One of The Media Online’s columnists, Caryn Gootkin, has launched a fundraising campaign for The Big Issue, which is so much more than a magazine. The Big Issue is a socially responsible non-profit organisation that enables willing unemployed and marginalised adults to take responsibility for their own lives through a developmental employment programme. For 19 years it has provided dignified employment, social services and skills training – among a whole lot of other functions – to hundreds of marginalised and unemployed people. Here she outlines her initiative. Gootkin is the deputy chairperson of the organisation.
Today I went from Twitter jail (a holding cell they isolate you in when Twitter deems you’ve tweeted too much) to trending on CT Twitter. And all because of my passion for The Big Issue. I’ve written before about the challenges the organisation faces. You can read it here. And, once again, this month we find ourselves sailing dangerously close to the wind.
So I sent this email to my 50 closest friends. If you’d do the same, that’d be great.
Dear friends of the Big Issue
Following a very successful Big Issue breakfast last month – and thanks to the combined fundraising genius of Stacey Varkel and Cara Saven – we are launching the Big Issue Big 200 campaign to get 200 people to pledge R200 per month to the Big Issue to fund our monthly operational deficit and allow us to continue to do the work we’ve been doing for the past 19 years.
Because of our monthly operating shortfall, the managing director and board members of the Big Issue are constantly in crisis mode – and therefore unable to focus our attention on much needed consolidation and expansion. If we are assured of R40 000 in donations per month through the Big Issue Big 200 campaign we can turn our attention to the bigger picture to cement the organisation’s sustainability.
We urgently need to:
1. Increase our sales by expanding our footprint with satellite distribution depots outside of the Cape Metro and recruiting new vendors in those areas;
2. Launch a proper digital product to complement the print magazine and fully exploit our brand;
3. Target advertisers and negotiate deals for advertising in the magazine to increase our earned income;
4. Create relationships with potential government and corporate funders for longstanding support; and
5. Pursue alternative revenue streams.
We urgently need you to:
Spread the message as far and wide as you can – if each one of you gets at least five friends/colleague/family members to pledge their R200 per month, we’ll get there in no time. And it’s so easy to do.
IF YOU’RE IN, HERE’S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO…
1. SET UP A MONTHLY STOP ORDER FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INTO THE FOLLOWING BANK ACCOUNT:
Account name: The Big Issue
Bank: Standard Bank
Account number: 072027282
Branch: Blue Route, Tokai
Branch code: 025609
Account type: Current
Reference: Your name/BIG200
2. EMAIL ME (caryn@cybersmart.co.za) CONFIRMATION OF YOUR PAYMENTS SO THAT I CAN ADD YOU TO OUR BIG ISSUE BIG 200 WALL OF FAME AND SEND YOU A S18A TAX DEDUCTION CERTIFICATE AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.
The Big Issue
66 Newmarket Street
Cape Town 8001
Box 5094
Cape Town 8000
www.bigissue.org.za
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY BIG ISSUE HEART
But, if you’d prefer to make a one-off donation, you can do so via Snapscan with the QR code in this link: https://twitter.com/CarynGootkin/status/610037669943472128.
Please tweet, RT, post it on Facebook, Like it, talk about it, email it. Just help us get the message out there.
Thanks
Caryn
[Disclaimer: The editor of The Media Online is a former editor and current board member of The Big Issue.]
