram)

An activity diagram is one method of representing a process model. It describes

the behavior of a system by depicting the sequencing of events through workflow. It

models a sequence of actions, decisions based on conditions, concurrent branches and

various cycles (Rodina, 2021).

Activity Diagram of User

 Figure 3. Activity Diagram of User

As shown in Figure 3, the process starts with a user choosing to register for an

account. They can then choose a role: donor or fundraiser (LGU or NGO). Donors

register directly, while fundraisers choose between LGU or NGO registration. Both LGU

and NGO registration require uploading proof of legitimacy. After successful

registration, users log in and are directed to their dashboards where they can update
their profiles and view relevant information. Finally, the process ends with the user

logging out of the system.

Activity Diagram of Donor

Figure 4. Activity Diagram of Donor

 As shown in Figure 4, after successfully logging in, donors can view a map with

disaster locations or browse campaigns. If they browse campaigns, they can view

campaign details. If they choose not to donate, they will return to the campaign

browsing page. If they choose to donate, they can donate either in-kind or in cash. For

in-kind donations, donors need to specify the quantity and type of donation and can

view a drop-off map. For cash donations, donors can choose their payment method

from GCash, Maya, or bank transfer. After selecting the donation type, donors can view

notifications and transparency reports from the system. Finally, donors can log out of

their account.

Activity Diagram of Fundraisers

 Figure 5. Activity Diagram of Fundraisers

As shown in Figure 5, after successfully logging in, the fundraiser can create

campaigns, manage donations, and close campaigns. The fundraiser can create

campaigns and subsequently manage them by viewing and updating campaign details.

In managing donations, the fundraiser can view the total in-kind donations, the total

amount of donations, and the number of donors per campaign. After that, confirmation

will be sent, and the fundraiser can upload reports and documentation. Finally, the

fundraiser can log out of their account.

Activity Diagram of Admin

Figure 6. Activity Diagram of Admin

 In Figure 6, the diagram shows the process for an admin to log in. Admins can

access their accounts if the username and password are correct; otherwise, a login

failure message will appear if one or both credentials are incorrect. If successfully

logged in, admins can view the dashboard. Inside the dashboard, admins can manage

accounts, verify and approve fundraisers (NGOs/LGUs), and verify and approve

campaigns created by fundraisers so that they can view all the campaigns. When

admins are done with their tasks, they can log out of their accounts.

Class Diagram
(the methods specify on class diagram will reflect on sequence diagram)

A class diagram, part of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), visually

represents a system's structure by detailing its classes, along with their attributes,

methods, and object relationships. It acts as a foundational plan for building software,

showing how classes connect and function together.

 Figure 7. Class Diagram of CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief Through

Crowdfunding Innovation

In Figure 7, the class diagram delineates the structural organization and

connections among entities within the fundraiser platform, ensuring coherence in user

engagements and data administration. Users, encompassing donors and fundraisers,

must possess distinct identification and password attributes. Donors are prompted to

furnish additional personal details such as last name, first name, middle initial,

birthdate, gender, and complete address. Fundraisers undergo a validation procedure

by submitting pertinent documents, while administrators maintain oversight over user

account management and fundraiser validation. Within this framework, fundraisers

assume responsibility for initiating, overseeing, and concluding campaigns, whereas

donors can explore campaign listings, contribute funds, and utilize map functionalities.

This structured portrayal facilitates a systematic understanding of the platform's

operations and data flow, fostering a seamless user experience and efficient platform

management.

Each entity depicted in the class diagram assumes a unique role within the

fundraiser platform's ecosystem. Donors and fundraisers share common user attributes

but diverge in their specific functionalities and operations. Following verification,

fundraisers gain access to functionalities such as campaign creation, donation tracking,

transparency report submission, and campaign closure. Conversely, donors primarily

engage in activities such as campaign browsing, fund contribution, and map utilization.

Administrators wield overarching authority, responsible for overseeing user accounts

and ensuring fundraiser validation. The structured visualization offered by the class

diagram serves as a foundational framework for the fundraiser platform's development,

ensuring clarity in entity relationships and facilitating the implementation of robust user

interaction mechanisms.

Sequence Diagram

A UML sequence diagram is a graphical representation that depicts the

interaction of objects in a system over time. These diagrams capture the sequence of

messages exchanged between objects and the order in which these interactions occur,

presenting them as vertical lifelines and horizontal arrows. Essentially, sequence

diagrams provide a chronological visualization of object interactions, offering insights

into the dynamic behavior and flow of a system.

 Figure 8. Sequence Diagram of User

As shown in Figure 8, this capstone project revolves around crafting and

displaying the sequence of user interactions in an account management system. The

process begins with users registering accounts and selecting roles, which may

necessitate additional document validation based on their role, such as LGU or NGO.
 After successful registration, users proceed to log in by providing their email

address and password. The system then validates these credentials before granting

access to the personalized dashboard, offering tailored information and features to the

users.

Should users forget their passwords, they can trigger a password reset

procedure. This involves inputting their email address, which undergoes verification by

the system. Upon successful verification, users can establish a new password, with the

system conducting checks to ensure its uniqueness and sufficient length.

Additionally, users have the option to update their profiles, which requires a

confirmation step before proceeding. Once confirmed, users can securely modify their

profile information. This project utilizes comprehensive sequence diagrams to elucidate

the entire user journey within the account management system, ensuring transparency,

efficacy, and security throughout.

Sequence Diagram of Donor

Figure 9. Sequence Diagram of Donor

In Figure 9, donors start by logging into the platform and accessing a dashboard

that offers a clear overview of ongoing campaigns, statistical reports, and a dynamic

disaster map showing affected areas. From there, they can easily explore available

campaigns and delve into detailed information about each cause. Upon selecting a

campaign, donors have the choice to contribute either cash or in-kind donations. For

cash donations, donors can select their preferred payment method and securely input
their account details, with the system ensuring verification for transparency and

security. Alternatively, for in-kind donations, donors specify the type of donation and

are presented with a map displaying the nearest drop-off locations for their

convenience. Once donors have confirmed their contribution, they complete the

process. Through detailed sequence diagrams, this project aims to illustrate the step-

by-step flow of donor interactions within the fundraiser platform, prioritizing ease of

use, transparency, and meaningful impact throughout the donation process.

Sequence Diagram of Fundraisers

Figure 10. Sequence Diagram of Fundraisers

 As shown in Figure 10, this capstone project focuses on enhancing the user

experience within a fundraiser platform, providing fundraisers with a robust toolkit for

effective campaign management.

Fundraisers start by accessing a user-friendly dashboard upon logging in,

offering insights into ongoing and past campaigns, along with relevant performance

metrics. They seamlessly transition to creating campaigns, inputting crucial details such

as title, description, fundraising goal, and duration. If the creation process is

interrupted, fundraisers are redirected back to the campaign creation dashboard for a

seamless experience.

Upon confirming campaign creation, fundraisers unlock a suite of donation

management tools, facilitating donation tracking, donor management, and engagement.

Real-time updates on total donations empower fundraisers to monitor campaign

progress effectively. Additionally, fundraisers are prompted to upload transparency

reports periodically, fostering accountability in fund utilization. Fundraisers retain the

flexibility to conclude campaigns at any point, ceasing donation collection and finalizing

administrative tasks.
Sequence Diagram of Admin

Figure 11. Sequence Diagram of Admin

As shown in Figure 11, this capstone project aims to enhance administrative

functions within a fundraiser platform, providing admins with more efficient tools for

managing operations. Admins start by logging into the platform, where they access a

dashboard presenting an overview of system activities and essential metrics. They then

transition seamlessly to managing user accounts, where they can view existing accounts

and take necessary actions, such as approving or disabling accounts as needed.

Admins play a crucial role in verifying and approving new fundraiser accounts,

ensuring the legitimacy and compliance of fundraisers to maintain platform integrity and

user trust. After verification, admins facilitate the smooth onboarding of verified
fundraisers into the platform. Subsequently, admins proceed to monitor ongoing

campaigns, enabling them to track progress effectively and make informed decisions.

Finally, upon completing their administrative tasks, admins can securely log out of the

platform, prioritizing data security and integrity. This project employs detailed sequence

diagrams to illustrate the systematic flow of administrative operations within the

fundraiser platform, emphasizing efficiency, accuracy, and security throughout the

process.

Design Specification

A design specification is a document that contains all the requirements,

constraints and specifications that a new product must adhere to. It should be a clear

list with detailed information outlining every aspect of the design brief and fulfill smart

criteria which is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and testable (Geddes, 2022).
Deployment Diagram

Figure 12. Deployment Specification of CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief

Through Crowdfunding Innovation

As shown in Figure 12, the deployment diagram illustrates how the fundraiser

platform's components are interconnected across different servers, ensuring smooth

communication and efficient operations. Both the donor and fundraiser web applications

are linked to the CrowdRelief server, enabling users to engage with the platform's

features seamlessly. Through these web applications, donors and fundraisers can

access functionalities such as campaign browsing, donation submission, and campaign

management. Similarly, administrators utilize the CrowdRelief server for tasks like user
account management and fundraiser validation, ensuring regulatory compliance and

platform integrity.

Acting as the central hub, the CrowdRelief server facilitates communication

between the web applications and the backend servers. It manages data exchange with

the database server, housing critical information like user profiles, campaign details,

and donation records. Additionally, the CrowdRelief server interacts with the statistics

server, which stores donor-related data such as contribution history and engagement

metrics. This interconnected architecture optimizes data flow and operational efficiency

within the fundraiser platform, providing a robust and dependable environment for

fundraising endeavors.

Graphical User Interface

Graphical user interface (GUI) is a computer program that enables a person to

communicate with a computer through the use of symbols, visual metaphors and

pointing devices. The GUI had replaced the arcane and difficult textual interface earlier

computing with a relatively intuitive system that was made by a computer operation not

only easier to learn but more pleasant and natural. It serves as the standard computer

interface and its components have become unmistakable cultural artifacts.

Testing and Evaluation

In the development of CrowdRelief: Empowering Disaster Relief through

Crowdfunding Innovation, an Agile methodology is proposed for testing and evaluation.

This methodology involves several key phases to ensure the effectiveness and

efficiency of the testing process. Initially, Sprint Planning sessions are conducted to

outline the goals and tasks for each sprint, with a focus on identifying user stories

relevant to testing and evaluation, such as user account creation, campaign

management functionalities, donation processing, and security measures. Daily Stand-

up meetings are then held to facilitate communication and collaboration among team

members, ensuring alignment on testing objectives and priorities. Continuous testing

practices are implemented, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests,

with a focus on automation to streamline the testing process. Acceptance criteria are

defined for each user story to establish clear expectations for successful testing

outcomes. Iterative development occurs within short timeframes, allowing for the

prioritization and resolution of high-priority testing tasks early in the sprint. User

feedback is solicited throughout the development process and incorporated into testing

and evaluation activities to ensure that the system meets user needs and expectations.

Regression testing is conducted regularly to verify that new features and updates do not

adversely impact existing functionalities. Sprint reviews provide opportunities to

demonstrate completed functionalities to stakeholders and gather feedback on usability,

performance, and functionality. Retrospective sessions enable the team to reflect on

testing practices, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments for future

sprints. Metrics and monitoring are used to track the effectiveness of testing efforts and

assess the impact on overall system quality and user satisfaction. Through the adoption

of this Agile testing and evaluation methodology, CrowdRelief aims to iteratively develop

and enhance its disaster relief crowdfunding platform while delivering value to users and

stakeholders.
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