What happens when you really integrate a campaign and fundraising ask? Well if you’re Shelter, you get 50% more income than you budgeted for – and you double your active campaigner file! We mailed warm supporters telling them about the rogue landlords who are making a killing out of families’ misery and asked for two things – a cash donation and a signed campaign letter to Grant Shapps (Minister of State for Housing and Planning). The format was so simple it was embarrassing. But the results were anything but. That’s the team in the photo hand-delivering 1,720 signed letters to his door.

Alex

This week I went to Arnhem, Holland to attend the Greenpeace Digital Mobilisation Skillshare.

In plain speak, that’s over 100 digital experts, fundraisers, activists and volunteer organisers from Greenpeace (plus their allies from all over the world) getting together – with the objective of sharing ideas about how to use digital technology to recruit, motivate and inspire people to take action for Greenpeace.

The event format was brilliant – this was no PowerPoint led bore-fest. I was asked to facilitate one session, but ended up getting involved in many more – with new sessions created as the event unfolded, based on what participants wanted to learn more about.

Then there was Kevin from Canada’s Ignite* session (you make your point in five minutes, with 20 slides that move every 15 seconds). It will live with me for ever. Kevin’s high energy, high volume rant about the bits of the internet he despised – including LOL cats, passive aggressive emoticons, being cc’d on email and the Tumblr Goths Up Trees – was quite possibly the funniest five minutes of my life so far.

I felt honoured to have been invited and met some really amazing people from every part of the world – full of energy and enthusiasm for what they do. And I really hope I get the chance to do it all over again.

Paul de Gregorio

Last week saw the launch of the Big Egg Hunt – a trail of 200 weird and wonderful painted eggs, laid around the streets of London.

It’s the first hunt ever to use text messages as a means of ‘collecting’ eggs – with all proceeds going to Action for Children and Elephant Family. And lots of us have been busy behind the scenes over the last few weeks – putting in place the mobile jiggery pokery that’ll make the event a cracking success.

Some of us were even roped into a long, cold night of installing giant eggs in the Queen’s back garden (well, St James’ and Green Park). It was all worth it, though, to see these beautiful creations nestling in unexpected places – and watch the reactions of bemused passersby!

What’s more, the Big Egg Hunt is hotly tipped to break the Guinness World Record for Most Participants in an Easter Egg Hunt. And our very own Open egg (pictured) is out there just waiting to be found…

Happy hunting!

Mark & Hannah