At Something Social, we believe what goes around comes around. We also believe in the golden rule (and something that’s arguably more important than the previous belief), treat others the way you want to be treated. So that’s why we started #SomethingSignificant. Every month, we’re going to share with you a new way to give back. Whether it’s volunteering at a local food drive, or spreading awareness about an issue close to your heart, your Something Social team is here to encourage you to do #SomethingSignificant.
The Foundation
Charity Miles is a free iPhone/Android app that enables you to earn corporate sponsorships for charity whenever you walk, run or bike. Keep working on your summer bod and donate money to a charity of your choice at the same time! Just download the app, pick a charity, hit go, and get walking! Each running mile is worth 25 cents, and each biked mile is worth 10 cents.
How You Fit In
For every mile you hit, sponsors of the app will donate a certain amount of money to your choosing. Hitting the gym? No worries, Charity Miles can track indoor workouts as well. You can also get your friends involved and have them sponsor your cause á la those elementary school Jogathons. Our favorite feature, Teams, is a great team building exercise that can get your whole office involved in the greater good and boosting stress-relieving endorphins at the same time! (For more tips on stress reduction, read our article on Fostering Mental Wellness here.) The Teams feature allows you to motivate your partners by seeing their progress. You can even turn the app into a little friendly competition!
The Impact
The charity partners include a large variety of causes, ranging from the World Wildlife Foundation, to fighting Alzheimer’s, to the Wounded Warrior Foundation. No matter what cause is important to you, there’s probably a charity partner for it on Charity Miles! The money comes from corporate sponsors reallocating their media budgets (think advertising, PR, and social media) towards something more impactful and substantial than a billboard.
How It Works
According to Charity Miles CEO, Gene Gerkoff, the app’s sponsors receive a higher ROI than traditional charitable giving campaigns because “in most cause-marketing arrangements, the company gives a bit to charity and spends 7 to 10 times [more effort] promoting it. The promotion is what drives the [sponsors’] return on investment, not the charity,” he says. “We are trying to reverse that ratio and generate the marketing R.O.I. that companies want from ordinary advertising. This enables them to repurpose their digital media budgets–money that never ever would have gone to charity–for social good.”
You can learn more via their website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Written by our Brand Communications Coordinator, Kaeleigh Morrison.
Done #SomethingSignificant you want us to highlight? Tweet us @somethingsocial or follow us on the ‘gram – @somethingsocial.