EcoMedia, a CBS Company, was founded to serve one simple mission: To channel corporate advertising dollars to the most effective nonprofits, thus improving the quality of life in communities across America.
In 2015, EcoMedia expanded its business model, launching a website and mobile app through which consumers direct brands' dollars to the charitable organizations and causes of their choice: Viewers to Volunteers (V2V).
By making it possible for everyone to give back, EcoMedia seeks to inspire the next generation of philanthropists and create a true culture of giving with a nearly limitless source of funding.
We sought to engage users even further through Viewers to Volunteers by creating a virtual giving competition that translates social media engagement, positive content, and established networks to real nonprofit donations. Charity Champions League: The Competition for Social Good was born as EcoMedia's latest initiative toward the democratization of philanthropy.
The new digital giving platform Viewers to Volunteers (V2V) gives consumers the chance to take an active role in the philanthropic process. By reading, watching, and sharing stories on the V2V platform, users earn points that can be directed to the V2V nonprofits of their choice. Those points are converted into funds for the nonprofits, thanks to V2V advertisers, and further transmuted into tangible change for critical cause areas.
EcoMedia partnered with public figures committed to social good to create Charity Champions League. Each celebrity chose to compete on behalf of a nonprofit organization and encouraged V2V members to earn points for his or her team.
Registration for Viewers to Volunteers and Charity Champions League was completely free. Users simply reviewed the list of teams and decided which to support, linking their play with the celebrity team leader for the benefit of the designated non-profit. Members then earned points by viewing content, sharing content on other social media platforms, and/or recruiting players.
The competition began June 1, 2016 and ended June 15, 2016. The team with the highest point total at the close of competition was awarded the grand prize.
Charity Champions League is especially unique for its award distribution: all eleven teams secured a donation for their nonprofit through the Viewers to Volunteers advertising model. The grand prize was a$250,000, second place received $100,000, and third through eleventh place all received lower denominations. We feel strongly about the importance of our nonprofit partners' work, and through Charity Champions League, ensured every one received support to continue addressing crucial social issues.
Through EcoMedia's own social media campaign, the sharing nature of the competition itself, and the outreach efforts of celebrity team leaders, Charity Champions League became a multi-platform social media competition with far-reaching positive impact.
Charity Champions League generated 56 million impressions, 36,000 shares, and 353 native posts from social media influencers.
With $250,000, the Humane Society of the United States created the Christina Grimmie Animal Medical Fund to assist in healing 250-500 rescued animals through veterinary hospitalization and specialty services.
$100,00 to ALS.net will support research projects focused on finding a cure for ALS, potentially impacting 480,000 people worldwide living with ALS.
$75,000 to School on Wheels will support homeless students' education through tutoring services, backpacks, supplies and scholarships at 175 sites and provide 100,000 hours of additional service to 3,700 homeless students.
$50,000 to Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will enable 40 kids from 10 youth organizations to attend a one-week, sports-themed summer camp with specially trained coaches.
$25,000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will fund a study focused on gut bacteria, potentially impacting the nearly 2 million people living with MS across the country.
$15,000 to the ASPCA will support microchipping, vaccinations, and food for 5,000 shelter pets.
$10,000 to After-School All-Stars will support after-school programs including sports, wellness, financial literacy, and career activities through approximately 5,400 hours of additional service hours.
$10,000 will support Harlem RBI's Team Sponsorship Program, providing coaching, uniforms, equipment, and transportation for approximately 900 student athletes.
$5,000 each to the Trevor Project for LGBTQ youth in crisis programs; Ronald McDonald House Charities to support underserved children and families; and Boston Medical Center for a new pediatric inpatient unit, impacting approximately 2,200 kids.
