Case Foundation charts a course for creating social change

Guest post by Michael Smith
The Case Foundation

Earlier this year, inspired by the need to find new ways to tackle entrenched problems, CEO Jean Case announced The Case Foundation’s intention to Be Fearless. In the tradition of the some of the greatest social movements of our time, we’re looking to join with our partners to be bold, take risks and “fail forward.” And we want you — the change-makers, the do-gooders, the funders and the connectors — to join us on this journey, too!

In the past few months, we’ve been working with partners to scour the landscape and define what it means to be fearless and outline a clear set of values that are at the root of every fearless approach to creating change.

Today, co-founders Jean and Steve Case will be interviewed by noted author, historian and CEO of the Aspen Institute, Walter Isaacson, about the Case Foundation’s 15 years in philanthropy and our current journey to Be Fearless. You’ll also hear from a distinguished group of our dynamic — and fearless — partners, including Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Tom Tierney, founder and chairman of the Bridgespan Group and Barbara Bush, CEO and co-founder of Global Health Corps.

Are you ready to Be Fearless? If so, please join us for a live online discussion about what it means to Be Fearless, to share your thoughts and to pledge to Be Fearless with us.Details:

What: The Case Foundation’s Be Fearless Campaign Launch
When: Today, June 4 – 2-4:30pm ET / 11am-1:30pm PT
Where: CaseFoundation.org/fearlesslive

Click here to let us know if you’ll be joining us. Virtual attendees will have the chance to win a signed copies of Isaacson’s biography “Steve Jobs” and other fun Be Fearless prizes.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter to @CaseFoundation using the hashtag #befearless, or on our Facebook page, where we’ll be discussing the principles of the campaign.

We can’t wait to begin our journey to Be Fearless with you!

The post It’s your chance to Be Fearless! appeared first on Socialbrite.

Competition lets you win up to $50,000 for your favorite charity

Yesterday the Case Foundation, Causes and Parade Publications kicked off the 2009 America’s Giving Challenge. It’s a 30-day nationwide online competition that encourages people to use their personal networks and social media to build cause communities that raise funds and recruit supporters for a nonprofit.

Nonprofits and individuals can get involved in two ways:

1. Champion a cause. Individuals who are passionate about a specific cause can become “cause champions” and will compete to obtain the most donations for their cause through the Causes application on Facebook.

2. Promote, donate or join a cause. All individuals are encouraged to take part in the Giving Challenge by joining, promoting and donating to the causes they care about. Facebook membership is not required to donate to a cause. Just go to Causes.com between now and Nov. 6 to win up to $50,000 for your favorite cause.

Today, for example, causes receiving the most votes so far include the National Inclusion Project, Angel Covers, FACE AIDS, Compassion International and Facilitating Leadership in Youth. I just donated to Think Autism. If you already support a cause on Facebook, opt in your existing cause.

The Case Foundation will award a total of $170,000 to the nonprofit beneficiaries of the causes. $50,000 goes to the cause with the most daily donations over the 30 days (you can donate as often as you’d like — say, as little as $10 — and each donation counts as a vote); second prize is $25,000. To keep people engaged, the sponsors are also awarding $1,000 each day to the cause with the most donations (not the most money raised); second prize is $500.

Network for Good is processing donations for the Challenge, and Parade magazine will help publicize the initiative with a cover story about the importance of giving by actor Matt Damon.

Campaign’s effective use of social media

Katya just wrote about the Challenge and said these efforts work because they take advantage of social networking, offer something measurable, provide a way to harness the power of your supporters, and offer a strong incentive to give. “I always say you need to answer four questions to get people to give money: why me? what for? why now? and who says? This kind of campaign answers all four well,” she writes.

Well said. The organizers of this event have made smart use of social media, and we’ll be watching to see what kind of traction it gets over the coming weeks.

Katya also offers these tips when trying to raise money for your cause in the Challenge:

1. The more personal the messaging, the better.

2. Donate yourself.  It’s not inspiring to see zero donations on a cause when you’re asking others to give.

3. Post links everywhere — on your site, blog, email signature, etc.

4. Send a link to all the people you know on Facebook and in your email address book.

5. Ask others with a following to help.  …

6. Focus on the people, not the money.  It’s about relationships. More on this from Joe at Causes.

More tips and resources are at exchange.causes.com.

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