Social Ch@nge

Has your non-profit got some wired friends? Consider the power of a blogathon for fundraising.

The idea is simple – bloggers commit to staying up for 24 hours, and collect pledges and donations. Well, the idea is simple: in practice, that’s 49 posts and no sleep, which is heroic before you throw in the fundraising. What makes it so attractive as an online fundraiser to donors is that you can support your favorite writers with the click of a button, and it lets you discover new writers blogging for the same cause.

What does your non-profit need to make this happen?

- a popular ringleader and her friends. In Vancouver’s 604 area code, that’s blogger Rebecca Bollwit (Miss 604)

- bloggers, lots of (here’s the list). One great thing about this event is the big age range in bloggers – it’s intergenerational, and there’s a blog for everyone’s interests.

- a secure website that people can donate through. The 2009 Vancouver Blogathon has a perfectly lovely website (logo donated by Kontent Creative), and the bloggers are using Canada Helps as their donation platform

- a space to blog in that has wireless. Workspace donated their downtown space

- food and goodies donated from local businesses to feed the bloggers

Since everything can be donated, including the most precious resource (good writers!), blogathons are an event any non-profit community can try. The possibilities are huge: the Vancouver Blogathon has raised over $40,000 in under 24 hours for a few good causes (including the BC Children’s Hospital, hurrah!)and they aren’t finished yet. Cheer them on by Twittering #blogathon or better yet, by donating on the Blogathon site.