Insights
Panto, office parties and the TV show Taskmaster are amongst the annual traditions that pivoted to an online format this Christmas to raise money for good causes
Online fundraising has had to step up a gear in this COVID-19 ravaged year, due to social distancing restricting face-to-face collections.
Perhaps no part of the year is as closely associated with charitable giving as this end-of-year period. The recent Blackbaud Charitable Giving Report showed that 35% of online giving took place in the last three months of 2019. 18% of all giving took place in December alone and this year is expected to follow suit.
Charities have been particularly innovative ahead of Christmas as they look to use digital to maximise donations at this traditionally lucrative time for fundraisers.
Here we take a look at some of the best digital charity Christmas campaigns in 2020.
Homeless Link has teamed up with Channel 4’s comedy TV series taskmaster for an innovative digital Christmas fundraising campaign.
Taskmaster features comedians completing ridiculous tasks. For Christmas, the show is offering people the chance to donate to charity by completing their own set of challenges, at home or via Zoom with friends, through an exclusive digital download video, featuring co-host Alex Horne.
Host your very own digital Taskmaster evening with the help of hairy assistant Little @AlexHorne (kindly on loan from @GDavies)! All the money raised will go to homeless charities across the UK via @HomelessLink.
— Taskmaster (@taskmaster)
Now available here: t.co/Ahhz4sB93q pic.twitter.com/zVeU9BkbHHHost your very own digital Taskmaster evening with the help of hairy assistant Little @AlexHorne (kindly on loan from @GDavies)! All the money raised will go to homeless charities across the UK via @HomelessLink.
— Taskmaster (@taskmaster) November 25, 2020
Now available here: https://t.co/Ahhz4sB93q pic.twitter.com/zVeU9BkbHH
A minimum donation of £10 is required to access the video. All proceeds go to membership charity Homeless Link, which will distribute the money to homelessness organisations this Christmas.
“If you donate £10, or more if you can afford it, you’ll receive an email or text with a link to an exclusive digital download video that’ll guide you through a Taskmaster evening or afternoon with people in your home or via things like Zoom.”
- Alex Horne
What are the most needed gifts for charities to hand out this Christmas?
In Kind Direct, which donates consumer goods from companies to charities, has the answer in its festive campaign - Christmas with Kindness. The campaign features an online resource to let companies know which gifts are most needed. This includes games, toys, toiletries and perfumes to give people a special Christmas.
These are items that disadvantaged families may not be able to afford, especially amid heightened financial uncertainty amid COVID-19.
The social media campaign focuses on the impact of the pandemic on families and the importance of Christmas.
At In Kind Direct, we are here to help.
— In Kind Direct (@InKindDirect)
Our Christmas with Kindness campaign launches with a range of essential products, so we can continue to get the most needed products to everyone who needs them.
Read more about the campaign here: t.co/ImFkaGtmmx pic.twitter.com/qIhqRVsRChAt In Kind Direct, we are here to help.
— In Kind Direct (@InKindDirect) November 3, 2020
Our Christmas with Kindness campaign launches with a range of essential products, so we can continue to get the most needed products to everyone who needs them.
Read more about the campaign here: https://t.co/ImFkaGtmmx pic.twitter.com/qIhqRVsRCh
“This pandemic has not been a ‘great leveller’, said In Kind Direct Chief Executive Rosanne Gray.
“We might all be in the same storm, but we are not in the same boat. The coming months will bring new challenges and increased demand for essential products as more households manage tighter budgets.”
- Rosanne Gray - Chief Executive, In Kind Direct
Mencap and Cancer Research UK are among charities to benefit from an online panto fundraising initiative this Christmas. The Original Online Panto Company is performing a digital panto of Sleeping Beauty from 14 December to 3 January, for online audiences.
Every time a stream is purchased part of the proceeds go to charities and UK arts organisations.
Calling all schools and fundraising projects. Message us if you want to know how you can take part in an amazing fund raising opportunity! #letssavechristmas
Posted by The Original Online Panto Company on Friday, 20 November 2020
The Original Online Panto Company is seeking more charities to benefit from its festive push, which it is promoting on social media with the hashtag #letssavechristmas.
Social distancing has cut short most workplaces’ Christmas party plans. An online campaign has launched that encourages firms to instead donate the cost of their cancelled party to charities.
Xmas Party Heroes is an online initiative created by property firm Landmark Group and branding agency WilsonCooke. The campaign helps firms to donate their entertaining budgets to good causes through its mobile fundraising partner Thinking of You. By early November, £500,000 worth of pledges had been received.
As well as a dedicated campaign website, Xmas Party Heroes is also promoting the campaign on social media using the hashtag #XmasPartyHeroes. It is also encouraging those taking part to share their involvement on their social media channels using the same hashtag.
Among the charities to benefit is Teenage Cancer Trust.
So many charities to choose to support with your company’s unused #Xmas staff party budget, including @TeenageCancer
— Xmas Party Heroes (@XmasPartyHeroes)
Will your company become #XmasPartyHeroes for them or any of the others on our website?t.co/OLX0BZRShU pic.twitter.com/JqoJYpzWWESo many charities to choose to support with your company's unused #Xmas staff party budget, including @TeenageCancer
— Xmas Party Heroes (@XmasPartyHeroes) November 26, 2020
Will your company become #XmasPartyHeroes for them or any of the others on our website?https://t.co/OLX0BZRShU pic.twitter.com/JqoJYpzWWE
“We can’t have an Xmas Party, and it didn’t feel fair to just retain the funds as charities are more in need than ever. So we will simply give the funds (and more) to charity.”
- Mark Hawthorn - Chief Executive, Landmark Group
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