Interactive Training Blog

Virtual worlds and philanthropy can they really mix? Non-profits are now turning to virtual worlds, namely Second Life to assist in fundraising efforts. Fundraising for various charities has proven successful, some of the more well known charities such as Relay for Life, St. Jude’s Hospital and the American Cancer Society have already set up virtual world fundraising campaigns. A walk-a-thon in cyberspace, the Second Life Relay for Life charity is now in its 4th year and perhaps the best proven example of the way the technology of today is changing how charities and nonprofits work. Case in Point: The Relay For Life® in Second Life® 2008 was the most successful fundraising event in the history of Second Life®! This years virtual Relay will be held on July 18th. Other fundraising efforts in virtual worlds have included Club Penguin, which held its second annual “Coins for Change” campaign this past December, when 2.5 million kids donated a total of three billion virtual coins. That spurred Club Penguin, aided by user suggestions, to donate $1 million to various children’s charities in countries such as Afghanistan and India.

Online giving has gone viral, rising from an estimated $10 million in 1999 to $10.44 billion in 2007, according to Ted Hart, a pioneer in helping nonprofits use the Internet (Notice the change from Million to Billion).

So why turn to virtual worlds to help in fundraising efforts? Well the biggest attraction has to be the relatively low cost of entry. There is unlimited potential for virtual worlds to help humanity, – join a worthy cause in the virtual world today!

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