Harry Hoover of Charlotte, North Carolina writes:
“I’d like to tap into the collective brains of Publicity Hounds. Since 2002, I have promoted a project each holiday season called Holiday For Charity. It encourages people to ask for charitable donations in their name in lieu of gifts. I’ve gotten solid local coverage of this program, but I’d like to take it up a notch. I’m hoping your readers can provide ideas to augment my plan. Here are my ideas:
–Local media relations with key media like Charlotte Observer, Business Journal, etc.
–PRWeb news release
–Story in my ezine
–Continuing coverage on my blog
–Post an article on social media sites
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Hi Harry,
I recently learned about http://goodsearch.com, a search engine that donates 50% of its revenues to charities and schools. The engine is powered by Yahoo and revenues are derived from advertisers. Perhaps they would be interested in forming a strategic alliance with you?
Best of luck,
Stephanie Chandler
http://BusinessInfoGuide.com ~ Resources for Entrepreneurs
I think you highlight to media the different focus of your charity.. the fact that you are not looking for donations per se but want other to change their gift receiving habits.
If I’m right then you might focus on headlines and releases that point this out because I don’t know of a charity that focuses on regifting.
The theme in these press release headlines might help you seize the idea:
Local Chairty Looking For Good reGifting Samaritans
Charity’s “reGifting R US” Campaign Kicks Off For The Holidays
Charity Gives The reGift Of Life To Local Needy
If you’ve been able to track some of the charities
that have benefitted from your efforts in the past,
tie in with their publicizing to expand even more.
It’s a wonderful cause you’re advocating here. And I know someone who did the same thing for her 18th birthday a few years ago. She was also pretty well-off and genuinely had a sincere heart. Instead of gifts, she asked for donations to be made to her favorite charity.
It sounds a little odd but didn’t new parents Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden ask friends to make donations instead of gifts as well?
I wonder what the etiquette consultants have to say about this.
Why not Google them, email them, tell them what you’re doing, and suggest they use that as fodder for their blogs, newspaper columns, newsletters or whatever.