04 Jan 2011 No Comments
Thank you for Bringing the Giving Back to your holidays!
On November 22, FirstGiving asked you to Bring the Giving Back to the winter holidays by giving up holiday presents and creating a personal fundraising page for a cause instead. We were inspired by the prediction that Americans were going to spend over $24 billion on gift cards alone, averaging $40 each.We asked you to imagine if, instead of friends and family giving you a piece of plastic, your friends and family gave a $40 donation for a cause you care about. And guess what? YOU DID!!
87 FirstGivers created fundraising pages!
You raised $6,703!
For 85 great causes!
Bring the Giving Back fundraisers raised more than $2,200 for community and youth development causes, more than $1,700 for health-related causes, more than $1,600 for animal welfare, and more than $1,100 for international and environmental relief. Overall, 85 different nonprofit organizations benefited from the campaign.
Congratulations to our top fundraiser, Guy Abelson, who raised $850 for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Other top fundraisers included Chad Krantz, who raised $775 for Iowa City Hospice and Nadia Macchiusi, who raised $590 for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Many of the fundraising pages also illustrated passion and best practices in fundraising:
Tracy Allen’s page for the Friday Night Supper Club shows her personality:
“Many of you know I love this time of year – the music, the holiday parties, Oprah’s list of her Favorite Things, and time spent with family and friends. I also love that people are inspired either organically or after lots of egg nog, to give generously to those in need. There is a lot of need this year and I ask that each of you who opens this page give $1-$5 to Friday Night Supper Program. If you’d like to give more, feel free.”
Zan McColloch-Lussier’s fundraising page adds the all-important “P.S.” that every fundraising letter includes:
Zan writes on his page: “If you are like me, you were deeply troubled by what we saw in Haiti this year and left wondering how you can best help. I have a solution!” He continues to write passionately about his care for Haiti, but adds a bit of humor in the post script: “P.S. – I know you were planning to buy me AC/DC’s greatest hits this year, but instead would you join me by giving to the people of Haiti. Cause helping folks rocks harder than even Angus. Just click ‘Give Now’ to make your tax-deductible contribution.”
Donna Kalisek’s page speaks of her personal tie to the organization, the Myathenia Gravis Foundation:
“In 2011 MGA will no longer receive United Way monies, so to continue our mission to help those that need our services we ask you to give of yourselves. In my honor, after 44 years of coping with this incurable illness and its limitations and 20 years of committed service to other patients, please consider giving to the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western PA.” She also states: “Without the help and support from those affiliated with MGA I would not be here today. My commitment to MGA more than matches their commitment to me and other patients.”
As part of the larger FirstGiving community, Bring the Giving Back fundraisers raised tens of millions for important causes in 2010. We’re looking forward to working with all of our FirstGiving fundraisers and nonprofit organizations in 2011 to make the world an even better place.
