Thousands of people have answered The Borgen Project's call to action and the impact has been tremendous. This section of the site lists the key methodology that we need you doing.
LOBBY
Call/Write/Email Congress: Congressional leaders often support poverty-reduction legislation when as few as 7-10 people in their district contact them in support of it. Get started here.
Become a Lobbyist for the World's Poor: Arranging a meeting with congressional staffers is suprisingly easy. The "how to" document is on the left side of this page.
- Watch volunteers lobbying.
Mobilize: One is good, but ten is better. Politics is a numbers game and the more people contacting a leader in support of an issue/bill the more action it recieves from the leader and their staff.
Create a Tribe: Everyone likes to be part of a group. Create an informal tribe of co-workers, friends and/or family who collaborate on activities that impact the cause.
- Watch the Tribes Ted Talk.
Bird Dog: Attend events where congressional leaders are speaking and publicly ask them to support poverty-reduction efforts.
- Watch volunteers Bird-Dog the Vice President.
- Watch a college student Bird-Dog a Senator at a town hall meeting in rural Oklahoma.
Create a YouTube video in support of a bill: Email your congressional leader a link of you and other people from your district discussing a bill and asking the leader to support it.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Post on your leaders Facebook & Twitter: Most congressional leaders now use social media to communicate with voters and monitor what the public is saying. Friend/Follow your leaders and post comments of encouragement when they support poverty bills or encourage them to support such bills.
- Watch how Congress uses Twitter.
-|Watch Congress & new media.
Tweet and status update: Share interesting links, videos and articles about the issues via your status updates.
BUILD AWARENESS
Share the site: Email your contacts a link to borgenproject.org.
Build buzz: If you're talking about it, political leaders are acting on it. Help build buzz for downsizing global poverty!
Pitch to the media: Dismayed that American's know more about the Kardashian's then they do about global poverty? Email interesting story ideas to local and national reporters that incorporate the issues.
Write a letter to the editor: These serve the purpose of educating thousands of people and if you mention the congressional leaders name in the letter he/she will read it in their regular summary of news coverage.
Call talk radio: You're one phone call away from getting the issue in front of thousands of people. Visit the talk shows website to find the call-in number.
Deliver a Stump Speech: Speak to local groups and classes. Contact press_borgenproject.org for the latest talking points and a powerpoint template.
Submit content to newsletters: From apartment buildings to dentists, there are no shortage of businesses that send newsletters. Send some interesting tibits on global poverty to the person in charge of the newsletter and ask them to incorporate the topic and/or make it a regular fixture (ie. monthly poverty fact).
Transform empty windows: Ask the owner of a vacant building for permission to cover the windows with Borgen Project logos and/or poverty facts.
Become a Flier Pilot: The Borgen Project is known for being tech savvy so it might surprise you that we're huge fans of good, old-fashion fliering. Post fliers in coffee shops and windows of interested businesses.
CONSUMER WITH A CAUSE
Get The Borgen Project Visa Card: For every $100 you charge with your Borgen Project Visa, Capital One donates $1 to the cause. Transform your everyday spending habits into poverty-reduction funding. Sign up here.
Shop for Borgen Wear: Find merchandise at the online store.
eBay: Buy eBay items that benefit The Borgen Project.
Ideal Network: Just like Groupon, but 25% of your purchase is donated to The Borgen Project. Sign up for E-Alerts.
Divert: Catch yourself before making unnecessary purchases and divert the money saved into the cause. Learn more about diverting.
PUT CONGRESS IN YOUR CELLPHONE!
Sitting in Traffic
Changing the World
VOLUNTEER
FOR THE BORGEN PROJECT
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD: THOSE WHO SIT IN TRAFFIC. AND THOSE WHO CHANGE THE WORLD WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. Turn your idol time into advocacy time. Put your three congressional leaders in your cellphone and call on a weekly basis in support of poverty-focused aid. Simply add your leaders to your cellphone and call when you're bored or sitting in traffic. These calls rarely take longer than 30-seconds. Learn who your leaders are and how to contact them.
KEY DOCUMENTS
Standard Ops - Volunteers How To Lobby.doc
The Non Event Template.docx
USEFUL LINKS
FUNDRAISE
Donate: As the saying goes..."Don't tell me what your values are, show me your bank statement and I will tell you what you value." If you've fallen into the habit of valuing Nordstrom, Starbucks, Ticketmaster and Wii, but rarely valuing the lives of those living in squalor, consider arranging automatic bill pay and let your bank handle your monthly donating... The satisfaction of seeing your monthly contribution on your bank statement, without having to lift a finger. Donate Here.
Make the "Ask": The golden rule of fundraising is people rarely give unless they're asked. The world's poor have an undeniable need for people in wealthy nations to step up and "make the ask" on their behalf. Watch how to write a fundraising letter.
Run a Marathon: Utilize your running events to raise funding for the cause. Let people know you're running for the cause and ask them to sponsor your efforts.
Accomplish Random Feats: Attempt to pogo stick across your city, climb a local mountain backwards, etc. Do something unusual to raise awareness and funding for the cause and ask people to contribute.
Host a Living Room Summit: Bring your friends together to support the cause. Host a house party.
Sell it on eBay: With The Borgen Project's eBay partnership you can sell your old items online and have the proceeds go directly to the cause. Get started.
Launch your own online fundraising campaign: Utilize sites like crowdriseto create your own online fundraising profile.
Donate your Birthday, Wedding, or Graduation: Make "in-liue of" gifts your new favorite phrase. Ask family to donate to the cause instead of presents or add The Borgen Project to your gift registery. Utilize Facebook Wishesfor your campaign.
Send invitations to a non-event: This creative concept is appreciated by would-be guests and party-planners alike. Instead of hosting an expensive fundraiser, ask your guest list to stay home the night of the "non-event" and donate the ticket price.
No dress code day at work: Ask your boss or company to allow a day where employees can dress casual if they put $5 in a donation jar.
"WE DON'T CHANGE THE WORLD UNLESS YOU DO."
