Irish charities switch to digital to raise money
Howard Lake | 15 April 2020 | News
The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has raised €1.3 million in online donations for its Daffodil Day campaign which was cancelled on 27th March due tocoronavirus.
Normally ICS has thousands of volunteers doing street collections for Daffodil Day but this was not possible this year.
“Daffodil Day is our single largest fundraiser each year. It usually raises €4 million to fund vital supports like our free nursing, counselling and transport services. This year, we also have the added expense of funding new and expanded services to help cancer patients cope during the Covid 19 crisis,” ICS CEO Averil Power told the Irish Times.
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Charities which rely on events for fundraising have been particularly hard hit by the lockdown and are responding by organising online activities to raise money. The Down’s Syndrome Centre in Dublin has launched a virtual dine in with an ask of €10 per participant.
Support from Irish musicians
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) have been supported by Irish musicians who are performing digital live music gigs for Childline. While watching bands including Kodaline, Dermot Kennedy, Picture This and Hozier on their live instagram performances, people are encouraged to donate €4 by texting.
The Jack and Jill Foundation, who have had to close all their charity shops and are down €500,000 so far this year, will go ahead with their annual Incognito art auction – but online rather than in a gallery.
“We’re hoping that people will view the Incognito collection of 1,800 postcard size paintings and buy one for €50 on Friday, April 24th,” says Carmel Doyle, CEO of the foundation which supports children with neurological conditions.
The annual sale of art pieces from artists, designers and celebrities, including singers Bruce Springsteen and Bono, artists Mick O’Dea and Alice Maher, usually draws a crowd as each piece is bought without knowing the artist until the item is paid for.
The Wheel, an organisation which represents 1,700 charities across Ireland, has said that total losses in the sector could reach €179 million in fundraised income, and more than €200 million in earned income.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.