Have you ever considered fundraising without actually meeting people face-to-face?
Some charities have explored the use of social media for fundraising, and their ideas have been very successful. Take charity: water for instance. Charity: water is a non-profit that seeks to raise funds to build wells in developing countries in order to bring fresh, clean drinking water to the people that need it the most. How do they do it? Well, each well cost around $5,000, and people register on charity: water’s website to raise the $5K to build a well. Most people are raising awareness and funds through online donations, using Twitter as a huge advertising and promoting tool.
In my social media class, we have joined charity: water’s efforts and are trying to raise money for a well in Africa. We have tried some face-to-face events, but we are hoping to use our Facebooks and Twitter accounts and blogs to promote our cause and direct people to our charity: water webpage. Through our online efforts, we can easily raise our $5K goal and send the money off to build a well.
But the donations don’t just stop there. Charity: water has made it possible for donors to track their money and watch the construction of their well, and when it is finished, a placard with the donor’s name will be placed on the well. How cool is that?!
So what’s the take home point here? FUNdraising doesn’t have to involved a lot of preparation, hard work, and effort, but rather it can be as simple as posting an eye-catching video and asking your neighbors to lend a hand. So why not? Everyone needs clean water, and you are just the right person to make that difference in the world. Make your difference here.
