Since we launched the new site we have moved the blog to a new location.
Please find us with a new look here:
To get all the latest updates on the problems with the new site please refer to the new blog.
The old posts will be available both here and on the new blog.
We’ve already told you that Justgiving is getting a new look and that some new features for fundraisers are on the way (exciting).
So, what are all these changes to the Justgiving website going to look like? Well, first of all, we’ve got a new logo:
You’ll see it in blue on our homepage and other information areas, but we want it to be a bit of a chameleon and change colour according to the company it keeps. So, in future, you’ll see it in different charities’ colours too.
We’ve also got a new thermometer:
At Justgiving, charity fundraising is all we do, and we want our charities and fundraisers to shine. So we’ve made a new thermometer that can take on the colours you choose. The starburst shape celebrates the wonderful things you do and it’s nice and eye-catching, wherever you see it.
And here’s how your Justgiving page will look (depending on the colour you choose):
We’ve worked hard to bring out the really important bits – the button that asks people to donate and the thermometer that shows how much you’ve raised. There’s also more space for your own photos (yay), and some new colour themes to choose from.
Plus, it’ll be much faster and easier for people to donate on your page, and they’ll also be able to choose a little icon to go with their name and message.
So how about sharing your page with other people?
As well as our Justgiving widget and Facebook app, you’ll be able to use the very handy ShareThis button to broadcast your fundraising through lots of different social websites and networks, from Facebook and Twitter to Digg and Delicious.
And what about making changes to your page? Well, we’ve also made your account much easier to use and added even more resources, including tried and tested tips from fundraisers on how to raise as much as possible.
And now you can extend your page for as long as you like, from your account – so if you want to carry on fundraising for a few extra months, you can.
We’re really looking forward to hearing what you think of our new look and features, so please let us know, emailing any ideas and suggestions you have to heather@justgiving.com
A few weeks ago we announced some of our London Marathon competition winners but there were still 2 more prizes left up for grabs. We were torn on who should win the ‘picture most like its owner’ prize so we asked you to vote and hands down the winner was Ed Powell – his ‘Ed’ band and dazed expression seemed to be the clincher!
We also have the winner of the ‘best dressed runner’ competition. Thank you for all your wonderful entries, there were loads of really excellent costumes to choose from. We chose Rose and Carla Dolan, aka Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble, because their costumes are excellent and they look so happy wearing them!
Thanks to everyone who entered all of our competitions – we’ve had a lot of fun judging them. We put all of your drawings up in one of our meeting rooms to judge the competitions and they brightened it up so much we decided to keep them there. Pop by for a cup of tea and a look if you’re ever in town!
If you have any ideas for other competitions please get in touch by emailing heather@justgiving.com or leaving a comment below.
You may have read on the blog that over the coming months Justgiving will be changing. For the last 18 months we’ve been listening to our users and working really hard to make some great changes to the site. We have a new logo and a new thermometer which will change colour depending on what our charities and users choose.
These changes have been made to allow Justgiving to fade into the background a little and let our users shine through. We are also changing the homepage to reflect this – we want to feature more of our amazing fundraisers’ campaigns. This is where we need your help. If you have a Justgiving page and would like to get exposure on the homepage for your fundraising efforts then please get in touch.
Simply send a photo of yourself and your fundraising page address to heather@justgiving.com. Due to the size of the placement the photo needs to be of relatively high quality, either taken with a digital camera (anything 3 mega pixels or more) or an SLR camera. The more interesting the photo the better, we’re looking for great photos of you fundraising, training or just doing something silly – whether that means running, cycling, or having your head shaved! Photos of you on your own or as part of a team are equally welcome.
What works best:
* Photos of happy people taken outside in natural sunlight
* Active photos of people taking part in an event – no sitting on the sofa or merely posing in your tracksuit!
* Photos that can be cropped as a square or a horizontal rectangle – vertical rectangular shapes don’t really work
* People wearing colourful kit, fancy dress or uniforms
* If you are taking place in an active event with equipment, such as a row or a cycle ride get a photo of you and your bike, boat, horse, whatever!
What we don’t want:
* Red eyes
* Random photos of ‘fundraising in the pub’
* Partial or full nudity! (you’d be surprised at what we get sent…)
* Blurry or out of focus pictures
* Headshots
Not every photo we receive will be posted on the homepage but if your image is chosen we will let you know promptly. Your photo will stay up on the Justgiving.com homepage for approximately 1-2 months, in rotation with other photos. (just keep on refreshing the homepage!)
Thank you!
Karl Donnan got in touch with us this week about National Epilepsy Week and his fundraising campaign. He will be climbing Mont Blanc this summer to raise money for the National Society for Epilepsy. We were so impressed by his story that we did a quick interview.
How did you come up with the idea of climbing Mont Blanc?
The idea came about as I wanted to do something to raise money in memory of my Godson Archie, who had died of a brain tumour 10 years ago, aged 14 months. I’ve pretty limited experience on mountains, but as Archie’s Dad Richard Chapman is a very experienced and a qualified mountaineer, I thought we could do something together, something challenging, and something different enough to get people’s attention so we could raise a lot of money for CLIC Sargent who had help Rich and his family when Archie was ill. We decided on Mont Blanc, set up the www.archiesmountain.com website and set a target of raising £4,810, one pound for every metre in height of Mont Blanc.
When my second son Ross was born in May 2008 we had to re-think our plans; Ross was having seizures from birth and spent the first seven weeks of his life in hospital while the doctors tried to get his seizures (which peaked at 82 per day) under control and to find out what was wrong. Rich and I agreed to postpone our Mont Blanc attempt until summer 2009, and to start also raising money for the National Society for Epilepsy. We added a link to our Justgiving page and set a target of another £4,810, a target which we’ve since increased to £15,780, one pound for each foot in height of Mont Blanc.
How does Ross inspire you?
He’s my son, and he needs help. The people we look to for help don’t have the answers yet, so that’s the main inspiration. Until Christmas it was very tough as Ross was not responding at all. Since then it’s still tough, but the big difference is that Ross has started responding to us. He smiles most days now and his smiles would melt the toughest heart.
Can you tell us more about Ross’s Epilepsy?
I’d love to but I’m afraid we don’t know that much, as the doctors also don’t know that much. We’ve been told he has a ‘severe and as yet undiagnosed form of epilepsy’. Ross’s seizures were finally brought under control through the use of steroids but his brain activity is ‘chaotic’ and his mental development is very limited. His seizures are under control at the minute but due to the side-effects we need to try to get him off the steroids in coming months so there’s a chance the seizures could return. We’re taking each day as it comes to be honest. Epilepsy is very overlooked and underfunded – the ‘stigma’ attached with epilepsy means people don’t really like talking about it. 17th-23rd May 2009 is National Epilepsy Week and I’m taking part in a lobby of MPs to try to push for more funding into epilepsy research.
You’ve raised an incredible amount, have you been surprised?
Yes, very pleasantly surprised. Ross’s story has touched everyone who hears it and the support we’ve received has been overwhelming. I think that’s reflected in the money raised so far. There’s lots happening; as well as the money we’ve raised, three friends (Dave, Rory and Kerry) all ran the London Marathon this year for the NSE, Donaghadee Young Farmer’s Club raised money at a BBQ, friends have asked for donations instead of gifts on the occassions of their kids’ Christenings, friends Pam and Jen from work held a charity Burns Supper, and my younger brother William and a dozen of his kite-surfing pals are planning to cross from Northern Ireland to Scotand in October.
Did you find having a blog useful for fundraising? What’s your best fundraising tip?
Having a good-looking, informative and easy-to-use website to direct people to has definitely helped with the fundraising. Our Blog section was originally mean to record our experiences during training (if you look back to early 2008 you’ll find references to Rich falling in a very cold river in Scotland, whilst teaching me how to cross rivers…), but when Ross was born it also became a place I could put upates on Ross’s progress as well as photos. It’s hard to know if having a Blog has helped with fundraising, but personally I’ve found it quite a good outlet just to capture some of the events and feelings we’ve been on in this rollercoaster year since Ross was born.
I think the best fundraising tip is to tell people about what you’re doing and how to sponsor you – if nobody knows, they can’t donate!!!
Can you tell us more about your charity?
When Ross was born I was amazed to discover how little the medical profession understands about epilepsy, and especially about how the infant brain works. We’re raising money for The National Society for Epilepsy which is a UK based chairty which funds cutting-edge medical research into epilepsy as well as promoting awareness of epilepsy and helping sufferers of epilepsy and their families.
When are you climbing Mont Blanc and have you ever done any climbing before?
We’ve got our flights booked and Rich and I are heading over to attempt to reach the summit on 12t-13th June 2009. My climbing experience is very limited but Rich has been teaching me what I need to know.
How is your climbing training going?
I’ve been on three intensive climbing training weekends in Glencoe and Snowdonia during which Rich has taught me the basics of ropework, how to handle crampons and ice-axes, as well as a lot of info on mountain safety. We’ve trained well, but despite Rich’s experience, the fitness we’ve both gained from months of training, and choosing the safest route during the safest period of the year, there’s still a chance that the altitude or weather could stop us from getting to the top. If that happens, we hope to be able to go back and try again later in the summer.
Are you scared of heights?
Not really. I paraglided quite a bit when we lived in Italy, and my earlier thrill-seeking did see me bungy-jump out of a helicopter once. Now I’m married with two kids I’m trying to make sure I keep my feet on the ground, and whilst I’m not too worried about the heights and drops we’ll experience on Mont Blanc, I’m well aware of the risks and the need for extreme care.
Are you going to set yourself another challenge after this one?
I guess I’ll still be wanting to feel like I’m doing something to help, so I’ll probably continue to do something to raise money for epilepsy charities. Whilst I hope I’ll continue climbing I doubt if we’ll move on to even bigger mountains so that may not be the next fundraiser – need to wait and see on that one.
How can people support your campaign?
Take advantage of the fact that it is National Epilepsy Week from 17-23 May 2009 to go online and learn about epilepsy. Visit our website and read about Ross. Raise awareness of epilepsy by talking about both with your family, friends and colleagues. You may also wish to sponsor us…
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