Nominations for Best Christmas Campaign

I think Christmas brings out some incredibly innovative ideas in charities. Years ago the Christmas pin or badge was the big thing, recently its the Christmas gift list.

Well this year I’m setting out to find the most innovative and creative Christmas campaign. It can be a new twist on an old idea, an old idea re worked, a brand new idea. It doesn’t matter to me, if you think its the best Christmas campaign out there…let me know.

Your nomination can come from your own organisation or can just be one you have seen and like, I would ask though that its a campaign being run this year.

So send me your ideas, email conorsfundraisingblog@gmail.com.

Nominations close on Nov 25th.

Create Success

Image: Getty Images

People want to be part of something thats a success, I think we all know that. I remember hearing a story about a nightclub that opened (probably have all heard a version of this) and they just turned the lights on, music on, opened the door, created a line and let no one in. Next week the line was bigger because people wanted to know what was so great about this place that they couldnt get in.

I dont really care if its true or not, its a great story and makes a great point, people want to be around things that are successful.

What prompted this. Well I got a message from an organisation over the weekend that made me think about this. Here’s the message:

“Hey
Dont want this fundraiser to be a total disaster, anyone else interested in coming along?? Let me know soon please, thanks”

Do you think thats going to make me want to go along and join them?? I dont think so.

A feeling of success creates success, even if its an illusion of success. Would this message (or a version of it) have made me feel different?

” Hey, we have had a great response to next weekends event and I know you don’t want to miss out so I am just telling you about the last few tickets available……etc…”

Concert promoters do this all the time, they sell out and then release some last minute tickets, they create a demand and a feeling of success.

Golf with Stars

I really like this. Golf Classics have struggled in recent times with companies shying away from such events. Some charities are still doing ok while others have had to discount or cancel.

Bothar have taken an innovative approach to the traditional Golf Classic with this Golf with Stars event. Instead of selling teams they are selling raffle tickets and then you and your friends can play with a well known Irish sports personality. You cant decide who you would like to play with though…thats another raffle the day of the event.

I think this is a really clever idea. It costs 20 euro to enter (it seems that this covers green fees too…I assume it does) and there will be 15 winners picked who can then bring friends to join them on the day. Critical mass will be important in this succeeding and I do wonder will not being able to say who you would like to play with will have an impact, if you are entering because you want to play with Paul O’Connel and dont get to play with him will you be disappointed? Maybe not,  I guess you know entering thats the risk. If I am to be critical I am also not mad about the website or supporting radio ad (I thought it was for a newspaper sports section)

Anyway I like this idea, well done Bothar

Run Johnny Run

Im always amazed at people who can do marathons and ironmans and triathlons, I can barely make it to the gym for 30 minutes!

This is former Sawdoctor (irish band) Johnny Donnelly who has set himself an incredible challenge. He plans to run a marathon a month for 4 years. Thats 48 marathons, over 2000 miles, more than 43 countries. Its all in aid of Seachange a new Irish charity working to eradicate world poverty through micro credit – giving tiny loans to the world’s poorest to help them help themselves.

Johnny doesnt want to do this alone, he wants people to join him, you can do that here

The Store

This is fantastic, great twist on what charities are doing with Gifts for Life, Virtual Gifts etc… Found it on Advisor to Superheroes

Tree-Athlon

I like this idea, nice twist on the Tri-Athlon.  Just goes to show that if you think differently about something you can find a new angle for it.

The idea is to give something back to the environment while at the same time improving your health .

 The three-part event includes a fun 5km run, an opportunity to share your wish for the future of trees and the chance to plant a sapling

The event takes place in London, Leeds and Manchester,

http://www.tree-athlon.org/

Harry Potter Fundraiser

Are you planning on seeing the New Harry Potter Movie?

Well this is a great idea (you may remember there was one for Star Trek too) where they are asking everyone or anyone who goes to see Harry Potter to make a 1 dollar donation to mark the occassion.

Look Beyond the Label

This is a great campaign by Red Cross, take a look. How can you adapt this?

Special Offers?

Everywhere I look I see special offers. Buy 1 coffee get 1 free, buy a scoop of ice cream get 1 free, 20% off, etc….

I just wonder is there something in this for charities (and yes I tweeted about this during the week). Should we be trying this out. Would it work for a ball for example, buy 3 tickets get 1 free? I would rather get the 4th person there for free, chances are they will spend on the raffle. It would be better than an empty room, right?

Is anyone doing this or know of any examples?

Get showcased @ Womens Mini Marathon

 

 

 

The Women’s Mini Marathon is a wonderful fundraising event, 40,000 women raise millions for hundreds of casuses around Ireland. This year, as in previous years, they will be showcasing highlights of some of the work completed by the various charities who take part in the event .

I think this is a really great add-on to the event. You can get your charity showcased by emailing footage to flora@ogilvy.com

Dry July

I’ve said it before…but here it goes again….the Aussies have a great way with words. They are also pretty good at coming up with some catchy with fundraising ideas.

This is one I saw last year and was really impressed with. Its a great idea, great name, easy to replicate (hint hint) and it works, in 2008 it raised over 250,000 Australian Dollars.

Their mission is pretty simple

Dry July’s mission is to have as many participants as possible, from all walks of life, to take on the challenge of an alcohol-free month.

Those that take part are asked to raise money to benefit the lives of adults living with cancer. A list of the charities they support is here

People register and get their own Dry July donation page for online donations, they open for registrations on June 1st. Check out their site here

Astral Media’s Radiothons – Canada

Today is Astral Media’s Day of Caring for Kids. With one-day radiothons for children’s health in 28 cities and on 50 radio stations across Canada, in support of 15 children’s hospitals and health care facilities.

In the next few minutes the Radiothons will start broadcasting live from children’s hospitals. Its well worth tuning in. All this is being done as part of Children’s Miracle Network’s Radiothon programme (yes the, by now mandatory, declaration of a vested interest!)

Astralare hoping to make a difference in the health and lives of children and parents who need this care. I expect millions of dollars will be raised today.

Check it out here. Also Sick Kids in Toronto has a Blog today, check it out here

Leveraging the Power of Star Trek to raise funds

I have to admit,  I know nothing about Star Trek. I have never seen one of the films and for me William Shatner is not Capt. Kirk but a musical genius!!

 But Milind Shah does. He is a Star Trek Fan and has  set up a Star Trek Fundraiser

The idea is that if Star Trek sold a million seats during the opening weekend and everyone contributed just $1, there would be a tremendous amount of goodwill generated. Star Trek means so much to so many, why not tie in their passions to the donation amount and get people to do some great things with their excitement?

The donations will go to Doctors Without Borders

What I really like about this idea is that it is piggy-backing on something that is already happening. We are used to seeing film releases and charities linked to things like World or Local Premieres and if you have ever done one of those you know they are an awful lot of work and sometimes the returns aren’t there. This idea is based on a community that already exists and an event they are excited about.

Imagine how this could have worked for Lord of the Rings, are there any other films you can think of that could be tapped into in this way? I would be sitting down and thinking about it!

You can check out the fundraiser site here http://www.startrekfundraiser.org/

And an extended interview with Milind here

Any Great Easter Fundraising Ideas?

I was thinking over the weekend that I hadnt really seen any great big Fundraising campaigns over the Easter period (bar Trocaire during lent).

Is it because Easter is a moveable date?

Does anyone know of any Easter Fundraising Campaigns? Is this a missed opportunity?

CoolFM’s Cash for Kids Radiothon

Yes its another Radiothon! Again let me declare my interest in these events, before I go on and talk about how great they are!

We (Children’s Miracle Network)  have been working with Cash for Kids (CoolFM’s charity) and Helping Hand, the charity of the children’s hospital in Belfast on this event and it is going to be amazing. The broadcast takes place from tomorrow at 6am until saturday at 2pm. Get the Kleenex ready the laughing and the odd bit of crying maybe. These kids are amazing and their stories are amazing.

For three days the station will broadcast from the hosptial and tell the stories about what goes on behind the walls of the children’s hospital there.

I will be Tweeting over the three days so follow the updates on http://twitter.com/CMNRadiothons