This is the time of year we get solicited by charities to make donations. From Instagram ads to snail mail letters, there is no shortage of worthy causes seeking support for everything from ending world hunger like Rise Against Hunger to Charity Water to Pencils for Promise.
But what if there was another way to raise money for a cause? What if you could hold an auction for a unique and once in a lifetime experience?
Ryan Cummins and Mathew Pohlson, two former filmmakers came up with the idea. They wanted to explore how storytelling and unique experiences could do good. After trying to win a celebrity auction event to hang out with Magic Johnson, they realized that they couldn’t compete with the person who donated $15K. So they democratize and disrupted the idea.
Omaze is like a lottery for once-in-a-lifetime experience whose proceeds go to charities.
Omaze – Disrupting Charitable Giving
Omaze is reimagining how consumers can donate to charity and get a chance for an unusual experience with a celebrity. For $10, you get a chance to be entered into the lottery for one of these experiences. 80% of the money raised goes to the charity, 20% goes to the for-profit Omaze.
Each experience has a connection to a non-profit doing wonderful things.
Which Experience Would You Choose?
- Sit down for an uncomfortable meal with Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon
- Play putt-putt with Bono from U2 (and grab a pint)
- Have dinner in NYC with Sarah Jessica Parker
- Live under Stephen Colbert’s desk for a live show. (and get to hang with Stephen)
- Get drawn into an episode of South Park
- Hang with Reese Witherspoon at the premiere of A Wrinkle in Time
- Get interviewed by Noah Trevor
- Be Conan’s co-host
- Meet Seth Meyers and join his comedy writing team for a day
- Talk about the week with John Oliver
- Hang with John Legend for an evening of music
- Spend a day with Kelly Slater (not a relative) surfing
- Join Kristin Bell and Dax Sheppard for a holiday game night
- Meet the Game of Throne Cast at the Final Season Premiere
- Have Jon Stewart get Lin-Manual Miranda to record your voicemail
- Workout with Charlize Theron and get your ass kicked
Lessons in Marketing Disruption
The big marketing lesson: If you think like everyone else, you’ll be like everyone else. When you wonder out loud and keep chipping away at the business model, eventually some new thinking can emerge. To be meaningfully different, you just need a little courage, a little craziness and to be persistent.
The beauty of this idea is that they started with the idea of doing good, and wondered how they could rethink how people give to charity.
Since 2012, they have raised millions for charities with donations from around the world.
Ryan and Mathew are amazed how Omaze is changing the world.
Need some counterintuitive thinking to solve some of your most difficult marketing challenges? Call me at 919 720 0995 or email me at jeffslater@themarketingsage.com
Looking to make a donation before the year ends? Consider giving to my friends at RISE AGAINST HUNGER where ending world hunger by 2030 is Possible.
Photo courtesy of Omaze and Sir Paul
