ParkHowell.com

Throw your business plan out of the window. Charity: Water’s success over its first three years, with little initial support and no money, is mind boggling. They’ve used social media brilliantly. They’ve made their cause and impact remarkably tangible.  It’s easy to get involved. They make it personal. And they do it fast.

Check out their video, and then ask yourself if you’re ready to give up your birthday to help supply clean drinking water with Charity: Water.

The story of charity: water – The 2009 September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

Charity: Water’s online and offline marketing is text book green marketing for social causes. They make it so easy and accessible to spread their word.

1. You can follow the cause on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.
2. You can place free banner ads on your site or blog.
3. They provide nine interesting Twitter backgrounds for you to use to show your support and help promote their cause. You can even submit your own design by emailing to: media@charitywater.org.
4. YouTube hosts several videos featuring the birthday parties thrown on behalf of Charity: Waters.
5. 

   Saks' Green WOM Campaign

   The group’s green word of mouth marketing campaign tapped Saks Fifth Avenue for window displays in their stores throughout the country.

6. Checkout Charity: Water’s 60-second PSA of New Yorker’s collecting water for their families from the murky shores of a Central Park pond by clicking on the banner at the top of this post.
7. They make it easy to participate. You can volunteer, get your school involved, or fundraise for a well where donors can see their money at work on using GPS and photos of the well projects.
8. Using Google Earth Maps, they make it tangible.
9. They have events galore!

So now I will correct myself and ask you to instead of “giving up” your birthday, perhaps you can use it to celebrate Charity: Water and the good work they’re doing for millions of people.

Cheers!