You may have seen the lead article on Third Sector online last week about a new website called 'See the Difference' which is aiming to raise millions for the charitable sector.
I have met with the team at See the Difference to formulate my own views and I am very excited by what I have learnt.
Where I think they can make a dramatic impact in our sector is in engaging a new, younger audience, and will embed a new kind of giving/sharing culture for future generations. These people are going to be vital to our long term sustainability.
See the Difference is a website portal – open to all charities, regardless of size. It harnesses the power of video, and the networking power of the internet to bring the vital work that charities do alive to what has been termed the new 'youtube generation'.
The site allows individual charities to upload videos about specific projects they are engaged in, and allows potential donors to search through the content for ones that particularly inspire them. Donors can share projects with friends and pass on content, in a similar way to the most up to date tools of Facebook and other online applications.
Most significantly, when each project is complete, all donors will receive feedback , showing them the specific difference their money has made. We know how vital this can be in encouraging repeat donations.
Backed by some big corporate businesses including Microsoft, EMC and McCann Erickson, and with a significant number of charities signed up already, the beta site launches at the end of the year.
If you’d like your charity to be included, and think you have some suitable video material available or would like support and mentoring help in making videos go to the See the Difference website to learn more and email See the Difference to register for one of the fortnightly briefings they are holding for charities. The team there will be happy to help.
It’s going to be a very exciting way to engage new younger donors for the longer term as an effective donation channel as costs will be minimal. I encourage you to embrace this excellent new tool, as part of our fundraising and marketing 'armoury'. I look forward to hearing your views.
Regards,
Lindsay Boswell
