With today’s official announcement of the America’s Giving Challenge champions, this large-scale experiment enters the annals of fundraising history - having inspired more than 48,000 people to give $1.2 million to their favorite causes and organizations, using social networking and Web 2.0 tools. But at the end, the Challenge was all about tenacity, networking, and good old-fashioned hard work.

Congrats to the GlobalGiving America’s Giving Challenge Champions, each of whom will receive $50,000 for their chosen cause in addition to the money they raised! Their tales of fundraising are amazing. See if you can match the description to the champion!

Michele Martin, Philadelphia, PA (supported by Beth Kanter): Sharing Foundation/Route Out of Poverty for Cambodian Children (1,650 donations/$41,673 raised).

Erin Kelly, Fredericksburg, VA: Students Helping Honduras/Fuel Efficient stove for 300 Hondurans in need (1,639 donations/$28,796 raised).
Scott Beale, Wilmington, DE: Atlas Service Corps/Invest in International Development Leaders (1,615 donations/$32,021 raised).

Suzanne Plopper, Chester, CA: Friends of Burkina Faso/Education for 900 Rural Girls in Burkina Faso (1,598 donations/$41,879 raised).

(A) This University of Mary Washington student entered the competition with only 9 days to go, championing a project that is tackling the fourth-most lethal killer in the developing world…

(B) She mobilized an enormous network of returned Peace Corps volunteers, one of whom even crafted this ditty: Awa had a little lamb / His fleece was filled with fleas / But every year Awa went to school / He paid her fees…

(C) She tirelessly poked, prodded, tweeted, blogged and wiki-ed her cause to the top - not sleeping for the last two days of the Challenge and even inspiring a room service waiter in a hotel she was staying at to give… (read more about her giving exploits).

(D) With his wife, he hosted a feverish, impromptu phone-a-thon on January 30th, generating 400 donations for their cause and pushing them firmly into the winner’s circle.

(answers - A/Erin, C/Michele and Beth; B/Suzanne; D/Scott)

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My experience with GlobalGiving as an Atlas Service Corps fellow can be summarized as a window, a window in the digital world of non-profits. Whether it’s the fast changing technology, user-friendly services or the Internet tools, the market or rather Donor’s choice governs every thing.

It was interesting to know how a common person like you and me can induce change by just a click as a ‘donor’ and how a single feedback can direct change in an organization.

For me the encounter with web 2.0 was most exciting. Whether it’s tracking website traffic through Google analytics, designing online surveys or poll or getting RSS feed on Reader, these tools has been a great input for me professionally. Apart from it learning about social media sites, viral marketing, searches & adwords every thing were also very enriching experiences. I belong to India; the largest producer of IT professionals but its application there in the citizen sector is negligible.

The exposure with GlobalGiving has shown me the enormous potential of IT & the use of online tools to be tapped by the ‘non profits’. I started my blog after I joined GlobalGiving, but the best part is to connect with other bloggers that gives a continuing learning experience and first hand news of what’s new in the sector.

No matter where I live and what I do I would love to be a GlobalGiving ambassador, why? Because of its staff, they are so lovely & friendly; I really enjoyed so many things while working with them, the music played by Donna, Birthday celebrations, holiday preparations, potluck organized by Duane & the most exciting raffle. Often it is said that GlobalGiving provides excellent experience to customers or donors; to me it is just an extension of the warm personalities of its staff. All of it has become now ‘part of me’ and will remind me of my days in GlobalGiving.

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