By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

UNICEF is putting the “fun” back in fundraiser with a cyber twist on its traditional orange Trick-or-Treat collection boxes. Mashable revealed earlier this week that UNICEF has launched an online costume party, allowing site visitors to upload photos of themselves and virtually try on various costumes. Users then invite their friends to their digital costume party, encouraging them to make a $5 or $10 donation for access to more costumes. In the age online games like Zynga and Angry Birds, many young donors are pleasantly surprised to see similar games popping up on nonprofit websites.

Even those who still choose to use the orange boxes to collect donations will find a digital surprise on the side of their Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box: A Microsoft Tag code graces the side of the little orange box, giving donors the option to donate directly from their smart phone. With giving easier and more entertaining than ever, UNICEF is embracing the future of fundraising.

Though the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign may seem a little intimidating to nonprofits with less time and money to devote to such endeavors, there are other ways to get your message out to a new generation of donors. YouTube and Facebook reach out and grab the tech savvy donor with minimal to no expense. Need an idea of what kinds of YouTube videos are getting the most attention these days? Head over to the JVA Consulting’s Facebook page or sign up for our weekly newsletter JVA 411 newsletter to see our favorite YouTube videos.

Blogging is another way to make marketing personal. By putting what you have to say in your own words, be they creative, witty, poetic or stern, you control the messages your donors are hearing and promote a genuine side of your organization. Another beauty of the blog…you can put as many shameless plugs for your organization in it as you want (see above).

Whatever medium you choose, the consistent theme running through our social media/technology blogs is to immerse your organization in these new fundraising tools with reckless abandon. Ok, ok maybe not reckless, but at least fearless. Have fun with your next fundraising campaign!