Micro Advocacy for Macro Schedules

Sep 10, 2012 3:30 PM ET

What Do You Stand For?

One of the biggest barriers to supporting a cause or nonprofit can boil down to one simple factor: time. Today's consumers are busier than ever and fitting in the simplest routine tasks can be challenging. Recognizing this, a few organizations have sought to change the very paradigm of advocacy, creating opportunities for consumers to easily infuse cause support into their daily lives, while still retaining a sense of accomplishment and community.

The trend toward "micro advocacy" - supporting a cause or nonprofit in ways that are usually small, quick and flexible - has been ramping up ever since Sparked hit the market with its innovative approach to ad-hoc, virtual volunteerism. Now, Charity Miles has made raising money for a charity as easy as going for a morning run. The new company has developed a GPS-enabled app that allows runners and walkers to contribute up to 25 cents per mile to one of nine specified nonprofit organizations – each and every run or walk becomes an opportunity for advocacy.

To read more on Cone's What Do You Stand For? blog, please click here.