hope140 blog

#worldwaterday: How Twitter and the Power of Birthdays Can Change the World

A Guest Post by Paull Young of charity:water

Today is World Water Day. It’s a day to recognize that nearly 800 million people on our planet still live without access to life’s most basic need: clean, safe drinking water. That’s 1 in 8 of us. At charity: water we’ve learned that the power of birthdays can change those stats, and that Twitter can play a huge role in getting the message out.

Why birthdays? charity: water began in 2006 with a birthday party. Founder Scott Harrison was turning 31 and decided to ask for donations to water projects instead of birthday presents. He used 100% of the money raised at his birthday to fund six water projects for a refugee camp in Uganda.

Since then, we’ve moved thousands of people to ‘give up’ their birthdays and ask for donations instead of gifts. Millions of dollars have been raised through this simple idea on our fundraising platform mycharitywater.org. Every cent directly funds clean water projects and we prove every completed project with photos and GPS coordinates on Google Maps.

Twitter has been a key tool for birthday campaigners to promote their birthday campaigns and drive donations from their friends. Twitter has consistently been one of the tools that has driven the most traffic to our fundraising site mycharitywater.org.

Today we’re asking the world to join us in pledging to give up a birthday for clean water at http://charitywater.org/birthdays and then to publicly announce their pledge with a tweet.

We hope you can join us!

Empowering Global Change on World Water Day

Guest Post by Mike McCamon, Chief Community Officer, Water.org

Most everyones’ true nature is to help others and make a difference. Unfortunately not every cause can benefit from you picking up a hammer and lending a hand from your own backyard. Such is the nature with most international development causes and in particular the water and sanitation crisis.

But we wanted to change all that.

International development is best done local. Local partners, local technology, and local participation. The proven approach is by empowering those affected by a crisis to solve their own challenges, solutions will be successful and in the long-term sustainable. Hopping on a plane, flying half-way around the globe, and pitching in for a few days does help, but there had to be more efficient ways to have an impact.

While the developed world can provide learnings, resources, charity, and financing, some of the most important work we can do is advocating for the billions who survive through harsh life conditions every day. And not just the big moments, but the everyday moments. “Where will I get my drinking water tomorrow,” or equally important “where will I use the toilet?” are everyday questions asked by billions each day.

So we turned to social media, and in particular Twitter, to empower those in the developed world, in advocating for change. And not just the celebrities, but for all of us. If last century we were all famous for 15 minutes, in the online world, surely each of us will be famous for 15 friends.

From a modest start, now over 35,000 people at one time or another have signed up to “Donate their Voice” to the water crisis. With help from both the somebodies and the nobodies, these campaigns have generated over 45 million online impressions, raised the visibility of the water crisis to historic heights, and most importantly, provoked conversations.

And all you have to do is donate your voice. Join us this week as we celebrate World Water Day and signing up to make a difference. We’d also be honored if you followed @water as we advocate for safe water and a dignity of a toilet for everyone in our lifetime.

Free to Tweet: Celebrating Digital Free Speech

Guest Post by Ken Paulson, President, First Amendment Center

James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and the boys would have been all over Twitter.

There’s no question that the nation’s founding fathers would have embraced social media as a logical extension of their own commitment to freedom of speech and press. Today’s digital marketplace of ideas is exactly what they had in mind.

That intersection of traditional American freedoms and emerging technologies is at the heart of a new educational effort called “Free to Tweet,” a campaign organized and supported by a coalition of educators, librarians, artists and journalists to remind young people about the value of these core freedoms.

There’s a lot of reminding to be done. Only three percent of Americans can name the five freedoms of the First Amendment, reflecting a lack of attention to these core liberties in the nation’s classrooms. Surveys show that young people can far more readily name the lead characters of The Simpsons than the freedoms of speech, press, religion, petition and assembly.

To help build understanding, we’re using Twitter (follow us @1forallus) as a platform for an unprecedented campaign in support of the Bill of Rights. On December 15, young people between the ages of 14-22 who tweet in support of the First Amendment will be entered into a competition in which they can win one of 22 $5,000 scholarships by using the hashtag #freetotweet.

The contest, funded by the Knight Foundation, is tied to the 220th birthday of the Bill of Rights, a largely forgotten date in American history.

It’s not as though no one ever attempted to give this day the respect it deserves. On Aug. 21, 1941, a joint resolution of Congress called on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to designate a day in honor of the Bill of Rights.

On Nov. 28 , 1941, the Los Angeles Times reported that “President Roosevelt today called on the American people to observe Dec. 15 as ‘Bill of Rights Day,’ to cherish the ‘immeasurable privileges which the charter guaranteed’ and to rededicate its principles and practice.” FDR called on government officials to fly the flag and for all Americans to “observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and prayer,” noting that Adolf Hitler’s greatest fear was our freedom of speech, press and religion.

Then came Pearl Harbor and World War II, and the national celebration never really caught on. It’s the holiday that got away.

We’re trying to remedy that with a virtual rally on behalf of First Amendment freedoms on its 220th birthday.

All Americans are urged to join us in tweeting on Dec. 15 and help generate the kind of attention and energy that this date so richly deserves.

The irony is that most of us honor the Fourth of July because we believe it’s a day on which Americans secured their freedom. But the truth is that the Declaration of Independence really only secured freedom for white and wealthy men. It took freedom of speech, press, religion, petition and assembly — the five freedoms of the First Amendment — to lead to suffrage for women, the emancipation of slaves and equality for all.

Twitter is the perfect platform for conveying freedom of speech in as quick and contemporary a manner as possible. James Madison would be proud.

Twitter Ads for Good Program: FAQ

What is the Twitter Ads for Good Program?

The Twitter Ads for Good Program is one aspect of the Twitter for Nonprofits Program. See a full list of what the Twitter for Nonprofits program offers here.

Who Can Benefit from Twitter Ads for Good?

The Twitter Ads for Good Program is Split Into Three Separate Funds:

The Global Fund: This fund offers any registered non-profit a chance to amplify their campaign. Recipients of this fund specify an upcoming effort and request promoted Tweets or a promoted accounts as a way to reach beyond their regular audience and create special awareness of an effort. Additionally, any non-profit that pays for promoted tweets or promoted accounts advertising on Twitter is eligible for a 20% discount.

The Crisis Relief Fund: This fund ensures that critical information from relief partners reaches the widest relevant audience during natural disasters and other immediate emergencies. These partners are pre-determined and offer both preventative and post-disaster response messaging.

The Community Fund (San Francisco): This fund focuses on the needs of non-profits in the communities in which Twitter, Inc. operates, starting with San Francisco. This program offers pro-bono ad space to organizations that enhance the lives of local residents and municipal bodies.

How Do Organizations Participate?

Any 501c3 can apply for a grant starting with the Contact Form on our Hope140.org site. Organizations must have a clear need for initiating a Twitter campaign. Grantees are required to track the impact and report back on what they were able to accomplish. Impact reports are critical to our understanding of the real value of these grants and in understanding best practices in this realm.

How Do We Chose Which Organizations Receive Twitter Ads for Good Grants?

Twitter wants to remain as agnostic as possible. That means all applications are approved as long as the organization seeking a grant is confirmed to have 501c3 status and has a clear campaign focus. Given the demand, applicants should apply six months in advance of their desired campaign.

Does the Twitter Ads for Good Program Offer Grants for All Twitter’s Ad Products?

At this time the program only offers grants for promoted Tweets and Accounts.

Where Can I Apply?

Fill in the form here.

Twitter for Nonprofits Program

Since the day we launched our first advertising product in April of 2010, we’ve been supporting non-profits with pro-bono and discounted access to our promoted products on a daily basis. Specifically, our Promoted Tweets for Good and Promoted Crisis Tweets have served dozens upon dozens of organizations, and we are eager to continue our work. With more than 99% of the top 200 nonprofits in the USA on Twitter, we know we’re doing something right.

Starting this fall, we’re formalizing the individual services we offer to nonprofit organizations into a comprehensive “Twitter for Nonprofits Program”.

Read below to read about our existing offerings (and one new one!), and how to apply:

Twitter for Non-Profits Program

1. Twitter Ads for Good

Pro-bono: Select numbers of registered non-profit organizations can receive pro-bono tweets and accounts. This program is booked solid with a 6-month waiting list right now, so organizations must apply early. Fill out this query form for an application.

There are three pro-bono funds:

Global Fund: Any registered non-profit can amplify their campaign to donors around the world through this fund in the Twitter Ads for Good program.

Crisis Relief: Non-profit organizations who provide valuable resources in times of crisis (natural disaster, civil unrest) can apply to be considered for this fund.

Community Fund (San Francisco): Any registered non-profit focusing on the needs of communities where Twitter, Inc. has offices (starting with San Francisco) can apply to this fund.

We also offer paying non-profit advertisers a bonus:

Paid: Registered Non-Profit organizations who do not receive acceptance into our pro-bono program can apply to receive 20% bonus on all ad buys. Contact our sales team here.

2. Hope140 Spotlights

Guest Blog Posts from Hope140

Hope140.org is the website where we featured unique uses of Twitter in the world of social good. If you’re interested in contributing a guest post for the blog at Hope140.org, fill out this query form for an application.

Tweets from @hope140

@Hope140 is a Twitter account dedicated to highlighting positive uses of Twitter for good in the ecosystem. We often tweet out to promote third-party causes. Fill out this query form for an application for us to Tweet about your cause today.

3. Pro-Bono Analytics

We extend pro-bono access to a comprehensive analytics system typically reserved for paying advertisers to a select number of non-profit organizations.

Fill out this query form for an application.

4. Verification

To be considered for Twitter account verification of your non-profit organization, fill out this query form.

As always, some conditions apply to each program. We’re eager to see your applications for doing good on Twitter.

Twitter in Tohuko

Six months after the largest earthquake in 1,000 years, Japan is still working to rebuild.

Here’s a great video from James Kondo from Twitter’s Japan office at TEDX Tokyo, who talks about some of the uses of Twitter in the aftermath.

Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time

The new book by Twitter’s Claire Diaz-Ortiz called Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time is out today!

In celebration, you can get an electronic copy of the book for free for the next 24 hours.

Here are the details:

Starting at 12:00 AM (midnight) PST on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Twitter for Good: Change the World, One Tweet at A Time will be available as a FREE electronic download for 24 hours only.

Where can you find it free for 24 hours on September 6?

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Did you miss the free offer?

Enter to win a copy here.

Volunteer on Twitter to Help with Hurricane Irene and Other Disasters

As many Americans prepare for Hurricane Irene, there is no shortage of innovative efforts on Twitter to provide information and support. (Here is one Twitter list of Hurricane Irene related information.)

The American Red Cross, for one, is piloting a new program to engage digital volunteers on Twitter to help with rescue and recovery efforts in emergency situations. The @redcross digital volunteers are on 4-hour shifts to monitor questions about resources, track trends, and keep track of important search terms related to Hurricane Irene. At the end of each shift, volunteers then provide valuable disaster operations reporting to improve situational awareness and best affect decision-making for American Red Cross operations and public information strategy.

Are you interested in being a digital volunteer on Twitter for the American Red Cross?

This is a pilot program for @redcross, and they hope that the lessons they learn from their digital volunteers during Hurricane Irene will help improve the program in the future. Here is some information about what they’re looking for from volunteers:

Preferred Capabilities:

- You have a personal Twitter  account and you’re not afraid to talk with Red Cross stakeholders
- You’re adept at searching on Twitter
- You’re familiar with Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Irene (or you’re willing to study CrossNet to become that way)

Duties:

- Monitor Twitter for keywords like Redcross, “Red Cross”, #hurricane, #irene
- At the end of each 4-hour shift you’ll provide a short summary of the trends you’re seeing in conversations.
- Using your personal twitter account, you are asked to respond to any questions you feel comfortable with (the resources on CrossNet for Hurricane Irene are great for finding answers).

Ready to apply?

If you want to become digital volunteers for the future (as Hurricane Irene digital volunteers are now in place), please email Wendy Harman at harmanw@usa.redcross.org

Igniting Change in Darfur

Guest Post by @DarfurStoves

Since 2003, conflict in Darfur has killed at least 300,000 people and forced more than two million people from their homes. You may wonder, how can a fuel-efficient stove address the humanitarian crisis in Darfur?

The Darfur Stoves Project seeks to protect Darfuri women by providing them with specially developed stoves which require less firewood, decreasing women’s exposure to violence while collecting firewood and their need to trade food rations for fuel.

Women in Darfur aren’t alone. More than half of the world’s population – three billion people – cook their food and heat their homes by burning coal, wood, dung, and crop residues in open fires or rudimentary stoves. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to smoke from traditional cookstoves and open fires causes 1.9 million premature deaths annually, and is the fourth worst overall health risk factor in developing countries. As the household members most likely to cook meals, women and children are most affected.

One of the great things about Twitter is that we’re able to keep up with other groups tackling similar issues, like the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. This past fall, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the launch of this exciting initiative and its goal of “100 by 20,” which calls for 100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020. We’re a member of this Alliance, and are optimistic that it will help raise public awareness about the importance of cookstoves. We’re particularly excited about the Alliance’s new Global Ambassador, @Julia Roberts and look forward to reading her tweets as she becomes more involved with the cause. Twitter has allowed a global network of like-minded organizations to exchange ideas and encourage collaboration and with half the world’s population in need of fuel-efficient cookstoves, there’s plenty of work to go around! (Check out #cookstoves to learn more.)

While Darfur has slipped from the headlines, Twitter has also allowed us to update followers on the terrible conditions that persist in the region. Thousands of families in Darfur have been displaced since January of this year and continue to flood into overcrowded displacement camps. The UN has declared June 20th as World Refugee Day and we encourage you to help raise awareness about this issue by tweeting with the #worldrefugeeday hashtag.

826 National is Tweeting for Students

Guest Post by Gerald Richards (@Gerald826CEO), CEO of 826 National

“If you teach kids how to tell stories, they have a better chance at everything.” –Sherman Alexie

At 826 National, we’re dedicated to that “better chance.”

Each year, 826 chapters across the country provide a range of programs for students, ages 6-18, aimed at strengthening their expository and creative writing skills: from after-school tutoring to Storytelling and Bookmaking field trips, to in-school projects that support teachers. Our network of nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organizations are rooted in the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

Last year nearly 24,000 students walked through the doors of our centers in Ann Arbor, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. We also launched our newest project, ScholarMatch, a website where we match donors with college-bound students in need of financial aid.

The work we do is only possible thanks to our legion of volunteers, totaling over 5,000 at last count. Our volunteers are professional writers, lawyers, college students, and everyone in between. They enable us to provide the individual attention that is so critical to a student’s development. At 826, we say if you can only give an hour a month, give that hour. It will make a difference.

It’s incredibly crucial, then, that we have tools to tell the 826 story so that we can help students keep telling theirs. Social media has been instrumental to our efforts. Twitter has helped us recruit new volunteers, spread awareness of our work, and has been a powerful fundraising tool. Over the summer, we raffled off singer-songwriter Neko Case’s car online and raised a significant amount of money— in large part through Twitter. We’ve also used our Twitter feed to showcase snippets of student writing, survey our followers, and follow education news from across the country.

In the week of August 26, we’ll be holding our second annual 826 on 8/26 week (get it?), which celebrates youth literacy. We’ll be holding a national contest and other events nationwide. We hope you’ll stay tuned— it’s an exciting time!

Without a network of caring people, we couldn’t serve a single student.

To learn more about us, follow 826 National at @826National.