Non-profit organisations have used the web to their advantage in a variety of ways, from creating campaigns that engage the public, which raises awareness and fundraising to their cause. As well as using social media platforms for advertising such as YouTube or Facebook. Charity organisation also offer a subscription option which enables them to send information and event details straight to the viewers email address, this can potentially lead to more donations and involvement in the future. Before organisations had access to the web, they would have had to rely on more tangible means such as flyers, brochures and newspapers.
Two examples of successful campaigns are the Ice Bucket Challenge which was a viral sensation in 2014. As well as Movember, this is a recurring campaign which happens in the month of November every year, this started in 2003 and still going today. Both have managed to use the web in creative ways as the Ice Bucket Challenge targets the publics competitiveness with the use of social media pressure, as people get nominated by their friends to poor a bucket of ice water on their heads while filming it, they then nominate their other friends and forward the trend along using social media platforms. The rule was that if the nominated participant did not take part in the challenge within 24 hours, they then had to send a financial donation to the ALS.
The Movember campaign encourages men to grow moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness for men’s health issues, like suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The campaign has its own website where participants can sign up to join the cause, you can also read stories from those who have received treatments or participated in events to raise funds and awareness for their chosen charities. The whole campaign focuses on a sense of unity for men to come together and support one another with the use of social interaction, this would not have been possible without the web.
The web has made it possible for organisations to promote their causes to a worldwide audience and create new innovative ways for people to become involved. Since the web is available on multiple devices this flexibility allows their campaign to be seen within real time and multiple locations. The web has dramatically changed the way organisations are able to fundraise, as donations can now be taken online rather than having to collect them in person. Smaller or niche charities which could lack financial resources use crowdfunding platforms to help reach a wider audience and raise funds quickly, this is also a good option for charities with time-sensitive projects.
Some organisations also use online petitions with platforms such as change.org. This gives people the chance to find others who are campaigning about causes which are important to them, as well as increasing awareness. E-petitions are also better for the environment as there is no need for any paper-based equivalents to be handed around, the accessibility of having it online also makes it much easier.
Referencing –
Ice Bucket Challenge (2024) ASL/MND Association
https://www.als-mnd.org/members-area/ice-bucket-challenge/ [Accessed 04 /11/2024].
Movember (2024) Men’s Health
https://uk.movember.com/support-us?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_qG5BhDTARIsAA0UHSJl7gpnp1fBJOagKUIYEf8yDV9aS8rMDMJhp-BLmHNE03zJCozAvqoaAh7uEALw_wcB [Accessed 04 /11/2024].
Logo (2015) Ice Bucket Challenge Logo, ASL/MND Associations [Photograph].
https://www.als-mnd.org/members-area/ice-bucket-challenge/ [Accessed 04/11/2024].
Logo (2024) Movember.com Logo Black, Media Room [Photograph].
https://uk.movember.com/media-room/photos-graphics [Accessed 04/11/2024].
Wikipedia (2015-2017) Logo of YouTube. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Logo_of_YouTube_%282015-2017%29.svg [Accessed 04/11/2024].
Apple Wiki (2003) Facebook Logo. https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Facebook [Accessed 04/11/2024].
Maiconfz (2024) Pixabay Subscribe Images & Pictures. https://pixabay.com/vectors/subscribe-button-icon-subscription-5408999/ [Accessed 04/11/2024].
Change.org (2024) The World’s Platform for Change
https://www.change.org/ [Accessed 04 /11/2024].