Monthly Archive for May, 2010

Great reads from around the web on May 28th

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I come across so many great conversations, ideas, and resources all over the web every day. Here are some of the most interesting things I’ve found recently (as of May 28th). You can join the conversations in the comments, or click through to the original posts to find what others are saying.

To follow more of the things I find online, you can follow @amysampleward on Twitter (which is just a blog and resource feed), or find me on Delicious (for all kinds of bookmarks).

  • YouTube Goes Fully Social And Challenges Facebook | Community Organizer 2.0 – "Today, YouTube announced that every single YouTube channel now comes equipped with a moderator feature. It’s an incredibly exciting step to see YouTube becoming fully social. The moderator feature allows any channel to ask for ideas, questions, or suggestions from the community..right from your YouTube channel. Users may vote the crowdsourced ideas up or down. By integrating Google moderator, YouTube has brought real time engagement features into play and made it 100% more engaging."
  • Explaining racial differences in attitudes towards government use of social media | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project – "Last week a reporter from the New York Times read our recent Government Online report and emailed me with a question—how did I explain the disparity between African-Americans' and Hispanics' views of the importance of government social media versus whites? Did I think it had anything to do with minorities being more trusting of the government during the Obama era? Since my reply got pared down due to space constraints, I’m reproducing my response to his query in full below."
  • The new JustGiving Facebook app is here « JustGiving blog – JustGiving has a new facebook application out! It launches alongside the current JustGiving application for Facebook which was launched in 2007, which has seen over a half million users – and over 139,000 active in the past month – and over 9500 fans. The JustGiving team is always great about sharing stories, lessons, and insights – so I'll be watching to see how this new tool goes!
  • Wild Apricot Blog : Make Your Own Infographic – "Infographics are to data what storytelling is to an annual report: a more engaging way to help bring attention and understanding to your nonprofit’s cause. Yesterday we looked at an interesting infographic that suggested a new way to view your volunteers. Today, let’s look at infographics in general – and resources to help your nonprofit get started on making your own."
  • Minnesota Open Idea: Crowdsourcing Contest For Social Change Done Right | Beth’s Blog – "The Minnesota Open Idea is an example of an online social good contest that works. It combines expert judging with popular vote, online strategy with good old fashion off line organizing, links objectives to a theory of change, and incorporates a fun and engaging way for people to learn about and take action on a timely community problem. In this interview, Jennifer Ford Reedy, VP for Strategy and Knowledge Management, at the Minnesota Community Foundation shares the how they designed this online social good contest for success."
Published on May 28, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 0 Comments

Notes from Webinar: Social Media for Organizations

Published in presentation and socialmedia. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Earlier this month, I had the great pleasure and honor to lead a webinar with Lori Jacobwith‘s community. It was an introduction to social media, especially focused on what organizations (regardless of size) can start doing today.  I had a bit of fun with it, especially with the pictures on the slides, by using a party metaphor: Social Media for Organizations: Enjoy Your Own Party!

Here are the slides (Hint: visit the slideshare site by clicking on the link below to see the speaking notes as well!)

Social Media for Organizations: Enjoy Your Own Party

Questions and Discussion

One question that arose was about communication planning. Aspiration has a great resource that they call the Publishing Matrix. You can check it out, download it, and use for free!  I’ve also blogged before about how to map your community and content.

Participants were also curious to dive in more deeply to the listening dashboard. You can see the public dashboard on nonprofit technology that I have set up at http://netvibes.com/amysampleward.  I also have a step-by-step guide to creating one yourself.

Getting started with social media can be a hurdle for many simply because of the new words, terms, and jargon. As part of the Social by Social handbook, we created a jargon buster and A-Z of terms – could be helpful to participants on this webinar, and to anyone looking to share easy to understand definitions of these new concepts.

If you were a participant on the webinar – what questions do you still have? If you weren’t, but you have questions or ideas to share, please do!

Thanks again to Lori for inviting me to participate and engage with your community – I had a blast at the party ;)

Published on May 26, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 2 Comments

The Chicken or the Egg of Crowdfunding

Published in fundraising. 10 Comments Tags: , , .

Debra Askanase wrote a thought-provoking piece on Idealware called Tribe Leaders and Social Network Fundraising Thoughts – and, well, it got me thinking!

Debra discusses the various tools available but focuses in on “tribes” – a concept most attributed to Seth Godin – emphasizing that crowdfunding (“using the collective funds of a group of people to raise money for a venture, organizaiton, or cause”) is most successful when you have already discovered/identified and connected with the natural leaders within your community and supported them to campaign or fundraise on your behalf.  This is not something I disagree with completely, but when it comes to crowdfunding, I think it’s a “chicken or the egg” discussion.

The Chicken

We have many different platforms where individuals can create campaigns or fundraising appeals that benefit themselves, registered organizations/charities, or groups and clubs. And people are doing it – raising money, promoting campaigns, leveraging the power of online social networks to spread and distribute their message, appeal and influence.

The Egg

We also have organizations spending time finding the latest new tools and ensuring their organization is listed in the bucket of possible organizations to benefit.  Ensuring that regardless of which platform an inspired individual or group prefers to use, they will be able to find and select that organization to benefit.

The Debate

So, which comes first? Which is the one to follow? It’s the inevitable, enduring debate that they are so tied together we can argue til we are blue in the face without getting very far.

If your organization isn’t listed, then of course no one is going to be fundraising for you. But just because you’re listed on every possible platform, doesn’t mean you’ll get a single penny.

My response is always the “middle road” of sorts:

  1. find the platforms that are most aligned with your work and activities and the places your community uses most
  2. ensure that your organization is listed on those platforms for anyone that wants to find you
  3. create a space on your website for people looking to create personal projects or campaigns in your benefit: give them the materials, logos, content/copy and all the appropriate links and instructions on how to select your organization and create a campaign on their preferred platform
  4. remind your community that you’re there and highlight the stories of those that do use crowdfunding to benefit you (no better way to talk about yourself than by telling the story of those who did something for you!)

What do you think? Is it really a chicken or the egg debate? How has your organization tackled the issue?  If you have ever created a fundraising campaign yourself to benefit an organization, how did you choose who to benefit? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Published on May 24, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 10 Comments

Get your nonprofit marketing questions answered!

Published in interview and marketing. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

I’m really excited for my friend and colleague, Kivi Leroux Miller for her new book The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause. I’m even more excited to say that this blog will be part of her virtual book tour in June!  There will be an interview with Kivi posted on the blog on June 24th – but it’s going to be with your questions!

Submit your questions about The Nonprofit Marketing Guide today:

  • Simply leave a question in the comments here to participate
  • I’ll submit all questions to Kivi on June 5th, so only questions posted before then will be included

I’m really looking forward to gathering great questions from you all and hearing and learning from Kivi as she responds! She’s a great voice on nonprofit marketing and I think participating in the virtual book tour will be fun and valuable.  Let the questions begin!

Published on May 23, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 1 Comment

Reviewing Tweetnotes from The Extraordinaries

Published in webtools. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Tweetnotes is one of the newest tools from The Extraordinaries. Between SXSWi and 10NTC, I’ve now used it a handful of times and do really like it. I also think it can be better! You can see the embeded versions of the tool on my blog here and here, or you can see examples on the original site for the SXSWi session, Net2 Open Space session, Community Building session, or the Online Campaigning session.

Here’s my list of things I like and things I hope can be improved.

I like it!

  • Embeds: I really like that the entire dashboard is embedable – helping keep the resources and value emerging from the community accessible and transportable.
  • Integration: I think that the ability to pull in a google document, slides, notes, and so on really adds to the value of the tool – it also separates it from many of the other tweet-pooling tools out there.
  • Voting: The functionality to vote on tweets, pulling out the ones that people find interesting, valuable or pertinent has the potential to add a special dynamic to the tweet pool.

I want to improve it!

  • Lag: As with many tools, especially during conferences, the lag can really impact a tool’s reception. I found that in most of my sessions, the lag meant tweets took far too long to show up in the dashboard and I was using Tweetdeck to follow what people were saying in real time – pointing them to the dashboard for all the resources and as a place to find the tweets after the session.
  • Tabs management: I wish that the administrators of a dashboard could create tabs (within reason) for separate resources so that you could have a separate tab for the slides or notes, and another for pulling in a google doc-survey, and another for a google doc for real-time notes or something.  I think the ability to separate resources by tab could really help.
  • Voting: I listed this as something I like because I see potential there. But, at least in the times I’ve used it, people weren’t voting because they needed to create an account and sign in to do so (not many people were going to take the time during a session or discussion to do so).  Maybe there is also another way to show tweets that the community likes, too – like most RTs or something.
  • Hashtag: I would love to be able to include multiple hashtags or search terms – especially if the dashboard is going to be used in non-conference settings where people may be using variations on a name or event, etc.

What I really like most about Tweetnotes is the potential use in a wide variety of situations. I’ve used it in conferences where you want to be able to pool resources, slides, and conversations into one place. But what about the use in emergency response or breaking news? We’ve already seen people come to hashtags or streams fairly quickly in reaction to global events – this could be an easy way to capture the streams, pull out resources, images, and news sources, and so on – in real time!  Or, for use in campaigns, either for those wanting to track a campaign or as part of the public-facing campaign map.

Have you used Tweetnotes? What do you think? Did you view or participate in the Tweetnotes dashboards from one of the above sessions? What would you improve and what did you like best?

Published on May 23, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 6 Comments

Great reads from around the web on May 20th

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I come across so many great conversations, ideas, and resources all over the web every day. Here are some of the most interesting things I’ve found recently (as of May 20th). You can join the conversations in the comments, or click through to the original posts to find what others are saying.

To follow more of the things I find online, you can follow @amysampleward on Twitter (which is just a blog and resource feed), or find me on Delicious (for all kinds of bookmarks).

  • Social Media Strategy for Nonprofits and Businesses – Debra's latest post has a list of ten guiding principles for social media in our work – they aren't necessarily new, but they are incredibly important and true! "A recent Reuter’s article: Top Ten Trends in Sustainable Business, focuses on the best trends in “green business,” I’m struck by how many of the points are applicable to sustainable social media. Here are my top trends in sustainable social media (hat tip to Reuters)."
  • AGC Coversational Case Studies: Students for a Free Tibet: A mindful social media strategy for campaigns or contests – Beth Kanter and Allison Fine are evaluating the second America's Giving Challenge and are sharing case studies from the winners. They are hoping to start conversations and hear feedback about the competitions, the fundraising techniques and more. This is the latest in the series. What do you think?
  • Nonprofit Marketing Plan Template | Nonprofit Marketing | Getting Attention – Here's a great resource from Nancy Schwartz – if you're looking for an example or template to help you create a marketing plan for your organization, this is it! "I outlined the value of planning and evaluating your nonprofit marketing in a recent post, and clearly hit a nerve. Many of you are frustrated by “just doing it,” and feeling that your nonprofit communications impact suffers as a result. And I heard from many of you eager to plan, but not knowing how to start or where to find the time. In response to your requests, I’ve developed this ready-to-use nonprofit marketing plan template for you to download."
  • ClientTrack | Win ClientTrack Express – "For the first time in our company's history, we are giving away one full use license of ClientTrack Express for one (1) year, including the server space required at our secure data location. The software helps social service organizations enhance how they collect, use, and report client information (compliance reports, outcomes reporting, and more). The total value of the prize could be up to $7,200! Interested organizations can register to win and find out more at http://www.clienttrack.com/WinClientTrackExpress.aspx But, it's only going until June 4th, 2010, so they'll need to get on it pretty quick to be part of it."
  • Facebook Limits Landing Tabs To “Authenticated Pages” – "This afternoon Facebook announced via the developer forum that Facebook Pages now need to be authenticated in order to have landing tabs. This means any new visitor to your Facebook Page will not be able to land on a custom tab unless you have greater than 10,000 fans or the Page administrator has worked with an ads account representative. This is a massive blow to smaller companies (or individuals) looking to build their presence through Facebook Pages."
Published on May 20, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 4 Comments

Great reads from around the web on May 17th

Published in roundup. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I come across so many great conversations, ideas, and resources all over the web every day. Here are some of the most interesting things I’ve found recently (as of May 17th). You can join the conversations in the comments, or click through to the original posts to find what others are saying.

To follow more of the things I find online, you can follow @amysampleward on Twitter (which is just a blog and resource feed), or find me on Delicious (for all kinds of bookmarks).

  • HOW TO: Turn Slacktivists into Activists with Social Media – "Throughout the non-profit world, organizations struggle with social media’s impact on the volunteer and donor cycle. The rise of “slacktivism” — doing good without having to do much at all — challenges organizations to rethink the way they cultivate their core volunteers and donors. There are some important social media strategies for transforming those one-click “slacktivists” into fully engaged activists. Here are five tips from some of the best in the non-profit business."
  • In Effort to Boost Reliability, Wikipedia Looks to Experts – Digits – WSJ – "Wikipedia is teaming with universities in a bid to entice professors and their students to beef up its coverage of complicated public-policy topics — part of a move by the online encyclopedia to strengthen editing and fill in gaps in its articles. The Wikimedia Foundation, which finances and oversees the nonprofit site, received a $1.2 million grant from the Stanton Foundation to work with academic experts on Wikipedia articles related to public policy, which could include everything from political theory to legislative history and issues such as health reform and science. The goal is to get professors — and, in turn, their students — involved in producing more articles on public policy and improving the quality of the articles that already exist."
  • The Next Generation of American Giving – Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media – frogloop – Here is a great guest post from Jocelyn Harmon on the Care2 Frogloop blog: "“Our donors are aging-out.” “We need to attract younger donors.” “We need to be on Facebook.” These are some of the common refrains I hear from nonprofits. It seems that everyone is trying to bring younger donors into the fold. But what does younger mean? Does it mean connecting with the Baby Boomers, creating a gateway to the Millenials, or both? And, how do you do it? Should you buy a list of 50 – 60 year olds, or should someone on your staff become savvier with email marketing and social media? A new study, by Convio, Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies, The Next Generation of American Giving: A study on the contrasting charitable habits of Generation Y, Generation X, Baby Boomers and Matures, answers these questions, and more. See an overview of the findings below."
  • ChatRoulette : Web Ecology Project – "This paper represents an initial study of ChatRoulette.com, conducted between February 6th and 7th, 2010 by researchers in attendance at Web Ecology Camp III in Brooklyn, NY. We sampled 201 ChatRoulette sessions, noting characteristics such as group size and gender. We also conducted 30 brief interviews with users to inquire about their age, location, and frequency of ChatRoulette use."
  • Twitter tactics – Louder.org.uk campaigning resources and info – "Twitter is growing at gigantic rate, experiencing 1,500% growth in the last year (for more stats see The State and Future of Twitter 2010). For those who are not converts it does seem to be the latest in a line of social media tools that everyone thinks you should be using. But what is in it for campaigners trying to bring about social change? Below sets out three main ways in which campaigners have already been using Twitter in their work to get you thinking and there are also three great examples to illustrate. Please add any experiences or thoughts of your own."
Published on May 17, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 4 Comments

New on SSIR: How Our Tools Define “Community”

Published in community and otherblogs. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

This is my latest post on the Stanford Social Innovation Review opinion blog.
Read the original post and conversation here.

—–

I’ve talked about issues and ideas over the last year about the use of certain tools or platforms in the social technology for social impact sector, from Causes to Ideablob to Ning.  These conversations have moved through a version of the stages of grief: outrage, doubt, fear, wonder.  We’re now, as a community, emerging into a great place and ready to figure out what we do now.  How do we create a better way of building?

Through these discussions, I find myself creating the never-ending pro and con list, or if-then clauses.  Yes, we know where we want to go (kind of); but we are also very much here right now.  Looking at our tools, I can’t help be stop for a minute to examine what they are doing to define our communities and what “community” even means.

Here are four of the biggest examples I see as to how some of the most popular tools at our disposal for “community building” online are actually not community-centric tools at all.

Numbers do not equal Activity

Many tools—whether it’s a page, a group, or a network—focus on numbers.  The number of fans on your facebook page is one of the core features on the landing page, the number of Ning network members is the same, and again with Twitter, etc. I can’t think of a tool that doesn’t put that number right in front of you.  But, I could have a million in my “community” without a single one of them “doing” anything.  Sheer numbers don’t mean activity.  And activity is what makes a community grow and thrive.

Opportunity for Community Builders:

Use the functionality options you are given (even if extremely limited) to put activity (even activity numbers if you have to) at the forefront.

“Market” does not equal “Community”

The reliance on advertising is becoming more and more visible throughout the social media space, most recently in Ning’s move to require all network creators to pay with the exception of educators (with an emphasis on using ads to offset payments). As digital citizens we are not against advertising and promotions online, per se, but have come to accept them as part of the space where we live, work, and hang out (just like offline).  But, offline, we can create community spaces that are free from advertising.  Many of the tools popular right now don’t provide that option (obviously unless you want to pay for it).  But, your community may want to feel like it’s a community – not a market.

Opportunity for Community Builders:

Look for tools that provide the options your community wants when it comes to ads or other non-community content. (Don’t be afraid to just ask them what they want!)

Owners do not equal Leaders

Pretty much every tool requires someone to “host” it or own it: to be the first administrator, to set it up, to pay for it, etc. But there are very few communities online, at least that I’ve experienced, where that person is one of the “community leaders.”  Most all communities have various roles that members self-select or grow into.  These roles may include welcomers, trainers, supporters, creators, moderators, and leaders. By it’s very nature, a community does not have an owner—all the members are owners.  Many tools create opportunity for the owner to stand in the spotlight, without much attention going to the other, more appropriate, roles.

Opportunity for Community Builders:

Look for ways to spotlight, recognize, and thank the community members who are taking an active role to lead and support the community who aren’t automatically spotlighted in the “owner” profile.

1 Community does not equal All Communities

The inherent problem with adopting many tools is that the options, functionality, and flexibility are limited. But, not all communities function, need the same options, or even want to operate online in the same way as others.  This also points to one of the big issues in strategic development: it isn’t just about knowing where your audience is, but know what they want to do – those may not always match up and it may be the case that a catalyst (you?) can step in to help provide the space where they can do what they want.

Opportunity for Community Builders:

If you see a tool/network not being used by your community the way it has done with others, don’t assume that people aren’t getting it or need training or help – maybe the tool just isn’t right for the community’s goals. Strive to be a catalyst (a spark that creates but doesn’t own) for finding and creating appropriate spaces with the appropriate tools.

Many of our current tools require us to operate as spider networks, with a traditional hierarchy and distribution of responsibility (aka power), instead of starfish communities where we can be share and distribute responsibility, and develop in an agile, organic way.  A spider network may be appropriate for some groups and communities.  But, is it right for yours? What are your tools deciding about your community?  What have you done to redefine “community” for your network?

(For more on the metaphor used above, visit The Spider and The Starfish.)

Published on May 7, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 6 Comments

Guest Post on Online Community Report: Sustainable Community Building

Published in community and strategy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

This is a guest post I wrote for the Online Community Report.
You can find the original post and the community there.

—–

I love my community. Whether I’m talking about my role at NetSquared, my blog, or my network of friends, I am inspired every day and find value in, and rewards for, my participation. Regardless of whether I feel like, or am trying to be, a community builder, the community always provides opportunities for others to join me. These spaces are built on distributed power and that makes the community a moving, growing, living thing that I am a part of, rather than a weight, trouble, or burden that I’m responsible for.

But, it ain’t easy. Being a Community Builder (I refuse, on principle, to use the word Manager) is a lot of work. So, how do you do it without losing sleep or sanity?

Here’s my 3×3 to Sustainable Community Building.

1. There are no short cuts.

Lead by example
Interact, use tools, and create and share content the way you want your community members to do so. Seeing you leave a comment, or share a resource, will model the desired behavior so others can see what to do (especially if they are new to social media or new to your community) and how to do it (especially if they are new to your tool or platform).

Operate in public
When it comes to “administrator” or “moderator” activity, always conduct it in public unless it requires or involves personal information. Don’t send a private welcome message – do it in public so others can benefit (they too can see, join in, and find someone new)! Don’t remove or edit contributions, but leave a comment to suggest how they can be improved. If there’s offensive or inappropriate behavior, note it in public so others can learn what’s okay and what isn’t, and feel empowered to help moderate as a community.

Ask for feedback and help
Asking for help or ideas means that 1.) you trust the community, 2.) you know that your community is valuable and smart, and 3.) you are interested in collaborating (not dictating). Don’t be shy about it – post blog entries or conversation starters, share your own feedback (operate in public), and provide places for the community to share ideas or feedback at any time (not just on specific ideas or proposals).

2. Know your community.

Let the community know itself: Working in networks means that the “center” (that’s you) is no better than any of the other parts. You don’t have all the answers, all the information, all the best jokes. So, help your community know its self. Messages shouldn’t just be about you, stories shouldn’t just be about you. Find content and value from the community that you can help put the spotlight on; find stories and changemakers from the community that you can support. Make connections and introductions.

Know your role: Knowing your community means figuring out what they need from you, how they need your help, how they need you to help them to succeed. Some communities may need a “manager” to help keep everything moving along, and others may need an “operator” to make connections and recommendations. Some communities need a “friend” to share ideas and honest feedback, others may need a “champion” that can help push ideas and opportunities forward. Find your role (by asking for feedback and help!) and take pride in operating the way your community needs.

Help it grow: Part of knowing your community means recognizing when it needs new blood, a fresh wind, or a change of pace. That doesn’t always mean just one or the other. New blood = new members. If this is the case then help the community to promote itself and attract others interested in participating. Fresh wind = new topics or ideas. Sometimes, conversation can grow stagnant and ideas can fail to materialize into projects. It is your role to help find new inspiration. Change of pace = new way of operating. This may mean that the community has outgrown its facebook group and needs someone (you) to help move it onto the next platform/space where it can do more. You may need to be the one willing to say what everyone’s thinking and take on the task of making change.

3. Strive to be replaced.

Encourage interaction without you
The goal of operating in public and leading by example is to enable the community to know how to operate without you. There can be interaction and exchange without your permission. There can be conversation without your moderation. Encourage the community to take control by giving them the responsibility and opportunity to do so.

Reward and spotlight leaders
Your goal should be to be replaced by other community members, as this means that you’ve created something so valuable, with members so dedicated to it, that they are willing to steer the ship and man the sails themselves. To begin nurturing those who may become the captains, start highlighting members who are contributing value. Shine the spotlight on those taking on extra responsibility. Operate in public by thanking them for their work in a way that’s visible to the whole community.

Share your toolbox
There’s no way that the community can take responsibility and contribute equally with you if you hold the key to a hidden set of tools. Open up all functionality to anyone who has proven their elevated role in the group. Share resources like strategies, best practices, and examples with the community so everyone can learn and contribute at the level you do. By sharing resources, you’ll probably find that the community has some to share back that will make your work even better, too!

But remember: all communities are unique, just like the members that comprise them. You can’t expect every group to operate the same way as others, or for one successful example to hold true in another setting. Communities are made up of people and the best approach you can have is to remain human. Organizations are buildings: they aren’t any fun, they aren’t very conversational, and they’re often made of neutral colors. You’re a human: you’re passionate, you’re interesting, and you have something to say. So even if you have different tools, different ideas, and different goals from one community to the next throughout your work, remember to stay human.

For more on my experience with community building, read Online Community Building: Gardening vs Landscaping.  To get the original post on the Online Community Report, click here.

Published on May 7, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 0 Comments

Show Your Love on Mother’s Day for Your Mom & Mama Lucy

Published in campaigns and community. 8 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Last year, using the theme of gratitude and TweetsGiving, Epic Change catalyzed the global community to help build a school in Tanzania. The work they have done with Mama Lucy has been incredible and the school is now serving over 400 children.

For Mother’s Day, Epic Change wants to help Mama Lucy realize another dream – to build a home on campus where in-need children will live. Towards that end, Epic Change has created an online collaborative art project to honor moms across the globe called To Mama With Love. The call-to-action is to create a “heartspace” for a mom you love consisting of words, photos and video.

As Stacey Monk, the founder and CEO of Epic Change, explains:

With www.ToMamaWithLove.org, we hope to build this home out of the love we share for moms across the globe.  Just imagine.
According to the LA Times, this year Americans alone will spend $14.6 billion on Mother’s Day.  Imagine if the gifts we gave made the world a better place for children & mamas everywhere.

Here’s mine:

Happy Mother’s Day, mom! (For more love to my mom, check out my Ada Lovelace Day post, too!)

What I Like:

The elements of this campaign that I like are the same ones that Epic Change always gets right:

  1. Time sensitive: Mother’s Day is this Sunday in the US and this campaign creates an easy to understand timeline for participation + real impact
  2. Real Impact: The changes and impact are always real, visible, and important, and Stacey and all those involved do a great, consistent job of sharing the stories of the kids (and Mama Lucy) benefiting.
  3. From the Heart: Just like Tweetsgiving, and everything that Mama Lucy is doing in Tanzania, the To Mama with Love campaign is all from the heart. It’s honest and simple and creates great ways for people to share love and passion for each other (opposed to all those campaigns built on fear or anger).
  4. Real People: Just like the element of real impact, this campaign and Tweetsgiving both succeed because they are created by, benefit, and involve real people, being themselves.  At the end of the day, we are humans. We don’t need to pretend we aren’t.

How You Can Share:

  • Visit http://www.tomamawithlove.org/ to see the heartspaces already popping up on the map from around the world
  • Use #tomamawithlove in Twitter
  • Create a heartspace and share your story! (You can see the one Stacey made here.)
  • Join the streaming conversation! You can connect with others via voice or video on Friday – find out more here!

Thanks so much, Mama Lucy, for all the hard work and dedication you have devoted to the kids and community.  And thank you, to my mom, for all your love!

Published on May 5, 2010 by Amy Sample Ward. 8 Comments