A Gallery: Proof that humor in fundraising exists…
- Mon, January 31 2011
- Filed under: Fun stuff
From Crowdrise, a very fun fundraising platform (and partner of Network for Good) and the folks who brought you the tagline, “If you don’t give back, no one will like you.”
Better World Books upcoming campaign encourages cubicle-dwellers to do what they do best: shop online when they should be working. (Note: most giving happens during work hours, too!) The company, started by college kids in 2002, strives for a self-described “goofy and endearing” brand voice. In the case of Shop from Work Week, shoppers on the Better World’s site can quickly click on a “Boss Button” if they hear their supervisor coming—it immediately brings up a phony Excel document of “important work.”
And this one is another gem from Things Real People Don’t Say about Advertising. It’s not really fundraising - it’s just a funny take on cause-related marketing.
Comments
Hi Katya,
Isn’t Crowdrise’s messaging hilarious and clever? It’s what made me want to interview them. I just posted a Big Vision Podcast interview with Robert Wolfe (one of the co-founders): http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2011/02/funny-and-fun-fundraising-with.html
Hi Katya,
So glad you have shared this! It shows that fun and humor can work within fundraising, and marketing within the nonprofit sector.
Over the years there has been a tendency of ‘shockadvertising’ - the more pityfull and shocking images/messages send out, the more attention and therefore income it will attract. We often have this discussion with local NGOs.
Cause where do you draw the line from ethical point of view? What about the respect and dignity of the people being portrayed?
At BrandOutLoud we believe in the portraying the strength and dignity. Not the portraits of sad distressing cases, but a positive approach in which powerful imagery is the key. Here the focus is on the empowerment and opportunities of the people being helped by the aid organisation.
That story is a source of inspiration to others: http://www.brandoutloud.org/#/projects/23/photography
Hi Katya,
So glad you have shown this! Cause humor and fun can be used - and effective!
Over the years there has been a tendency for ‘shockadvertising’ - using sad, negative images and messages to draw attention and raise funds. Often we have this discussion with local NGOs afraid of being left out when not showing the poorest of the poor.
From ethical point of view - how far can we go? What about the respect and diginity for the people being portrayed? At the same time isn’t there already an overkill?
At BrandOutLoud we stand for portraying the strength and dignity. No portraits of sad distressing cases, but a positive approach in which powerful imagery is the key. Here the focus is on the empowerment and opportunities of the people being helped by the aid organisation. The story is a source of inspiration to others.
For one of our series for local NGO in Cambodia - working with and for people with disability. Showing the ability, instead of disability: http://www.brandoutloud.org/#/projects/23/photography