# WaterAid’s new approach to virtual gifts allows donors to buy stories rather than toilet seats

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/02/17/wateraids-new-approach-virtual-gifts-allows-donors-buy-stories-rather-goats-toilet-seats/
- Published: 2014-02-17T17:46:51+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A “genuinely different” take on virtual gifts – which that allows donors to buy
stories rather than tangible goods and services, such as goats, on behalf of friends
and relatives – has been launched by development charity WaterAid.**

A new online giving platform [Wahoo](http://www.wahoo.wateraid.org) features the
stories of eight people to whom WaterAid has delivered clean drinking water. Rather
than buy something tangible such as cement or a toilet seat – the type of virtual
gift previously available on WaterAid’s website – donors can now buy and share each
story with up to 100 people at a time for a donation of £15 per person.

The stories are presented in the form of an infographic and each one features a 
short video segment.
Suze Haworth, Senior Project Manager at [Numiko](http://www.numiko.com)–
the Leeds based digital agency that developed the concept – says the project is 
the result of “extensive research to understand the different audiences and how 
to appeal to them.

## Advertisement

“In the design of the site, we aimed to use really strong imagery to convey the 
joy that has been brought to the people in these stories by gaining access to clean
water. The big smiles really bring this to life, and people will be able to share
this moment of joy with their loved ones in a personalised way.”

Jeremy Gibson, digital marketing lead at [WaterAid](http://www.wateraid.org) says:“
We’re really excited about Wahoo and we hope it will provide something genuinely
different and unique to the market place.”

He adds that the launch of Wahoo is the “first phase of a larger collaboration with
Numiko to diversify WaterAid’s online donations presence”.

 * **[Gift of music campaign raises £41,000 for Britten Sinfonia](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/09/04/gift-music-campaign-raises-41000-britten-sinfonia/)**(
   4 September 2014)
 * **[Trussell Trust sells empty food cans to raise funds via delis](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/11/07/trussell-trust-sells-empty-food-cans-raise-funds-via-delis/)**(
   7 November 2014)
 * **[Christmas stock-ings](https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/12/12/christmas-stockings/)**(
   12 December 1999)

## Comments

### By: HowardLake

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/02/17/wateraids-new-approach-virtual-gifts-allows-donors-buy-stories-rather-goats-toilet-seats/#comment-4121
- Published: 2022-02-09T19:26:07+00:00

Here’s another way to raise funds from virtual gifts.

Single Homeless Project in partnership with creative agency CPB has set up the the
faux-coffee company Invisible Coffee Company. Commuters at London’s Kings Cross 
will be able to ‘buy’ an invisible coffee for £3 with all of that sum being donated
to Single Homeless Project:

[https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charity-sets-up-fake-coffee-company-selling-invisible-coffee-to-raise-money-for-homeless-people.html](https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charity-sets-up-fake-coffee-company-selling-invisible-coffee-to-raise-money-for-homeless-people.html)