Posted by
Corthell on Sunday, November 22, 2009 4:21:57 PM
''Getting donor fatigue? Another option is to vote for your favorite charity and have a large bank pick up the tab. Chase, the consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase, is donating a total of $5 million to more than 100 small and local nonprofits selected by votes from Facebook users.'' Despite the lingering economic
woes that most Americans are still feeling, only one in five plans to reduce donations to charity this holiday season, the American Red Cross found in a new survey. More Americans will cut back on travel, decorations, parties and gifts.
Nonetheless, charities are preparing for a possible drop in total giving this season, a recent Harris Interactive survey showed.
Mindful of the tough times, nonprofits are downsizing their appeals, hoping that more people would be willing to give in smaller amounts. They're also making the most of free social-media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and asking supporters to help them spread the word.
The United Way of King County recently launched its Give 10/Tell 10 campaign, which asks for $10 contributions to help struggling families hit by the recession avoid falling into homelessness. After making a gift on the site, donors have the option to pass on a message e-mailed to 10 friends, encouraging them to give, too. The charity is also using Twitter and Facebook to network, post links and share facts, such as "$25 = a week of food for a homeless person in Washington." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010321273_tweeting21m.html