Post by dariskye on Oct 9, 2014 13:24:27 GMT -5
Relay For Life, a fundraising based event for American Cancer Society, is one of the top money raising platforms there is. Today, more than 5,000 Relay For Life take place across the country with the purpose to raise money and awareness. They have built a community around family members and friends of those who have died due to cancer, those fighting, and those who have beaten cancer. A Relay For Life event is an overnight, camp out fundraiser spent with your assembled team of all night walkers. Since cancer never rests neither will your whole team that evening as you take turns walking the track to raise as much money as you can for your team. When you aren't walking you can spend your time resting or participating in other, family friendly events they have at the track. The reason Relay For Life has been so successful with it's growth is due to its fundraising strategy. As Sarah Milston from The Spark Mill said in the Google Hangout, the best way to keep people interested in your cause is by creating a relationship or in Relay For Life's case, a strong community filled with people being directly affected by cancer. If you have ever attended a Relay For Life event it's easy to remember the experience. The Luminaria ceremony with candles lit for those have beaten or have been lost to cancer, survivors taking their lap as by standers scream and clap for their victory, and the fight back ceremony. Their main way of keeping participants isn't by asking them to donate large sums of money to the cause, but by emotionally inspiring participants to take action. Even if you have never lost someone to cancer or known someone with it, going to a Relay For Life event will easily make you feel evoked to help. Once inspired, there's no telling what one will do to show their support.
In the Google Hangout we heard from Sarah Milston from The Spark Mill. Their main goal, like Relay For Life, is to build a long lasting, personal relationship with those that they work with and for. As Sarah Milston said, it isn't social media that raises the money, but the people. Knowing this, they spend more time building a personal relationship with their donors instead of jumping in asking for money. Shout outs on Facebook and Twitter for good doings by their supporters is one of many ways that they do this, but as she mentioned, social media was based around introverted people. By direct communication it shows interest in the individual making them feel like a necessary component of their cause. Ask and you shall receive, but a long lasting relationship can guarantee not only more generosity but also the spread of inspiration to those who may want to help and give.
In the Google Hangout we heard from Sarah Milston from The Spark Mill. Their main goal, like Relay For Life, is to build a long lasting, personal relationship with those that they work with and for. As Sarah Milston said, it isn't social media that raises the money, but the people. Knowing this, they spend more time building a personal relationship with their donors instead of jumping in asking for money. Shout outs on Facebook and Twitter for good doings by their supporters is one of many ways that they do this, but as she mentioned, social media was based around introverted people. By direct communication it shows interest in the individual making them feel like a necessary component of their cause. Ask and you shall receive, but a long lasting relationship can guarantee not only more generosity but also the spread of inspiration to those who may want to help and give.