Web-based fundraising
CARE USA donor acquisition chaperoned emails
CARE USA responded to the violence in Gaza with remarkable humanitarian aid and a strong call to action for new donors. Being ready to appeal for new supporters during emergencies, or at times when your issue is in the public eye can help you to acquire more donors for your cause. To acquire new online donors at a low cost, CARE sent chaperoned emails through online publishers.
Sean Triner’s 40th birthday appeal
A highly personal and very effective anniversary fundraising effort from an acknowledged master of the detailed, well-structured ask.
Greenpeace Italia: save the Parmigiano Reggiano from OGM
This email campaign is really a call to action, good image, very few words but with very high impact. It is perhaps one of the lowest cost exhibits on SOFII - and it might just be one of the most cost effective.
The Lost Dogs’ Home, Melbourne: Friend of PAWs microsite
Although in recent years the Internet has by any definition come into its own as an indispensable tool for fundraisers, most are still not adept at using the medium to acquire new donors. So the Lost Dogs’ Home’s successful experience of online acquisition should be closely watched by many.
United Way impact calculator
The calculator allows donors to put in an amount and it lets them know the impact of their donation. This is a simple tool that any organisation with a website can easily do. It’s a great way for engaging donors.
GiveIndia’s electronic newsletters: opening a door to effective giving in India
E-mailed newsletters are common nowadays but few have the simple directness and sheer appeal of this example from GiveIndia. GiveIndia’s October 2008 newsletter starkly presents the great social challenges that face the sub-continent, but then it succinctly encourages donors by showing them how they can get involved and make a difference.
Jan Uekermann’s fundraising podcasts
Somebody in SOFII’s office asked ‘why do you think this exhibit deserves to be on SOFII?’ The answer is easy. It’s unique, as far as we know. It’s open and unashamed sharing of helpful information. Its content focuses on issues that are relevant to the majority of fundraisers. Jan (the creator of this podcast) says "the heart of fundraising is effective story-telling". Now, thanks to the Internet and podcasts, it's not difficult to share these stories worldwide.
The Big Give: online fundraising
We’re sure many fundraisers will find it hard to believe that for some donors, particularly major donors, it can be difficult to find a trustworthy, donor-friendly organisation to give their money to. The Big Give is an innovation that meets the needs of both donors and fundraisers. For charities, the website is a fantastic, and free, opportunity to showcase their projects, the real and relevant work that much of the public will fail to see, or realise needs funding.
DirectChange.org website
Is this the future of fundraising; giving donors direct control over where their money goes, instant feedback and the flexibility to decide what they will support, when and how? DirectChange.org is an exemplary use of new technology to bring new donors (and a new generation of donors) into charity to help meet urgent needs.
Missing People’s online annual review
How to use the Internet to brilliantly present your flagship publication. In this piece you will see reporting to donors as it should be, easily accessible, transparent, exciting, informative, using all the potential for short, high-impact and memorable messages that makes the Internet such a versatile medium for fundraisers.
Friends of the Earth: carbon calculator
An enterprising and topical involvement idea, interestingly executed. FoE’s carbon footprint calculator will be irresistible for many people and is right on message for the charity. This exhibit should encourage other campaigning and social change organisations to search for similar ways of engaging supporters.
NSPCC Facebook
See how the NSPCC became the first UK charity to develop a fundraising application to run within Facebook. This exhibit shows how quickly fundraisers have to react to changing technology.
HEKS charity shop Switzerland: virtual but not traditional gifts
This first exhibit to come to SOFII from a Swiss fundraising organisation could hardly be better. This campaign was created to give donors an option to buy a virtual Christmas gift, the money raised from which benefits disadvantaged people overseas and in Switzerland.
Greenpeace: the virtual march for whales
If only whales everywhere could realise the great things that are being done all around the world by ordinary people to protect them and make this planet a safe place for them.
Dobrota Foundation: ‘everyone can be a philanthropist’ campaign
This massively ambitious multi-media campaign generated results that speak for themselves. It shows what can be achieved with vision and commitment, even in an emerging market.
Bosnian Handicrafts: ‘shopping with a purpose’ campaign
This highly professional multi-media campaign from Bosnia shows that inspirational and innovative fundraising can succeed anywhere.
Bulgarian Red Cross: ‘one SMS, one hot meal for one Bulgarian child’ campaign
These campaigns successfully united several established fundraising techniques including building corporate alliances and the use of new and old media.
Rex Dog Shelter: ‘A pet is not a toy’ campaign
This is a ‘percentage’ campaign, one of Hungary’s first multi-media campaigns aimed at getting the public to sign over their one per cent entitlement. Many organisations have now successfully followed the Rex Foundation’s lead, with good results.
I CAN: the ‘adopt-a-word’ campaign
With its simple e-commerce solution, I CAN produced an appeal that is unique to their cause yet still maintains a broad appeal to a wide range of donors.
The David Suzuki Foundation’s campaign for Santa Claus
Think of everything that Santa has done for you – now is your chance to help him.
Change Heroes: a new fundraising platform
The aim of each of Change Heroes’ campaign is to bring together groups of 33+ friends to donate $3.33 a day for three months, which equals $10,000. This will enable their charity partners to build a school, library, or water project in a developing country.
Malaria No More and CollegeHumor: malarious
Malaria No More have discovered that laughter is a great entry point to learning – even about something as deadly as malaria.
Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme: ‘eco-actors’
By giving their supporters the chance to become ‘eco-actors’ the Fondation Nicholas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme (the Nicholas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind) forged a special relationship with them and raised an amazing amount of money.
The Centrale School of Paris alumni online challenge
This online promotion raised double the amount of previous offline activities.
Kiva: person-to-person micro-lending
The first video gives a real sense of excitement and shows vividly the scope of Kiva’s work. The second is the simple story of Pedro and his family and how Kiva’s lenders are helping him fight his way out of poverty.
Children’s Hospital Foundation, Washington DC, USA: send a valentine to a child in the hospital
The Children's Hospital Foundation were convinced that Valentine’s Day could have enormous potential for fundraisers. Even though the first attempts didn’t live up to expectations, they perservered until, eventually, that vision paid off.
