The Changing Face of Philanthropy: The #HashtagRevolution

Dozens of young people from all over New Jersey arrived in Newark Saturday to participate in a charitable event entitled #TakeCareOfNewark #Feed500.

The idea was simple enough—gather together enough food and supplies to feed 500 needy people. But the phenomenal outcome was not the result of an established charity with scores of volunteers, “old money” philanthropists throwing their weight around, or even months of radio and newspaper advertising. These young people pulled it off simply using social media hashtag marketing.

Most of the volunteers said the same thing: Though they hadn’t met any of the participants before or heard of the organizers involved, they got a hashtag communication and came simply to support a worthy cause.