Communicopia

The fall is typically a very busy time for us. After people (thankfully) slow down and enjoy life and time off in August, by September, everyone calls to start new projects, campaigns, and refresh their online presence. By the time the planning and scoping and quoting gets done, October means down to work.

This year we are really excited to be working with 3 fabulous new clients: the United Nations Foundation, The Natural Step Canada, and the Goldie Hawn Institute.

The UN Foundation raises money for the mission of the United Nations, and was created when Ted Turner made his $1B pledge 8 years ago. We've been engaged to help UNF leverage the success of an existing campaign called “Nothing but Nets ”. The campaign started when well known Sports Illustrated writer Rick Rielly wrote an article last year telling his readers how malaria kills so many African children, that mosquito nets are so cheap, and that if only more people donated $10 literally thousands of lives would be saved.

His call to action really struck a chord, and 16,000 donors and $1.1M later, the UN decided to kick it up a notch. Parterning with the NBA, VH1, the United Methodist Church, and others they will roll out a high profile campaign this fall with a goal to raise another $5M.

We're leading the online strategy, helping coordinate the many vendors involved (among them our friends at online fundraising software gurus Artez Interactive , who introduced us to UNF) doing the new site's design, developing a compelling Flash movie, and helping them build and sustain this exciting online community. The site will launch on Nov 13 (the same week as Rick’s second SI article comes out) so check back here or go to www.nothingbutnets.net then to see what the collaboration produces. And make a donation or start your own “netraising team!” to invite your friends and family to make an easy and big difference.

The Natural Step is an exciting organization that I've admired from afar for almost a decade. Founded by a group of wise thinkers in Sweden concerned about business' impact on the environment, TNS has grown into a well known global sustainability brand with offices in 11 countries. Their growing network of consultants advises corporations and communities on understanding the natural impacts and interconnectedness of their operations and supports their transition to a more sustainable model.

We are helping TNS Canada develop a new online strategy and website for the Canadian organization, and an integrated international collaboration strategy that will enable other countires to use the same content, tools, and systems in their own countries. Our branding and online strategy work starts next week and we hope to have a new site launched by early in the new year.

Some of us know that Goldie Hawn spends a lot of time in Vancouver. A few years ago at the Tides Canada Foundation she started her own foundation to bring her mission into the world. The Goldie Hawn Institute (formerly known as the Bright Light Foundation) was founded to help children and their families develop the life skills which enhance their own joy, their creativity and their compassion for others.

The Institute needed a new website to build awareness of its mission, publish content from scientists around leading edge brain research, and work to empower educators to better understand new model of child development based on the principles of compassion, emotional intelligence, and attention or presence skills. I think this is very visionary and bold work, and admire Ms. Hawn for using her profile to raise awareness in a way aligned with her spiritual beliefs that will lead to real change where it is needed most - with the kids.

Once again I am honoured and humbled to be working with such passionate, visionary, and effective organizations who have an inspiring vision of the world they want to see, a sound strategy for making an impact, and a credible plan to get there. Stay tuned for more on these amazing clients and the fruits of our collaborations.