The Digital Transformation of Islamic Philanthropy: A Library Study of Crowdfunding Platforms, Donor Behaviour, and Regulatory Challenges in Indonesia

Abstract

Digital transformation has reshaped the way Indonesian Muslims channel zakat, infaq, sadaqah, and waqf, yet the rapid expansion of crowdfunding platforms has not been matched by a corresponding regulatory framework. This study maps the landscape of Islamic philanthropic crowdfunding platforms in Indonesia, analyses the determinants of digital donor behaviour, and identifies the regulatory challenges that accompany the transition. It employs library research with content analysis of forty-eight scholarly sources and policy documents published between 2023 and 2026, retrieved from Google Scholar, Garuda, DOAJ, and the official publications of the National Board of Zakat and legislative institutions. Three findings emerge. First, the ecosystem comprises four distinct models, namely general aggregator platforms, the digital channels of zakat institutions, digital wallets and marketplaces, and entirely informal social media fundraising, whose regulatory compliance declines across the sequence. Second, digital donor behaviour is no longer governed by religiosity alone but by its interaction with institutional trust, reporting transparency, ease of technology use, and social influence, giving rise to a more transactional donor who is highly sensitive to campaign credibility. Third, Indonesian philanthropic regulation still rests on Law Number 9 of 1961 concerning the Collection of Money or Goods, which does not recognise online transactions and therefore leaves legal gaps in donor protection, platform accountability, and the sharia status of the funds collected. The study recommends a facilitative regulatory reform, a standardised digital reporting framework grounded in the principle of amanah, and the strengthening of digital philanthropic literacy as a prerequisite for a sustainable ecosystem.