This Is How You Can Use Social Media for Good
If you have an Instagram account — and we know you do — you can make a difference. Don’t believe it? Gramforacause was created by Denise Chan specifically with that goal in mind. And she’s created an interface that’s remarkably simple to use.
Just sign up, and tell them the causes you’re specifically interested in. Then, let them know if you’d like to volunteer or want a more professional arrangement. They’ll get back to you with details on how you can help in your community. From there, your job is to do good and share the photos of you doing good on Instagram. The goal is to give more exposure to deserving charities. In your caption, Gramoforacause encourages you to share what’s touched your heart and what’s spoken to someone else’s, creating a chain reaction of the best kind. The idea makes social media a bit less fluffy and more inspirational, maybe even giving the opportunity to meet others who share your same core beliefs.
Denise told us how her interactive charitable organization came to be: “Gramforacause first started as a hashtag on Instagram. It was meant to be one of those feature accounts where people would share their social good stories and we would repost them on our account. Very quickly, however, I found that many Instagrammers were very enthusiastic about the idea, and I saw the potential for something greater.”
“I’ve always wanted to open a business with a philanthropic angle to it — I just didn’t think it would be possible to tie it in with something I’m equally passionate about: photography. So, Gramforacause came to be. I set it up in one night, and it launched on Product Hunt the day after.”
As for what motivates Denise, she says it’s all about “the community itself. The willingness of photographers with such large followings and client bases to give their time. Instagram has also shown me the power of an online community and how easy it is to connect and spread change. I’ve also seen how one quote or one story that I’ve posted has encouraged a fellow Instagrammer to continue on in a challenging time. When my father was in the hospital a little while back, I had an Instagrammer reach out to me through DM with some kind words and it made a world of difference. Imagine if this is done on a larger scale with nonprofits! This is the kind of spirit that motivates me to give back.”
With a clearly defined style and a mission to pay it forward, Gramforacause is certainly something to watch. And if you’re looking to be on the ground floor of something awesome, this is your chance. Just keep in mind it may take a few weeks to get matched up with your charity soulmate. For now, keep an eye out for their hashtag #igramfor, which just launched today with the help of @yellowhatproject.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you’ll need to do to be an ambassador on this project:
1) Capture your story with a photo (this can be literal or metaphorical)
2) Share a little more about the photo in your caption and tag #igramfor
3) Tag @yellowhatproject and @gramforacause
How do you feel about being Insta-helpful? How likely are you to get involved with this cause?