The Worldly Nonprofit, 2.0 » Haiti

Charity: Water Keeps it Snazzy

sarahkassel — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:40:17 +0000

Today is World Water Day, a day to reflect on America’s access to clean water and a day to realize that many people worldwide are denied this right. To be accurate, more than one billion people worldwide are denied this right. Eighty percent of illnesses in developing countries and 4/5 of child deaths under the age of five are due to water sanitation.

Fighting these statistics is the nonprofit organization, Charity: Water. With a singular mission to bring safe and clean drinking water to people in developing nations, the organization has and is working on a total of 2321 water projects around the globe. While I like to focus on grassroots sustainability, the magnitude and breadth of Charity: Water’s work is inspiring.

Today is the launch of the organization’s Unshaken campaign, a $1.3 million effort to help Haitians get clean water. It’s an ambitious project with an ambitious goal: 100 percent of all donations will fund 11 large-scale projects serving 40,000 people.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Charity: Water is a fluid master at giving donors, supporters and interested parties narrative that pops. Their website is an easy-to-navigate mix of simple messaging, multimedia content and a bit of pop marketing flair, possibly derived from Founder Scott Harrison’s background as an NYC nightclub promoter.

The Unshaken campaign is no exception. A fantasticly edited and powerful video (below) shows the rationale behind the campaign. The eleven projects are told and sold with arresting slide shows and succinct stories. Want to help? The donate and sponsor tabs are clear and separate from the general donation page . If you support the cause, but lack the cash, you can help the organization by tweeting their message or adding a banner to your site. Such endeavors are easy with a Spread the Word page, a fantastic way to consolidate supporter efforts.

When it comes down to it, a nonprofit is good ideas buoyed by great support. The ability to navigate new media to show, tell and SELL is crucial. I think Charity: Water is one of the foremost international development nonprofits to excel at these qualities. What do you think?

World Vision and Reaching Audiences

sarahkassel — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:45:14 +0000

Today, I was reflecting upon my earlier post about recognizing donors and supporters with new media. Perhaps the pensive pause is due to a lovely handwritten thank you card from World Vision. Most certainly not new media, the card is an interesting argument for understanding and knowing an audience base.

A nonprofit with a Washington State U.S. office, World Vision works in almost 100 countries in sustainable international development, disaster response and U.S. anti-poverty projects to create better lives for children worldwide. Spending 86.7% of funding on program expenses, this Christian-based organization notes in its vision statement that it serves “all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Beyond the excellent work the organization does, I like that it reaches its audiences on multiple levels. The handwritten card denotes time,an incentive for certain levels of donation and customer consciousness. Looking into World Vision’s web content, it is clear that the organization knows their audiences, where they click and meets them there.

A video and interactive map compose much of the landing page, but don’t overshadow nice orange tabs to programs, sponsorships, galleries and slide shows. Without overwhelming an audience member of any generation or web 2.0-savvy, World Vision presents great content. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channel links mark the top of the page, but don’t clutter any content.

Marketing Strategist David Meerman Scott looks to reaching various audiences as crucial to any online marketing. he notes that knowing what is important to your target demographic is key to success.

Here is World Vision’s recent YouTube Video requesting donations for Haiti featuring Hugh Jackman:

What are your thoughts? Should large nonprofit organizations switch completely to online marketing methods? If you are a donor, what correspondence and/or marketing reaches you best? If you work for a nonprofit organization, what methods of outreach compel the greatest response?

Aid to Haiti

sarahkassel — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:08:57 +0000

As death rates rise and aid continues to pour into Haiti post earthquake, it cannot come fast enough. There are no words to adequately describe this tragedy, and my thoughts are with those suffering and toiling. This post will outline resources available to donate to nonprofits working there.

The International Red Cross is a White House recommended organization. Donations are made here and fund medical aid and efforts to reunite families separated by this tragedy. Donations of $10 can also be made and charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

UNICEF has issued a call for $120 million to support relief efforts through its post in Port-Au-Prince. Donations support the children affected by this disaster and are made here.

CARE, mentioned in the Worldly Nonprofit here, is looking for donations to address the immediate needs of people affected by the earthquake, especially women and children. Donations are made here.

The sustainable development nonprofit in Cap Haitien, Konbit Sante, mentioned in an earlier post has set up an earthquake response fund to address the immediate needs of the country. Already contributing $25,000 from its reserves, monies contributed will go to the now air-lifted patients of Justinian hospital. Donations are made here.

Mercy Corps, a Portland, OR-based nonprofit mentioned here and here in the Worldly Nonprofit, is aggressively seeking donations to offer immediate humanitarian aid as well as offer psychological support and job infrastructure long-term. Donations are made here and by starting a fundraising page.

Doctors Without Borders is currently hoping to expand their surgical capacity and seek donations for their Emergency Relief Fund. Donations are made here.

Informationally, The American Red Cross has a good update-style blog. The White House blog contains timely informations about US efforts in Haiti. Included in the blog is a link for the Center for International Disaster Information. Mark Turner, former Financial Times journalist, writes from within Haiti in his Blog, Dispatches From a Fragile Island. The Charity Water website has a great blog with information photos and links to their partner organizations, Partners in Health and Concern Worldwide. Finally, the Facebook page, Global Disaster Relief is a tool for donation, connection and news updates.

Please add your input of other good nonprofit organizations and sites for information and donation.

Here is Obama’s statement yesterday after his call with President Preval of Haiti:

Sustainability and Konbit Sante

sarahkassel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:36:32 +0000

While not exactly an exercise in social media, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mention Konbit Sante. Hinging on the conversation about Direct Relief International, Konbit Sante recently partnered with the latter nonprofit to offer hurricane relief in Cap-Hatien, Haiti.

I had the opportunity to work with this Maine-based organization as a project for a nonprofit public relations class, and it is too spectacular not to mention. Working within the Justinian Hospital system, Konbit Sante strives to sustainably improve health care in northern Haiti.

In a country where poverty, food shortages and poor health care spell fatality, Konbit Sante makes a difference. They are finding success in their development model, Konbit Sante-creole for “together for health.”

Check out the site, and find out more about the nonprofit’s efforts in one of the world’s poorest countries.