The Meningitis Trust has just launched its Tribute Fund scheme and is going great guns! In just six weeks, 45 Funds have been set up. Doug Edwards, Tribute Fund Officer at the Meningitis Trust, reckons that at least one person is setting up a Fund every day at the moment. Doug is doing a fantastic job of getting the Tribute Fund message out to his supporters (he's just mailed all those who have given to the charity in memory over the last five years, with a response rate of 1.39% so far) and has had some lovely feedback from his new Tribute Fund holders.

But what's really interesting for us is that the Meningitis Trust is one of the first charities to offer its Tribute Fund holders a 'privately consumed' commemorative gift. All OLT's members have heard us wax lyrical about the 'graveyard gap' (that with the decrease in burials and therefore graves and headstones, people no longer have a memorial to their loved one or a place where they can go and spend quiet time) and we have encouraged our members to offer a 'publicly consumed' memorial to their Tribute Fund holders - something that everyone can see. These are proving very popular and are helping the bereaved to close the graveyard gap.

We've always thought, however, that it would also be nice to offer (once a Fund has reached an intermediary level) something personal for Fund holders to remember their loved ones. Doug and his team are doing just that. They offer a rose once a Fund has reached £500, to plant in memory of their loved one. The Meningitis Trust supporters love the sentiment, as this excerpt from a letter they received shows: "Many thanks for the beautiful rose. It arrived safely and looks lovely. Thank you for all your kindness and help with the setting up of Adam's Tribute Fund. It means more than you will ever know!"

Of course, the Meningitis Trust aren't stopping there - they have plans to open a memorial rose garden in their local park and take their Funds online. I can't wait to hear from Doug with his next update in a couple of months' time!

Sarah Radburn-Smith

Posted by Whitewater Team at 10:27 AM | Permalink

In a blog entry on Modern Marketing called, How The Soap Box Beat The Loudhailer, James Cherkoff outlines how the soap boxes provided by the internet beat the loudhailer of mass media advertising.

"Advertising folks are always banging on about the perfect idea and the genius insight that creates a powerful campaign. One that will change people's behaviour and drive sales and vast shareholder value. But the world has changed. The tectonic plates that the marketing industry sits upon have shifted. What adfolk don't get is however great their ideas - no one cares anymore. Let me explain why..."

What follows is a potted history of the ad industry and the internet. While Cherkoff focuses on the growing trend to switch off the TV and log on to the internet, the article provides a perfect context for discussing a range of ideas about the fundamental differences between the mass media and the internet, why the internet provides far more opportunities for charities than it does for commercial marketers, and how charities can ensure they have mutually beneficial relationships with supporters simply by letting them talk. I hope to discuss some of these ideas in future posts.

Brad Bell

Posted by Whitewater Team at 05:02 PM | Permalink

After Simon's feedback to this post, and then reading this on Bryan's blog, I can't help feeling that I'm playing catch up! Especially as JustGiving are reviewing results from up to a year ago!

I was specially interested to read about Simon's 'lessons learnt' now that JustGiving are into the next stage of the application work. I can't help but wonder, while all us marketers are rubbing our sticky paws together with glee at the possibilities, if the dark cloud of charity infrastructure is lurking just over the horizon.

This somewhat pessimistic view leans on one of the 'lessons' that Simon refer to on Bryan's blog: the importance of application designs coming from Facebook-users themselves, rather than fundraisers giving them what we think they want. I'm waiting to be convinced that charities are ready to embrace Facebook (esp as many are just beginning to see the potential of online) and give 'Facebook-donors' this type of control... from managing the application, sending speedy approvals, and giving satisfactory answers to the question, "Where do these funds end up?"

Having said all that, your results could prove me wrong! I certainly hope they do.

Imogen Bielby

Posted by Whitewater Team at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Way back in January Paula asked me to put together a team to examine our internal processes. I admit it, putting concrete and well-documented processes in place isn't exciting, but I think everyone understands that they're essential for ensuring the quality of a job, from briefing to production. And they make everyone's life easier: easier to understand where we are in a job, easier to show new staff members and clients how we work, and easier to make sure that everything that comes out of Whitewater is produced to the highest possible standard.

So after months of consultation, discussion and revision, we were ready to deliver a half-day training session to the whole agency to talk them through our new 'bible' - the Whitewater process document.

In fact, most of the processes didn't change that much, but it's useful to have it all written down in one place. And it's flexible, so we can adapt it for individual clients if need be.

We all know that processes aren't always the most interesting subject. But like the old Chinese curse*, sometimes 'interesting' is the last thing you want - particularly when you're referring to the progression of a client job. In that case, we want 'predictable', 'routine' - even 'uneventful'. Our new processes will help us save the 'interesting' for the creative, the strategy and the results.

* "May you live in interesting times."

Marcella McGing

Posted by Whitewater Team at 03:22 PM | Permalink

'You haven't heard of Facebook?!' splutters my best mate, her jaw hanging open for an exaggerated 30 seconds. 'Well if you wanna keep in touch while I'm in Australia you better get on it.'

So it was this threat that began my love affair with Facebook. That was nearly four months ago. Four months since I answered the question on so many lips: what is Facebook?

No doubt I'm preaching to the converted, but, if you have resisted thus far; Facebook is a social network site, a bit like a web alternative to your address book, with pictures. You use it contact friends by writing on each other’s ‘wall’ or sending private messages or ‘gifts’.

With it’s record-breaking 31 million users worldwide, it can get your brain ticking (amid the bewildering requests from people you don’t know, or wish you didn't know, who want to be your friend).

Us cynics were waiting for the first news story… and we didn’t have to wait long. The BBC reminded us to be wary of Facebook and other social networks, and the horrors lurking therein….

…. University authorities at Oxford are reportedly using Facebook to try and uncover post exam pranks. Techy burglars are rubbing their hands with glee now that they can not only get your details, but also work out if you're at home. Bosses are checking future employees, and boy bands are being discovered - with ready-made fan bases thanks to Facebook and MySpace.

From small beginnings, Facebook seems to be taking over the social scene. This is the chosen way of millions.

Both the Baby Boomers and their children are both showing a distinct distrust of politicians, and anyone purporting to be an authority. The big thing for all of us is trust and control. And who else better to trust than your friends?

Which begs the question, what else can these social networks open themselves up to? How about fundraising on a big, big scale? It could mean opening doors to a whole different audience. A charity could have its own social network page, allowing people to give in a totally different way. The possibilities could be very very exciting – and member-get-member? Oooh don’t get me started.

Imogen Bielby

Posted by Whitewater Team at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Our lovely Head of Production, had a baby girl, Esther, on the 1st of August! Esther weighed in at 8.4lb and arrived at 10am - and we bet Heather's pleased she decided to start her maternity leave a week early.

Congratulations Heather, Nick, and big brother Isaac - we look forward to meeting Esther soon!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 09:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last Friday, Whitewater closed the office early and headed out to the countryside with other halves and kids... to join the party at Whitewater Fest 2007, the third and biggest yet of this annual event.

copyright: Amy Gilpin

Bouncy castles, kegs of beer and karaoke kept us up late into the night. A major highlight was the extraordinary performance from singer songwriter, Meghan McRae. Check her out here. Some of you may recognise Meg as our lovely Office Manager.

copyright: Steve Tse

For anyone interested, the photos are here!

Steve Andrews

Posted by Whitewater Team at 01:30 PM | Permalink