Contest Philanthropy Mutates—Can It Be Made to Fit? | Nonprofit Quarterly

Contest Philanthropy Mutates—Can It Be Made to Fit? | Nonprofit Quarterly: "It’s no secret that NPQ is not a big fan of contest philanthropy, but we are appreciative of taking the best of an overall abominable idea and using it for good.

The idea of “venture philanthropy” is not new, nor is the practice of making nonprofits compete for funding while admonishing them to cooperate. In 2014, Nonprofit Quarterly outlined the basic tenets of this way of giving, as some major donors make use of a model of engaged investment (also not a new notion). Recent variations on this theme of lusting after business methods while wanting to appear hip have included the “shark tank” for nonprofits, adapted from the reality show of the same name."



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Contest Seeks Ideas From Charities for Creating Jobs - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Contest Seeks Ideas From Charities for Creating Jobs - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Contest Seeks Ideas From Charities for Creating Jobs

October 24, 2012, 1:58 pm

By Caroline Preston

A new competition unveiled by the Huffington Post, Skoll Foundation, and Crowdrise seeks to reward nonprofits with ideas for how to put Americans back to work.

The “JobRaising” challenge is open to all types of nonprofits–not just job-training groups–so long as they have a plan for fighting America’s high unemployment, organizers said. Nonprofits that make it through an initial stage of vetting will have a chance to compete for donations from the public. Groups that raise the most cash will also win prize money totaling $250,000 from the Skoll Foundation.

NEW YORK: Chase Community Giving Kicks Off Voting for 2012 Program | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

NEW YORK: Chase Community Giving Kicks Off Voting for 2012 Program | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online: 196 Charities Will Receive a Share in $5 Million in Grants

NEW YORK — Chase announced today the launch of the voting period for the 2012 Chase Community Giving program, which will determine the allocation of $5 million in Chase grants to 196 charities selected by Facebook users and Chase online customers.

Giving Days vs. Giving Daze: Looking for Engagement - Forbes: Giving contests have been a trend in philanthropy for years now, so much so that a kind of fatigue has settled over the idea of nonprofits competing for prizes – aka, large donations. The nonprofits must activate their followers within the guidelines of the effort, often in conjunction with a company that sees the added value of marketing stapled to its philanthropy. It takes time, and serious commitment. And sometimes the “engagement” comes in the form of the lowest common digital denominator – a “vote” in the form of a click or two. Not for nothing did Networked Nonprofit co-author Beth Kanter ask in 2010: “Should We Just Blow Up Nonprofit “Vote for Me” Social Good Contests?”

Charity notebook: Foundation to let public vote on nonprofits competing for grant money | syracuse.com

Charity notebook: Foundation to let public vote on nonprofits competing for grant money | syracuse.com: Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Central New York Community Foundation will celebrate its 85th anniversary this year by giving away money.

The foundation is launching a grant competition, The CNY85 Giving Project, that will be based on a public vote. The project will award grants over the course of this year to four nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Central New York.

The project that gets the most public votes on the foundation's website at the end of each quarter will receive $8,500.

Your Kid's Halloween Costume Could Win Money for Charity - Fairfax City, VA Patch

Your Kid's Halloween Costume Could Win Money for Charity - Fairfax City, VA Patch: The Grand Prize? Patch will whisk the winner to New York or Los Angeles for a two day, three night trip for two that includes a meet and greet with Heidi, plus a donation of $1,031 to a local charity of the winner's choice. Nine runners-up will also get a $1,031 donation from Patch to a local charity of their choice.

CTK Foundation Launches the Heart and Soul 2011 Grant Award | Breaking news | Community Techknowledge

Here is an interesting grant competition from CTK.

Applicants are asked to submit an original four-to-eight-line poem that reflects the work and/or mission of the applicant nonprofit organization. This poem may be written by staff members, clients and/or volunteers of the submitting nonprofit, and must be wholly original.

CTK Foundation Launches the Heart and Soul 2011 Grant Award | Breaking news | Community Techknowledge

Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Care Announce 'Give Back. Simply Win.' - KTEN.com News Weather Sports Ardmore Durant Sherman Denison-

Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Care Announce 'Give Back. Simply Win.' - KTEN.com News Weather Sports Ardmore Durant Sherman Denison-: "Bayer's 'Give Back. Simply Win.' contest was designed to reward people with diabetes for their charitable efforts. Entering the contest is simple; it is open to people with diabetes in three age categories: 6 to 12, 13 to 17 and 18+ years. Contestants can visit www.NicksSimpleWins.com and answer three questions about their charitable efforts. Nick and a team of judges will select one grand prize winner from each of the three age categories. The contest begins today and entries will be accepted until August 5, 2010."

Charity contests let you pick winning nonprofits | StarTribune.com

Charity contests let you pick winning nonprofits | StarTribune.com: "Frank Altman isn't a particularly anxious guy. But the Minneapolis nonprofit he runs could suddenly be $1 million richer next week, if it rallies enough votes in a new online philanthropy experiment launched by Sam's Club."

Pepsi Refresh: Just Another Contest?

Pepsi Refresh: Just Another Contest?: "I have to admit that I'm not terribly fond of contests for nonprofits.

I worry about the time spent competing in them that might be better used on something else. I worry about the groups that don't win anything. I'm very concerned that we have too many contests. Will a staff position become necessary at nonprofits just to keep up?"

New Report from Knight Foundation: Contest-Driven Innovation | NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoupGlobal.org

New Report from Knight Foundation: Contest-Driven Innovation | NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoupGlobal.org: "he John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a foundation focused on 'opportunities that can transform both communities and journalism, and help them reach their highest potential,' and is known throughout the social impact sector in large part from the Knight News Challenge, first launched in 2006. Knight recently released a study, conducted by Arabella Advisors, examining, profiling and comparing various methods for online contests spurring innovation in the media, information and communication fields. The study was originally intended to shed light on best practices and opportunities to improve the Knight News Challenge, but it provides an excellent overview for any organization or individual interested in contest-driven innovation."

The Philanthropy Pageant

The Philanthropy Pageant: "Why do beauty contests in philanthropy get up my nose so much, like the recent rash of rankings in which business-oriented foundations appear at or near the top in Foreign Policy and Barron's? Let’s get the most obvious reason out of the way first—I don’t win them, nor do any of the organizations I’ve ever worked for. I once won a ‘beautiful baby’ competition at my local church in Manchester, but that was probably because my mother was in charge of the judging as the vicar’s wife. The vicar, of course, was my father."

The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA - Charity games build lasting legacy

The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA - Charity games build lasting legacy: "The contests raise money to support the national-based Make-A-Wish charity, which helps make the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions a reality. And the games have done far more than founder Heidi McKinney-Ingle would have ever imagined."