(Apologies, this is a little late)
Welcome, Champions. And thank you for what you’re about to do. You’ve selected your cause, and you’ve joined the game. Let’s jump in to Round 2 tasks and see if we can’t make something happen.
When looking at traditional charity fundraiser activities, they generally follow a very specific structure : the charity holds a large event to gather together a bunch of people in one place to perform a certain task. Frequently, these are physical challenges – walk-a-thons, biking events, jumping rope, climbing stairs, but there are exceptions certainly (bake sales, telethons, Desert Bus). But their one unifying feature is they say “Come do this activity and help us raise funds.”
I Am Your Champion turns this statement around. Instead, you will say “I will perform this activity, if you give my charity a donation.”
What kind of activity? It’s entirely up to you. But let me throw out some examples.
“I will run a custom encounter for your gaming group, if you give $20 donation to my charity.”
“I will draw a dungeon map and release it Creative Commons, if you give my charity $100.”
“I will record an acoustic version of King Of The Road, and put it up for everyone to hear, if you give my charity $50.”
“I will knit a scarf and donate it to my local homeless shelter, in exchange for a $30 donation to my charity.”
“I will pass out fliers promoting your event, in exchange for a $10 donation to my charity.”
“I will go volunteer at your charity for 4 hours, in exchange for a $40 donation to my charity.”
By taking this approach to fundraising, Champions can put their best talents to work for their charities. Champions are not bound by the constraints put on them in large events, and nor are they bound by financial or time constraints. Champions can set their own boundaries and limits, and work toward them.
Task 1 : Set Your Goal – Spend some time thinking about how much money you would like help raise for your charity. Don’t limit yourself or get caught up in feelings of “Too Little” or “Too Much”
Task 2 – Design A Reward – Determine what you are going to offer the world in exchange for their donation to your cause. It could be one thing, it could be twenty things. The important thing is, it should be something new. Don’t offer copies of work you have already done. This is an opportunity for an act of creation. Take advantage of that. Size the reward or rewards appropriate to your goal.
Task 3 – Issue A Challenge – Once you have a goal, and a reward, it’s time to step out on the field and issue your challenge to the crowd. You are the Champion of your cause, and you have something to offer the world should someone choose to support your cause. Let people know what you’re doing, via blog post, personal conversations, fliers or skywriting. Make your cause, terms and reward clear, and dare people to take you up on it.
Set Your Goal, Design A Reward, Issue A Challenge. Complete these three tasks, and you will have completed Round 2.
Drills
1 – Find other Champions who are having trouble designing a reward. Offer your creative assistance.
2 – Find a symbol to represent you as Champion.
3 – As other Champions issue their Challenges, help them spread the word.
Questions, comments and Challenges below.
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