RE-TWEET IT!
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Without seeming to be a Grinch, I wonder what’s more attractive and appealing to techies, geeks and social media ‘gurus’ about fund-raising and helping charities.
Is it the cause they are supporting through their viral marketing campaigns on social networks?
Or is the technology and its power/reach/impact that’s more interesting to them?
I’ve seen quite a few fund-raisers being done recently on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks.
I’ve searched on Google for the person or organization behind such fund-raisers – and don’t see much consistency over years in what they’re doing for the cause that’s their current focus.
Does aligning with your cause, purpose or mission come first – so that the technology or medium follows naturally, changes or evolves with times, and becomes the channel through which such efforts happen?
Or does the channel come first – benefiting whichever cause or charity happens to appeal to the fancy of the technologist at the moment?
And does it even matter, really? After all, some deserving person, organization or country is benefiting from this, right?
Still, I can’t help but wonder. Especially about how sustainable, impactful and maximally effective it would be – either way.
What do you think?
{ 1 comment }
This is a hard thing to discuss without raising hackles because, as you say, the end is beneficial regardless of the reason behind the means.
That said, I think there’s a tremendous fascination with the channel and it’s just so easy to say “here’s a great cause, please retweet.” Does that make it a bad thing? Not at all. It works to a certain level and money is being raised for great causes.
What’s most sustainable and benefits charities and the people they help for the longest period of time? Picking a charity or two and regularly making an effort to help build awareness and raise funds for them.
That requires planning and consistent action. We’re not seeing a whole lot of that in social media right now. Perhaps in the future?
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