Happy Valentine’s Day! Over the past few years, there have been a lot of original ways that nonprofits have celebrated Valentine’s Day with social media. I noticed several creative examples that incorporate social media with the Valentine’s Day theme combined with social good objectives. They range from encouraging a change in behavior, advocacy calls to action, shopping, and acknowledging people in nonprofits.
Reboot Valentine’s Day
A few days ago Sasha Dichter was on a panel with Katya Andresen from Network for Good. Sasha did a talk about his month-long generosity experiment. He started it because on a cold December day, he passed a homeless person on the street asking for money. He walked by with his head buried in his smart phone. The next day, he decided he want to change, so he announced an experiment to say yes to anyone who asked him for money. He found the experience transformative.
My colleague, James Wu, told me that during the panel Sasha said he wanted to do the experiment. Katya Andresen said Valentine’s Day would be perfect timing. So, today, they’re the hashtag #generosityday to share what people are doing. The goal is to spend Valentine’s Day being more generous, giving more money, sharing of yourself, being of service. He provides some specific examples:
- Give money to….a street musician, a homeless person, your favorite charity
- Take old clothes from your closet and give them to goodwill
- Leave a $5 tip for a $2 coffee
- Introduce yourself to someone you see every day but have never said hello to
- Bring in lunch for your co-workers
- Give someone a compliment
Shopping for Valentine’s Day
Causes has an embedded philanthropy offer for Valentine’s Day. You can purchase flowers or other item and $10 will be donated to your favorite charity.
Love Your Nonprofit Techie
NTEN uses February to encourage nonprofits to send a valentine to their favorite nonprofit techie. This video Valentine goes out to NTEN’s own techie, Karl Hedstrom
Send A Valentine to Congress About Children’s Programs
Momsrising is using Valentine’s Day to remind Congress that what kids need for Valentine’s Day is are quality preschools and affordable childcare. They have a site where you can decorate a digital handmade Valentine and customize the message. It generates an e-card sent to your representative reminding them that they can’t forget about their littlest constituents. Another clever campaign that leverages timely events and encourages their network to share their story about an issue. I’m hoping they’ll share a lessons learned guest post here about the results.
What other ways have you noticed today that nonprofits or individuals are using social media and the Valentine’s Day theme to encourage acts of kindness or social good?
