Most Profitable Fundraisers

High-end profits are the main purpose of holding fundraisers as they are the most effective way to raise money and garner support for any community organization, school, charity or church group.  Fundraisers fall into one of four categories: non-profit/charity, school, sports and church/community.

Non-Profit/Charity Fundraisers

Non-Profit/ charity organizations are by far the most diverse group.  Non-profit/charity groups may range from animal rescue to children’s programs to community clean up and beyond.  Therefore, the choices for this type of fundraiser must also be diverse.  Potential fundraisers may include selling candy or magazines, selling advertising in a specific publication, offering community discount cards or benefit concerts.

School Fundraisers

School fundraisers are the biggest part of the fundraising industry.  The issue raised by school fundraisers is that the ages of the participating children tend to vary widely; therefore, the fundraiser must be organized in such as way that all of them can participate.

Sports Fundraisers

Sports fundraisers are held for many different reasons, including raising money to cover  uniforms, expenses of buying programs, maintaining a sports field or sending the team to away games.

Church Group/Community Fundraisers

When it comes to meeting operational expenses, churches are often forced to depend on fundraisers.  Communities often face many of the same challenges as churches when no public funds are available.  Both groups may have difficulty with repeat fundraisers, which is why creativity is so important.

Raising Money From Private Sources

Raising money from private sources is very different than trying to raise from public programs or from philanthropic organizations.  For one thing, raising money from private sources is, in some ways, much easier.  It rarely involves filling out endless forms, providing copies of non-profit status, biographies, reports, financial statements, business plans, mission and vision statements and other administrative requirements.  Likewise, there are rarely deadlines, committee interviews or having to wait weeks, perhaps months, for a response to your request.  Fundraising from private sources also takes planning but the process is typically easier and less grueling than the alternative.

Raising Money From Individual Donors

Trying to raise money  from private sources is easier when using a website like MicroGiving as the fundraiser has the opportunity to spread the word quickly and to a large number of people that may be willing to donate to the cause. It should be noted that many organizations use a combination of public and private funds in order to support their charities or causes.  This is perfectly acceptable and perhaps even preferable.  It will only take research to determine what programs – public or philanthropic – are available for a particular fundraising purpose.

It must be said that receiving a grant or other funding alternative from a public program or philanthropic source often takes the legwork out of fundraising as the dollar amounts granted are much higher than one would receive from running a small fundraiser with donations from the general public.

Online Fundraising Software

Online fundraising is becoming the number one way in which to raise funds for community projects, school events, charitable causes, churches and individual use.  While some online programs offer the opportunity to create, design and promote fundraising packages and projects, some require the use of additional software for management purposes.  It may be necessary to use additional tools to track the number of donors as well as the amount funded, percentage funded, time frame or amount that is still needed for the project or event to be successful.

No Need for Additional Software

Also available to those involved in online fundraising projects are separate companies that will help to promote and design campaigns to raise funds for the cause.  While this may be wise or even necessary for large projects, organizations or companies, for the majority of the population involved in online gift giving, it is not necessary.  In fact, such companies may or may not be non-profit and might end up taking a significant percentage or charging a large amount to provide the services that can be completed quite easily on MicroGiving for free.  Simply follow the steps provided by the site to get started and design a campaign for a worthy project.  Help may be received through customer service or by using the help function that should easily answer any questions about the process and how it works.

Ways to Raise Money for Kids

Finding ways to raise money is not very difficult but it can be a challenge to find the right way for a special group.  Even more challenging is finding ways to raise money that can also educate children about the value of a dollar as well as giving service to the community.  One way in which children can benefit from fundraising is through a toy drive.

Showing Children The Gift of Giving

Most children have toys that they have outgrown or no longer play with on a regular basis.  More often than not, there are items stuffed in drawers, toy chests and cupboards that could be sold to make a profit for a fundraiser. Once the toys are collected, children can be put in charge of cleaning and organizing the toys and can also assist in helping to repair them, if necessary.  Toys that are not acceptable for sale can be donated elsewhere or thrown out with the trash.Toys may also be collected from neighbors, families and friends to make the event even more successful.

Teaching children about community service and the value of money will serve them well into the future and throughout their adult lives.  In addition, it will teach them to value what they have and to appreciate their things and to take better care of them.

High End Fundraisers

High end fundraisers are the best way to raise money for any community organization, charity, school or church group.  High profit fundraisers tend to fall into four categories: School, Church, Sports and Charity.  Those four groups tend to hold the most fundraisers and as such, typically raise the most money for their organizations.

School

School fundraisers are the biggest segment in the fundraising industry.  The issue raised by organizing a school fundraiser is that the ages of the children involved tend to vary widely and, therefore, the fundraiser must be structured so that all of the children (and their families) can participate and contribute.

Church Group

The ideas and needs surrounding church fundraisers are many.  Unlike many organizations, churches often depend on fundraisers to meet operating expenses.  There are many websites available that offer fundraising ideas for churches, despite the size and need.

Sports

Sports fundraisers are held for a number of reasons, including covering the expenses of maintaining a sports field, buying programs, uniforms or sending the team on trips and away games.

Non-profit/Charity/Community

Non-Profit/Charity/Community organizations are perhaps the most diverse group as the groups may range from children’s programs to community clean up, animal rescue to erecting a health clinic.  Therefore, the choices for fundraisers must also be as diverse.  High profit fundraisers may include selling advertising in a specific publication, selling candy or magazines, or benefit concerts.

Fundraising News: Mark Owen Donates to Micro Charity

In recent Fundraising News, Mark Owen, a member of Take That, has donated ten VIP tickets to the band’s upcoming show at Wembley to benefit Rainbow School, a micro charity that raises funds to help children with autism.  The tickets will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Rainbow School, a charity organization that has been supported and patronized by Owen, who has been an ongoing patron and supporter.

Rainbow School to Benefit

Rainbow School, founded in 2000, is a school located in South West London.  It was established by parents of children that have been diagnosed with autism.  The Rainbow School is only the third school of its kind to operate in the UK.  The facility offers a structured program of intensive intervention using the principles of Verbal Behaviour (VB) and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

Mark Owen talks about his visit to the school last year: “Last summer I was approached by a friend and neighbor who has a son with autism and she introduced me to a friend of hers, whose son goes to Rainbow School.”

Mark was surprised to learn that he was so close to the school and yet had not known about it.  “Rainbow School was, unbeknown to me, literally only yards away from my front door and so after taking a tour of the school, meeting the children and its founder Karen, I decided that I’d really like to help in whatever way possible to support these amazing people.”

Relief Organizations Step Up Ways to Raise Money

The Southern U.S. has had its share of misfortunes and individuals have come up with some pretty innovative ways to raise money and help people in this time of need. One of the most notable disasters in recent years has been Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana with more force than anyone could have ever imagined.  April 2011 also brought about a great number of disasters, so much so that the events have been dubbed “2011 Super Outbreak.”  The tornados that have ripped though the South, Midwest and Northeast have taken over 300 lives and have left thousands more injured and homeless.

Celebs Help Increase Ways to Raise Money

Many celebrities have stepped up to aid relief organizations to .  Some of the people that have offered their help in raising funds for charity organizations include Britney Spears, who hosted an event to support the St. Bernard Project.  Selena Gomez has announced her efforts to raise money for Save the Children’s Southeast drive; Brad Paisley has agreed to donate proceeds of a new song to the Alabama tornado relief fund; Roy Jones, Jr. is asking fans to support various relief organizations and has offered a phone call and autographed photo to everyone that donates $250 or more; and Kenny Chesney has offered to donate the proceeds of an upcoming concert to GiveTuscaloosa.com.

Britney Spears’ event was attended by many A-list friends, including Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, Kelly Osbourne and Selena Gomez.  In total the event raised $200,000 for the St Bernard Fund.  Britney said “The St Bernard Project is an incredible organization whose main focus is rebuilding Louisiana [which is] always in my heart.”

Jordin Sparks and Others Give to Charity

May 22^nd saw a gathering of some of the most prominent names in sports and show business give to charity at the 26th anniversary of Sports Spectacular held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.  The event honors top athletes and also benefits the Medical Genetics Institute at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  The evening was hosted by Jim Hill, Samantha Harris and John Salley.

Stars Give to Charity Through Auction

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the honored athletes, the event also featured a silent auction.  The auction was designed to raise funds to combat genetic birth defects and raised more than $1.3 million.  The total raised thus far through the event has topped $21 million.

American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks started the evening off when she sang the National Anthem.  Approximately 1,800 sports stars, celebrities, business and community leaders, entertainers and charity organizations attended the evening to honor an elite list of sports figures.

Honorees and their presenters included Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn, whose award was presented by Ron Artest; Los Angeles Clippers NBA Star Blake Griffin whose award was presented by Michael Strahan; U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan whose award was presented by Tim Leiweke; and Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers icon and NFL Defensive Player of the Year, whose award was presented by Joel Madden.

Also present at the charity event were many famous faces including Tia Carrere, Buzz Aldrin, Benji Madden, Alan Thicke and Summer Sanders.

Those who wish to give to charity can make a donation online.

Celebrities Provide Housing Assistance for Japan

Disaster relief organizations such as www.uniteforjapan.org and the American Red Cross are providing housing assistance to the Japanese people, along with funds that will allow them to rebuild their country and their lives after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in March, killing thousands and leaving many more homeless.  Actor Ken Watanabe founded www.uniteforjapan.org, a charity organization designed to pull people together to assist in funding Japan’s relief effort.  In addition, the organization is working with other agencies such as the American Red Cross, Global Giving and Japan Society.

“When I first saw the catastrophic damage, I was in shock and utter disbelief,” said Watanabe.  “In the days following the earthquake, it was devastating for me to watch the homeless taking shelter at evacuation centers.”  Watanabe talks about people not having an adequate supply of clothing and food, a fact that caused him to feel helpless.

Disaster Relief Organizations Create Funding

Unite for Japan gathered together a group of A-list celebrities to help record two Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness about the plight of the Japanese in the aftermath of the disaster.  Participating in the PSAs were: Paula Abdul, Jamie Lee Curtis, Matt Damon, Zac Brown, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Marshall, Ben Affleck, Johnny Depp, Mikael Hafstrom, Katy Perry, Clint Eastwood, Ayako Fujutani, William Shatner, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Muramasa Kudo, Jennifer Morrison, Aisha Tyler, Sharon Lawrence, Cameron Diaz, John Legend, Hideki Matsui, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Patrick, Richard Lewis, Zoe Saldana, Cillian Murphy, Julian McMahon, Cobie Smulders, Apolo Ohno, Steph Song, Maggie Q, Charlize Theron, Jake Shimabukuro, Jonah Hill, Masi Oka, John Travolta, Ben Stiller and Mark Wahlberg.

Those who want to make a donation to charity organizations that help Japan can donate online and provide much needed housing assistance.

Ferrells Beat Illiteracy Through Emergency Financial Assistance

Will Ferrell and his wife, Viveca Paulin-Ferrell, held an emergency financial assistance fundraiser at their home in the Hollywood Hills to benefit the charity organization Room to Read, a non-profit designed to help people worldwide beat illiteracy by providing schools, libraries and books to children that may not have access to the materials otherwise.

Will Ferrell took the stage as Viveca served as the evening’s auctioneer.  Room to Read founder and co-chair John Wood was also on hand.  The event, and the auction, raised nearly $300,000 to support the construction of four schools, nine libraries and 10,000 young adult books that will provide as much as 256 years of education.  Celebrities participating in the auction include Jack Black, Molly Shannon and Fred Savage.

Ongoing Events to Raise Money for Financial Assistance

The founders and supporters of Room to Read along with committee members, plan to make the fundraiser an annual event with the hopes of raising awareness for the program and its goals.  The organization’s goals include gender equality through education and developing literacy skills for children to help them succeed in their secondary education careers.  Since its inception in 2000, Room to Read has helped to impact more than five million people in Africa and Asia.  The goal of the charity organization is to continue to help people and provide emergency financial assistance to as many as ten million people by 2015.

Micro Loans with Business Opportunities

There are several ways in which one can look at the micro loans process.  It can be viewed as a way to raise money for charity organizations, a type of idea funding or a combination of the two.  In some cases, crowdfunding can be combined with business opportunities such as the ones being offered by some online donation sites.

Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Giving to charity is always rewarding from a social standpoint, giving one a sense of community or the opportunity to give back.  Some also utilize the tax deductions that come along with donating to non-profit organizations.  Whatever the reason, there are many charities that benefit from the crowdfunding process.

Some organizations give back to their donors in various ways through public acknowledgment, awards and prizes.  Auctioning off special events and experiences such as concert tickets and celebrity-related items is also a popular way to go.  The latest trend in charity donation is to bid for a chance at a business opportunity with a celebrity.  Many celebrity organizations are auctioning off internships at their companies as a way of raising funds for their charities.  This idea provides money for the charity while offering a business opportunity for the donor.

Some current examples include internships with fashion designers Diane Von Furstenburg, Rebecca Taylor and Patricia Fields or an internship at Jay-Z’s ROC National record label.  Other auctions include internships with H&M’s marketing department and an overseas internship in Hong Kong.

Those interested in participating in any opportunities involving micro loans can donate online.

Online Donation for Celebrity Experiences

A recent trend in the online donation and celebrity charity world is a chance to meet-and-greet one or more famous celebrities.  The premise is that people will clamor to donate online to meet a celebrity.  The opportunities are given to those who bid the highest amount for a particular event, whether it is a simple meet-and-greet or a special event such as tickets to a popular show, day long experience, lunch or other fantastic opportunity that a fan would most likely never have the chance to receive otherwise.  One such organization that is participating in this recent trend is charitybuzz.com.  The site gives various charity organizations a chance to raise money in a unique way.  By auctioning off the experiences with the celebrities, it is almost guaranteed that the charity organization receives funds that it may not have received from a single donor under other circumstances.

Online Donation for the Chance of a Lifetime

Recent offerings at charitybuzz.com include once in a lifetime experiences that may never be available again.  The website shows the event, the current highest bid, the number of bids entered, the estimated value, and the date the auction ends.  The celebrity experiences going on right this minute include a stroll through Strawberry Fields with Yoko Ono, a tour of the U.S. Air and Space Museum with famed Astronaut John Glenn, an invitation and meet-and-greet with former President Bill Clinton, and a tour and meet-and-greet at Howard Stern’s Sirius studio. Those interested in giving to charity organizations that raise money in such a unique way can look at the various online donation opportunities.

Karan Celebrates Haiti’s Efforts to Helping Poor People

International fashion designer Donna Karan is helping poor people in Haiti rebuild their lives after the latest disaster.  As a token of Karan’s dedication to Haiti, she is offering a weekend trip to the island nation accompanied by actor, humanitarian and comedian Ben Stiller along with other special guests.

Helping To Preserve Culture

Karan shares her vision for helping Haitians in their quest for development via micro charity and crowdfunding efforts.

“For me, Haiti is where all the initiatives I care so passionately about come together; preserving culture, securing the health and well-being for people and the education of the children who represent their tomorrow” said Karan.  She then talked about the island speaking to her heart and embracing everything that people seek to accomplish at Urban Zen.  She said that the vision for Haiti was a simple one: “Help Haiti help itself by utilizing and organizing its artisans, natural resources and production potential to create business models that can be properly marketed and distributed throughout the U.S. and Europe.”

The American designer and businesswoman stated that she had a good sense of what makes products desirable to consumers in the West.  Her trip to Haiti followed a previous visit with the Clinton Foundation that served to focus on some opportunities for creative business development.

This Clinton Foundation trip was about working with the creative Haitian communities and helping them.  Karan added that Haiti brought out every emotion people have: “Despair, compassion, love and hope” – in addition to the excitement of what can be achieved with a heartfelt connection and creative collaboration.

Micro charity donations for helping poor people and other efforts for Haiti can be made online.

Michael Jordan Supports Micro Loan Charities

Many charity organizations can be considered to be micro loan charities because they rely on a wide range of donations and support rather than a handful of large donations by philanthropic organizations.  One micro charity that has received the attention of sports legend Michael Jordan is the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Jordan has been working with Make-A-Wish since 2001 and has raised over $5 million.

This year is no different.  The 2011 Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational has once again made a sizable donation to the micro charity with a total of $100,000.  The funds will be used to help people support the wishes of children with terminal or life-threatening diseases

Granting Wishes

The idea is that a wish experience brings happiness to those children who make a wish, making them stronger and more able to fight against life-threatening medical conditions, according to Make-A-Wish Foundation of America’s President and CEO, David Williams.  He also thanked Michael Jordan for his donation saying that the charity was grateful for Jordan’s continuing commitment to empowering children through the foundation’s wish-granting mission.

Jordan is also one of the people that granted a child’s wish.  Marc Garcia, a 16-year-old boy from Kunkeltown, PA met his basketball idol in a private chat.

“It was an honor to grant Marc’s wish and enable everyone associated with the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational to see how their commitment is helping young people like him realize their fondest wish” said Jordan.  “I’ve seen over and over how the Make-A-Wish Foundation brings happiness and positively impacts a child’s life with an unforgettable wish experience.  Through our charitable efforts, more children will see their wishes come true.”

Those who want to donate to a micro loan charity such as this can donate online.

Britney Asks People to Donate Online

Britney Spears has asked fans and supporters to donate online, namely the St. Bernard Project.  The St. Bernard Project is working alongside the United Way to help people in the New Orleans area and Spears was recently named as a charity ambassador.

“It’s time to bring families back home to New Orleans” she tweeted today.  “Join the @Stbernardproj with me & help rebuild lives.”

Give to Charity

Spears posted the following on her FirstGiving.com page: “Your donation today will help St. Bernard Project (SBP) get families home and help rebuild the New Orleans area.  You can be a part of the rebirth of New Orleans and have a significant impact on helping families finally return home almost 6 years after Hurricane Katrina.”

The St. Bernard Project was launched in 2006 by Zack Rosenberg and Liz McCartney.  To date the organization has been able to help more than 350 families move back into their homes after the catastrophes surrounding hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  There are still approximately 200 families living in FEMA trailers while thousands of others reside in temporary housing.

In order to carry out this mission successfully, the St. Bernard Project has founded a Volunteer Driven Rebuilding Program, which is able to rebuild homes in approximately 12 weeks of volunteer labor with around $15,000 in building supplies.  It has also established a Good Work Good Pay (GWGP) Program, an Opportunity Housing Program and a Center for Wellness and Mental Health. Britney Spears is urging those wishing to make a contribution to donate online.

Volunteer Opportunities Abound on Easter

There were plenty of volunteer opportunities over the Easter holiday, especially in downtown Los Angeles where The Los Angeles Mission opened its doors for its 75th year of helping the homeless on Skid Row.  The streets were closed down so that the thousands of homeless could be fed and clothed as a part of the Mission’s service program.  In addition to leading civic figures, there were many celebrities on hand to help hand out Easter baskets, serve food and pass out shoes to those in need.  The Los Angeles Mission served over 600,000 people last year by offering meals, clothing, medical care, dental care, housing assistance, job training and placement services and emergency financial assistance.

Stars Embrace Volunteer Opportunities

Among those helping out the Mission on this holiday weekend were Joey King (Ramona and Beezus), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Melissa Gilbert, Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Leeza Gibbons, Gilles Marini (Brothers and Sisters), Stephanie Pratt (the Hills), Aldis Hodge (Leverage), William Mapother (Lost), Angie Everhart, Jayde Nicole (Holly’s World), and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“Many of the nearly 600,000 meals we served last year were to people who came to us because of the recession’s impact on their lives,” said Los Angeles Mission President Herbert L. Smith.  ”The impact of losing a job and sometimes a home is devastating.  Our guests are seeking more than a free meal or a hand out, they want to restore their lives.  The Mission is working every day to give them the hand up.”

For the most up to date news on volunteer opportunities across the nation, Microgiving.com is the number 1 resource on the Web.

Online Charity Organizations Target Schools

There are many online charity organizations that focus on supporting and funding schools.  One of the latest is the Pencils of Promise Movement (PoP), an organization that is working alongside Schools 4 All, a fundraising campaign designed to raise money for PoP to provide basic educational skills and to build schools for the 75 million children around the world that do not have access to education.

Online Charities Give Back

In exchange for assistance for PoP and Schools 4 All, the top school that has raised the most funds will receive a visit from Justin Bieber and PoP founder Adam Braun. The contest will run from April 15^th to June 30^th.  Students participating in the challenge will also have an opportunity to fly to Guatemala to visit with the PoP team plus other great prizes.  Students are encouraged to involve faculty, family, friends and community to help people gain access to education.

Justin Bieber has given a great deal of his time lately to becoming involved in many worthwhile fundraising programs for PoP and other charity organizations.  In the last year, Bieber has given $1 from each ticket from his “My World” tour to the PoP charity.  To date, enough money has been raised to build twenty schools for underprivileged children.  DoSomething.org has included Bieber in their 2010 list of “Top 20 Celebs Gone Good.”  Bieber has also auctioned off a lock of his hair for the PoP cause.

Supporters and fans may donate to the online charity via the PoP’s website.

Ivanka Trump Joins Crowdfunding Efforts

Ivanka Trump is no stranger to crowdfunding.  She is one of many celebrity presenters that will be on hand for the annual Women Who Care luncheon to be held next month in New York.  The event is scheduled to take place on May 5^th at the iconic Cipriani on 42^nd Street.  Other presenters will include former president of Chile and CEO of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, Project Runway’s Camilla Burungi, actor and model Tyson Beckford, Nightline/Primetime anchor Cynthia McFadden, The Ropes star Timothy Mandala, Chuck star Robin Givens and Amazing Race winner Rachel Lehmkuhl.  Being honored at the event are Lauren Bush and Petra Nemcova.

Crowdfunding to Benefit United Cerebral Palsy of New York

The event will help to raise awareness and funds for the United Cerebral Palsy of New York.  UCP is one of the oldest charity organizations in the country dedicated to helping children with disabilities throughout the boroughs.  Currently UCP/NYC serves over 14,000 individuals and families via its 75+ programs.  According to the UPC website, the mission of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City is to “create opportunities for people with disabilities to lead independent and fulfilling lives.  UPC helps more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time.  UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities.  For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society.”

The ability to donate online is available at the UPC/NYC website.

Lady Gaga Offers Japan Support, along with Crowd Funding Organizations

MTV Japan has just announced that there will be a special crowd funding charity event on June 25^th to lend ongoing support to the Japanese Red Cross.  Among the performers traveling to Japan for the special event is international superstar Lady Gaga.  Lady Gaga is one of many celebrities expected to attend the live event, titled MTV Video Music Aid Japan.  The event is going to coincide with the 10^th Annual MTV Video Music Awards Japan (aka VMAJ).  The live feed will collect monies that will be given to support the Japanese Red Cross.

Funding for Japan

Charity organizations worldwide have been collecting donations to help the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan that left tens of thousands of people dead, injured and/or homeless.

It is the hope of the event’s organizers that the broadcast will help to raise much needed funds for the victims of the tragedy.  The musical event is expected to be broadcast into more than 30 million homes via MTV’s various channels including MTV Japan, MTV China, MTV Korea and MTV Southeast Asia.  A special presentation of MTV Video Music Aid Japan will be broadcast to more than 550 million homes worldwide via its live weekly series, MTV World Stage.  The massive number of people expected to watch the event are being asked to give to the micro charity and will have the opportunity to donate online.

MTV Video Music Aid Japan is slated to be the final stage in MTV’s Music of Hope, which will feature live performances, interviews, inspirational music videos and news that will help promote crowd funding initiatives in support of Japanese disaster relief.

Demi and Ashton Help People Spotlight Sex Slavery

Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher have banded together with a group of celebrity friends to help people . They are launching a new video targeted at ending sexual slavery of children and among those joining Demi and Ashton are Justin Timberlake, Drake, Sean Penn, Jason Mraz Jamie Foxx and Bradley Cooper.

The video is being launched via the DNA Foundation, one of many charity organizations targeted toward ending child exploitation.  The message of the video is “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls.”  CNN reports that 100,000 – 300,000 American children between the ages of 11 and 14 are at risk of being targeted by predators.

“The average age of a girl involved in the sex trade is 13” said Kutcher.  ”And the average man who buys a girl is 30 years old, has no prior criminal record, and has a well-paying job.”

Fans can Help People Spread the Word

Fans can help people spread the word by creating their own unique YouTube videos to support the cause.  This type of crowdfunding is vitally important when it comes to raising awareness among the millions of people that use YouTube and social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.

“At the end of the day anyone and everyone can be involved in this campaign.  The minute you like our Facebook page, you’re already one step closer to this three-step-process, you’ve made an advocacy video that you can share.”

Participating is easy.  Simply go to the DNA Foundation’s Facebook page and click on the “Real Men” tab.  Users can insert their photos into the celebrity video. Those interested in supporting the campaign may donate online through the foundation’s website.