3 inspirational fundraising campaigns to get your creative juices flowing
Every fundraiser wants to make a difference. But changing the world is no mean feat when there are so many charities trying to get their voices heard.
How can you make your voice stand out and raise the funds you need? With a killer fundraising campaign.
Here are three inspirational campaigns to kick off your brainstorming session.
Cancer Research UK: #nomakeup selfie
In 2014, women from around the globe reached for their makeup wipes and bared all in the name of cancer, by uploading ‘no make-up selfies’ to social media and asking others to do the same.
The trend was not instigated by cancer charities, but by social media users who were inspired by the bravery of cancer sufferers and wanted to show their support. However, Cancer Research UK spotted the #NoMakeUpSelfie hashtag and reacted quickly.
They tweeted a picture of their science information officer holding a sign saying, ‘We love your #NoMakeUpSelfie’ and included a text code for donations.
Within 24 hours, Cancer Research UK had received £1m in donations. Within 6 days, the campaign had gone viral and raised a phenomenal £8m.
Why did it work?
Cancer Research UK was able to piggyback on the trend because they monitor social channels for opportunities to raise funds.
They responded quickly and appropriately, reacting to the trend as it evolved. And they reaped the rewards as a result.
Cancer Research UK
Save our Children: If London Were Syria
In 2014, a harrowing, 90-second film started doing the rounds on the internet.‘The Most Shocking Second a Day’ depicts a young British girl experiencing the effects of civil war on the streets of London. It starts with a shot of her celebrating her birthday with family and friends and ends with her staring blankly at a candle on a birthday cake from a hospital bed (by the end she is homeless and fatherless).
The closing caption reads, "just because it isn't happening here, doesn't mean it isn't happening."Within a week of launching, the video had gone viral, and Save the Children had seen a 25% surge in donations.
Why did it work?
People shared the video as it packed a strong emotional punch. Research by Dr Karen Nelson-Field found that ‘On average, videos that elicit high-arousal emotions gain twice as much sharing as those that elicit low-arousal emotion.’
In other words, our brains are wired to react to strong emotions. The shock factor made this Save the Children’s most successful fundraising campaign to date.
NHS Charities Together: Captain Sir Tom Moore
No fundraising campaign round-up would be complete without mentioning the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.
In April 2020, the then 99-year-old accepted a challenge set by his family: to walk 100 lengths of his garden and raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together, before his 100th birthday at the end of that month.
With the help of a Zimmer frame, the World War II veteran inspired the world by walking 10 laps of his 25ft garden each day, completing lap 100 on 16 April 2020.
By the time his fundraising page closed, Captain Sir Tom had raised over £32m.In addition to raising millions of pounds for health service workers, Sir Captain Tom lifted the nation's spirits and inspired millions to support the NHS, during the COVID crisis.
We can help you achieve the same success
The success of these three campaigns was down to the hard work of their fundraisers. If you’re in the market for top fundraising talent, give us a call on 0203 750 3111 to get the process started.