IN A NUTSHELL

Focus Ireland used Funraisin to bring together 283 buskers to raise over €334,000 through a highly creative and connected in-person digital activation.

About the Charity

Focus Ireland is driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. They work to prevent homelessness and find sustainable long-term solutions to help people leave homelessness forever.

About the Partner

Today FM is Ireland’s number one radio station. They supported The Big Busk to amplify the voices of people who have either experienced homelessness themselves or who are playing an active role in the fight against homelessness.

What's the big idea?

The Big Busk is a campaign aimed at tackling the issue of homelessness through the powerful medium of music, art, and performance, in partnership with Today FM. The event is a mix of satellite busking events across Ireland on Friday 10th March, with performances across train stations and shopping centres, as well as a network of local individual and community performances. The partnership brought to life real stories of homelessness across a three week campaign.

The Challenge

The aim of the campaign is to raise €250,000 for their services as well as stand in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness.
To create a slick and easy user experience to allow a high volume of fundraisers to self-manage their participation.
To create flexible entry routes to enable participants to take part their own way, from joining an event to hosting their own - solo or in a group.
To create an integrated fundraising campaign, where supporters can get involved and donate online or offline.
To maximise the day of event activation, including performances, streaming, radio shows and social media.

The Solution

Tiered registration: The event has two different entry routes. Participants can either ‘Join us’ and take part in an existing busking event, or ‘Host your own’ busking event. The main events are organised by Focus Ireland, but the host your own means participants can join in wherever they are. Performers for organised events can set the name of their act, preferred locations and time slots, as well as their performance type and organisation. Their performance type is then pulled through to their fundraising page. Solo organisers are just asked for their artist / group name, group size and organisation name.
Fundraising support: To get started, fundraisers are given a tour of their fundraising page, nudging them to interact with their new page and share their story. They can invite their friends and family to support them with a series of pre-set emails which can be tracked by opens and donations, as well as downloadable QR code posters - to enable one-click fundraising in person on their event day. Whilst supporters are on their fundraising page, they can watch a livestream from the fundraiser’s YouTube, Twitch or Mixer, as well as any live comments from the stream.
Donations: Each page is pre-populated with suggested donation handles, with the impact they make for the charity, including: ‘€40 - Could help provide a family with the first vital support session once they become homeless’.

€334,000+

Raised

283

Buskers

Results

We raised over €334,000 – and funds are still coming in from ‘Organise your own’ events, some of which would have taken place after Friday 10th March (compared with over €250,000 for The Big Busk 2022).

283 buskers signed up on the website to take part in The Big Busk, either getting involved in Focus Ireland organised events, or organising their own all across the country.

"We’re delighted with it and the Funraisin team has been fantastic to work with and very patient with all our edits! Thanks for your help setting us up on Funraisin – really pleased with the platform and the support."

Lucy Kinghan - Campaign Manager, Focus Ireland

What you could apply to your site

Integrate online and offline fundraising with quick and easy QR codes and generated posters.
Enable participation from anywhere with live streaming of your fundraisers’ challenges.
Show fundraisers around and nudge early interactions with a fundraising page tour.
Create flexible entry routes to increase accessibility and participation.
Partner with a media organisation that can help get the word out.

Focus Ireland and Today FM tackle homelessness with The Big Busk - supporting the journey home.