Win Pro Bono Social-Media Services

Interactive agency MindComet has launched CommuniCause, a program that allows the public to vote for the organization that they'd like to receive pro bono social-media consulting services from the agency worth $25,000.

Participants can nominate a charitable organization they believe is deserving of a social-media makeover on the CommuniCause site by July 31. Any 501(c)(3) organization is eligible to be nominated, and nominations are limited to one per valid e-mail address. The winner will be randomly selected from the 10 charities that receive the most votes.

Participants are encouraged not only to cast a vote, but also to rally people in their immediate spheres of influence for their causes using tools like Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, Twitter and e-mail.

"Social media is a powerful communications medium that we feel is being underutilized by many organizations, including nonprofits," Jeremy Hilton, vice president of media and technology for MindComet, says. "The makeover will consist of us working with the winner to develop social-media strategies for important functions like fundraising outreach and awareness."

MindComet does yearly pro bono work for local nonprofits and wanted to continue that tradition, but there was some indecision within the company as to who it should give its services to. From this indecision, an idea about opening the nomination and voting process up to the public developed, and CommuniCause was born.

"Once we started working on the project, we quickly realized that CommuniCause wasn't just about picking a winner," Hilton says. "Every organization that participates wins on some level through increased visibility on social-media channels that they wouldn't have otherwise received. As a company, we're happy to have been the spark for rallying their supporters and can't wait to find out who the eventual winner is. On a personal level, I've met some great people with truly inspiring stories. This campaign has been the most gratifying project in my five years at MindComet."