Charity Leaders Perform Public Stunts to Raise Money

May 27, 2009

Charity Leaders Perform Public Stunts to Raise Money

Are you looking for a way to boost interest in a fund-raising campaign? Perhaps public humiliation of your executive director is the answer.

Well, that might be putting it a little strongly, but Nancy E. Schwartz, a charity marketing consultant, suggests on her blog Getting Attention that sharing something personal, “can deepen understanding, interest, and the connection” between donors and charity leadership.

Case in point is Holly Ross, executive director of the Nonprofit Technology Network, a Portland, Ore., charity that helps nonprofit groups use technology It recently conducted a campaign to raise $10,000 to help pay for charity workers to attend a national technology conference. To “kick it up a notch,” she challenged donors to give by offering them a chance to select a wacky stunt for her to perform if the goal was met.

The money was indeed raised and the selected stunt was for Ms. Ross to perform in a dance video set to the Beyonce Knowles’ song “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” (Another option was to have Ms. Ross play the trombone from her college marching band days in a public space.)

Ms. Schwartz says the video, which played at the conference, created a “huge amount of love” for Ms. Ross and her organization. It has also been viewed more than 2,000 times on YouTube.

Another charity leader Ms. Schwartz mentions pledged to shave his head if a fund-raising goal was met.

Have you tried a public stunt to raise money? Has it worked?

— Brennen Jensen

Comments

I work for ACES, a small nonprofit that provides after-school tutoring/mentoring programs. We recently had over 30 supporters grow mustaches for a month to raise money for our organization. We ended up bringing in over $5,000! You can check out our blog at www.acesmustaches.blogspot.com.

— Tom Basquill May 27, 09:05 PM #
The staff at grist.org (an environmental news website) pretended to be locked in their offices via a series of YouTube videos until they reached their fundraising goal. https://www.grist.org/services/donate/

— Hannah May 28, 01:43 AM #
Great idea!! Now how do I sell this to the boss ;)

— Sue Jun 19, 01:46 AM #

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Charity Leaders Perform Public Stunts to Raise Money

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