Shavin' One for the Team Redux

FS reader Jeff Schreifels, senior partner at Veritus Group, made a point the other day in response to my blog post about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Totally Baldacious campaign. I see the point, but I don't completely agree.

Through Totally Baldacious, LLS is encouraging folks to shave thir heads (or beards or mustaches, etc.) or color their hair to raise awareness — and money — for cancer-related issues. It's a fun, clever way to get people's attention.

Says Jeff, however: "OK, there is something funny about this, but yet something quite sad too. What's happening to an organization or cause if the only way to raise cash is to shave our heads? There are so many cancer organizations out there that are struggling to raise money. Is it time to bring some of them together? What keeps cancer organizations from merging and pooling resources and donors?"

I agree that, in general, some nonprofit missions could benefit from a merger of some of the many organizations that do work on their behalf. But I don't agree that something as delightfully outrageous as Totally Baldacious is somehow a desperate measure or harbinger of doom for our fundraising future. This campaign certainly isn't the only way LLS raises money. It just kicks things up a notch and engages people in a new way, invites a whole new breed of supporters into the fold, and garners loads of media attention for the cause. Plus it's fun.

Jeff ends his comment saying, "Is this something the nonprofit community wants to talk about, or should we just go on shaving heads to inspire people to give?"

Thanks for the great questions, Jeff, and for the provocative post. I say, let's talk about it! What do you all think?