How to Send Microfinance to the White House
So, you’ve heard all about the exciting opportunity for SEG to bring campus microfinance into the national spotlight and done your part to vote, but you’re not quite what else you can do to help…
We’ve compiled a handy list of ways in which you can be involved!
How you can help bring the national spotlight to campus microfinance
- Vote for SEG!
- Email members of the organizations you’re in, friends, family, colleagues, and distant acquaintances asking them to vote. See sample email below.
- Invite all your friends to the Facebook event, “Send SEG to the White House.” Consider including a personal message. See sample message below.
- Post on your personal and organizational Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media. See sample posts below.
- Post a news item about the challenge on your blog or website, asking readers to vote for SEG. Our press release is copied below – feel free to edit and use it as you see fit.
Please act today – the competition ends March 3rd!
Sample Email – send to members, friends, family, and professional networks:
Dear __________,
Help to send microfinance to the White House! The White House has recognized the outstanding work The Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell (SEG) – a student-directed microfinance nonprofit based in Grinnell, IA – by selecting it as one of 15 finalists in its Campus Champions of Change Challenge. SEG is a 100% volunteer-operated organization up against contestants from huge universities with full-time staffers. We need your vote to win! If SEG wins this competition, the White House will bring national exposure to the campus microfinance movement through an event in Washington DC and a spot on MTV’s program “The Dean’s List.”
Please help turn the national spotlight to campus microfinance by voting today: bit.ly/vote4seg. Then, please encourage your friends and family to support microfinance as well! Learn how you can help at http://bit.ly/sendmf2wh.
Since 2007, SEG has lent over $37,000 to people in 44 countries. $13,000 of that money is circulating locally in the greater Grinnell community in the form of emergency no-interest microloans to pay for things like medical expenses, car repairs, and repayment of high-interest loans from payday loan sharks. These local loans are crucial to breaking the cycles of poverty and debt that hinder so many Americans from living comfortable and productive lives. To learn more about SEG, visit their website segrinnell.org.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sample Twitter Messages
Send Microfinance to the @WhiteHouse! Vote and share the power of #microfinance in the US and abroad. bit.ly/vote4seg
Tell @WhiteHouse to pay attention to #microfinance! Vote to support this Iowa college group giving local microloans. bit.ly/vote4seg
#Microfinance can change the world! Please vote and RT this great US microlending project in @WhiteHouse challenge. bit.ly/vote4seg
Sample Facebook Posts
Send microfinance to the White House! An amazing local microloan program at Grinnell College in Iowa is a finalist in the Campus Champions of Change Challenge and needs your votes and support to win! Please take 60 seconds to vote and share this with your friends! bit.ly/vote4seg
Please take 60 seconds to vote and share in support of campus microfinance. The Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell are a finalist in the White House Campus Champions of Change Challenge! Their microloan programs help break cycles of poverty in Iowa and internationally. bit.ly/vote4seg
Press Release
Last week, the Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell (SEG) —a microfinance organization which began as a Grinnell College campus group—was chosen from over 1,400 submissions as one of 15 finalists in the White House’s “Campus Champions of Change” initiative. SEG has provided over $37,000 in loans to 191 people in over 44 countries since 2007. In 2009, SEG achieved 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and in fall of 2010 began a Local Loans Project meant to combat poverty in the Grinnell community.
SEG’s Local Loans Project provides emergency, no-interest microloans to pay for things like medical expenses, automobile repairs, education, and repayment of high-interest loans from payday loan sharks.
“It is an honor to be included on this list of inspiring campus change-makers,” said Grace Philipp, a longstanding member of SEG. “Our members have worked hard over the last five years to make this a reality, and whether or not we win, we will continue working to empower individuals with access to credit in our community and around the world.”
Voting for the Challenge continues until Saturday, March 3rd at 11:59pm. The top five finalists will be invited to an event at the White House, will be featured on mtvU and MTV Act, and the overall winner will host an episode of mtvU’s signature program, “The Dean’s List.”
To vote for SEG in the White House’s Campus Champions of Change Challenge, visit: bit.ly/vote4seg
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About SEG: The Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell (SEG) was founded in 2007 with the idea that the Grinnell campus community could sustainably contribute to world development through microfinancing small entrepreneurial loans. The organization now has numerous international partnerships with community lending organizations throughout the world, loaning over $37,000 to more than 191 individuals in over 44 countries, including more than $13,000 to the local Grinnell community.
www.segrinnell.org