tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962402423742010015.post6918807229575463138..comments2023-12-21T05:22:29.098-05:00Comments on Cause Global: Social Media for Social Change: Are 'Charities' Becoming Obsolete?Marcia Stepanekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00890455075715762494noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962402423742010015.post-69416103610859414332010-02-19T16:00:35.565-05:002010-02-19T16:00:35.565-05:00Good post, Jenny. Yes, the one-offs like Haiti-aid...Good post, Jenny. Yes, the one-offs like Haiti-aid and text-aid show that philanthropy is very much alive and well, but the traditional charity structures are struggling under the pressures of rapid change, diminishing resources, and new pressures for measurable results. <br /><br />I'm not saying charity is dead. I'm saying that traditional charities are finding themselves getting rapidly disintermediated (or forced into new roles) by newer, online models that engage new donors to participate in giving more directly and experientially. Traditional charities haven't been doing that, for the most part. Sure, there is change and some terrific new social media mavens at the Red Cross and Web and marketing whizzes at CARE that have helped to reinvent that organization from the ground up.<br /><br />But those organizations are examples of nonprofits that have been able to reinvent themselves in the face of change. Many "traditional" nonprofits, however, are still afraid to harness the Web and social media over fears about transparency and don't see any need in today's environment to reinvent themselves at all.<br /><br />Rather than learn how to use the tools, there are many charities that don't want to make the journey.<br /><br />The point here is that reinvention is inevitable; those who fail to embrace change will be trampled by it.Marcia Stepanekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00890455075715762494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962402423742010015.post-58096464364701180362010-02-19T11:55:58.775-05:002010-02-19T11:55:58.775-05:00I don't believe the traditional charity is dea...I don't believe the traditional charity is dead or dying. The outpouring of support for Haiti - $698 million so far, by some counts (most of which has been directed to "traditional charities" like the Red Cross and CARE) - shows a continued public willingness to donate to worthy causes and trustworthy charities. I do agree the recession needs to be an impetus for organizations to retool and innovate, to harness the power of social media and to diversify their funding streams so they can emerge stronger and better, with more supporters and greater impact. I don't think the rise of social media and social enterprise should be seen as threats to traditional charities; rather, I believe they are a testament to people's increasing desire to be involved in a community, and traditional charities have much to gain if they can tap into that. Traditional charities may have to change the way they operate to survive this economy, but that doesn't mean they'll become obsolete. They may have a different funding model and different marketing tools, but what they are at their core will remain the same - a group of people dedicated to bettering the world around them. And that heart, that mission, doesn't look any different from a traditional charity.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536096451529619750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962402423742010015.post-91281569059192340982010-02-16T13:25:33.375-05:002010-02-16T13:25:33.375-05:00Hi Marcia,
Excellent post. We at BBMG have been ...Hi Marcia,<br /><br />Excellent post. We at BBMG have been asking the very same question and have offered up some ideas on how traditional charities (what we call legacy brands) can reimagine and reinvent themselves to stay relevant in this marketplace. In case any of your readers are interested, here's a link to our (free) white paper on the topic: From Legacy to Leadership: Is Philanthropy Ready for the New Consumer? http://www.bbmg.com/enewsletter/l2l_whitepaper.html<br /><br />Thanks again for such a thought-provoking post!<br /><br />MirmMirm Kriegelhttp://www.bbmg.comnoreply@blogger.com