POLL - Do You Use Your Blog to Promote Charitable Causes?

Social marketing and blogging have become heavy-weight tools for promoting charitable causes. And there have been huge successes and lots of money and awareness raised for great causes that may have gone unnoticed just a few years ago. I'm curious to know if you use your business blog as a tool for raising awareness and funds for your favorite causes. (See poll below.)

I guess the first question should be: does your business (or you) have favorite causes or organizations you support? I do.

For years I have supported Doctors Without Borders, KCRW (my local public radio station) and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team in Training events. I also actively support Kiva.org with 3-4 new micro loans every month. And, if a friend or family member requests support for a cause, I usually happily donate. I have no qualms about using this blog or Biz Tips Blog to ask for support when I'm campaigning for a cause.

Not only do I want to spread the word about my cause, I believe it also gives you a glimpse at what else is important to me, outside of my passion for blogging and business. That can help create a better connection between us, attract new readers, and open doors to new opportunities through shared passions.

I'm currently involved in a huge effort to raise money for Dr. Mani's Children's Heart Fund, to provide funds for heart surgery for children in India who have congenital heart defects but family poverty prevents them from getting help. It's a great cause and I've written a couple of posts about it. Please check this out - it's a big win for you to participate!

So here's the poll question: Do you use your business blog to promote charitable causes?

What's your opinion - for or against - about promoting causes on your blog? I'd love to know your thoughts. Please post in the comments and if you would like, post a link to your favorite cause and why you support it. Let's take the opportunity to share the love and boost awareness for great work people are doing around the world.

Related Posts about Charitable Causes:
NAMS4Kids Makes Good Business Sense

How I'm Using Social Media for my Big Five-O Birthday Challenge

Blog Action Day 2008: Focus on Poverty

Comments

[Denise Wakeman]

So far, 50% are selecting "other" but not indicating what "other" is. I'm very curious. Please tell us so we can get a sense of how you're using, or not using, a blog for fundraising.

[christinajeanne]

I've never really blogged for a cause but am thinking about it since I read another blog where a woman was going to be supporting causes in her blog a few times a month. I think it is a great idea.

[Sandy Rees]

I think a blog is a great platform for promoting a charitable cause and I'm so glad to see you doing it Denise! There are lots of nonprofits out there who need help of people like you to raise awareness for them and draw attention to their work. Kudos!

Sandy Rees
Nonprofit Fundraising Coach

[Dean Saliba]

Never. It might sound harsh but my blog is about making money, not giving it away.

I do sometimes mention charities on my personal blog though. :)

[Julius]

very interesting. I've never actually thought of it, but this seems like a very rewarding task - to promote some of our favorite charitable causes. better put it in the pipeline now. Thanks

[Elizabeth H. Cottrell]

Thank you for generating this discussion, Denise. Since my blog is so new, I have not yet used it to promote causes, but I certainly think I will, since I feel so strongly that giving back is an outpouring of gratitude for all I have.

As with most things in life, though, there is a balance to strike. If I am following a blog, I am usually also interested in the blogger as a person and would appreciate them more if I knew they believed in outreach. On the other hand, if they bombarded me with solicitations for their favorite charities, I would feel just as abused as if their content was all sales and no quality content.

[collegiateDown]

If I come across something that I think my readers will relate to or I think is an important issue, then I want to share it. I've done this to raise awareness about school supply drives and children's hunger during the summer.

http://newintheblogosphere.blogspot.com