Demonstrating the power of social media platforms to mobilize participation, raise awareness and generate support, America’s Giving Challenge has just concluded with $2.1 million raised by Facebook users in support of participating nonprofits.
The 30-day contest, sponsored by the Case Foundation, PARADE publications and the Facebook Causes application, challenged nonprofits to garner the most online donations, exclusively through the Causes application.
Winners included the Overseas China Education Foundation based in Houston, Texas, which received the $50,000 prize for the most donations received over the 30-day period. The foundation received 13,772 donations, and raised $156,637 in addition to the award money.
Two other causes won prizes of $25,000 each, while eight more nonprofits earned $10,000 each. Other causes received smaller awards starting at $500 for daily donation records.
A total of $245,000 was awarded during the contest, $150,000 of which was provided by the Case Foundation, $20,000 was funded by the Aspen Institute, and $75,000 was provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in a last-minute grant at the end of October.
Aside from the grant money, the contest successfully mobilized Facebook users to contribute to their favorite causes – more than 105,000 donations were made, totaling $2.1 million.
"America’s Giving Challenge proved that thousands of individuals and nonprofits were up to the task of utilizing both online and offline personal networks to encourage people to give to the causes they care about," said Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation. "The incredible number of donations and dollars raised demonstrates the potential for individual giving to have a significant impact, no matter how big or small the donation."
Facebook recently embarked on another philanthropic campaign, this time in partnership with JP Morgan Chase – the two companies launched a contest in which Facebook users vote which nonprofits will receive a total of $5 million in grants. 