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Allyson Burns
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The America's Giving Challenge and Causes Giving Challenge raise more than $1.7 million online for their favorite causes and charities—in just 50 days
Participation and results reflect a diverse set of causes, charities, and champions with smaller and lesser-known groups having the greatest support and success
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Case Foundation, Causes on Facebook, and PARADE Magazine today announced the winners of the first-ever America's Giving Challenge and Causes Giving Challenge.
The twin efforts by the Case Foundation and its partners brought together hundreds of thousands of people, and encouraged more than 80,000 people to donate, while raising more than $1.7 million for thousands of causes. In addition to the total raised, the Case Foundation and its partners will award $750,000 to the causes supported by the "Champions" who were the most savvy and successful in using social networking sites, like Facebook, and Web 2.0 tools, like charity badges, for grassroots fundraising.
Launched December 13, 2007, and ending on January 31, 2008, the Challenges were accessible to anyone, anywhere, and focused on bringing new opportunities to give into peoples' everyday lives. Both Challenges introduced new and emerging technologies and social patterns to millions of people, and showed how they could be leveraged to democratize philanthropy, give voice to the central role played by small donors, and deepen civic engagement while increasing giving.
INTRODUCING TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD
The Challenges were designed to demonstrate opportunities for using "technology for good." They were also designed to accelerate consumer awareness and adoption of simple easy to use Web 2.0 tools.
The Causes Giving Challenge took place within the Causes on Facebook online community, where participants activated online social networks using the Causes application. And in the America's Giving Challenge, people created and distributed online charity badges — or "widgets" — to promote their cause, create new networks of supporters, and raise funds. They could also place charity badges on personal Web sites, e-mails, and social networking sites to act as a viral marketing tool for the nonprofit participants that supported them.
"We're so pleased with the response to both Challenges," Case Foundation CEO Jean Case said. "Each was different, each was fascinating to watch, and each pointed toward exciting new developments in online philanthropy that we can learn from as we seek to deepen civic engagement and expand giving."
Case continued, "Thousands of people embraced new technologies, built new online communities, and proved that simple daily actions and small donations can inspire others and tap into their energy and passion to make a difference."
SMALLER GROUPS MEET THE CHALLENGE
The Causes Giving Challenge saw a total of 32,886 donations accounting for $571,686 in donations supporting 747 organizations. More than 2,500 organizations were represented by causes created during the Challenge. The Causes Giving Challenge will award $50,000 to the cause with the most unique donors, $25,000 to the second and third place causes, and $10,000 to the next ten causes (listed below).
Throughout the Challenge, Causes on Facebook, in partnership with the Case Foundation, awarded daily winners $1,000 for having the most unique donations in a single day. Any Facebook user was empowered to participate by using the Causes application to promote their cause on Facebook through direct user-to-user messages, and feature it on their profile (see http://apps.facebook.com/causes/giving for full winner list.)
The America's Giving Challenge in PARADE magazine and on PARADE.com saw a total of 48,711 donations totaling more than $1.2 million, and supporting more than 600 organizations. This Challenge will award four national and four global charities $50,000 each for driving the most people to donate to their cause (listed below). One hundred additional charities will each receive $1,000 for attracting the most overall donations for their cause. (see http://parade.com/givingchallenge).
"The Causes team is thrilled to be working with the Case Foundation and PARADE to further elevate the potential of connected philanthropy," said Joe Green, Causes on Facebook co-founder. "The Giving Challenge is a great example of what we like to call equal opportunity activism, where any individual, no matter their background, and any organization, no matter their resources, is empowered to make a difference."
"The America's Giving Challenge was a huge success," says PARADE President & Publisher Randy Siegel. "We were excited to see how many of our readers embraced this innovative effort to promote online giving. We look forward to making an even greater impact in years to come."
CAUSES GIVING CHALLENGE WINNERS
As part of the Causes Giving Challenge, Causes on Facebook users could join a cause group and donate to a charity of their choice as well as encourage others to support a cause. Winners include:
PARADE'S AMERICA'S GIVING CHALLENGE WINNERS
The $50,000 national winners, sponsored through Network for Good, include:
The $50,000 global winners, sponsored through GlobalGiving, include:
