A few years ago I made a pronouncement on a social media panel that digital goods would redefine the way we do charitable giving online. Needless to say, there were snickers. After all, how could "throwing a beer" at someone or giving someone a "fluffy kitty" for their birthday really amount to anything, especially at a $1 price point?
But now, thanks to Zynga, I can safely say my pronouncement has been confirmed. After writing the article last month on digital farming, I checked in with Farmville creator Mark Pincus and he said that to date virtual farmers had purchased $700,000 worth of "Sweet Corn" seeds, the proceeds of which go to feed children in poverty-stricken Haiti.
As someone who helps nonprofits create online funding campaigns, this is a Moses-parting-the-seas kind of success which just a year ago would have been almost impossible to imagine. It will be interesting to see where Zynga goes from here. There is no doubt a new philanthropic wellspring has been located!
As someone who helps nonprofits create online funding campaigns, this is a Moses-parting-the-seas kind of success which just a year ago would have been almost impossible to imagine. It will be interesting to see where Zynga goes from here. There is no doubt a new philanthropic wellspring has been located!
No comments:
Post a Comment