We've been hearing a lot about larger scale fundraising efforts on Twitter and cause fatigue and how it will become more and more difficult for charities to distinguish their social giving campaigns amid the noise.
One strategy might be cultivating relationships with freelance fundraisers and activists. These smaller scale efforts represent some of the more creative fundraising campaigns undertaken on Twitter. Typically launched by an social media savvy individual, who cares deeply about a charity or Cause, and these campaigns use platforms like Twitter in an unique way to raise money for that charity from their network.
Take for example, Drew Olanoff, who I had the pleasure of meeting at Gnomedex last summer. Two weeks ago, Drew announced his Twitter fundraising campaign to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that "grants wishes for children with life threatening medical conditions."
He brought together his three passions:
- I’m known to get tattoos
- I’m known to care about charity
- I’m known to dig Twitter
He offered to put a permanent tattoo of the Twitter user's name on his arm, to the highest bidder. His cause says a lot about who he is and who is friends are! Following the best practices of person-to-person fundraising and that is to talk about why the charity is important to you, he shares his reason, "kids deserve awesomeness".
He put the word out on Twitter and his network started a bidding war. Louis Gray writes about how he bid several hundred dollars for the honor. In the end, Melanie Mitchell was the lucky winner, bidding $2,112 to have her Twitter name on Drew's arm. Louis Gray has an interview with her.
Great work Drew!
When I heard about this story, I was curious about Drew's tatoos. I searched flickr and found the above photo taken by video blogger Steve Garfield. Steve's been a huge supporter of the Sharing Foundation. Just over the weekend, he won a contest on Twitter and donated his prize money to the Sharing Foundation. Thank you Steve!
What creative fundraising efforts have you seen taking place on Twitter or elsewhere on the social web?
Check out this guy's tattoo campaign for charity:
http://www.firstgiving.com/mrttattoo
Posted by: BethP | March 03, 2009 at 09:34 AM
I think what you did at Gnomedex last year was nothing short of brilliant and inspiring. I would love to talk to you about working together on some things.
Posted by: drew olanoff | March 03, 2009 at 11:50 AM
I have given a thought to getting a well known guest blogger and then having him tell his story. I still have to talk to him but hopefully that is another opportunity to raise money for LLS. It is an idea that I am hoping will come true.
Posted by: Jamie Favreau | March 04, 2009 at 06:14 AM
Hey Beth, I wanted to let you know we something very similar to the
Tattoo pledge on Facebook. See below for links to the various pledges
and results. I personally dyed my hair blonde and if you want to see the
opera concert on facebook, please friend me on Facebook and I will send
you the link to the concert:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1420699694
Chi Kong Lui
Assistant Director, Web Services
American Red Cross in Greater New York
520 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
Posted by: Beth Kanter | March 18, 2009 at 06:47 PM
The ARC/GNY "Pledge Yourself to the Red Cross" campaign on Facebook is
over and here are your final results:
Amount Raised: $2100
Final Pledge Results:
Eapen raised $1020 and will be giving an Opera performance on Feb 18, 5
pm @ 520W49. Click here for full details:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52126481502
Mona raised $100 and will be coming to work dressed as a Cowgirl for the
week of Feb 9. Click here for photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77405&id=599421079
Robyn Alexander Hatrak from Rockland raised $360 and will be coming to
work dressed as clown (with balloon animals).
More details coming soon.
Catherine raised $110 and will be coming to work dressed as Clara
Barton.
More details coming soon.
Michael raised $250 and will be walking to work from Brooklyn. Click
here for details:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/sharings/260159
Chi raised $250 and dyed his hair blonde. Click here for photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013368&l=eaf72&id=1395987759
A special thanks to all who pledged and donated...
Posted by: Beth Kanter | March 18, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Beth, I have read many of your blogs here about fundraising. I am also on Twitter (juliebmack). I am interested in raising money on Twitter for a mission trip I am going on. I would like to share a letter so people know how and where to donate to the church and the purpose of that mission in June.
Should I just create a post on my blog or is there a blog that you would recommend to be a guest post? My blog is not focused on charities, but writing (inspiredtowrite.com). I am hoping you have some words of advice! I really appreciate it! Thanks!!
Posted by: Julie | March 31, 2009 at 06:09 PM