June 22, 2010 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Can nonprofit groups really use Foursquare to raise money and connect with supporters?
Joe Waters, director of cause and event marketing at Boston Medical Center, and Estrella Rosenberg, founder of Big Love Little Hearts, in Chicago, offered a long list of examples of and tips about how charities are using the location-based social network to achieve these goals during a recent live discussion.
And while Foursquare has a fraction of the reach of more established networks such as Twitter and Facebook, both Mr. Waters and Ms. Rosenberg said the site — which gives users virtual badges for “checking in” at places such as restaurants, stores, and coffee shops — creates new opportunities for charities that are looking to build relationships with potential supporters.
“You need to get in the game because I guarantee you have supporters and/or sponsors who already are,” said Ms. Rosenberg, who recently raised $25,000 for her charity through a Foursquare campaign. “The benefits beyond fund raising are tremendous. I consider our use of it for advocacy more successful than the dollars we raised.”
Said Mr. Waters: “Geo-location will be huge, and whether you think Foursquare will succeed or fail, targeting donors where they are and where they shop will be huge. People had their doubts about Facebook several years ago, and now everyone has to be doing it. It will be the same with geo-location.”
As part of the conversation, The Chronicle awarded a virtual badge (see the image above) to the participant to asked the best question during the hourlong discussion.
Sara Mouser, who asked how nonprofit groups can use Foursquare check-ins on their own Web sites, was awarded the badge.
A special thanks to Claire Kerr (@snotforprofit), who follows The Chronicle on Twitter, for creating the badge, which is based on The Chronicle’s Twitter icon.
View the replay of the discussion to see how Mr. Waters and Ms. Rosenberg answered Ms. Mouser’s question. If you have your own suggestions on how groups can use Foursquare, please share your ideas in the comments section.
