Feeling challenged to come up with an event more interesting than a toy drive or canned food collection? Look no further than the agency world. Marketers are known to turn their fundraising up to 11 during the holidays (perhaps they feel a bit guilty for all of the crass consumerism). Last year for example, a Toronto agency auctioned off some of their prestigious awards via Instagram (including this gold Clio) as a means of raising funds for their favorite non-profit.
If you’ve been following Direct Choice, then you may recall voting for our Ugly Sweaters or Holiday Album Covers to raise money via Facebook. Both of those holiday campaigns motivated our staff, friends and clients to join together for a good cause. This doesn’t mean you have to create a social media campaign to get creative. Consider these alternatives:
Auction off some perks within your organization
During a holiday party, you could auction- off extra vacation days or primo parking spots near the entrance to your building for the duration of the winter. Imagine the bidding wars for something like that in Chicago or Boston!
Secret Santa for needy children
A more common but highly rewarding idea is to participate in a Secret Santa program that helps families who can’t afford to buy gifts for their children. Employees who volunteer will typically get a list of “wants” and “needs” for an individual child. Participants can shop together after work, share gift ideas, etc. Everyone who gets involved will feel a direct connection to making the holidays better for a child in need and their parents.
Roll up your sleeves
Escaping the office to get out and do something good for your community is especially satisfying. Direct Choice participates in service days throughout the year. In addition to helping our neighbors, it brings together people who typically do not interact much even though they are just a couple of office doors away. Volunteers are needed everywhere to assist seniors and vets, provide shelter, serve hot meals, etc.
Tip: Begin looking for service opportunities early in the year because many organizations find that they have an overabundance of people who are willing to give their time during the holidays. Or better yet, volunteer throughout the year. It’s always good for raising everybody’s spirits!
