Any marketer is familiar with the four P’s: product, price, place and promotion but how about the three T’s? A friend of mine holds leadership roles at various local nonprofits and recently said that when it comes to philanthropic endeavors there’s three things we can offer – our time, talent or treasure (i.e.$).
I hadn’t heard that before and was glad to read about the first ever “Giving Tuesday” held on November 27, 2012. The campaign encourages ways to give back and volunteer kicking-off at the start of the annual holiday season. Word spread on Twitter with the hashtag #GivingTuesday.
The idea started with New York’s 92 Y along with its co-creator the United Nations Foundation. They got other influential founding partners involved which in turn motivated more than 2,000 nonprofits, companies and individual stores to participate.
This year I personally gave of my time and talent to help a nonprofit that I’m a member of by planning, chairing and helping to publicize an event that was open to members and the public. My friend Doug is a professional comic and I had seen him perform a very funny routine at a local coffeehouse so I suggested we plan a comedy night in the fall. Everyone loved the idea. We hoped to make a profit to off-set the comedy night’s costs and help fund activities we hold to aid needy families in central New Jersey.
I named the event “Fall for Comedy” Show & Gift Raffle to resonate with prospective ticket buyers and the media. Our planning began over the summer. The show featured Doug and two other fellow comics, Harris and Robin, who regularly perform at comedy clubs in the New York metropolitan area. We kept the cost relatively low at $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door, including dessert; and also organized a gift raffle featuring prizes donated by two dozen local businesses and organizations.
A dedicated, talented group of volunteers stepped-up to solicit donations and raffle prizes, design the flyer, buy decorations and refreshments, send email blasts, garner publicity, set-up the room prior to the event, work at the event and do many other tasks. Lucky for us, the volunteer who designed the attractive flyer above is the Creative Director of an Ivy League university in town.
Considering that the event was held in mid-November in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I was relieved and glad we obtained print and online media coverage, all went smoothly and it was a success. Everyone had a great time and we made a nice profit.
Here’s to a joyful and meaningful holiday season and Happy New Year for you and your families.