For his final show from the Beaconat South by Southwest, Mark Horvath from invisiblepeople.tv spoke with influential nonprofit blogger and author Beth Kanter on crowd sourcing and Causemedia Group (WhatGives!? parent company) CEO Chris Nobleon how to gain the support of local businesses for local charities.
Kanter jumped right in with the excellent reminder that people don’t write checks to buildings or programs, they write checks to people. “It’s a long-term relationship. Your first interaction with someone is not to ask them for money or to help your cause or to pitch them,” said Kanter. “Get to know them and along the way there’ll be some opportunity for that.” Horvath agreed, adding, “Every moment is a VIP moment.” Then Kanter reminded the audience of something Peter Dietz once said – “Your donors are not ATM machines!” WhatGives!? Read more »
Last week on NBC Nightly News, their regular “Making a Difference” segments featured celebrities and the causes they support. Unlike the movie stars of 40 or 50 years ago who tended to align themselves with well-established, nationwide efforts, today’s celebs are using their fame to draw attention to smaller, more personal causes. In fact, many are creating their own foundations and personally participating in what happens day-to-day rather than just showing up for photo ops.
Jimmy Cagney makes a pitch for Christmas Seals
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Halle Berry, Glenn Close, Jon Bon Jovi, and Alicia Keys were all featured, and I’ve listed their very worthy causes below so you can see the amazing work that’s being done. They’re doing it with class and heart, determined that it not be about them, but about those who need our help and the invaluable people in the trenches who are manning the shelters, building the homes, donating money and materials, distributing food, and generally improving the lives of so many.
Out there on basic cable, Stephen Colbert has a decidedly different, um, approach to fundraising. His cause? The US Speedskating Team. His method? Calling Canada “Iceholes”. He encouraged people to write to the 2010 Winter Games Organizing Committee, demanding that the US Speedskating Team be allowed more time on the ice in preparation for the upcoming Olympics. He followed up with the announcement that his show (“The Colbert Report”) was taking over as the official sponsor of the US Speedskating Team.
His raucous in-your-face approach pulled in over $200,000 in six days, not only raising money and awareness, but most likely reaching an entirely new group of potential philanthropists. He made giving fun. He made it inclusive. He made it feel vitally important. He captured a spirit that every charitable foundation hopes to embody – a combination of hope, enthusiasm, determination, and joy in giving.
No games or singing e-mails. No rubber chicken dinners or silent auctions. No requests for ReTweets or Facebook applications. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that…) Just a boyishly bold and gleeful challenge to the Colbert Nation to help some athletes bring home the gold. It’s a pleasant reminder that passion matters. Yes, a national TV audience certainly helps. (Or a concert arena, or a feature film.) But the right message delivered with the right amount of heartfelt enthusiasm is still the most important tool any charitable cause has in their toolbelt.
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ite checks to buildings or programs, they write checks to people. “It’s a long-term relationship. Your first interaction with someone is not to ask them for money or to help your cause or to pitch them,” said Kanter. “Get to know them and along the way there’ll be some opportunity for that.” Horvath agreed, adding, “Every moment is a VIP moment.” Then Kanter reminded the audience of something Peter Dietz once said – “Your donors are not ATM machines!” WhatGives!? Read more »
