Social Ch@nge

We are all guilty. You too.

We have all used Excel as a database, even though it’s really not a database program. Real database programs take training – Excel, however, can make you that call list in the blink of an eye. So you use it. There’s more: many of us have used Photoshop for making pamphlets and posters, even though it’s not actually meant to do either. Worse, we’ve made pamphlets in Word.

The mind reels! Or maybe it doesn’t, because frankly tech tools are made to be subverted. Especially by non-profit staff who are on a grant deadline, and just need a way to get this poster done, fast.

So you can imagine how happy I was to discover ways that people are subverting our new best friends – Youtube, Twitter and Facebook – for fun and non-profit.

Interactive videos have popped up on Youtube (like here and – at your peril – here), and while the ones I’ve seen aren’t anywhere close to social justice oriented, I give that niche about 5 minutes before somebody fills it. UNICEF has already experimented with interactive formats for teaching youth to make healthy sexual choices with the game ‘What Would You Do’. Pressureworks – a group that uses satire to raise awareness – has also used a playful interactive format at this fake “Mail Order Chicken” website to get people to sign a serious petition about trade injustice. So far we’re raising awareness, we’re having fun – what could the possibilities be for interactive fundraising on Youtube?

Another interesting subversion is happening on Twitter – Matt Richtel was recently interviewed on Spark about his ‘Twiller’ - a thriller written on Twitter. Now, this is all the more impressive when you know that Twitter was originally developed as a microblogging platform with only 180 characters a post allowed. For me, fundraising is all about developing a compelling story with your donors, so it comes as no surprise that it’s a great tool for both thrillers and thrilling fundraising. Skeptical? Check out fundraising guru Beth Kanter using Twitter to raise $2500 in 90 minutes .
A weird twist on subverting tools is the Santa fiasco on Facebook. Santa Claus (the head of the Santa Claus Foundation ) has been told he is not allowed to exceed Facebook’s friend limit of 2500 friends. Don’t you wish you worked for this foundation? Ah, to be told you have reached your limit of nearly 3000 friends. And how interesting to have a fictional character as the face of your foundation or fundraiser on Facebook – Santa clearly doesn’t have the limits of a real spokesperson since I assume many foundation members update his page, talk to his friends, participate in Facebook games and are generally all things to all donors. Most importantly: everyone wants to be Santa’s friend. Fictional characters could be the perfect way to fundraise on Facebook! Or so I thought. It turns out that Mr. Santa Claus is a real person and it’s his legal name. Important, because if you post under a fictional name, Facebook can shut your page and your fundraiser down.

If they catch you.

Hey, it’s a post about subversion!

So what have you seen (or subverted) lately? What tools are out there that you’re using for non-profit good even if they’re not quite the tool intended for the job? Just please don’t tell me about using Word for pamphlets – that subversion gets you on Santa’s naughty list. Thank goodness for his 2500 friend limit.