fundraising and social media at cystic fibrosis ireland

FUNDRAISING & SOCIAL MEDIADecember 4, 2014

Maria Caldwell

CYSTIC FIBROSIS IRELAND

• Established in 1963 by a group of families who

had children diagnosed with CF

• Today - 23 branches throughout Ireland, led by

volunteers, supported by a National Office in Dublin (11

+ 2)

• What we do:

• Provide funding towards developing dedicated facilities

• Fund Exercise, Transplant and Fertility Grants for PWCF

• Funding for medical and scientific research

• Provide advice, information and advocacy services for

PWCF

• Increase public awareness about CF

CYSTIC FIBROSIS IRELAND

• Recent success that has been led & driven by CFI

include

• the completion of the St Vincents CF Unit

• the introduction of CF in new-born screening (heel-

prick test);

• lobbying the government to cover the cost of the life

changing drug Kalydeco (covering approx 10% of

CF population in Ireland)

Receives NO core state funding, and CFI are

completely reliant on voluntary donations from the

public

So, what is CF??...• An inherited chronic disease that primarily affects

the lungs and digestive system.

• A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to

produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung

infections

• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from

helping the body break down and absorb food.

• Ireland has the highest incidence (per head of population)

of CF in the world - approx. 1200 people with CF in Ireland

• The impact of CF varies - there are some people with CF

who live until their teens and others that live in to their 50’s.

• 1 in 19 Irish people are said to 'carry' the altered gene that

causes Cystic Fibrosis.

CFI & Social Media

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

LINKED IN

YOU TUBE

CFI & Social Media

• Building Community

• Advocacy & Information

• Fundraising

Social Media & Fundraising

• Mostly use Facebook

• Donor / Fundraiser Recruitment

• Sharing volunteers & our own FR

events

• Acknowledgement - saying thanks

Social Media & Fundraising

• 8200+ likes

• PWCF & their family

• Friends of PWCF

• PWCF worldwide

• Supporters

• Fundraisers & volunteers

Facebook - Recruitment

2 big drives

annually - Women’s

Mini Marathon

(1000+) & Dublin

Marathon (50+)

Facebook - advertising

• Using Boost Post?

Worth it for larger campaigns; but not

necessary all the time

• Smaller once-off events

Sharing pictures from past events; past

participants

Sharing is

caring!!

Facebook - Acknowledgement

• Saying THANK YOU!

Public acknowledgement

Make it personal

Share supporter stories

Public & Personal…

Thanksgiving…

"As today is Thanksgiving Day, everyone here at CF Ireland would like to say a massive THANK YOU to all our friends and supporters out there who contribute in any way to helping us help people with CF and their families.We are extremely grateful and look forward to your continued support in the future"

Acknowledgement & Call to Action

Acknowledgement & Call to Action

Why we think it works

Social media, in particular Facebook is an important tool in our toolbox:

Building loyalty amongst donors & supporters

Being seen as a trusted organization that values supporters & their efforts

Its not solely about the euro value to each like or comment – it’s about building relationships

Tweet…. Tweet …RT….

• 2000+ followers

• PWCF & their family

• Friends of PWCF

• PWCF worldwide

• Fundraisers & volunteers

• ‘Slebs!

Tweets… hashtags…

Asks & THANKS!!!

Facebook – The Social Network

Remember – it is a NETWORK!

Research & Reach out! Be brave

Look at your followers & facebook

friends – page & personal

Who interacts a lot?

Who has a lot of likes / followers?

Who is an influencer?

PDF4CF – our story!

PDF4CF… A Facebook success

story….

Pat Divilly, Personal

Trainer & Owner of Pat Divilly Fitness (PDF)

PDF Facebook page:120k+ Likes!

PDF4CF…

530 people at Tough Mudder

€160,000 raised for CF

THANK YOU

Questions?