New way to get charity funding

Found this article while doing some dissertation research and thought this was a very interesting way to use the new media of twitter, so sharing the article with you all, as I have not seen it publicized anywhere else other then in the charity industry newsletters.

Twestival opens to all charities

By Kaye Wiggins, Third Sector Online, 20 August 2009

Twitter fundraising events will allow site's users to vote for their choice of charity

A campaign that uses social networking site Twitterto organise fundraising events will be open to all charities for the first time. 

The campaign, called Twestival, encourages Twitter users to set up fundraising events in their area and promote them through ‘tweets', or short message updates. 

Previous events, which have included picnics, raffles, fetes and DJ nights, have raised money for US-based clean water charity charity:water.

A Twestival spokeswoman said that for the next one, to be held from 10 to 13 September, local communities would be able to vote online for the charity they would like to receive the funds they raise.

Twestival events will take place in 14 UK towns and cities including London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Local, national and international charities would all be eligible to receive the funds raised, the spokeswoman said.

More than 1,000 people attended the London event of the latest Twestival, held in February this year, which raised £180,000 globally.